Before you go
Korea is one of the easiest countries in Asia to travel independently. A handful of things are worth settling before you fly — this is the short list, in the order most people need it.
Most of what makes a Korea trip run smoothly is decided before you board. Not the itinerary — that can wait — but the handful of administrative and practical questions that are annoying to solve on arrival and trivial to solve at home.
Entry, and the paperwork that changes
Korea's entry requirements for short visits have moved more than once in recent years: visa exemptions, the K-ETA travel authorisation, and the health declaration have each been introduced, suspended or extended on their own schedule. Anything written down about them has a shelf life.
The rule that does not change: check the official government sources for your nationality within a month of travelling, and again a few days before you fly. Airline check-in staff enforce whatever is current, and they are the ones who will turn you away.
When to come
Korea has four genuinely distinct seasons, and the gap between the best and worst weeks is wider than most first-time visitors expect.
Spring and autumn are the postcard seasons — cherry blossom rolling north from Jeju through April, then maple and ginkgo running back south through October and November. They are also the busiest and priciest. Summer brings the monsoon and real humidity; winter is cold, dry and bright, and it is when the ski resorts and the hot-spring towns come into their own.
There is no bad season, only seasons that suit different trips.
Money
The currency is the Korean won. Cards are accepted almost universally, contactless included, and you can go days without touching cash. The exceptions are worth knowing: traditional markets, small street-food vendors and some rural bus routes still want notes and coins.
Withdraw from ATMs marked "Global" — the machines in convenience stores and bank lobbies that accept foreign cards. Airport exchange counters are convenient and rarely the best rate.
Tipping
Do not tip. Not in restaurants, not in taxis, not for hotel porters. There is no tipping culture in Korea, service charges are already included where they apply, and leaving money on the table is more likely to cause confusion than pleasure. This is the single habit most visitors from tipping countries have to actively unlearn.
Getting online
Assume you will want data from the moment you land. Korea's mobile coverage is excellent — including on the subway, which surprises people — and everything from navigation to translation to taxi apps depends on it. eSIM, physical SIM and pocket Wi-Fi all work; which one suits you depends on your phone and how many people are travelling.
What comes next
Once the groundwork is done, the two things that shape a Korea trip most are how you move around the country and where you choose to sleep. Both reward a little thought before you book.
More guides on the way
These pages are being written right now. They will appear here as soon as they are published.
- Money & exchange
- When to visit
- Tipping culture
- Visas & entry
- Internet & SIM cards
Common questions
Is South Korea an easy country to travel in without speaking Korean?
Yes, in the places travelers go. Transport signage, station announcements and most restaurant menus in Seoul, Busan and Jeju carry English. Outside the cities, English thins out quickly — a translation app and a dozen memorised phrases close the gap.
How much should I budget per day?
Korea sits below Japan and well below western Europe. Subway rides, convenience-store meals and neighbourhood restaurants are inexpensive; hotels in central Seoul and domestic flights are where the money goes. Your accommodation choice drives the daily figure more than anything else.
Do I need cash?
Less than you would think. Cards work almost everywhere, including on buses and in taxis. Keep a modest amount of won for traditional markets, small street-food stalls and the occasional rural bus.