First time in Seoul? Here are 10 questions you should know the answer to before you visit

If you’re going to Seoul for the first time, you’re probably just counting down the days until you can stuff your face with kimchi, embrace K-culture at source, and take your skincare game to a whole new level.

But how can you prep yourself perfectly for that trip, so all that you have to worry about is where you’re going to get your next feed when wandering the streets of the South Korean capital (spoiler: there’s a ridiculous amount of food EVERYWHERE)?

Well, I recently headed to Seoul for my friends’ wedding, in what wasn’t just my first visit to South Korea, but actually Asia full stop, and can answer a few questions you either have or maybe haven’t thought about yet.

Where’s the best place to stay in Seoul?

I know this is kinda an obvious answer, but staying pretty central is ideal so you can be in and around all the action. I was just on the outskirts of Myeongdong, which I felt was pretty perfect. Quiet enough after a long day of exploring, but so close to the bright lights of the main shopping street of the city, where you’ll find the flagship Olive Young with all the skincare and cosmetic products you could dream of. 

Insadong is another place right in the hustle and bustle in the heart of the city (and where *cough cough* Contiki groups will often stay…), where you can easily wander to Changdeokgung Palace, and sip on a cup of tea or coffee in all the cosy cafes you could ever need.

Having said this, if you wanted to stay a little further out, the public transport is top tier, with the metro and the bus being super easy to navigate.

Which maps app should I use in Seoul?

If your default maps app is Google Maps or Apple Maps, think again, neither work very well at all here. I personally used Naver, and couldn’t recommend it more highly. Not only does it give you directions when walking, its suggestions on getting from A to B using public transport are spot on, and really handy.

Not the sexiest point, but something I really appreciated from someone who lives in London where I often walk out of the least convenient exit possible from large underground stations, there are super clear directions for the precise exit you want which are all numbered. Often Seoulites will meet up using those specific numbered exits.

The only thing to watch out with Naver is their walking time estimates, which I thought you could definitely beat, but that’s obviously not a bad thing – just more time to get swept up in the city!

How do you pay for the metro in Seoul?

While you can get tickets, I’d recommend getting a T-Money card, which is a rechargeable card that you can use for all forms of public transport, including the metro. 

You can buy a card for around ₩3,000-₩4,000 (either using card or cash) at the airport or at a convenience store. Often you’ll get a choice of cute designs you can pick from which are giving more Disneyland than metro.

From there, whenever you need to top up, you can do this in a convenience store, or at a metro station, but one important thing to note here is that you’ll need cash to do this. You’ll know when you’re running low on credit as any time you’re tapping in or out of the metro, there’s a little screen telling you how much money you have left on your card.

And one more little thing that I really appreciated was that on the day rain piled down, there was a neat lil contraption which you could stick your umbrella into to instantly dry it before heading on the metro.

How to get to Seoul from Incheon Airport?

While some flights will go into Gimpo, most long haul flights will see you arrive into Incheon to the west of the city. Now for an airport which is over an hour’s drive to get into the city centre, it’s actually pretty straightforward to travel in from and you have a few different options:

• Airport limousine bus (around ₩15,000 one-way which will take about 60-80 minutes): Well, it does have the word “limousine” in the name so you know it’s gonna be one of the classier buses you’ve ever been on. Loads of legroom, and big comfy seats means this is a very nice, chilled way to travel into Seoul. You can also use your T-Money card here, or just buy a ticket.
• AREX express train (Airport Railroad Express, around ₩10,000 one-way which will take about 45 minutes to get you into Seoul station): The faster train service if you’re more about those railway vibes. You can’t use your T-Money card here so you’ll need to buy a ticket.
• AREX local train (around ₩5,000 one-way which will take about an hour to get you into Seoul station): The slightly more scenic train route to take you into the city, and you can use your T-money card.
• Uber (around ₩60,000 which will take about 60 minutes): Obviously the more expensive option, but it’s a relatively good option if you have a few friends with you, and you can be taken straight to the door of your accommodation. A little tip: Uber is pretty good value here compared to other major cities around the world, so if you’re out and about past midnight when public transport slows down a little, it’s a great option to get you to your bed rapidly.

Should I tip in Seoul?

In short, no, it’s really not customary to tip in Seoul, or South Korea in general. What will be appreciated is just an effort to show how much you’ve enjoyed your meal with a gam-sa-ham-ni-da (thank you), or a chae-go (the best!) when someone asks how your food was.

Do people speak English in Seoul?

To a certain point, yes, and especially people in major tourist attractions, however, if you compare it to major cities in Western Europe for example like Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam etc., then there were fewer people able to speak English confidently in my experience.

So you should definitely learn a few starter Korean phrases, but the main thing I’d say is not to worry too much about the language barrier.

As long as you’re polite, even people with no English were extremely patient with me frantically bumbling over what I wanted to say with my Translate app (or they would use my phone to do the same minus the bumbling).

Waiters would even go out of their way to show a translated message to say “that may be too much food” or “that’s pretty spicy if you’re ok with that”, which was another great bit of hospitality, as they just wanted to be 100% sure that we enjoyed what we ordered.

How do I get baseball tickets in Seoul?

This one is a slightly sore spot as it’s something I really wanted to do while in Seoul, and couldn’t. I had done my research beforehand, and saw there was a game on every day I was there, so felt pretty confident I could rock up and buy tickets a couple of days beforehand.

This sadly was not the case, as with all the clubs in Seoul, you have to be a Korean resident to buy tickets online. 

Another option is to go to a stadium a couple of hours before a game, and hope there are some on the door, but this obviously doesn’t guarantee you tickets.

One definitive way to nab yourself a ticket is to get yourself on a South Korean Soul trip and have your seat ready and waiting for you to soak up one of the best sporting atmospheres you’ll probably ever experience.

What’s one etiquette point I should know about?

One thing that really stood out to me is how chilled and quiet most of the city is. When I was walking down one of the main shopping streets in the middle of the afternoon, my friends and I noticeably felt one noise level above everyone else, and just toned it down a little. And it’s the same on the metro – every time I went on it at any time of day or night, you could hear a pin drop. Coming from London where the underground is pretttttty boisterous sometimes, this was a lowkey (but very welcome) culture shock.

So, I’d just say to check yourself when you’re out and about with friends – especially if you’re used to straining to speak over the hubbub of major cities elsewhere around the world.

Where can I get the best food in Seoul?

This was probably the biggest question in my mind before I headed over to South Korea. If I were to give a short answer, I would say, Myeongdong Kyoja. It may have a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide, but it’s super affordable and very chilled with more of a canteen kinda vibe – there are four items on the menu with nothing above ₩13,000 (15AUD or 9USD)! And the portion sizes mean you will not be going hungry. I would recommend the dumplings, and the noodles, which were ridiculously light. Also, the garlic kimchi which you get for free is delicious, but pretty powerful (so it might be an idea to invest in some mints for afterward you’ve eaten)!

The longer answer is to be adventurous, and try anything and everything you can. Get yourself to Gwangjang Market, try out Korean BBQ, and find some of the most delicious crispy fried chicken on the planet – it’s all there! And if you needed any more inspo, check out our guide to the top South Korean dishes you need to try.

What’s the best cafe I need to go to in Seoul?

Again, I’m leaning back to the end of my answer from the last question. Try, try, try everything you can.

I kinda knew the cafe culture was big in Seoul, but nothing can really prepare you for when you actually go and experience it. Coffee is serious business here – not only does it taste oh so good, but there are so many different varieties and types that are unique to different cafes.

Now, if you’re on TikTok, you’ll see all sorts of places you need to go to for coffee or brunch (the pastry game is also wild). And having gone to a few of those, they were pretty amazing – shoutouts to Cafe Pokpo which overlooks a waterfall, Rain Report which gives you an immersive experience of being inside sipping your coffee while looking out on a rainy day, and Mil Toast where you can eat light, airy steamed bread inside a traditional hanok.

But again, step into other cafes and check them out! I wandered into a place called Edition.m in the Ihwa-dong area, and bathed in the sunshine in an old school hanok courtyard drinking one of the best iced lattes I’ve ever tasted, while eating a swirly pistachio pastry as big as my face, which was pretty heavenly stuff.