Timothée Gidenne, Unsplash License, Source

Seoul

Where Tradition Meets High-Tech Marvels

Seoul stands as South Korea’s bustling capital, where modern skyscrapers rise alongside centuries-old palaces. The city pulses with energy day and night, from crowded subway stations to quiet neighborhoods filled with traditional tea houses. Street vendors sell warm bibimbap on busy corners while tech companies shape the global economy. Parks like Namsan offer green spaces amid concrete, inviting locals and visitors to pause. Seoul’s mix of old and new reflects a culture that respects history yet embraces innovation without losing its identity.

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City in South Korea

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 8.9

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	8
Tap water:	9

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and by younger locals. Most signage in public transport and major attractions is also in English, making navigation easy.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Seoul Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Excellent for modern city life and historic palaces. Explore lively shopping districts, visit royal palaces, enjoy street food markets and experience nightlife.

Place score

8.6

Best at:

Local cuisine

Street food

Art

Luxury shopping

Fine dining

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

💻 9

Digital Nomads

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

South Korea – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	South Korean Won (KRW) £1 ≈ ₩1,766
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in South Korea. Credit cards are commonly used in most establishments, including smaller businesses. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in South Korea. However, small tips are appreciated in hotels and for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in South Korea, though drinking in public spaces like parks and streets may attract attention. Alcohol is also served in many convenience stores.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces, but designated smoking areas are available in some outdoor locations.

Seollal (January/February)	Celebrated in January or February with family gatherings
Chuseok (September/October)	Celebrated in September or October

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 112 (Police), 119 (Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Kakao T, T Map Taxi
Other:	South Korea offers a blend of traditional culture and modern technology, with historical sites, vibrant cities, and stunning landscapes.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Seoul, South Korea

❄️

Jan

❄️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

⛈️

Jul

⛈️

Aug

🌦️

Sep

🌤️

Oct

🌤️

Nov

❄️

Dec

High season:	April - May, Oct. - Nov.
Shoulder season:	March, June, Sep., Dec.
Crowdedness:	9 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Cherry blossom season early to mid April, peaks quickly and draws heavy crowds

Rainy season (jangma) late June to late July, humid with frequent downpours

Autumn foliage season mid October to mid November, especially in the northern mountains

Don't miss

🏯 Explore Gyeongbokgung Palace and watch the royal guard ceremony
🛍️ Shop and eat street food in bustling Myeongdong
🌇 Admire Seoul’s skyline from N Seoul Tower at sunset
🏘️ Wander through Bukchon Hanok Village’s traditional alleys
🌊 Relax along the Cheonggyecheon Stream in the city center
🎤 Experience K-pop culture and nightlife in Hongdae

You've been here?

Why travel to Seoul?

Seoul offers an exciting mix of history, culture and innovation. You can explore royal palaces, shop in vibrant districts and taste incredible street food. The city’s efficient public transport and welcoming vibe make it easy to explore, whether you’re hiking in Bukhansan National Park or enjoying the nightlife in Hongdae. However, it can get crowded, especially in popular areas like Myeongdong and Insadong.

🏙️Cities & Regions

1 Myeong-dong
A bustling shopping district in Seoul's heart, famous for electronics and fashion. Crowded streets offer endless variety, yet hidden alleys provide quiet respites from the main thoroughfare's constant energy.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Changdeokgung Palace
This historic royal palace features beautiful gardens, traditional architecture and serene courtyards. It offers a peaceful escape from the bustling city, showcasing centuries of Korean heritage and stunning seasonal landscapes.
2 Gyeongbokgung Palace
This historic palace complex features traditional architecture and serene gardens within a bustling city center. It offers cultural depth away from crowded tourist spots, providing quiet contemplation amidst Seoul's vibrant energy and historical significance.
3 N Seoul Tower
Perched on Namsan Mountain, this observation tower offers panoramic views of Seoul’s skyline and historic sites. Visitors can enjoy restaurants, a digital observatory, seasonal light displays, year‑round attractions for tourists.
4 Bukchon Hanok Village
This historic Hanok village offers traditional architecture, serene courtyards and cultural workshops. It provides a peaceful escape from modern Seoul, showcasing centuries-old customs and beautiful wooden structures within a quiet, atmospheric setting.
5 Dongdaemun Design Plaza
A futuristic complex in Seoul featuring a glass pavilion, LED rose garden and rotating exhibition spaces that host fashion shows, design fairs and cultural events. It serves as a hub for creativity and nightlife.
6 Seoul Museum of History
7 N Seoul Tower Gift Shop
8 The War Memorial of Korea

🎡Places for activities

1 Lotte World
A massive indoor theme park in Seoul's Lotte World Tower, featuring roller coasters and attractions. The complex spans several floors of entertainment, dining options and views from the top observation deck.
2 Everland
3 Lotte World
4 Trick Eye Museum
5 COEX Aquarium

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Namsan Mountain
2 Cheonggyecheon (Stream)
3 Inwangsan Mountain Park
4 Seokchon Lake
5 Nanji Hangang Park
6 Seoul Forest
7 Gwanaksan Mountain
8 Yeouido Park
9 Haneul Park
10 Bukhansan National Park

🛍️Shopping

1 Insadong Cultural Street
One of Seoul's historic cultural hubs, Insadong features traditional hanok houses and antique shops near Bukchon Palace. While often crowded with tourists seeking souvenirs, venture deeper to find quiet tea houses offering authentic calm away from the main thoroughfare.
2 Dongdaemun Market
3 Gwangjang Market
4 Namdaemun Market
5 Lotte Department Store
6 Myeongdong Shopping Street
7 COEX Mall
8 Garosu-gil

🎈Events

Seoul Lantern Festival
Cherry Blossom Festival
Seoul Kimchi Making & Sharing Festival
Boryeong Mud Festival
Hi Seoul Festival
Seoul International Fireworks Festival
Lotus Lantern Festival
Korea Grand Sale
Seoul Fringe Festival
Hanbok Culture Week

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Get a T-money card for seamless subway, bus and convenience-store payments.
Base yourself near a subway hub like Myeongdong or Hongdae for easy airport access, shopping, nightlife and day-trip connections.
Many sights close on Mondays or Tuesdays; always double-check palace, museum and market opening days before planning your itinerary.
Rent a hanbok near Gyeongbokgung to access palaces free, then wander Bukchon and Ikseon-dong hanok lanes for great photography and cafés.

How to travel to Seoul

Incheon International Airport (ICN) is the main gateway, with a high-speed train connecting to Seoul Station. Gimpo Airport (GMP) handles domestic and some international flights. KTX trains connect Seoul with other major cities in South Korea.

Access summary

From Incheon (ICN): AREX or limousine bus to downtown, about 45–70 minutes.
From Busan: KTX high-speed trains to Seoul Station, roughly 2.5–3 hours.
From Gimpo (GMP): AREX or subway to central Seoul, usually 25–40 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Seoul

Seoul offers a wide range of accommodation, from budget guesthouses to luxury hotels. Popular areas to stay include Myeongdong for shopping, Hongdae for nightlife and Insadong for traditional vibes.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hotel Skypark Kingstown Dongdaemun

8.8

NINE TREE BY PARNAS SEOUL MYEONDONG 2

8.9

NINE TREE BY PARNAS SEOUL INSADONG

9.1

GLAD MAPO

9.2

Migliore Hotel Seoul Myeongdong

7.8

L7 HONGDAE by LOTTE HOTELS

9.0

Roynet Hotel Seoul Mapo

Hotel Skypark Central Myeongdong

8.6

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Seoul

Seoul’s public transport is excellent, with a vast metro network, buses and affordable taxis. The T-money card is a convenient way to pay for transit. Walking is great in central areas and bike rentals are available along the Han River.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-42 %

Daily expenses in Seoul are around 42% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-8 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to KRW) is 8% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£51	£106	£286
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£26	£60	£150
🍝 Food per day	£21	£42	£123
🚕 Transportation per day	£4	£4	£13

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£18
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£6
🍟 Fast food combo	£4.80
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£8.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.80
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.60

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.80
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£7.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.85

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£7.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£47
🤧 Cold medication	£2.60
💇 Basic haircut	£12.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Seoul is generally very safe, even at night. Petty crime is rare, but it’s always wise to stay alert in crowded places and keep personal belongings secure.

Health & Medical

Healthcare in Seoul is modern and high-quality, with many English-speaking doctors in major hospitals. Pharmacies are widespread and tap water is safe to drink.

Accessibility

Seoul is quite accessible, with ramps, elevators and accessible public transport. Some older areas may have uneven streets, but most attractions are accessible.

Tap water

Tap water in Seoul is safe to drink and water fountains are available in many public places. Carrying a reusable water bottle is recommended.