First Time in Seoul: Transit Card, Fares, Map Apps and a Two-Day Plan

First time in Seoul — what should you sort out on day one, and how should you group the first two days? This guide covers four things to have ready, the numbers behind your transport costs, how to check the last train, and a two-day plan. What the base fare is, how long a transfer window lasts, when the last train goes: those three shape much of your route and your spending.

Four things for day one

Check your route in a map app
Enter your destination and travel mode to check whether a route is available.
A transit card
1,550 won base fare. For several days, price the Climate Card too.
Some cash
Many Gwangjang Market stalls do not take cards.
Save 1330
07:00 to midnight, every day, seven languages.

The numbers that change your day


Subway base fare (card, to 10 km)	1,550 won
Single-journey card	1,650 won
Transfer window	30 minutes from tapping out (60 between 21:00 and 07:00)
Transfers	up to four per journey (five boardings)
Early-morning discount	20% if your first boarding is before 06:30

Always tap off. Skip it and the transfer chain breaks from that leg, so you are charged extra when you board the next vehicle. Changing between vehicles on the same route does not count as a discounted transfer.

For a stay of several days, price the Climate Card short-term pass. The 1-day pass at 5,000 won pays from your fourth separately-charged ride; the 5-day at 15,000 clears at two rides a day. But airport buses, wide-area buses and the Sinbundang Line are excluded, so budget the airport transfer separately.

The last train is not one time

"The subway runs until midnight" is a feel, not a schedule. The last train differs by line, station, direction and day, and the two directions at one station differ too.

Miss it and you may be taking a taxi back. If it might run late, check the last train from your station, in your direction.

What to put in the first two days

Seoul is large and its sights are scattered, so one district per day cuts travel time. The order below suits a first-time visitor who wants the palaces and older neighbourhoods first.

Day 1 — Jongno. Gyeongbokgung at the centre, walking on to the other palaces, Bukchon and Insadong. Palaces have a weekly closing day; check before you go.
Day 1 evening — Myeongdong or Gwangjang Market. Gwangjang Market is in Jongno-gu, and its food alley suits sharing several small dishes. Stalls keep their own hours and closing days and it gets busy from early evening, so check the card below before deciding.
Day 2 — Hongdae and Yeonnam, or Seongsu. The contemporary side, connected by Line 2.
Day 2 evening — Namsan or the Han River. Arrive before sunset and you can see dusk turn into the night view in one visit.

Adding Gangnam as well adds a lot of travel time. For a first visit, north of the river fills two days. If you have less time, drop day two; if the palace is closed that day, swap the two days.

Check map apps against your actual journey

Before your trip, enter the destination's name and address in your chosen map app and check whether a route is available for the travel mode you need. Include the walk from the station to the destination, rather than checking only the subway journey.

This guide has not directly compared the current features of Google Maps, Naver Map and KakaoMap. If no route appears or the result seems doubtful, check the same address and conditions in another app. If a place is difficult to find, search again with its Korean name or road-name address and compare the map position.

Screenshot your accommodation's Korean address

In a taxi, showing a Korean address on screen is more reliable than pronouncing it, and a screenshot survives a dropped connection.

For where to stay, on the Line 2 loop or near an interchange is what actually helps. The station changes your day more than the neighbourhood's character does.

When you are stuck, 1330

The tourist line 1330 — dial 1330 inside Korea with no area code, or +82-2-1330 from abroad. Open 07:00 to midnight every day of the year in seven languages, providing interpretation, complaint handling and lost property, and connecting on to the immigration centre (1345) and the fire service (119).

If calling is hard, text 1330 or use KakaoTalk, Line or WeChat.

The stops this plan names, with their hours

Frequently asked questions

What should I do first on day one?

Buy a transit card, install Naver Map or KakaoMap, carry some cash for the market, and save 1330. That covers transport, directions, payment and language, the things most likely to trip you up on day one.

What does the subway cost?

1,550 won for an adult with a transit card, flat to 10 km, with more added by distance after that. A single-journey card is 1,650 won; check the ticket machine in the station for any deposit and how to get it back.

How long do I have to transfer?

Board the next vehicle within 30 minutes of tapping out, or 60 between 21:00 and 07:00. One journey can include up to four discounted transfers (five boardings), and changing on the same route does not count.

Is the Climate Card worth buying?

It depends on how much you ride. The 1-day pass at 5,000 won pays from your fourth ride and the 5-day at 15,000 clears at two rides a day — but airport buses, wide-area buses and the Sinbundang Line are excluded.

Can I get around on Google Maps?

First enter your destination and travel mode to check whether a route is available. This guide has not directly verified Google Maps' current features. If no result appears or it seems doubtful, check the same address and conditions in another map app, including the walk to your destination.

How should I plan the first two days?

One district per day. Day one in Jongno for the palaces and Bukchon, evening in Myeongdong or Gwangjang Market. Day two in Hongdae and Yeonnam or Seongsu, evening at Namsan or the Han River. North of the river is enough for a first visit.

What time is the last train?

There is no single answer. It varies by line, station, direction and day, and between the two directions at one station, so check your own station and direction.