Getting Around South Korea
Getting Around in South Korea
Transport in south Korea is reasonably priced, quick and efficient. They have many domestic airports which facilitate travelling intercity in South Korea and the fares are considerably cheap due to high competition in the airline industry. To facilitate intercity commuting trains and metro can be one of the best options. They are comfortable to travel and are on time. Buses, on the other hand, are slower due to traffic but are cheaper as well. Ferries are also available to reach out to the outlying islands. Cars are not recommended for the first time travellers. In order to commute through cars, you must be over 21 and have an international driving permit.
Getting Around South Korea By Air
Korean Air and Asiana, the two major domestic airlines, provide flights to and from a dozen local airports.Gimpo International Airport handles nearly all Seoulês domestic flights, but Incheon International Airport has a few of domestic flights too. Fares are 15% cheaper from Monday to Thursday, when seats are easy to book. Flights on public holidays have a surcharge and are often sold out. Students and children receive discounts, and foreigners should always carry their passports on domestic flights for ID purposes.
Getting Around South Korea By Rail
South Korea has an excellent train network operated by¾KoRail. Trains are clean, comfortable and punctual and every station has a sign in Korean and English. Trains are the best option for long-distance travel. One can get KR-pass if you are planning to travel by train a lot over a short period. Fares and schedules are available on the railway's website (www.letskorail.com). The fastest train is the Korea Train Express (KTX) and the fares are 40% expensive than the other usual trains. The railway ticketing system is computerised and you can buy tickets up to a month in advance online, on the Korail app, at train stations and many travel agencies. Seat reservations are sensible and necessary on weekends, holidays and other busy times. You can even go for KR Pass to travel straight from Seoul-Busan.
Getting Around South Korea By Road
Subway/Metro- Six cities have a subway system: Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju and Incheon. The metro facility is a cheap and convenient way of getting around these major cities, and since signs and station names are in English as well as Korean, it is foreigner-friendly and easy to use. One should get the T-Money Card which can be used to pay the fares for buses, taxi, trains and metro as well. Taxi- Cabs or taxis are easily available everywhere and the fares are inexpensive. Every taxi has a meter that works on a distance basis but switches to a time basis when the vehicle is stuck in a traffic jam. Tipping is not a local custom and is not expected or necessary. Bus-Cheaper and slower than trains but serving every corner of the country. Local city buses provide a frequent and inexpensive service which makes commuting within the city and intracity a lot easier. The main problem with local buses is finding and getting on the right bus _ bus timetables, bus-stop names and destination signs on buses are rarely in English, and bus drivers donêt speak English. Writing down the destination name on a piece of paper will be very helpful.
Getting Around South Korea By Water
Korea has an excellent network of ferries that connects hundreds of offshore islands to each other and to the mainland as well. Boats from Incheonês Yeonan Pier connect to a dozen nearby and more distant islands, while other west-coast islands further south can be reached from Daecheon harbour and Gunsan.
