Ask what the guidebook cannot answer.

Example · not traveler activity

Which of the four Seoul markets is worth the trip if you only have one lunch?

We list four: Gwangjang on Line 1, Tongin on Line 3, Namdaemun on Line 4 and Mangwon on Line 6. They are on four different lines and sell four different lunches, and the collection we wrote says which is which. What it does not say is which one to pick, because that depends on things we cannot check from a desk: how much English is spoken on a Tuesday afternoon, whether the token lunchbox at Tongin is as self-explanatory as it sounds when nobody is there to explain it, and whether Gwangjang is worth it at 11am or only after dark. If you have been to any of them, say which and when. Corrections to what we have written are more useful than agreement with it.

What are the emergency numbers in Korea?

112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance, and 1330 for the travel helpline. 1330 is the one most visitors do not know about: it offers information and interpretation, so it is useful when the problem is that you cannot explain the problem. Save all three before you need them. They are in the Emergency help in Korea guide with the rest of the practical detail.

How much is the airport train, exactly?

The AREX all-stop is ₩4,150 from Terminal 1 and ₩4,750 from Terminal 2. Those fares were checked on 29 July 2026 and the guide shows how long ago that was, so you can judge whether to re-check. The Express is faster — about 43 minutes from Terminal 1 — but costs more and runs less often. If your stay is near a station the all-stop is usually the better trade.

Where do I start if I have one day in the old centre?

Anguk station covers most of it. Gyeongbokgung for the scale and the changing of the guard, Changdeokgung ten minutes east, Bukchon between them, and Insa-dong to finish. One thing to check before you go: Changdeokgung's rear Secret Garden is a separate timed ticket, so decide about it in advance rather than at the gate. We have grouped these as a collection — Old Seoul in one day.

Which Korean phrases actually get used?

Far fewer than most phrasebooks suggest. The ones that come up constantly are thank you, sorry, I do not understand, and please speak slowly. After that it is directions — please show me on the map, go straight, turn left, turn right — and one for the transit card: I would like to recharge this card. All of them are on our phrases page with Korean, English and romanisation, and a large-text card you can hold up. It works without an account.

I land after 22:00. What are my options?

After roughly 22:00 the rail options thin out, so plan the last leg before you fly rather than in the arrivals hall. Check the official late-night bus page and taxi options for your actual arrival day — schedules change and we would rather you confirmed than trusted a page you read weeks earlier. The Incheon Airport to Seoul guide has the comparison and links to the operators' own pages.

Is Gwangjang Market good for a first solo meal?

It is one of the easiest, because you eat standing at the stall. There is no table to be seated at and no minimum order, which are the two things that make solo dining awkward elsewhere. The format where eating alone is genuinely difficult is shared grilled meat, where the minimum is usually two portions. Cash is normal at market stalls — see Paying in Korea before you rely on a card.

Do I need Google Maps or a Korean map app?

Walking and transit directions inside Korea are unreliable on Google Maps because of how mapping data may be exported. Most people here use Naver Map or Kakao Map, and both have English interfaces. Our own map is for finding what is on and where; for turn-by-turn directions, open the place in Naver, Kakao or Google from its page and use whichever you already have.

Is the AREX train or a limousine bus better from Incheon?

Short answer: the all-stop AREX if your stay is near a station, a limousine bus if the bus stops close to your door, and an official taxi if you land late or have heavy bags. The all-stop AREX is ₩4,150 from Terminal 1 and runs to Seoul Station. The AREX Express is faster at about 43 minutes but costs more and runs less often. A limousine bus is worth it when the walk from the station to your accommodation is long, because you are carrying luggage at both ends. Our full comparison, with the fares and the last departures, is in the Incheon Airport to Seoul guide.

Can I buy a T-money card with a foreign card?

Not always. Traditional T-money purchase and top-up may still require cash, so keep some won on you when you arrive rather than assuming a card will work at the machine. Before you buy one automatically, compare it with Seoul's short-term Climate Card — depending on how much you will travel, one of them is clearly cheaper, and buying both is the common mistake. This is covered in the Incheon Airport to Seoul guide and in Paying in Korea.

Which Seoul palace should I pick if I only have time for one?

Gyeongbokgung if you want the scale and the changing of the guard. Changdeokgung if you would rather walk gardens — but note the rear Secret Garden is a separate timed ticket, so check the times before you go rather than at the gate. Both are on Line 3. Gyeongbokgung has its own station; Changdeokgung and Bukchon are both from Anguk.

Where can I eat alone without it being awkward?

Market stalls, noodle shops and convenience stores are all normal to eat at alone. The format where solo dining is genuinely awkward is shared grilled meat, because the minimum order is usually two portions. Gwangjang Market is the easy answer for a first solo meal — you eat standing at the stall, so there is no table to be seated at. Ordering in Korea has more on kiosks, allergies and how to check a place takes your card before you sit down.