Traveling Around South Korea: How to Move Around the Country with Ease

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Getting around a new country can feel overwhelming, especially when everything is in a foreign alphabet and our most trusted transportation app (Google Maps) is not available. But traveling around South Korea is actually very easy once you understand how the transportation system works.

From ultra fast high speed trains to reliable buses, subways, and ferries, South Korea has one of the most efficient transportation networks in Asia. Whether you are staying in a major city or heading out to more rural regions, getting from place to place is straightforward and affordable.

In this guide to traveling around South Korea, we’ll cover the best ways to move between cities, how to get around locally, and helpful tips to plan your trip. Whether you are exploring Seoul or heading to coastal towns and islands, this will help you travel South Korea confidently.

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Introduction: What to Know About Traveling Around South Korea

Before diving into the transportation options, let’s go over a few basics. We’ll start with how travelers typically enter South Korea and then explain what getting around the country is like once you arrive.

✈️ How to Get to South Korea

Most travelers arrive in South Korea by air, but there are a few additional options depending on where you are coming from.

For a full breakdown of arrival routes, check out our complete guide on how to visit South Korea, which explains land, air, and sea options in detail.

❣️ What is the Best Base for Exploring South Korea?

The best base depends on your itinerary, and how many days you plan on spending in the country. Distances are quite far between the top destinations in South Korea, so traveling around the country generally requires using a few home bases.

These are the most popular destinations to base yourself when traveling around South Korea:

🚆 How Do You Travel Around South Korea?

Here are the main ways people handle traveling around South Korea:

Traveling Around South Korea: Transportation Options

South Korea’s transportation system is modern, punctual, and easy to use. Here’s a closer look at each option.

✈️ Traveling Around South Korea by Domestic Flights

Domestic flights are useful for long distances and island travel. Flights connect Seoul, Busan, and other cities with Jeju Island, as well as routes between southern and eastern cities.

For mainland travel, trains are usually faster when factoring in airport time, but flights are helpful for reaching Jeju or saving time on longer routes.

Seoul Area ↔ Major Cities & Islands

Jeju Island ↔ Mainland South Korea

Regional Mainland Routes (may vary by airline/season)

🚆 Traveling Around South Korea by Train

Trains are the most efficient way of traveling around South Korea. The KTX high speed train connects major cities like Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Daejeon in just a few hours.

Train stations are centrally located, signage is in English, and tickets can be booked online or at stations. Slower regional trains like ITX and Mugunghwa are also available for budget travelers and scenic routes.

Basically, the longer the train takes the cheaper it is, so you can choose what fits your budget and urgency.

Popular train routes in South Korea include:

🚗 Traveling Around South Korea by Car

If you’re looking to explore at your own pace or a bit off-the-beaten-path, then renting a car can be a fun way to travel around South Korea.

While it’s not totally necessary, we found it would have been particularly helpful on the island of Jeju, and for experiencing day trips outside of normal hours (like sunrise or late at night).

The only reason we didn’t rent a car is because it is obligatory to have an IDP (international driving permit). It must be a physical copy as well, and regular international driver’s licenses will not be accepted.

Roads in South Korea are well-paved, and although Google Maps does not work in South Korea, you can download the Kakao T app for navigation.

🚌 Intercity Buses and Express Buses

Buses are another excellent option for traveling around South Korea, especially for destinations not served by trains. Express buses are comfortable, affordable, and connect nearly every city and town.

There are two main types:

Bus terminals are well organized, and many tickets can be booked online in advance.

⛴️ Traveling Around South Korea by Ferry

Ferries are an important part of traveling around South Korea, especially for coastal cities and islands. Regular routes connect the mainland with Jeju Island, Ulleungdo, and many smaller islands.

Major ferry ports include Busan, Mokpo, Incheon, and Pohang. Ferries range from high speed boats to slower overnight options, depending on the route. Although not always the fastest option, they’re a fun and scenic way to travel around South Korea.

🚇 Getting Around South Korea’s Cities

Major cities like Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Gwangju have extensive subway and bus systems. Subways are clean, reliable, and easy to navigate, with English signage and announcements.

A T money or Cashbee card makes city travel seamless and works on buses, subways, and even taxis in many places. For city travel, this is the easiest way to handle traveling around South Korea day to day. Just remember to have cash on you to fill up your card!

🚕 Taxis and Ride Hailing Apps

Taxis are widely available and affordable compared to many other countries. Kakao T is the most common ride hailing app and works similarly to Uber.

Taxis are ideal for short trips, late nights, or destinations not easily reached by public transport. In most cities, drivers use meters, and costs are pretty reasonable.

One thing we will note is that if you get car sick this might not be the most ideal option. Many of the drivers we had constantly slammed on the breaks. Also you’ll want to have Google Translate readily available since many drivers don’t speak English.

👩‍🏫 Guided Tours and Organized Travel Experiences

Guided tours are a great option for travelers who want a hassle-free experience. Many tours include transportation, entrance fees, and knowledgeable guides.

You can join day trips from Seoul to places like the DMZ, Nami Island, Suwon, and the east coast, or book multi day tours that cover multiple regions. Organized travel experiences are especially helpful for travelers short on time or visiting for the first time, and is a great way to meet other travelers if it’s a group tour.

Here are some fun organized tours in South Korea you can sign up for:

Traveling Around South Korea FAQ

Now that you know the main transportation options, you should feel confident planning your routes. South Korea’s infrastructure makes moving around easy, even for travelers who do not speak Korean.

In case you still have questions or missed anything though, here are some answers to frequently asked questions across the web for traveling around South Korea.

Final Tips for Traveling Around South Korea

Traveling around South Korea doesn’t need to be hard! With plenty of transportation options that are clean, safe, and reliable, it’s a comfortable country to explore, whether you want to do it on your own or with a guide.

Here are a few final tips to make traveling around South Korea as smooth as possible:

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👀 What’s Next?

Now you know all about traveling around South Korea, you probably want to know more about exploring this incredible country!

Here are all of the other Korean guides we have:

So are you excited to start traveling around South Korea? Now that you know how to get around the country and the cities, it’s time to start planning your itinerary!

Want to learn more about traveling to South Korea? We have plenty of other Korean travel guides for you to explore. Make sure to join our newsletter for all of our weekly article updates, as well as exclusive discounts on our Scratch Your Mapa shop.

Feeling overwhelmed still? Well, we’re here to help! Scratch Your Mapa offers customized travel planning services, getting you the best flights, unique places to stay, and specially curated itineraries. Want to learn more? Grab your consultation today.

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