Seoul Subway Guide for Tourists (2026): Fares, Transfers, Station Numbers and the Mistakes That Cost You Money
The Seoul subway is one of the easiest big-city metro systems in the world to use as a visitor. Signs and announcements are in English, every station has a number, trains come every few minutes on the main lines, and a single card pays for both the subway and the bus. Most of the problems visitors run into are not about getting lost. They are small money and timing mistakes: buying single tickets every ride, forgetting to tap out, missing the last train, or getting on an express train that skips their stop.
This guide covers how the system is laid out, what a ride actually costs in 2026, how free transfers work, and the handful of habits that make the subway painless. Fares and payment rules were checked in October 2026.
• Get a T-money card (or WOWPASS) on day one and load it with cash. Base fare: ₩1,550 with a card, ₩1,650 with a single ticket.
• Tap in and tap out, on the subway and on the bus. Tapping out is what gives you free transfers.
• Search by station number or English name in Naver Map, and note the exit number before you leave the platform.
• Check the last train time if you are out after 11 p.m.
How the network is laid out
What people call “the Seoul subway” is really the Seoul Metropolitan Subway: Lines 1 to 9 inside the city plus a long list of connected lines that run out to Incheon and Gyeonggi Province (the Airport Railroad, the Shinbundang Line, the Gyeongui–Jungang Line, the Suin–Bundang Line and others). It is run by several companies, but for you it works as one system: the same card, the same fare rules and free transfers between lines inside the gates.
The lines visitors use most:
- Line 2 (green) runs in a loop through the centre, Hongdae, Gangnam, Jamsil and Seongsu. If you are unsure, it is usually the answer. Because it is a loop, check the direction (inner circle or outer circle) by looking at the next station name, not the end station.
- Line 3 (orange) for Gyeongbokgung Palace and Anguk (Bukchon, Insadong).
- Line 4 (light blue) for Myeongdong, Seoul Station and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
- Line 1 (dark blue) for Jongno, Jonggak and the trip to Suwon.
- Line 9 (gold) along the south bank, with express trains (see the trap below).
- Airport Railroad (AREX) between Incheon Airport, Hongik University Station and Seoul Station. Our T-money guide explains why the all-stop AREX train is part of the normal fare system and the express train is not.
Station numbers are your best friend
Every station has a three-digit number (some connected lines use a letter and digits). The first digit is the line, so 426 is the 26th station on Line 4 (Seoul Station). The number is printed on every sign, in apps and on the platform screens. When a station name is long or spelled differently in different guides (Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, for example), the number removes all doubt.
Exits are numbered too, and in big stations they can be 500 metres apart. Naver Map and the station signs tell you which exit is closest to your destination, so decide on the exit while you are still on the platform. Following the yellow exit signs with the right number saves a surprising amount of walking.
What a ride costs in 2026
Fares in the Seoul area went up on June 28, 2025, and these are the prices that still apply in October 2026:
| Ticket type | Base fare (adult) | Free transfers? |
|---|---|---|
| T-money, WOWPASS or Korean transit card | ₩1,550 | Yes |
| Single journey ticket | ₩1,650 + ₩500 deposit | No |
| Climate Card tourist pass | ₩5,000 (1 day) to ₩20,000 (7 days), plus ₩3,000 for the card | Unlimited rides inside Seoul |
The base fare covers the first 10 km. Longer trips add ₩100 for each extra 5 km up to 50 km, and ₩100 per 8 km after that, so a ride across the city usually costs ₩1,650–₩1,850. You do not need to work this out: the gate charges the base fare when you tap in and the difference when you tap out.
Why single tickets are a bad deal
The single journey ticket is a reusable card you buy from the machine. It costs ₩100 more than the card fare, needs a ₩500 deposit, and you have to return it to a Deposit Refund Device after each ride to get the deposit back. Worse, it gives you no free transfer to the bus. Two days of single tickets and you have paid for a T-money card. Buy one only if you are making one or two rides in total.
Paying with a foreign card
Since March 17, 2026, the newer ticket machines in Seoul subway stations accept foreign Visa and Mastercard cards for buying or topping up, with a service charge of about 3.7%. You still cannot tap a foreign bank card directly on the gate; you need a transit card or ticket. (Tmoney has announced foreign contactless cards on Seoul city buses for 2027, after testing.) If you are still deciding which card to get, our WOWPASS vs T-money comparison goes through it.
Free transfers: how they really work
With a transit card, a trip made of several rides is charged as one distance-based fare. The rules:
- Between subway lines you transfer inside the gates, so there is nothing to do except follow the orange “Transfer” signs.
- Between subway and bus (or bus and bus), you need to tap off the first vehicle and tap on the next within 30 minutes. Between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. the window is one hour.
- You can chain up to four transfers (five rides) in one trip.
- Taking the same bus number again does not count as a transfer.
The most common money mistake is not tapping the card when you get off a bus. The bus cannot see where you got off, so the next ride is charged as a new trip. On the subway you cannot leave without tapping, so this only happens on buses.
The express train trap (Line 9 and others)
On Line 9, express trains stop only at the bigger stations. Express trains are marked 급행 (Express) on the front of the train and on the platform screens; all-stop trains are marked 일반 (General). If your station is small, wait for the general train, or ride the express to the nearest express stop and switch to a general train on the same platform. The Gyeongui–Jungang, Suin–Bundang and Line 1 trains also run some express services. Apps like Naver Map tell you which kind of train to take.
The Gyeongui–Jungang Line is another one to watch: trains can be 10 to 20 minutes apart, unlike the 3 to 6 minutes you get on Line 2 at most times of day.
First and last trains
Most lines start around 5:30 a.m. and the last trains leave the city centre at roughly midnight, a little earlier on weekends and holidays. The exact time depends on the station and the direction, and the last train to the end of a line can leave the centre well before midnight. If you are out late in Hongdae or Itaewon, check the last train in your map app before 11 p.m. Late-night “Owl” buses (route numbers starting with N) run after the subway stops, and taxis are the fallback.
Apps that make it easy
- Naver Map: door-to-door directions, platform exit numbers, the fastest car to board for a quick transfer, and real-time arrivals. Read our Naver Map in English guide, because English searches can send you to a place with the same name in another city.
- Kakao Map is the main alternative and also works in English.
- Google Maps can show subway routes in Korea but walking directions are limited, so do not rely on it alone.
Subway etiquette in 60 seconds
- Priority seats at each end of the car are for older people, disabled passengers and pregnant women. Even when they are empty, most locals leave them free.
- Pink seats in the middle of some cars are set aside for pregnant women.
- Stand to the side of the doors and let people off first. On escalators, keep to one side if you are not walking.
- Talk quietly, keep phone calls short, and do not eat on the train.
- Large suitcases are allowed, but avoid the morning rush (about 7:30–9 a.m.) on Line 2 and Line 9 if you can.
Quick answers
Is the Seoul subway safe at night? Yes. Stations are busy, well lit and have CCTV and help phones. Usual city common sense applies.
Is there free Wi-Fi? Most trains and stations have public Wi-Fi, but it can drop in tunnels. A local eSIM is more reliable for navigation.
Do kids pay? Children under 6 ride free. Children and teenagers get discounted fares only with a card registered as a child or youth card; on an unregistered card they are charged the adult fare.
Can I use the same card in Busan? Yes, T-money works on the Busan Metro and buses too, at Busan's own fares.
Summary
Get a transit card on your first day, tap in and out every time, plan by station number and exit number, and check the last train if you are out late. Do that, and the Seoul subway becomes the fastest and cheapest way to see almost everything in the city. For what to see once you are on it, our 16 things to do in Seoul by neighbourhood is organised around subway stops.
Fares checked October 2026: Seoul-area subway base fare ₩1,550 (card) and ₩1,650 (single ticket) since June 28, 2025; distance surcharge ₩100 per 5 km (10–50 km) and per 8 km (over 50 km). Foreign card payment at subway ticket machines from March 17, 2026 (Seoul Metropolitan Government). Climate Card tourist pass prices: Seoul Metropolitan Government. First and last train times vary by station; check before travelling.
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