Public transportation isn’t necessarily the first thing that pops into our heads when we’re preparing for a trip. How come we never fail to plan what to eat or what to do, but it’s so easy to forget to plan HOW to get there? Although Seoul’s public transportation system is very well designed, it can take some getting used to before you’re navigating like a pro. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the city’s various busses, trains & more.
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Travel Passes
There are actually quite a variety of different travel passes, each one catering to the specific needs of the individual traveler. If you’re debating over which one to get, don’t fret, as Trazy is here to save the day! With the right pass, getting by on public transportation in Seoul will be a piece of cake.
Check out our detailed guide to finding the right travel pass for yourself here!
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
| T-money Card | M-Pass | Korea Tour Card | Discover Seoul Pass | Climate Card | Climate Card for Tourists | WOWPASS | Korea Travel Card | |
Price | 2,500 won ~500,000 won | 15,000 ~ 64,500 won | 4,000 won ~ 500,000 won | 39,900 ~ 70,000 won | 62,000 won OR 65,000 won per month | 5,000 ~ 15,000 won depending on length | 4,000 won ~6,000 won not including balance | 4,700 Won not including balance |
Found at: | Trazy.com, Convenience stores, Subway stations, T-money Town, Myeong-dong Tourist Information Center | Seoul Station Tmoney Town (1F Seoul City Tower near Seoul Station) | Convenience stores, Various card vending machines, In-flight purchases (Jeju Airlines), Affiliated banks within airport | Trazy.com, Myeongdong Tourist Information Centers at Myeongdong, Dongdaemun, Hongdae, & Seoul Tourism | T-Money Mobile App Information offices or Kiosks on any Seoul City line (1~8), Convenience stores located within these stations | Tourist Information Center in Seoul Tourism Plaza or Myeongdong, customer safety center in subway stations on lines 1 to 8, convenience stores near subway stations | Trazy.com, Incheon Int’l Airport Terminal 1 & 2, as well as Gimpo, Jeju, Gimhae, & Daegu airports Also available at kiosk across Korea; find the full list here | Trazy.com, Incheon Int’l Airport Terminal 1 & 2, as well as Moneybox Currency Exchange Office at Gimhae Airport and Jeju Downtown |
Benefit | Transportation No expiration date | Transportation (Up to 20 rides a day) *Cannot be used to pay for taxis and may not be accepted at convenience stores. *KRW 3,000 discount after 5pm! | Transportation Discounts on Shopping, Duty-Free, Food, Tourist Attractions, Entertainment No expiration date (+ Mobile Card available) | Transportation: T-money, 1 free ride for Airport Express Train (AREX), Seoul Public Bike (Ttareungi), 1 free ride for Airport Bus (Limousine) Free admission to more than 50 & discount benefits to more than 100 attractions (+Mobile Pass available) | Unlimited access to Seoul subway and public city/village buses (65,000 won price includes access to Seoul Public Bikes but must be registered online) *Cannot be used on Shinbundang Line, subways outside of Seoul, Gyeonggi-do city buses, wide-area buses (red & airport buses), and night buses | Unlimited access to Seoul subway and public city/village buses 50% off admission to the Seoul Science Center and Seoul Grand Park *Cannot be used on Shinbundang Line, subways outside of Seoul, Gyeonggi-do city buses, wide-area buses (red & airport buses), and night buses | WOWPASS can be used like a debit card at any offline merchant in Korea that accepts local card payments Accepted on all T-money accepted transportation WOWPASS can be charged using overseas credit cards through the WOWPASS App *Tmoney & WOWPASS balance must be topped up separately | Offers hassle-free payments across Korea. Works as a transportation card on subways, buses, taxis, and major train routes nationwide (KTX, ITX, and more). Deposit and withdraw with zero fees at Woori Bank ATMs. Earn up to 50% cashback at partner stores and 0.2% unlimited cashback on purchases. |
Contactless & Mobile Payment Options
As of 2026, travelers can use Apple Pay throughout Korea, but there are important details to understand when using it for public transportation in Seoul.
Apple Pay and Public Transport
Apple Pay works in Korea at participating retail merchants, but it does NOT function as a direct tap to pay solution on most Seoul subway gates or buses unless it is linked to a compatible transportation card.
To ride the subway or bus using your phone, you must use:
- Mobile Tmoney App (Android NFC supported)
- Samsung Pay with Tmoney integration
- Physical Tmoney Card added to Apple Pay*
*Apple Pay currently only supports digital reloading through Hyundai Credit Cards, this means although somewhat more convenient on transportation, we still highly recommend using a seperate Tmoney, WOWPASS, or Korea Travel Card to avoid the hassle of loading a physical card while using a digital one.
1. Subway
Consisting of 22 lines in total, Seoul has one of the most extensive networks & convenient urban railway systems in the world, serving regions beyond just the city center. Operating from as early as 4 in the morning to as late as 1 at night, it is one of the most efficient ways to travel around the city, getting you where you need to be when you want to be. Fares are also relatively cheap starting at a base fare of around 1,400 won (1 USD) with a discount of 100 won for T-money users!
However, that’s not all. What puts Seoul Metropolitan Subway a cut above the rest is the fully air-conditioned trains which are all equipped with wireless internet connection. How awesome is that! What’s more, announcements, subway maps, and most of the information throughout the stations and trains are provided in, not only Korean but also English, Chinese, and Japanese. So, if you’re even a tiny bit discouraged by the possibility of getting lost during your travel, there’s no need to worry. Public transportation in Seoul has never been so easy before!
Jiok-cheol
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Though the Subway system in Korea may seem somewhat “perfect”, just remember that it is, nonetheless, prone to the massive hordes of people that the peak hours entail. The widely-used term ‘Jiok-cheol’, which literally translates into ‘Hell Train’, refers to when the subway is completely packed with commuters during rush hour, usually 7am to 9am and 6pm to 7pm.
*You can download apps such as Subway Korea, KakaoMetro, and Korean Subway to get real-time departure and arrival times and use NaverMaps for recommendations on which subway car to ride for the fastest transfer.
Get all the details on the Essential Apps for Your Trip to Korea on our blog!
2. Bus
The public bus system in Seoul is well-developed, connecting every corner of Seoul with hundreds of routes running throughout the city, and like the subway, they start operating from the early hours of the morning until late at night. There is even a night bus running less frequently throughout the evening to provide transportation once the subways have closed. Moreover, you’ll have no problem spotting the bus you have to take as they are easily discernible by their color, each one of them is color-coded according to the area they serve. They sure do make public transportation in Seoul easy for almost anyone!
In general, buses are categorized according to whether they are General, Rapid, or Local buses. Let’s take a quick glance at the different types of buses in Seoul!
| General |  | Blue (Mainline) buses connect suburban areas to downtown Seoul, running along long-distance routes at faster speeds. |
| Blue | ||
 | Green (Branch) buses connect major subway stations and bus terminals outside downtown Seoul, running along short-distance routes at slower speeds. | |
| Green | ||
 | Yellow (Circulation) buses operate within downtown Seoul, stopping at subway stations, tourist attractions as well as shopping and business districts. | |
| Yellow | ||
| Rapid |  | Red (Rapid) buses operate on express routes, especially for passengers commuting between the metropolitan area and downtown Seoul. |
| Red | ||
| Local |  | Maeul (Local) buses are small community-based buses that run along comparatively shorter routes, mainly around residential areas. |
***Remember to tap your card when getting off the bus stop! Otherwise, additional fees will be charged!
Bus Tour
However, if you’re new to Seoul and not sure of where to go, why not buy an all-in-one Seoul City Tour Bus Ticket. Available in English, Mandarin, and Japanese, sit back and relax as we take you around to the must-visit destinations that Seoul has to offer!
If want to conveniently get to Incheon Airport from Gangnam, take an airport limousine bus (6103) that operates between Incheon Airport (ICN) and COEX City Airport Terminal (CALT), the fastest way from the city center to the airport! Each person can bring 2 pieces of luggage free of charge.
3. Taxi
Transportation in Seoul is generally cheap and taxis are no exception to this. What’s more, it has now become easier than ever to hail a cab, without having to flail your arms around wildly.
Although Uber is the trend everywhere else, in Korea we have Kakao Taxi reigns supreme. Many Koreans prefer Kakao Taxi thanks to its seamless integration into KakaoTalk and because it is generally very reliable. Both apps are very similar in terms of function and design, however, we recommend Kakao Taxi. Because it is available in not only Korean but also English and Japanese for foreign users, it shouldn’t be too difficult to adjust to and the driver response rate is usually much faster! Although Uber is available to use in Seoul with the abbreviation ‘UT’, they tend to have fewer available drivers compared to other services so you may end up waiting quite a while to be connected.
Airport Taxis
The base fare for a normal taxi is only 4,800 won (3.50 USD), so taking one, especially when traveling in a group, is a smart choice. Nonetheless, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a taxi. Prices are sure to go up steeply when it comes to long-distance trips such as taking a ride from the airport to the city center. So, if you’re looking to take a cab from the airport with all your heavy luggage, why not book Incheon/Gimpo Airport – Seoul Private Van Transfer (24/7) or Incheon/Gimpo Airport – Main Cities in Gyeonggi-do Private Van Transfer (24/7), including Suwon, Pyeongtaek, Bundang, Goyang, Hanam, Dongtan, Hwaseong, and Gunsan! You can choose between either a sedan or a van, depending on the number of passengers.
- Incheon/ Gimpo Airport ↔ Seoul Private Van & Bus Transfer – Airport Taxi (24/7) with Airport Hall Picketing Service
- Incheon/Gimpo Airport ↔ Suwon/Pyeongtaek/Bundang/Goyang/Hanam/Hwaseong/Dongtan/Gunsan (Kunsan) Van Transfer – Airport Taxi (24/7)
If you need a private transfer service from Incheon Airport, Gimpo Airport, or Seoul to Gapyeong, Chuncheon, Gangneung, Suwon, Jeonju, or Sokcho, check out this hassle-free intercity private van transfer service.
4. Bicycle
Bicycles are another mode of transportation a lot of people make use of in Seoul. Though Seoul may not be known for being a bike-friendly city, with the Han River flowing through the heart of the city, there are many parks along the riverside with bike paths great for cycling.
Seoul Bike
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Seoul Public Bike, also known as Ttareungi in Korean, is an unmanned bike rental system managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, that has more than 1,500 rental stations located throughout the city for people to use at their own convenience. Moreover, you can get a 1-day rental for just a mere 1,000 won and what’s more, services are provided in English, Chinese and Japanese!
There’s even better news for those who’ve purchased the Discover Seoul Pass. In addition to the many benefits, this pass already offers, a 1-day Seoul Bike voucher is included. Just get your 8-digit rental number from the Discover Seoul Pass website and you’re off on your bicycle adventures!
Bike Tours
However, if you’re up for a more interactive cycling experience, join us on a Seoul Bike Tour and get a taste of what Seoul has to offer.
Check out the different Seoul Bike Tours we have lined up for every type of traveler out there:
- Seoul VIP Pedicab Tour: Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon Hanok Village & more
- Seoul Bike Tour: Morning Electric Bike Tour
- Seoul Pedicab Ride Tour
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do tourists need a Tmoney card in Seoul?
Yes, most visitors should get a Tmoney card. While single journey tickets are available, a Tmoney card makes transfers between subway and bus easier, offers small fare discounts, and saves time. It is accepted on subways, city buses, and even most taxis.
Is the Climate Card worth it for tourists?
The Climate Card is best for medium to long-stay visitors who will mainly travel within Seoul city limits. It offers unlimited subway and bus rides, but it does not cover airport buses, red wide area buses or trips outside Seoul. Short term travelers may find Tmoney more flexible.
Can I use Apple Pay or my foreign credit card on Seoul buses and subways?
In most cases, no. Apple Pay works at many retail stores in Korea, but Seoul public transportation still requires a transit card system such as Tmoney, WOWPASS or the Korea Travel Card. Direct international credit card tap to ride is not widely supported.
What is the easiest way to get from Incheon Airport to Seoul?
The most popular options are the AREX Airport Railroad Express train, airport limousine buses, or a private airport transfer. The best choice depends on your luggage, destination, and budget. Private transfers are the most convenient for families and late night arrivals.
Is public transportation in Seoul tourist-friendly?
Yes. The Seoul subway system provides English, Chinese and Japanese signage and announcements. Navigation apps like Naver or KakaoMaps also make it easy to plan routes, and transportation cards are simple to purchase at convenience stores and airports.
Are you ready to roam the streets of Seoul like a pro? Discover the city through public transportation in Seoul! Find out more about traveling around Korea on Trazy.com, Korea’s #1 Travel Shop.
[Photo Credits]
T-money Official Site
Korea Tour Card Official Site
Discover Seoul Pass Official Site
Seoul Metropolitan Government Official Site
Noun Project:
Bus by SANTRI ICON from the Noun Project
Bus by Juliette Design from the Noun Project