6 Essential Tips For Traveling In Seoul

As we’ve already mentioned, the public transport system in Seoul is great, and the subway will be your new best friend while you’re in town! Both the bus and subway maps are easy to get to grips with, but there are useful apps like Subway Korea which make planning your journeys even easier - metro stations even have wifi underground so you don’t need to worry about losing connection.

As well as planning your journey, the app is full of useful information like the times of the first, last and next arriving train. Even getting from Incheon airport to downtown Seoul on public transport is a breeze; take the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) which can be paid for with your T-money card either direct to Seoul Station, or the All Stop train which stops at 13 subway stations so you can make transfers to where you’re staying. 

It always helps to know some of the local customs before you visit a new city, especially when it comes to food! Korean culture is based on the importance of the group rather than the individual, and this practice translates to table manners and food etiquette.

Instead of ordering food for yourself, the locals order as a group and share their meal together - even if you don’t know the people you’re dining with very well, it’s much better to embrace the custom and do like the locals rather than stick to your own dish!

Group culture also means that it’s quite unusual for Koreans to eat out alone, and you’ll find that many restaurants actually have a ‘two portion’ rule. Don’t worry if you are travelling alone, all this means is that in some local eateries you may have to order two portions of food rather than just one, but they tend to not be huge so you should be able to manage! 

It’s also good to be aware of local table manners, especially if you’re eating out with new local friends! Start your meal by drinking the soup before you move on to the other dishes, remember not to pick up your rice bowl while you’re eating, and don’t leave chopsticks sticking out of the bowl as is something that’s done at traditional ceremonies for ancestors.

Something else you may be unfamiliar with when eating out is the call button that many restaurants have at each table. Instead of calling your server, or waiting for them to check up on you if you need something simply press your call button and your server will be over in no time. 

Seoul is the world’s most connected city when it comes to wifi, but frustratingly this still means that you’ll often struggle to find a free wifi connection. You can always connect at the city’s subway stations, but if you’d like to be online 24/7 we’d recommend renting pocket wifi.

Book online in advance and you can pick up your portable hot spot at the airport when you arrive, or have it delivered to your accommodation for free so it’s ready and waiting for when you arrive.

Knowing you’re always connected certainly helps in a city where you may have absolutely no idea what people are saying to you, how to get to where you’d like to be or what food you just ordered!

Simply pay your deposit, the small daily fee which varies between companies and don’t forget to charge it up - you’ll be exploring the city with ease in no time. 

Of course, one of the best things about visiting Seoul is trying the incredible cuisine that the city is famed for. Even if don’t come across English menus, most restaurants have photos of each dish which should give you a vague idea of what you’re ordering, or simply be brave and take your tastebuds on a journey into the unknown!

The city’s street food markets are a reason to visit alone, and a little research into the specialties you can’t miss trying will mean you’re rewarded when you arrive.

From “tteokbokki”, sticky rice cakes in a spicy sauce to “kimbap”, seaweed rice rolls, “bungeo-ppang”, sweet pastries shaped like fish to “sannakji”, live octopus, street food in Seoul will exceed any and all expectations, so try as much as you can!