This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on my link and buy an item I will make a small commision off that purchase at no additional cost to you. To see my full disclosure policy click here.

I can still remember the first time I stepped foot off the plane and into a foreign country, where not only could I not speak the language, but I couldn’t even read any signs. The feeling was a mixture of terror and thrill. Instantly overwhelming, but fascinating at the same time.

Travel is often paradoxical like that. I think that’s why I love it so much.

Getting around new cities is challenging enough, even when you speak the language. So, needless to say, this American who speaks only English is usually confronted with a language barrier every time we go somewhere new in Asia.  Oftentimes just getting to the hotel from the airport is the hardest hurdle of all to overcome.

Thankfully – there’s an app for that.

Before we arrived in South Korea, I took some time to do a little research. I found out that Google Maps and Apple Maps don’t work in South Korea, which was a bummer. I’ve used Google Maps in other cities in the past to not only get me where I needed to go by foot, but also train, and taxi. With that in mind, I knew that I would need to find an app (or several apps) to cover multiple ways of navigating Seoul.

Seoul has FANTASTIC public transportation. The train system is laid out quite simply, and you’ll find that the public buses are no problem to use, either. However, hoofing it on foot isn’t so simple when you can’t read the street signs.

That’s why I was so grateful that I found these 3 FREE apps to make my trip to Seoul easier to manage.

The first app I would recommend downloading before you fly to South Korea is Naver Maps. (Andriod  iOS)

Naver Maps is an app exclusive to South Korea. This app is thoughtfully designed and includes so many useful features. Not only can you walk around town with a well-designed map, but bus routes and stops, and the train system are all included.

You can see where your bus is on the route to know how long until it will arrive to whisk you away. Or know exactly how many stops you have before you need to exit the train and switch lines (and which line to switch to!). Naver Maps makes using the public transportation system of Seoul uncomplicated.

Naver Maps also includes many nifty features like neighborhood maps of restaurants, stores, and entertainment suggestions, indoor maps of certain shopping malls and other large buildings, CCTV video feed, biking/hiking trail maps, and more.

If I were to only suggest one app to get before you fly into South Korea, it would be Naver Maps. It is user-friendly and full of lots of extras that make navigating Seoul achievable.

Now that you have managed to find your way around Seoul, you will still need to communicate with the locals and read signs. While I found English is commonly understood and often spoken in Seoul, there were plenty of times the language barrier made communication difficult, if not impossible. That was when I relied on Google Translate (Andriod  iOS).

There are several ways to use Google Translate. You can hold the camera up to a sign to translate the words of a sign. You can speak into the app and it will translate back to what you said. My personal favorite feature is the “conversation” tab.

Two people can talk back and forth into the phone, while Google Translate serves as an interpreter between them. This comes in handy at restaurants and with store cashiers. I wouldn’t say that Google Translate is 100% accurate always, but it’s usually enough so that the message gets across.

Now that we have navigation and communication squared away, why don’t we have some fun? There are so many things to do in Seoul, South Korea. From ancient palaces and shrines to modern art and wacky museums, there is something for everyone in Seoul.

I found the best way to stretch your dollars Won is to get yourself the Discover Seoul Pass.

The Discover Seoul Pass is for foreign visitors only (and you will have to show your passport to pick it up). With this card, you can get FREE entrance into 36 tourist attractions!

What attractions?  Family fun museums such as the Trick Eye Museum!

Ancient palaces like Changdeokgung Palace!

Even the MUST SEE Namsan Tower!

FREE Y’ALL. You also get discounts on over 20 other places!

As if that weren’t enough, you can use your Discover Seoul Card as your T-Money card! The T-Money card is a preloaded card that can be used for any type of public transportation. (Trains/Subway, Cabs, Bus, Bikes) This saves you $3/person fee to purchase a T-Money card.

Since you can use your Discover Seoul Pass as your T-Money card, all you have to do is top-off your card with money before you ride the train, hop on a bike, hail a cab, or get on a bus. The Discover Seoul Pass does NOT come pre-loaded with T-Money cash. You will need to top it off at the train station. The T-Money kiosks are not difficult to use and make it easy to load your card.

Trains in Seoul are very affordable, and with your Discover Seoul Pass, the AREX (direct airport train) is FREE. In total, we spent five days in Seoul, took an insane amount of bus and train rides all over Seoul and beyond, and still, only spent just over $40/person for public transportation everywhere we went.  We never took a cab and found public transportation straightforward to use and most reliable. And with only one card to keep up with, the Discover Seoul Pass made traveling light.

The Discover Seoul Pass is purchased for either 24, 48, or 72-hour increments. This means that from the time YOU FIRST USE IT (not when you buy it), the clock starts counting down. You only have that much time to get the free admission into 36  Seoul, Korea tourist attractions. However…

When your time is up, the T-Money function of the card is still in effect and you can continue to use it. Any money you don’t use on your T-Money card can be refunded at both International Airports before you leave South Korea. So no worry over losing unused transportation money. And if that weren’t enough, you can use your discount offers for up to five years after you activate your pass!

Download the Discover Seoul Pass app (Android iOS) to buy your pass before you arrive. You can pick your pass up at the airport, or there are several sellers around town. The app is useful because not only does it show you how much time you have left on your card to visit 36 Seoul, Korea tourist attractions, but you can use the map feature to help you navigate to all the free attractions.

The Discover Seoul Pass and App are my hands-down winners for Seoul Trip MVPs. I can’t recommend it enough. To get the most out of your pass, I also recommend downloading the Discover Seoul Pass guidebook.  Within it, you will find suggested routes to maximize your time in Seoul and even more information about each place you are visiting along the way.

Visiting Seoul needs to be on your Travel Bucket list if it’s not already! Don’t let the fear of a different language or alphabet overwhelm you into not traveling to South Korea. You will miss one of the most friendly, warm, and welcoming cities in the world. With a little advance planning and a few apps to help you out along the way, your Seoul Must Do list can be checked off!

Want to learn how to take the hassle out of international travel? Check out this blog post for more tips and suggestions!

I have partnered up with KKDay to offer you the best value on the Discover Seoul Pass you will find anywhere! Save 20% when you purchase your Discover Seoul Pass with KKDay! Just type in “Discover Seoul Pass” in the search, and save yourself lots of money when you visit Seoul!

Thanks for stopping by! I’d love it if you’d Pin me!