First day in Seoul: your checklist for the first 24 hours (2026)
From the plane to your first night: entry papers, internet, transit card, getting into Seoul and useful numbers, in the order you will need them.
Machine translation from French, being reviewed. Read the French version (reference)
Contents
_Traduction automatique / Machine translation_
You land at Incheon, it is late, you have no signal yet and everything is written in Korean. Here is what to sort out in your first 24 hours, in order. Each step links to a longer article if you want the details.
Before you board
- e-Arrival Card or K-ETA. Since 1 January 2026, the paper arrival card has been replaced by the e-Arrival Card, required for all non-Korean travelers2. You fill it in online, for free, within 3 days before arrival. With a valid K-ETA, there is nothing to fill in. A site that charges you for this form is not the official one (fake sites to avoid).
- Internet. Install an eSIM before you leave and switch it on when you land: maps, translation and taxis work as soon as you step off the plane (eSIM or SIM?).
- Your accommodation address in Korean, as a screenshot. A taxi driver reads it faster than the romanized version.
- Apps that work with a passport: maps, taxis, translation. Sign up at home, on your own wifi (the app table).
At the airport: allow time for immigration
In August 2026, The Korea Times reported waits of up to 80 minutes at the non-Korean passport counters of Terminal 1 around midday1. International arrivals rose 20.6% in the first half of 20261. Do not book anything fixed in the two hours after landing, especially in summer and during holidays (arriving at Incheon, in detail).
Get your transit card before leaving the airport
| Your situation | Easiest option |
|---|---|
| iPhone with Mastercard, Amex or UnionPay | T-money app, "Foreigner" button, then Apple Wallet5 |
| Visa card | Ticket or 1- to 7-day pass at the new subway machines4 |
| You also want to pay in small shops | WOWPASS prepaid card, with transit topped up separately |
Since 17 March 2026, 440 machines in 273 stations on Seoul Lines 1 to 8 accept cards issued abroad, with a fee of about 3.7%4. The T-money app on iPhone does not take Visa yet5. Full details in our T-money and WOWPASS guide.
In DariTransit cards: the guide in DariGetting into Seoul
| Option | Time | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| AREX express (Seoul Station) | 43 min | ₩9,500 |
| AREX all-stop | 66 min | ₩4,950 |
| Limousine bus | 60 to 90 min | ₩10,000 to ₩17,000 |
| Taxi | 60 to 90 min | ₩60,000 to ₩80,000 |
Prices reported by mileasia.com in June 20263. The last AREX express leaves around 10:10 pm from Terminal 1 and around 9:50 pm from Terminal 2; the all-stop train runs until about midnight3. Later than that, take the bus or a taxi. Use the official taxi queue, never a driver who approaches you in the hall (taxi prices and overcharging).
In DariAirport → Seoul: all optionsYour first evening in town
- Finding your way. Naver Map and KakaoMap are the local maps. Since June 2026, Naver accepts passport verification for bookings (how it works).
- Eating. Start with dishes that are easy to order (8 safe dishes). Food allergy? The card to show at restaurants.
- Paying. A card refused in a small shop does not mean something is wrong with your account (9 fixes).
Numbers to keep
- 1330, the Korea Tourism Organization's travel helpline: information, interpretation and complaints. It is free and answers 24/7 in English, Chinese and Japanese67. From a foreign number: +82-2-133067. There is also a text chat, open day and night6.
- 119 for fire and medical emergencies7, 112 for the police.
What this means for you
Three things are done at home, not on arrival: the e-Arrival Card (or K-ETA), the eSIM and app sign-ups. The rest takes about half an hour at the airport once you are through immigration. If your flight lands after 9 pm, plan on the bus or a taxi rather than the AREX express.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first when I arrive at Incheon?
Get your internet working, then buy your transit card before leaving the airport: everything else depends on these two.
Is 1330 free?
Can I pay for the subway with a foreign Visa card?
Yes, at the new Seoul subway machines, with a fee of about 3.7%4.
Sources
- The Korea Times, « Foreign tourists stuck in immigration lines for up to 80 minutes at Incheon Int'l Airport » (05/08/2026) · checked on 27 October 2026
- EY Global Tax News, e-Arrival Card obligatoire au 1er janvier 2026 (11/12/2025) · checked on 27 October 2026
- mileasia.com, Incheon Airport to Seoul Station 2026 (18/06/2026) · checked on 27 October 2026
- Asia Business Daily, cartes étrangères acceptées aux automates du métro de Séoul (16/03/2026) · checked on 27 October 2026
- Korea JoongAng Daily, Apple Pay et l'appli T-money pour les voyageurs (19/03/2026) · checked on 27 October 2026
- Ville de Hanam, Tourist Interpretation 1330 (page officielle) · checked on 27 October 2026
- Site public ddc.go.kr (page anglaise officielle), Korea Travel Hotline Service · checked on 27 October 2026