Things To Know Before Visiting South Korea

South Korea might be a small country (about the size of the Indian state of Telangana), but it offers a wealth of experiences for travelers. Whether you are a fan of K-dramas and K-pop bands like BTS and Blackpink or simply curious about Korean culture, this travel guide covers the top things to know before visiting South Korea. After spending 16 days exploring two major cities, Seoul and Busan, this article shares essential travel tips to help you plan an enjoyable and stress-free trip.

Best Time To Travel To South Korea

One of the most important things to know before visiting South Korea is the best time to plan your trip. The most popular season is spring (mid-March to April), when cherry blossoms paint the cities in beautiful shades of pink. However, spring is peak tourist season, so expect larger crowds. Summer (May to mid-September) and autumn (mid-September to November) are also ideal times for visitors, offering pleasant weather and fewer tourists. Keep these South Korea travel tips in mind to choose the season that suits your preferences best.

Also Read: Ultimate Seoul Travel Guide For First Time Visitors

Also Read: Ultimate Busan Travel Guide For First Time Visitors

South Korea Currency: What Tourists Need To Know

When planning your trip, knowing about the currency is one of the important things to know before visiting South Korea. The official currency is the South Korean Won (KRW), with an approximate exchange rate of 1000 KRW to ₹60.

Credit Card Acceptance?

Credit cards are widely accepted in cities like Seoul and Busan, so you may not need much cash for daily expenses. We used cards everywhere be it at restaurants, convenience stores, and attraction ticket counters.

How Much Cash is Needed?

However, carrying some cash is essential for street food, topping up your T-Money transportation card, or shopping at underground markets near subway stations.

There is no need to keep cash of more than KRW 0.1 million (~₹6,000). If needed, you can always exchange currency at one of many currency exchange counters available in Seoul and Busan.

Travel Tip: Bring dollars (USD) with you instead of INR for currency exchange for a favourable exchange rate.

The other option is to withdraw cash from an ATM using a debit card. But do note that almost all the ATMs in South Korea charge KRW 3500 – 6000 (~₹ 210 – 360) for cash withdrawals. Also, many ATMs may refuse to accept foreign debit cards.

Visa Requirements For Indian Passport Holders Visiting South Korea

Another key travel tip for first-time visitors is to understand the visa process. Indian passport holders need to apply for an e-visa to enter South Korea. The visa application is typically processed within a week through the VFS visa centre.

Make sure to start this process well in advance of your travel dates to avoid last-minute issues. Knowing the visa requirements ahead of time will save you stress and help you plan your South Korea itinerary smoothly.

Language Tips For First-Time Visitors To South Korea

One of the useful things to know before visiting South Korea is that Korean is the official language. While English is not widely spoken, especially among the older generation, younger people in Seoul and Busan generally understand and speak some English.

Having a translation app or learning a few basic Korean phrases can make your travel experience smoother, especially in restaurants or more local neighbourhoods.

Why South Korea Is A Cheaper Alternative To Japan For Travelers

If you’re considering Japan but worried about the cost, here’s one of the best South Korea travel tips: South Korea offers similar experiences at lower prices. You can enjoy cherry blossoms in Seoul or Jinhae, visit animal and quirky cafes, explore traditional monuments, and engage in fun activities in Seoul and Busan—all without the insane taxi and accommodation prices of Japan. For budget-conscious travelers, South Korea is an excellent alternative that doesn’t compromise on experience.

Also Read: South Korea 7 Day Itinerary

Vegetarian Food in South Korea: What To Expect And Where To Eat

Vegetarian food options are limited in South Korea, which is an important travel tip for vegetarians and vegans visiting the country. Your best bet is Indian restaurants, Subway, or bakeries, though Indian restaurants can be expensive with meals costing around KRW 30,000 to 55,000 (~₹ 1,800 – 3,300). Outside popular districts in Seoul and Busan, vegetarian options are sparse, so planning ahead and carrying some ready-to-eat snacks can be a lifesaver.

I generally don’t keep high expectations from Indian restaurants abroad. Indian food in Europe was mostly average but here in South Korea, food served in Indian restaurants was amazing.

Staying In Popular Neighborhoods In South Korea

One of the practical things to know before visiting South Korea is where to stay. While I generally avoid popular neighbourhoods due to high accommodation costs, South Korea is an exception.

Staying in popular areas like Hongdae or Myeongdong in Seoul, or Haeundae in Busan, offers two major advantages. First, you’ll be centrally connected to major attractions via public transport, saving significant commute time. Second, vegetarian food options and Indian restaurants are more readily available in these neighbourhoods compared to less popular areas.

Purchase A T-Money Card For Convenient Travel In South Korea

Buying a T-Money Card is one of the smartest travel tips for South Korea. This prepaid transportation card works like Singapore’s EZ-Link card and can be used on subways, buses, and taxis across the country.

The T-Money Card offers two major advantages: convenience (no need to buy tickets every time) and savings (KRW 100 discount per fare, plus free transfers between buses and subways when treated as a single journey). Some buses only accept T-Money cards, making this purchase a no-brainer for any visitor.

Google Maps Does Not Work In South Korea

Here’s a surprising fact and one of the essential things to know before going to South Korea: Google Maps does not work there due to government regulations requiring local data storage.

However, Naver Maps is an excellent alternative that functions just as well for walking and public transport directions. The app is available in Korean lanuage by default, , but the language setting can be changed to English, making it easy to navigate Seoul and Busan.

There’s also Kakao Maps, though I found it harder to change to English settings.

Taxi vs Public Transport In South Korea: What You Need To Know

Both Seoul and Busan have excellent public transport networks, but here’s a practical South Korea travel tip: don’t always avoid taxis. While subways are faster than buses, you may often find that stations are far from your destination or require multiple line changes. Buses may also require transfers. Sometimes the time spent walking, waiting, and changing transport can be significant.

Taxis in South Korea are reasonably priced (most rides cost around ₹500), unlike in Europe. My rule of thumb: take a taxi if it costs no more than 3-3.5x the public transport fare and saves at least 20 minutes. You can use Uber or Kakao Taxi apps for convenience and credit card payments.

Should You Buy Your KTX Bullet Train Ticket In Advance?

If you’re traveling between Seoul and Busan, you’ll likely take the KTX bullet train. Here’s a helpful tip: there’s no need to book KTX tickets in advance. Multiple trains run daily on the same route, and tickets are usually available for the next departure. Unlike India where advance booking is essential, or Europe where dynamic pricing makes same-day tickets expensive, KTX ticket prices remain constant regardless of when you book. This flexibility is one of the convenient things to know before visiting South Korea.

How To Pre-Book Activities And Save Money In South Korea

One of the money-saving travel tips for South Korea is to pre-book activities through platforms like Klook. Tickets are already discounted, and frequent offers can reduce costs further. Many tickets are open-dated or come with free cancellation, giving you flexibility even if your plans aren’t fixed.

Note: An open-dated ticket can be used any day within the validity period, making it ideal for travelers with fluid itineraries.

Klook.com Klook.com

Bringing Ready-to-Eat Food: A Vegetarian’s Travel Tip For South Korea

This tip is specifically for vegetarians visiting South Korea. Since vegetarian options are limited and expensive, bringing snacks and ready-to-eat food from home can be a lifesaver. Even hotel buffet breakfasts may lack vegetarian variety. Having ready-to-eat meals is especially useful for early morning departures before shops open or after a hectic day when you just want to eat in your room. We prefer Haldiram and Yu products, which are convenient and filling.

City Cards In South Korea: Are They Worth Buying?

Most major cities worldwide have attraction passes that offer one-time free entry to select attractions. Some passes also provide free unlimited use of public transport during the validity period like the Salzburg Card and Innsbruck Card we used in Salzburg and Innsbruck respectively.

But not all city passes are worth buying. Some of these passes are so insanely expensive that unless you have packed your day with 5-6 attractions, you may end up losing money on the pass.

When researching things to know before visiting South Korea, you’ll come across city passes like the Visit Busan Pass and Discover Seoul Pass. These passes offer one-time free entry to select attractions and can double as T-Money cards (though they don’t include free unlimited public transport). Whether they’re worth buying depends on your itinerary. Create a list of attractions you want to visit and calculate if the pass saves you money. We found both passes worthwhile because we visited many expensive listed attractions, but your mileage may vary based on your interests. Both the passes can be bought from Klook.

Discover Seoul Pass – Klook
Visit Busan Pass – Klook

Budget Shopping Tips

Shopping in South Korea is one of the highlights for many travelers, especially for beauty and skincare enthusiasts.

Skincare Products

South Korea is famous for high-quality skincare and beauty products. Korean brands available in India are often expensive, but in South Korea, you can buy them at about half the price.

Myeongdong walking street in Seoul is the hub for beauty shopping, with hundreds of shops and the largest Olive Young store (Korea’s biggest health and beauty retailer).

Daiso Store

Daiso is your go-to place for budget shopping in South Korea. You’ll find electronic accessories, kitchen products, toys, and daily-use items starting from just KRW 1000 (~₹60). Despite the low prices, the quality is decent. In Delhi, similar product of inferior quality may be available at a higher price. The biggest Daiso store is in Myeongdong, Seoul, though you’ll find branches across the country.

Clothes

Hongdae Street in Seoul is known as fashion street and is very popular among tourists. Many major subway stations in Seoul and Busan have underground markets selling clothes, bags, and lifestyle items at low prices. We can’t personally vouch for the quality, but they’re worth exploring if you’re on a budget.

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These are the essential things to know before visiting South Korea to make your trip smooth and enjoyable. From understanding visa requirements and transportation options to finding vegetarian food and budget shopping spots, planning ahead will help you make the most of your South Korean adventure. Whether you’re exploring the vibrant streets of Seoul or relaxing on the beaches of Busan, these South Korea travel tips will ensure you’re well-prepared for an unforgettable journey.

If you have more tips or experiences about visiting South Korea, please share them in the comments. We would love to hear from you!

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