The city of Seoul, South Korea is known for its convenience. Whether it is the 24-hour convenient stores or the on time transportation- Seoul is here for you. In this article,I will be explaining the most convenient ways to get from the Airport to Seoul!
Before Our Journey Begins:
One thing I would recommend bringing with you is Cash (Korean Won/₩), as your transportation card should be filled/refilled with KRW. On top of that, I have found that sometimes the ATM Machines in Seoul do not work with my foreign card. I would recommend having 50 thousand bill (the US equivalent to $34.57) in your wallet. Just to Know, most bus trips in Seoul are around ₩1,500 which equates to about $1.04. While in Seoul, you will see that the city is super affordable!
Purchasing your T-Money Card:
The most important thing you must buy upon arrival is the T-Money card. The T-Money Card is essential for traveling around not only Seoul, but the country of South Korea. The T-money card is the gateway to transportation, working as both a subway and bus card.
Purchasing a T-Money card is super easy as there is a plethora of convenient stores right in the arrivals gate of the airport.
One note: If you are purchasing a data plan for your trip to Korea, I would do that before buying a transportation card. As a thank you for buying an E-Sim, I was gifted a free T-Money Card. I already had a card from previous trips, so I had two!
Getting out of the Airport :
There are many convenient ways to get from Incheon Airport into Seoul proper. That said, the commute is usually at least 45 minutes. My preferred method is just getting a taxi, but there are many more ways.
- The Airport Shuttle
My friends love this shuttle because there is a stop right outside our university. Within the airport you can purchase a ticket on one of the many kiosks. The bus will then take you to your desired location in Seoul. The cost is about ₩17,000, which is about $11.53!
- The Metro
I would say that this is the easiest method for people who are familiar with Seoul. Using my T-money card, I am able to board the metro at the Airport’s station. Don’t worry if you are flying into Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 of Incheon, or even Gimpo airport. They all have metro stops. The subway takes a little more than an hour and a half for me to get to my campus. One thing I would like to say is that often these airport metro lines get crowded, so if you have a lot of luggage, maybe consider another option.
- The Bus
Much like the Metro this is another convenient way. To get from the airport to my house would probably be about an hour and a half depending on the route I take. If you are traveling with a back pack, this method is great, but again with more luggage I would overall recommend taking the airport shuttle!
This is another huge note:
Google Maps will be unhelpful while in Korea. There are two apps that most people rely on: Naver Maps and Kakao Maps. Naver is kind of the Korean Equivalent to Google and Kakao is a major Korean Company that also has services such as KakaoTalk ( like WhatsApp/Messenger) and Kakao Taxi. Uber also works in Korea as well! My personal preference is Naver as I think it easier to navigate. Both options are available in English.
The Great Debate: The Climate Card vs The T-Money Card
Tourists and Exchange Students often discuss which transportation card is better. Specific to Seoul, the Climate Card is available. The Climate card is a rechargeable card that provides unlimited rides within the month to the traveler. I would recommend this card to tourists who are trying to hit every popular destination around the city. The 5-day pass costs about ₩15,000 (10.18 USD) and also gives you unlimited rides.
The 30-day Pass costs ₩62,000 ($42.06 USD). Personally, I have the regular T-Money card because some days I find myself walking more than I take public transit! I would say the most important aspect to know about the Climate Card is that it is Seoul Specific. It will not work in southern cities like Busan and Daegu.
After you have your Transportation card and get out of the airport, you are free to explore what Seoul has to Offer! It will take a couple times, but soon Seoul’s public transportation system will be a breeze!
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