South Korea is an incredible country boasting vibrant streets, world-class cuisine, and cultural wonders. From the bustling city of Seoul, to the seaside city of Busan, there are so many stunning places to visit. If you’re planning a trip to South Korea, here are a few handy tips you need to know before you go.

You will need your physical bank card

While South Korea is renowned for its cutting-edge technology, you will need to bring a physical bank card with you. Many establishments, especially smaller shops and markets, still prefer cash or card payments over digital transactions like Apple Pay or Google Pay. A lot of stores will require you to insert your card to pay as “tap and go” options are not available.

Get a T-money card

Having a T-money card will make travelling in South Korea a breeze. This handy card allows you to hop on and off public transportation, including buses, trains, and subways, without the hassle of purchasing individual tickets. Plus, you can use it to pay for small purchases at convenience stores and vending machines.

You can purchase a T-money card at any convenience store including 7-Eleven, GS25, CU and Ministop. The card itself will cost 3,000 KRW. You can then load money for your transport onto the card at the convenience store, or at the ticket vending machines located at all train and subway stations.

There are a LOT of stairs

Prepare to give your legs a workout because the cities of South Korea have a lot of stairs. The smaller train and subway stations rarely have escalators, so stairs are the only way to exit the station. If you are travelling with a heavy suitcase (or bought too many souvenirs like I did) be ready to carry your luggage up multiple flights of stairs.

Cash is still very relevant in South Korea

While card payments are quite common in South Korea, you will still need to take some cash on your travels. Cash is very convenient at markets and street food stands where card payments are not accepted. You’ll also need cash on hand when buying train tickets or loading your T-money card.

The local currency of South Korea is the Korean won (KRW). I purchased $500 AUD worth of won before my trip and this was enough to last me two weeks.

Google maps still works for public transport

Contrary to a lot of articles on the internet, Google Maps is particularly helpful when planning routes via public transport. When travelling in both Seoul and Busan, I found Google Maps to be the easiest way to look at train and bus routes, departure times, platforms, and transport prices.

For walking or driving directions, I recommend using Kakao Maps and Naver Maps. Personally I found Naver Maps easier to use as all of the landmarks and directions are in English. On Kakao Maps, all of the public transport information is in Korean. Though, it can easily be translated by taking a screenshot and uploading the image into the Google translate app.

Luggage lockers are a game changer

If you arrive too early to check in to your accommodation, or have a late flight home, I highly recommend hiring a luggage locker. You’ll find luggage lockers in most train stations in Seoul. These are an absolute game changer if you’re someone like me who travels with a large suitcase. You can hire lockers of various sizes, including ones large enough to fit both a suitcase and a backpack.

To hire the locker, you simply follow the instructions on the digital screen at the storage bay. The instructions are available in multiple languages and are easy to follow. You can pay for the storage hire using your debit or credit card, or a T-money card. No more lugging suitcases around the city for an entire day!

Rubbish bins are rare in South Korea

When travelling in South Korea, you will struggle to find a rubbish bin. The reason for this is due to the country’s “pay-as-you-throw” rubbish system which requires residents to purchase waste bags for items that are non-recyclable. The initiative aims to minimise waste and encourage recycling. Consequently, thousands of public rubbish bins were removed to deter people from using them to avoid paying the “pay-as-you-throw” fee.

If you do need to dispose of rubbish when travelling in South Korea, be prepared to carry it for a long time until you come across a bin.

South Korea is an incredible country and one of my favourite places to travel (alongside Japan, of course). If you haven’t visited South Korea, I highly recommend adding it to your list!

Until the next adventure,

Jetsetter Soph