Do I need to carry cash?

Yes. While cards are accepted almost everywhere, street food vendors and small market stalls often only accept cash.

Is English widely spoken?

In major tourist areas, yes. In local residential neighborhoods, expect to use translation apps or hand gestures.

Planning Your First Trip to Seoul

To plan your first trip to Seoul, dedicate at least 5 days to cover the major palaces and neighborhoods, and secure a T-money card immediately upon arrival for transit. Prioritize staying in the Myeong-dong or Hongdae areas to maximize your time and proximity to major subway lines.

Install the right navigation apps. Google Maps does not provide walking or transit directions in Seoul. Download Naver Map or KakaoMap before you land. You will need these to navigate the subway system and find local businesses.
Get a T-money card. Purchase a T-money card at any convenience store (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven) at the airport or subway station. Load it with 30,000 KRW to start; you can use this for all subways, buses, and even taxi fares.
Book a pocket Wi-Fi or eSIM. Connectivity is non-negotiable for navigating. Rent a pocket Wi-Fi device or buy an eSIM online and pick it up at Incheon Airport. Do not rely on public Wi-Fi.
Map your daily clusters. Seoul is massive. Group your activities by neighborhood—for example, spend one day entirely in the Jongno-gu area (palaces) and another in the Mapo-gu area (Hongdae/Yeonnam-dong) to avoid spending 2 hours a day on the subway.

Do I need to carry cash?: Yes. While cards are accepted almost everywhere, street food vendors and small market stalls often only accept cash.
Is English widely spoken?: In major tourist areas, yes. In local residential neighborhoods, expect to use translation apps or hand gestures.