T-money Card and Seoul Transport Guide
Seoul’s public transport network is among the most extensive and reliable in Asia. The metro alone covers 23 lines and over 300 stations. Getting around is genuinely easy once you have a T-money card and a navigation app - Naver Maps and Kakao Maps both handle Seoul’s transit well and are more accurate than Google Maps for bus routes.
T-money Card: The Essential Item
A T-money card is a reloadable smart card accepted on:
- All Seoul metro lines
- Seoul city buses (red, blue, green, and yellow)
- Most buses in other Korean cities
- Intercity buses at many terminals
- Some taxi payments
- Convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Ministop, Emart24) as a spending card
Buying: Available at all metro station ticket machines, Incheon Airport arrivals, and convenience stores. Cost is approximately KRW 2,500–4,000 as of 2026.
Loading: Top up at station ticket machines (minimum KRW 1,000 per load) or at convenience store counters. Cash or card accepted. There is no maximum load limit, but most travellers keep KRW 20,000–50,000 loaded.
Refund: Unused balance is refundable at station customer service windows. A small handling fee applies for refunds under KRW 500. Take your card home and refund it before the expiry date (5 years from last use).
Seoul Metro: How to Navigate
Seoul’s metro is large but logical once you understand a few basics:
Line colour coding: Each line has a colour and number. Line 1 (dark blue) runs north–south through the centre. Line 2 (green) is a circular loop around the city and the most useful for tourists. Line 9 (gold) is an express line connecting western Seoul to Gimpo Airport.
Navigation apps: Use Naver Maps (Korean preference) or Kakao Maps. Both show real-time metro routes, transfer points, and walking times. Set your destination in English - both apps handle English input.
Transfers: Transfers between lines are free if made within the paid zone without exiting. The transfer window is 30 minutes (or 60 minutes between 21:00 and 07:00). Metro-to-bus transfers within the same window are also subsidised.
Operating hours: Seoul metro runs approximately 05:30–00:30, varying slightly by line. The last train times are posted at every station.
Crowding: Lines 2, 4, and 9 are heavily crowded during peak hours (07:30–09:30 and 17:30–20:00). If carrying large luggage, off-peak travel is significantly more comfortable.
Seoul Buses
Seoul’s bus network fills gaps the metro doesn’t reach and often provides faster routes across the city.
| Bus colour | Type | Fare (T-money, as of 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Blue (간선) | Main trunk routes across the city | KRW 1,500 |
| Green (지선) | Local feeder routes to metro stations | KRW 1,400 |
| Red (광역) | Express regional routes to Gyeonggi Province | KRW 2,900 |
| Yellow (순환) | City-centre circular routes | KRW 1,400 |
Buses in Seoul have bilingual (Korean/English) next-stop announcements on major routes. Tap your T-money card on boarding and again on exit - two-tap fares apply on most buses. Missing the exit tap results in the maximum zone fare being charged.
Taxis
Seoul taxis are affordable by international standards. Key points:
Standard taxi (white): Metered, base fare approximately KRW 4,800 as of 2026. Most journeys within central Seoul cost KRW 6,000–15,000.
Deluxe taxi (black, 모범택시): Higher rate (~1.5× standard), cleaner vehicles, English more common. Starting meter approximately KRW 7,000 as of 2026.
Kakao T: Download this app before arriving. It shows available taxis in real time, lets you enter your destination in the app (avoiding language difficulty), and provides fare estimates. Payment by card or T-money through the app.
Late night surcharge: A 20% surcharge applies between midnight and 04:00.
From Incheon Airport
Four main options connect Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul:
| Method | Journey Time | Cost (as of 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AREX direct train | 43 min to Seoul Station | KRW 9,500 | Fastest, departs every 30–60 min |
| AREX all-stop | 66 min to Seoul Station | KRW 4,250 | Cheaper, connects to metro at 12 stations |
| Airport limousine bus | 60–90 min | KRW 17,000–18,000 | Stops near major hotel clusters |
| Taxi | 60–90 min (traffic) | KRW 65,000–90,000 | Most convenient with heavy luggage |
T-money can be purchased at machines just past immigration in the arrivals hall. The AREX platform is on the basement level of T1 (or T2); follow signs for the Airport Railroad from the arrivals exit.
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2026 Foreign Card Updates
From early 2026, Incheon Airport has upgraded transit card vending machines to accept international Visa and Mastercard contactless payments for T-money top-ups - previously, only Korean cards worked at station machines. Some stations on metro lines 1, 2, and 9 have also begun trialling direct EMV tap-to-pay on turnstiles.
Rollout is ongoing; check signs at each station. For now, topping up a T-money card remains the most reliable approach across the whole network.
For currency exchange and other payment methods, see our WOWPASS and travel money guide. For intercity rail travel, the KTX and KORAIL Pass guide covers booking and pricing in detail.
Planning to drive around South Korea? See our South Korea driving guide for road rules, toll roads, and renting a car. For navigation and other helpful apps, the essential apps for South Korea guide covers Naver Maps, Kakao T, and Papago in more detail.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Where do I buy a T-money card in Seoul?
- T-money cards are available at all Seoul metro station ticket machines, at Incheon Airport arrivals (look for the desk near the exit gates), and at CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and Ministop convenience stores. The card costs approximately KRW 2,500–4,000 depending on the design. Reloading is possible at the same locations.
- How much does the Seoul metro cost?
- Base fare on the Seoul metro is KRW 1,400 for distances up to 10km using a T-money card (as of 2026). Single-use paper tickets cost KRW 1,500 for the same distance - there's a small surcharge for not using T-money. Fares increase by KRW 100 per additional 5km after the first 10km. Most journeys within central Seoul cost KRW 1,400–1,600.
- Can I use my foreign credit card on Seoul transport?
- From 2026, Seoul has begun rolling out contactless EMV payment (Visa/Mastercard tap-to-pay) at selected metro stations and on some buses. Coverage is expanding but not yet universal. Using a T-money card remains the most reliable method for consistent access to the full metro and bus network, including smaller lines and suburban buses.
- Do Seoul taxis accept card payments?
- Yes, all metered taxis accept Visa and Mastercard, as well as T-money cards. The standard metered taxi (흰색 택시, white taxi) starts at approximately KRW 4,800 as of 2026. Kakao T is the dominant ride-hailing app and is more reliable for late-night bookings than street hailing.