Getting Around Seoul: Tmoney, Subway Exits, Maps and Taxis

Short answer: getting around Seoul is mostly the metro, paid with a Tmoney card, plus walking. Save the station, line, direction and exit number for every journey, and check the route on Naver Map or KakaoMap against the station signs. Taxis are a backup for tired evenings and awkward last stretches, not a way to rescue an overloaded day.

This guide is about moving around the city once you are there. For the journey in from Incheon, see our Seoul Airport to Hotel Guide.

Plan fewer journeys, not faster ones

The easiest way to get around Seoul is to need less transport. Build each day around a small number of metro rides and a cluster of places you can walk between. In our day routes, most legs inside a district are 10–40 minute walks, and the transfers between districts are 25–65 minutes by metro or local transport, including the walk at each end.

Two examples show the difference. Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon, Insadong and Jogyesa Temple make a full day almost entirely on foot. Namdaemun Market to Namsan, by contrast, gets 40–60 minutes in our route, leaving room for hills and station approaches. When a day includes two such transfers, keep the rest of it light.

Tmoney and subway fares

Tmoney is a practical stored-value card for the metro. Before you rely on it, confirm how you can buy and recharge it, and do not assume a foreign bank card will work for either. Tap as instructed on entry and on exit.

At our research date, the Seoul government listed an adult transport-card base subway fare of KRW 1,550, in force since 28 June 2025. Supplements can apply for longer distances and on special lines, so treat that as the starting price and check the official fare page before you travel.

Why the exit number matters

In Seoul, the right exit can matter as much as the right train. Station complexes can be large, and being close in metres can still mean several road crossings. For every journey, save four things:

• the station name
• the line
• the direction of travel
• the exit number closest to where you are going

A few stations need more care than most. Seoul Station is several linked facilities, and airport rail, metro and intercity trains each have their own approach. Hongik University is a useful interchange, but Hongdae spreads well beyond its entrances, so choose the exit that matches your address, not the first one you see. In Gangnam, big station complexes and wide roads make the last part of the walk longer than it looks. Around Myeongdong and Euljiro, check for stairs if you are carrying luggage.

Naver Map, KakaoMap and walking

For walking directions, use a locally supported map service such as Naver Map or KakaoMap, and compare what it says with the signs in the station. A straight line on a map can hide stairs, a hillside or a long interchange. Bukchon, for example, has hills and narrow lanes, and a short route there is more comfortable than a long search for every saved viewpoint.

Keep your hotel name and address in Korean saved offline. It is what you show a taxi driver, and it still works when your phone has no signal. If step-free access matters to you, check the approach to each stop in advance, including paths inside larger parks such as Seoul Forest.

Taxis: when they are worth it

A taxi makes sense after a late arrival or when the train connection no longer works. Use an official taxi or a prearranged pickup, and for longer or booked journeys get the total price and meeting point in writing first.

What a taxi should not become is a fix for a day that was planned too tightly. When you are tired, shorten the walking route first, drop a stop and head back. Seoul rewards the traveller who leaves space between its famous sights.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Tmoney card in Seoul?

It is the practical choice for the metro, because you tap in and out with a stored balance. Check how to buy and recharge it before you leave, as a foreign bank card may not work for either.

Should I use Naver Map or KakaoMap in Seoul?

Either works as a locally supported map service. Whichever you use, check the route against the station signs, because the map can hide stairs, hills and long interchanges.

How much is the subway in Seoul?

At our research date, the adult base fare with a transport card was KRW 1,550. Distance and special-line supplements can apply, so check the official fare page for your trip.

Are taxis in Seoul a good idea?

They are useful after a late or delayed arrival, when the train connection no longer works. Use official taxis or a prearranged pickup, and have your destination written in Korean.

Move around Seoul with confidence

The Seoul Travel Confidence Kit covers the metro, Tmoney, station exits and what to do when a journey goes wrong. For arrival day, the Seoul Airport to Hotel Guide covers Incheon step by step. The Seoul Travel Guide puts transport together with areas and daily routes. For other cities, browse Getting Around and Transport Guides.

Times and prices are planning estimates from our research in September 2026, not timetables or guaranteed prices. Check official sources for your travel dates.