Gyeongbokgung Palace
The largest of Seoul's royal palaces, first built in the 14th century. Wide courtyards, throne halls and a lakeside pavilion show how the Joseon kings lived and ruled.
Seoul
Street food and Myeongdong shopping sit alongside K-drama and K-pop spots and royal palaces in the capital.
Attractive locations
Changdeokgung Palace
UNESCO-listed royal palace set among hills, known for buildings that blend with the landscape. Its rear garden is visited on a guided walk.
Jongmyo Shrine
Confucian shrine where memorial tablets of the Joseon kings and queens are kept, in long, simple wooden halls. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a calm, solemn feel.
Deoksugung Palace
Compact palace beside City Hall, where traditional Korean halls stand next to Western-style buildings from the late 19th century. The stone walls outside are a pleasant stroll.
N Seoul Tower
Tower on top of Namsan mountain with an observation deck looking over the whole city. Visitors walk, drive or ride a cable car up the slope.
National Museum of Korea
Large museum of Korean history and art, with ancient gold crowns, ceramics, Buddhist statues and paintings. It sits in a park, with wide halls and a pond outside.
Bukhansan National Park
Mountain park on the northern edge of the city with granite peaks, forest trails and old temples. It is a favourite with Seoul residents for day hikes.
Bukchon Hanok Village
A hillside neighbourhood of traditional Korean houses (hanok) between two royal palaces, with narrow lanes and tiled roofs. Many of the houses are still lived in, so quiet walking is expected.
Insadong
A district of traditional tea houses, craft shops, galleries and antique stalls along a main street and its side alleys. Visitors browse for ceramics, paper goods and other Korean crafts.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza
A flowing silver building designed by Zaha Hadid, holding exhibitions, design shops and fashion events. It is lit at night and sits beside the Dongdaemun shopping district.
Cheonggyecheon
A restored stream running for several kilometres through central Seoul, with walkways, bridges and stepping stones below street level. It is a cool, quiet escape from the busy streets above.
Myeongdong Cathedral
A Gothic Revival brick church on a hill in the Myeongdong district, the centre of Korean Catholicism. Its tall spire and stained glass stand above one of the city's busiest shopping areas.
Airports
Seoul Gimpo International Airport GMP
It is about 18 km in a straight line from Seoul.
Incheon International Airport ICN
It is about 49 km in a straight line from Seoul.
Cheongju International Airport CJJ
It is about 104 km in a straight line from Seoul.
Getting around
From Incheon Airport
The AREX airport railroad's Express train goes non-stop from Incheon to Seoul Station, in about 43 minutes from Terminal 1 and 51 from Terminal 2, while the All-Stop train stops at stations that include Hongik University and Digital Media City. Limousine buses accept neither cash nor transport cards, so tickets are bought ahead at ticket offices. Outside both terminals, standard and deluxe taxis wait at the platforms, while international taxis have to be reserved.
- Source: VISITKOREA (Korea Tourism Organization): Airport transportation guide (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Seoul subway and buses
On Seoul's subway, each line has its own colour, station signs appear in Korean, English and Chinese, exits are numbered, and transfers between lines are free. Red buses are express routes to surrounding areas, yellow ones run central circulation, green ones are branch routes and blue ones are trunk routes. English signs are often missing at bus stops, although major stops are announced in English.
- Source: Visit Seoul (Seoul Tourism Organization): Transportation (checked 4 Nov 2026)
T-money, Mpass and Climate Card
Convenience stores and subway station information centres sell T-money, a prepaid card that can be reloaded. Mpass is a time-limited card for foreign visitors; it is issued at Tmoney Town near Seoul Station, Exit 10, and can be bought with Korean cash only. With the Climate Card, riding the Seoul subway and buses is unlimited for 1 to 7 days, though not on the Sinbundang Line or GTX, and from October 2026 it is limited to use within Seoul.
- Source: VISITKOREA (Korea Tourism Organization): Transportation cards (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Scams and safe taxis
Hailing taxis in Seoul
Seoul's city government says to wave at the curb or go to a taxi stand. A red sign on the windshield usually signals a vacant taxi, a green one a reserved taxi. Tell the driver your destination in Korean, or give the name of a nearby landmark or subway station. GPS-based meters are fitted in most sedans. According to Seoul's tourism site, vehicles marked VAN or CALL VAN are call vans that carry cargo and have no meter. The 120 Dasan Call Center, which has English service, takes complaints.
- Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government: Taxi (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Visit Seoul (Seoul Tourism Organization): Transportation (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Apps for Seoul taxis
With a taxi app you can order from where you stand, see the estimated fare and pay beforehand, says Seoul's city government. Domestic apps such as Kakao T require a Korean phone number and card, while international ones like UT do not. The same page also describes the Ansimi app, whose safe taxi service passes ride details on to a guardian.
- Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government: Taxi (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Nightlife areas and drinks
Canadian advice says that around bars and nightlife areas, with Itaewon, Gangnam and Hongdae as examples, sexual assault and harassment are not uncommon, and petty crime can happen inside bars and restaurants. It also says not to leave food or drinks unattended or in the hands of strangers, since anything from new acquaintances, drinks or snacks, may contain drugs. UK advice likewise notes assaults around bars and nightlife areas.
- Source: Government of Canada travel advice: South Korea (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: UK FCDO travel advice: South Korea, safety and security (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-3.3 °C20 mm
- Feb-0.9 °C31 mm
- Mar3.7 °C37 mm
- Apr9.8 °C72 mm
- May15.8 °C84 mm
- Jun20.9 °C116 mm
- Jul24.0 °C361 mm
- Aug24.9 °C260 mm
- Sep20.4 °C138 mm
- Oct13.9 °C53 mm
- Nov6.5 °C47 mm
- Dec-1.0 °C22 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Costs
Prices here are about 57% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
culture
Seollal (Korean New Year)
Falling on the Lunar New Year, this family holiday sees numerous shops and restaurants shut.
festival
Cherry blossom season
Plan early. This is one of the largest events in the country each year, and hotels fill up as prices rise.
culture
Chuseok (Korean thanksgiving)
This three-day family holiday means free palaces, full trains and many closed shops.
culture
Seollal (Korean New Year)
Falling on the Lunar New Year, this family holiday sees numerous shops and restaurants shut.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 112. Fire and ambulance 119. Korea Travel Helpline 1330 (English and other languages).
local government
Korean National Police (112)
Helps with: South Korea's police emergency number, listed on the Korea Tourism Organization's emergency page for crimes such as theft and assault. The page lists no police unit for tourists.
Who qualifies: Anyone in South Korea, including visitors, who needs police help.
Phone: 112
local government
1330 Korea Travel Helpline (Korea Tourism Organization)
Helps with: The national tourism organisation's helpline for travel questions and visitor help. The page lists support in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai and Malay.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in South Korea or planning a trip there.
Phone: +82-2-1330
local government
119 Fire and Medical Emergencies
Helps with: South Korea's emergency number for fire and ambulance, with a separate infectious disease line, 1339, listed on the Korea Tourism Organization's emergency page.
Who qualifies: Anyone in South Korea, including visitors, who needs an ambulance or fire service.
Phone: 119
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Republic of Korea
Helps with: The UN migration agency's Korea office. It works with the Korean government and partners on protecting people on the move and regular migration pathways, and runs trainings and events.
Who qualifies: Government and partner organisations working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: 02-6925-1360
Address: 13th Floor, Hyoryung Building, 32 Mugyo-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04521
embassy
Foreign embassies in South Korea (official diplomatic list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. The Korean foreign ministry posts a Diplomatic List of resident missions as a downloadable spreadsheet.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy in Seoul.
local government
Myeong-dong Tourist Information Center
Helps with: Seoul's tourist information centre in the Myeong-dong shopping district. Staff give visitors travel information in person; the city's official tourism site lists the address and phone.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Seoul who wants travel information or directions.
Phone: +82-2-778-0333
Address: 1F, Annex Building, Hana Financial Group Myeongdong, Seoul
local government
120 Dasan Call Center (Seoul)
Helps with: Seoul city government's call centre for city information and complaints. Its foreign-language service covers English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Mongolian, Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm excluding public holidays.
Who qualifies: Residents and visitors in Seoul who need city information or help in a foreign language.
Phone: 02-120
ngo
Korean Red Cross
Helps with: The site describes disaster emergency relief, support for vulnerable people, life-safety education, medical services and blood programmes. The site is mostly in Korean.
Who qualifies: The page does not say who can use each service. It describes help for people affected by disasters and for vulnerable groups.
Phone: 1577-8179
Email: [email protected]
Address: (26465) 강원특별자치도 원주시 혁신로 50