First time in Korea? Start here. This page walks you through the trip in the order you’ll actually need things: what to sort out before you fly, your first hour at Incheon Airport, getting around Seoul, and where to go next. Every link goes to a detailed guide written by Koreans who live here.
Updated October 2026. Prices are shown in won with a rough dollar figure (about 1,380 KRW = 1 USD).
1. Before you fly
- Get connected: eSIM vs SIM card, and whether you need a Korean number
- Install the apps: Naver Map, Kakao T, Papago and more
- Pack for the season: Korea weather by month
- Plan your money: cards, cash and WOWPASS
2. Landing at Incheon Airport
- Incheon Airport to Seoul: AREX train, limousine bus or taxi
- Buy a transit card: T-money card guide
- Arriving before check-in? Seoul luggage storage
3. Getting around Seoul
- How to ride the Seoul subway: fares, transfers, last trains and etiquette
- How to use Naver Map in English: directions down to the exit number
- Station luggage lockers: Seoul Station · Hongdae · Myeongdong · Express Bus Terminal
- Save the emergency numbers (112, 119, 1330)
4. Your first days in Seoul
- Day 1, palaces and hanok: Gyeongbokgung Palace in the morning, then walk to Bukchon Hanok Village (go before 5 PM)
- Day 2, cafés and shopping: Seongsu-dong and Seoul Forest, then shop in Myeongdong (get your tax refund)
- Any evening, city views: N Seoul Tower: ride the Namsan cable car from Myeongdong and arrive an hour before sunset
- Visiting late October to mid-November? Seoul fall foliage 2026: peak dates and the best leaf spots in the city
5. Day trips from Seoul
- DMZ tour from Seoul: the Third Tunnel and Dora Observatory, what is open in 2026 (bring your passport)
- Things to do in Gyeonggi-do: hands-on day trips
- Anseong Farmland · things to do in Anseong · Seoul to Anseong by bus
- Gyeonggi Shooting Theme Park: fire a real pistol
- Eating before your bus: Express Bus Terminal restaurants
- Going further: Seoul to Busan by KTX (tickets, fares, Seoul Station vs Suseo)
Questions?
Leave a comment on any guide. We read every one and reply within a day. You can also use the search box below. Korean place names work too, e.g. 홍대.