Travel

Find a destination

Start with K-drama filming locations, browse destinations below, and check the event calendar once your dates are set. This guide follows the next steps: maps, transport, reservations and payments. You do not need every app at once. First try planning the journey from your accommodation to your first destination, then add tools for the gaps you encounter.

1. Save the entrance, not just the attraction

The Korea Tourism Organization lists mapping options including Naver Map and Kakao Map. Check its official app guide for languages and installation links. Compare the walking and transit routes for your destination instead of assuming one service will always be best.

Save your accommodation address, nearby station and attraction entrance separately. A map pin in the middle of a palace, park or mountain may not be the entrance you need. Agree on a station exit or building entrance when meeting companions. Keep a separate copy of the Korean address and booking confirmation in case your connection fails.

2. Plan the airport journey from your terminal

Your arrival terminal determines where the journey begins. If using the airport railroad, distinguish the express and all-stop services and include the transfer from the railway station to your accommodation. Time on the train does not include immigration, baggage collection or walking.

Look up your actual date, terminal and destination rather than relying on a single fixed fare or journey time. The official transport guide helps compare booking and payment options. Save the last connecting service and a backup plan. For a late arrival, check both the transport schedule and your accommodation's check-in deadline before making a reservation.

3. Separate transport cards from payment cards

Buying a ticket with a foreign card, topping up a transport card and tapping through a gate are different transactions. Check purchase, top-up and refund conditions in the transportation card guide. The price of a physical card is also separate from its stored balance.

Choose a pass by the stations and routes you will use, not just the number of travel days. Do not assume that airport travel is included. Before your last day, check the remaining balance, refund location and its opening hours so you can decide whether a refund fits your itinerary.

4. Check taxi booking and pickup details

The official taxi app guide introduces options including k.ride for international visitors. Check your chosen app's registration and payment requirements before departure. Do not assume that every foreign card works identically across all services.

Before confirming, check the vehicle, estimated price, cancellation terms and luggage space. Match the pickup pin to the side of the road where you are standing. Keep the destination's Korean address ready. A passing taxi not stopping is not enough evidence to explain why it did not stop.

5. Read accommodation and restaurant conditions

For accommodation, compare check-in deadlines, baggage storage, stairs or lifts, cancellation rules and the final price including extra guests. Tell the property if you expect to arrive late; payment alone does not establish that late check-in is available.

For restaurants, confirm the date, party size, deposit, cancellation deadline and exact branch. Check phone verification and card requirements before relying on an app. A listing does not guarantee availability. Save the confirmation with the address, and confirm dietary requests directly rather than relying only on a translated screen.

6. Prepare connectivity and payment backups

When selecting a SIM or eSIM, check device compatibility, activation timing and whether you need calls or text messages as well as data. If companions plan to split up, consider whether one shared Wi-Fi device is enough. Share key addresses before phone batteries run low.

Card acceptance can depend on the issuer, terminal and merchant. Prepare a backup instead of assuming one card covers transport, online reservations and shops. When exchanging money, compare fees and the amount you actually receive, and keep the receipt.

7. Final checks before departure

1. Confirm dates, destinations and attraction or event notices.
2. Save the route from your terminal to your accommodation and first stop, including the last connection.
3. Check transport card coverage and top-up options.
4. Match every reservation to its date, address, party size and cancellation terms.
5. Prepare connectivity, a backup payment method and meeting points.

For tourism questions, consult the 1330 Travel Helpline. If adding a hike, read destination-specific terrain and equipment advice such as our Inwangsan guide. App features, fares and booking conditions change: recheck the linked official guidance before use.