Korea Trip Planner for First-Timers: Busan, Seoul, Transport, Money & Apps (Complete Guide)

Planning a first trip to Korea can feel like juggling ten browser tabs at once: trains, maps, hotels, SIM cards, food. I am Jin, I live in Korea, and this page ties together the guides I have written for first-time visitors. Think of it as your starting point. Read each short section, then open the matching guide when you want the full details. Prices, hours and routes can change with the season, so confirm anything important close to your trip.

Sunset over Busan’s apartment towers and mountains. Photo: Jin from Korea

Quick checklist

• Get a T-money card (or a Climate Card for busy Seoul days) and carry some Korean won in cash.
• Book the KTX on Korail's English site or app with an overseas card.
• Install Naver Map before you fly, and keep Google Maps for searching places.
• Sort out mobile data (an eSIM is the easiest choice if your phone supports it).
• Pick a Seoul area that fits your style and a Busan base near Haeundae Beach.
• Save Korean place names so you can paste them into your map app.
• Check opening hours and weather on the day you go, especially for the cable car and the cruise.

ï“‹ Copy & Paste Korean
Copy the Korean text into Naver Map or Papago, or show it on your phone to the staff.

Places

• 해운대시장 (haeundae-sijang) — Haeundae Market
• 송정해수욕장 (songjeong-haesuyokjang) — Songjeong Beach
• 송도해상케이블카 (songdo-haesang-keibeulka) — Songdo Marine Cable Car
• 부산역 (busan-yeok) — Busan Station
• 서울역 (seoul-yeok) — Seoul Station

Useful phrases

• 이거 주세요. (igeo juseyo) — This one, please.
• 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?) — How much is it?
• ì¹´ë“œ 돼요? (kadeu dwaeyo?) — Do you take card?

Open in Naver Map

•  Open 해운대시장 in Naver Map
•  Open 송정해수욕장 in Naver Map
•  Open 송도해상케이블카 in Naver Map
•  Open 부산역 in Naver Map
•  Open 서울역 in Naver Map

Getting Around: T-money, KTX and Map Apps

T-money for subways, buses and taxis

A T-money card is a rechargeable prepaid card that you tap for subways, buses and many taxis, and it can follow you from Seoul to Busan. You can buy one at convenience stores and load it with cash on the spot. I cover where to buy it, how to top it up and how to get your leftover balance back in my T-money card guide for tourists.

KTX between Seoul and Busan

The KTX is the fastest comfortable way to link the two big cities. The booking system has been simplified, so you can book on Korail's English website with an overseas credit card and no Korean phone number. Details on the Korail+ app, the rail pass and Seoul to Busan basics are in my KTX booking guide for foreigners. Fares can change, so check the current price when you book.

Which map app to use

Google Maps works for searching places and reading reviews, but turn-by-turn walking and driving directions are limited in Korea. Naver Map is the better main app for most visitors. My Google Maps vs Naver Map vs KakaoMap comparison includes official download links and tips for searching in Korean, which often gives better results than English spelling.

Taxis: Kakao T, Uber or the street

Taxis are cheap and plentiful, and they run after the subway stops. Uber works in Korea through licensed taxis, Kakao T usually has more cars, and you can always wave one down. Fares, taxi types, payment and Korean phrases for the driver are in my Kakao T vs Uber taxi guide.

Hangul shop signs on a Busan sidewalk. Photo: Jin from Korea

Money & Payments

Korea is very card-friendly, but a few situations still call for cash, and a first-time visitor should plan for both. The main rules I use:

• Cash for T-money. Buy and top up the card in Korean won cash. Top-ups are in units of 1,000 won, and I suggest loading a small amount first, such as 10,000 to 20,000 won.
• Foreign cards for passes. Seoul's newer station machines accept international Visa and Mastercard, but only for single-journey tickets and Climate Cards, not regular T-money top-ups.
• Cash for small stalls. At Haeundae Market, bring a little cash for the small stalls, and check prices before ordering pricier items.
• Refund your balance. Spend or refund leftover T-money before you leave. Refunds are paid in cash and a small fee applies, so do it in the city before heading to the airport.

Card price is a purchase cost and is not refunded, and prices change, so use the T-money guide linked above for the current numbers.

Where to Stay

Seoul areas

Seoul is huge, and the area you choose changes your whole trip. For a first visit, Myeongdong or Jongno/Insadong is the safest choice, Hongdae suits nightlife and a direct airport train, and Seoul Station is handy if you will take the KTX to Busan. I compare all the options, with a table, in where to stay in Seoul.

Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. Photo: Jin from Korea

Your first sight in Seoul should probably be Gyeongbokgung Palace, the grand main palace of the Joseon Dynasty. Tickets, free entry in hanbok, the Tuesday closing day and the royal guard ceremony times are all in my Gyeongbokgung Palace guide.

After the palace, walk east into Bukchon Hanok Village, ideally in a rented hanbok. Visiting hours, rental prices and a half-day route are in my Bukchon and hanbok rental guide.

A beach hotel in Busan

For Busan, I stayed at Paradise Hotel on Haeundae Beach. My review covers the Premium Deluxe Ocean Twin room, the sea view and the Club Lounge, which I paid for separately and used for tea time, happy hour and breakfast. It is a high-priced stay, so read my Paradise Hotel Busan review before you decide. Rates change with the season and the day of the week.

Things to Do in Busan

Songdo Marine Cable Car

The cable car carries you out over the water at Songdo Beach, with a regular cabin or a crystal cabin with a glass floor. Fares, hours and how to get there by bus are in my Songdo Marine Cable Car guide. It can close early or pause in bad weather, so check the official status that morning.

Surfing at Songjeong Beach

Songjeong is the surf town of Busan, and surfers are in the water all year. The waves are usually gentle, so it suits beginners, and shops along the beach rent boards and wetsuits and run lessons. Getting there from Haeundae takes roughly 25 to 40 minutes, and the routes are in my Songjeong Beach guide.

Haeundae river cruise

The Haeundae River Cruise is a roughly 50-minute boat ride on the Suyeong River and out toward Gwangan Bridge. It looks best at sunset or after dark, and I rode it at night. Booking tips and the choice between day, sunset and night are in my Haeundae river cruise post.

Haeundae Market

Haeundae Market is a covered-street food market about a five-minute walk from Haeundae Beach. Go in the late afternoon or evening, share a few small dishes, and bring some cash for the small stalls. What to eat and roughly what it costs are in my Haeundae Market guide.

Sample Busan Itinerary

Here is a relaxed three-day plan built from the guides above. Swap the days around to match the weather.

• Day 1: Arrive and settle in. Take the KTX from Seoul and check in at your Haeundae hotel. Walk to Haeundae Market in the late afternoon or evening for a street food crawl.
• Day 2: Sunset on the water. Spend the day on the beach or on a short Songjeong trip. Then pick a sunset or night departure for the Haeundae river cruise and watch Gwangan Bridge light up.
• Day 3: Surf town or cable car. Head to Songjeong Beach for a beginner surf lesson, or go to Songdo for the Marine Cable Car. Check the cable car's status that morning, since weather can pause it.

Use Naver Map for the bus and train legs, and pay with your T-money card where accepted. If you have more days, do both Songjeong and Songdo on separate days.

Food: Understanding Banchan

At nearly all Korean restaurants, the small side dishes that arrive with your meal are included in the price, and the basic ones can usually be refilled for free. A few places charge for premium sides or extra BBQ greens, so check the menu if you are unsure. My banchan explainer has the Korean phrases for asking politely.

Nightlife: Noraebang (Korean Karaoke)

For a very Korean night out, rent a private karaoke room with friends. Coin rooms cost only a few thousand won, and Koreans often head to a karaoke bar with beer and anju as the second round after dinner. Prices, the remote buttons and the Korean words to search are in my noraebang guide.

Staying Connected: eSIM

Your phone is your map, translator and taxi app, so sort out data before you leave home. If your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, a data-only Korean eSIM is the easiest choice for most tourists. I compare eSIM, physical SIM and pocket WiFi in my Korea eSIM guide. Prices vary by season and provider.

How to Use This Guide

Start with the basics: data, a transit card and a map app. Next, choose your base in Seoul or Busan and decide how you will travel between them. Then add one or two activities per day and leave time to wander. Korea rewards a loose schedule.

I will keep adding guides as I explore more of the country, so come back to this page whenever you plan the next step.

Jin from Korea