Your First Day in Seoul: A Practical Arrival Checklist

Landing in Seoul after a long flight is much easier when the first day is already planned. This checklist covers the practical parts: getting from the airport to your room, getting online, paying for things, and what to expect when you open the door.

Before you fly

• Save your booking confirmation and your host's contact details somewhere that works offline — a screenshot is enough.
• Check how check-in works for your room, and what time it opens. Rooms are usually self check-in, but the details come with your booking and from your host, so confirm them before you travel.
• If your flight lands very early or very late, message your host in advance. Ask whether you can arrive outside normal check-in hours, and where to leave luggage if not.
• Download Naver Map or KakaoMap. Google Maps works for finding places in Korea, but its walking and transit directions are limited, and the Korean apps are usually far more accurate. Papago, Naver's translation app, is also handy.
• Keep your passport and entry paperwork in your hand luggage, not your checked bag. You'll need your documents again for your Alien Registration Card (ARC) — see our ARC guide.

From Incheon Airport to the city

Incheon International Airport is about an hour from central Seoul. You have three main choices, and the right one depends on where you're staying and how much luggage you have.

• AREX (the airport railway) is usually the simplest and cheapest option. The all-stop train takes roughly an hour to Seoul Station and stops at Hongik University Station along the way, which makes it very convenient for Hongdae, Sinchon and Ewha. Depending on the current timetable, there may also be a faster, non-stop service to Seoul Station.
• Airport limousine buses run to many parts of Seoul and stop at major hotels and districts. They're a good choice with heavy luggage, since you ride from the airport to near your area without changing. Check the current routes at the arrivals hall.
• Taxis are the most direct, but typically cost much more than the train, with extra charges for tolls and late-night travel. Use the official taxi stands rather than anyone offering rides inside the terminal.

Fares and timetables change. Check the current prices and routes on the airport's official website or at the information desk instead of relying on a number from a blog post — including this one.

Getting online

You can pick up a SIM card, an eSIM, or a pocket Wi-Fi device at the airport, and they're usually easy to buy right after you land. Regular Korean phone plans are much easier to get with an ARC, so for your first weeks a tourist SIM or eSIM is the common solution. Decide on one before you leave the terminal, so you can use maps and messaging on the way to your room.

Paying for things

• Get a T-money card at an airport convenience store or a subway-station machine. It works on the subway and buses, and many convenience stores and taxis accept it. You top it up with cash.
• International credit and debit cards are widely accepted in shops and restaurants, though a few small vendors and machines can be fussy. Carry a little cash as a backup.
• Convenience-store and bank ATMs marked for international cards are common. Check your own bank's fees before you rely on one.

Arriving at your room

• Take your shoes off at the door. Korean homes are shoes-off, and floors are often heated.
• Most homes use ondol — heating through the floor — controlled by a wall panel that's usually labeled only in Korean. Take a photo of it and use a translation app, or ask your host to show you.
• Learn the trash rules on day one. In most districts you must use official, volume-rated trash bags (sold at convenience stores and supermarkets), and food waste and recycling are separated. Your host can tell you the local routine and pickup days.
• Check what's included — utilities, internet, bedding, a washing machine — against the listing, and tell your host straight away if something doesn't match.

Your first evening

Keep the first night simple. Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) sell ready meals, water and basics at all hours. Neighborhood markets and supermarkets are good for stocking up the next day, and almost every area has delivery options once you've settled in. A short walk around the block is also the best way to find your nearest subway station, pharmacy and supermarket.

In your first weeks

• If you're staying 90 days or more, you generally need to register for your ARC within 90 days of arriving. Our ARC guide explains the documents and how proof of residence fits in.
• Opening a full bank account and signing up for a regular phone plan are usually easier once you have your ARC.
• Keep your booking and payment records. Our cancellation and refund policy explains what happens to your money if your plans change.

Numbers worth saving

• 112 — police. 119 — fire and ambulance.
• 1330 — the Korea Travel Helpline, with English-language help (among other languages) around the clock.
• 120 — the Seoul Dasan Call Center, for city information and services, including help in several languages.

Ready to choose where to stay? Browse furnished stays across Korea, start with a student neighborhood — Hongik, Yonsei and Sinchon, Ewha, Korea University or Seoul National University — or see how Seoul, Incheon and Busan compare.