For most visitors, Seoul’s extensive public-transportation system is the best way to get around the city. However, using it came with some unexpected challenges.
On my first full day in Seoul, I wanted to take the bus. However, I found that I had no way to pay since physical transit cards aren’t sold at bus stops and buses don’t accept cash or credit cards.
I got where I wanted to go by taking an Uber instead. Paying a few extra bucks wasn’t the end of the world, but I love taking public transportation when I travel, and wish I’d been better prepared.
Even though I was exhausted when I landed in Seoul, I should’ve taken a few minutes to buy a transit card before leaving the airport to make using public transportation easier.
After I picked one up partway through my trip, getting around the city was easy and affordable. (The card I purchased is “Squid Game”-themed, which also makes it a cool souvenir.)