The best way to see Seoul is via its network of Subway. However, getting around in Seoul is easy as it has a lot of other options that can be explored. For example, you can take a taxi ride if you are planning on staying out late or even try the network of buses in Seoul if your destination is far. Seoul is larger than a large city, a little too huge to be explored on foot. It cannot be denied still that some areas are best explored on foot, Bukchon village, for instance. The traffic in the city is bad and its transport system very extensive and extremely cheap. This should help you in making a clear choice and not renting cars. If, however, the need be, it is advisable to rent a car from the Incheon International Airport or the Gimbo International Airport. The Incheon International Airport receives the vast majority of international flights.

1. Subway – Best way to see Seoul

The Subway experience is the most inexpensive and extensive one of all the modes of public transportation. As long as you avoid the rush hour from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the weekdays, you are good to go. The subway does not run from midnight to half-past five in the morning, so this time should be avoided too have a smooth experience. The signs, recordings, and maps are all in the English language, thus making it easier for the tourists. The residents of Seoul use T-money cards or the multi-journey transportation cards to pay for the subway rides. Even tourists can obtain these cards at the airports to make their travel hassle free.

2. Bus

The bus routes of Seoul can be daunting for foreign travelers. This is because most bus maps are in Korean and most drivers do not speak English. The bus fare can be paid using cash or the T-money cards, which gives you a discount of a hundred Won on your bus fare. Bus stops and buses are colored to mark different routes. For example, the Blue buses are mainline buses that travel long distances with the city and cost around $1.17 for a single journey. The Green buses cover the same area but travel shorter distances also costing lesser about ninety cents for a single journey. The Yellow buses run a loop in downtown and cost about 98 cents for a ride. Finally, the Red buses take the longest routes and travel to the suburbs costing about $2.15 for each ride. As a general rule, you are supposed to enter the bus from the front and exit through the back unless the bus has just one door. The buses run throughout the day and during nights as well; the buses marked with ‘N’ in front of the bus number are the ones that ply at night.  

3. Cabs

Cabs are readily available throughout Seoul. The shorter rides can be expensive. The orange, silver and white regular taxis cost $2.50 for the first two kilometers plus an extra ten cents for each one-eighth of a mile thereafter. The taxi rates increase by twenty percent between mid-night to four in the morning. The Deluxe taxis cost more than the regular ones. They can be identified as ones of black color and yellow stripes costing $3 to $4.50 for the first three kilometers and an additional eighteen cents for every additional tenth of a mile. These taxis come with more passenger space and no extra night charges. Another advantage of the deluxe taxis is that they come with a bilingual driver, the booking, however, has to be made in advance as these cannot be hailed. To avoid confusion in regular taxis, it is advisable to jot down your destination and show it to the driver.