Seoul Transportation Passes & Discount Cards 2025: Save Money on Travel
Planning to explore Seoul extensively? Transportation passes can save you serious money. But with so many options—Korail Pass, Seoul City Pass, Discover Seoul Pass, and more—how do you choose?
Here's everything you need to know about Seoul's transportation passes and discount cards. I'll break down costs, calculate savings, and help you pick the perfect pass for your itinerary.
Quick Answer: Which Pass Do You Need?
| If you're... | Best Pass | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Staying only in Seoul | T-money card (no pass needed) | ₩0 (passes aren't worth it) |
| Making 5+ subway rides daily | Seoul City Pass Plus | ₩1,000-₩2,000/day |
| Taking day trips outside Seoul | Korail Pass | 30-50% on intercity trains |
| Visiting 3+ attractions daily | Discover Seoul Pass | ₩20,000-₩50,000 total |
| Staying 5+ days with mixed travel | Korea Travel Card | 10-20% on transportation |
T-money Card: Your Foundation Card
Before considering any pass, you need a T-money card. It's the base for ALL transportation in Seoul.
What is T-money?
- Required for: All subway, buses, and even taxis
- Where to buy: Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven)
- Cost: ₩2,500 (card) + recharge amount
- Refundable: Yes, return card for refund of balance minus ₩500 fee
How T-money Works
- Base subway/bus fare: ₩1,400 per ride
- Free transfers within 30 minutes
- Use on: Subway, buses, taxis, convenience stores
Bottom line: T-money is essential. Whether you add a pass or not, you'll use T-money daily.
Seoul City Pass Plus
The Seoul City Pass Plus is designed for tourists making multiple trips within Seoul.
What's Included?
- Unlimited: Seoul subway (Lines 1-9)
- Unlimited: Seoul buses (all colors)
- Discounts: 50+ tourist attractions
- Valid: 1 day (20 hours from first use)
Costs & Breakdown
| Duration | Price | Daily Break-Even |
|---|---|---|
| 1-day | ₩15,000 | 11+ rides/day |
| 2-day | ₩25,000 | 9+ rides/day |
| 3-day | ₩35,000 | 8+ rides/day |
| 5-day | ₩55,000 | 8+ rides/day |
Is It Worth It?
Day trip itinerary example:
- Morning: Hotel → Gyeongbokgung (₩1,400)
- Afternoon: Gyeongbokgung → Myeongdong (₩1,400)
- Evening: Myeongdong → Gangnam (₩1,400)
- Night: Gangnam → Hongdae (₩1,400)
- Late: Hongdae → Hotel (₩1,400)
- Total: ₩7,000
With Seoul City Pass: You'd need 11 rides to break even (₩15,000 ÷ ₩1,400).
Verdict: Only worth it if you're making 8+ rides daily. Most tourists don't.
Korail Pass: For Intercity Travel
Planning day trips from Seoul? The Korail Pass is your best friend.
What's Covered?
- KTX: High-speed trains (up to 300km/h)
- ITX: Intercity trains
- Mugunghwa: Regular trains
- Not included: Seoul subway (need separate T-money)
Korail Pass Types & Prices (2025)
| Pass Type | Duration | Price | Example Route Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1-day | ₩59,800 | Seoul-Busan (save ₩13,900) |
| 2-day | ₩91,600 | Seoul-Busan round trip (save ₩20,000) | |
| 3-day | ₩132,200 | 3 long trips (save ₩30,000+) | |
| Saver (2 people) | 2-day | ₩141,600 | Split: ₩70,800 each |
| 3-day | ₩205,800 | Split: ₩102,900 each |
Popular Day Trip Routes & Regular Prices
| Destination | One-Way KTX | Round Trip | Korail Pass Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busan | 2h / ₩59,800 | ₩119,600 | 1-day pass worth it |
| Gyeongju | 2h / ₩48,200 | ₩96,400 | 2-day pass better value |
| Gangneung | 1h 45min / ₩36,800 | ₩73,600 | Part of day trip combo |
| Jeonju | 1h 55min / ₩36,200 | ₩72,400 | Part of day trip combo |
Who Should Buy Korail Pass?
Great for:
- 2+ KTX trips (e.g., Seoul-Busan-Seoul)
- Multiple day trips in 3 days
- Groups (Saver pass splits cost)
Skip if:
- Only staying in Seoul
- Just one day trip
- Prefer slower but cheaper buses
Discover Seoul Pass: All-Inclusive Attraction Pass
The Discover Seoul Pass isn't just transportation—it includes major attractions and discounts.
What's Included?
- Transportation: Seoul City Pass Plus benefits
- Free Entry: 99+ attractions (palaces, museums, observatories)
- Discounts: Shopping, performances, experiences
Discover Seoul Pass Options
| Pass Type | Duration | Price | Attractions Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24-hour | 1 day | ₩39,900 | Up to 10+ attractions |
| 48-hour | 2 days | ₩55,000 | 15-20 attractions |
| 72-hour | 3 days | ₩69,000 | 20-30 attractions |
Sample Savings Calculation
One day itinerary:
- Gyeongbokgung Palace: ₩3,000
- N Seoul Tower: ₩11,000 (cable car)
- Lotte World Tower: ₩22,000
- Trick Eye Museum: ₩15,000
- COEX Aquarium: ₩28,000
- Transportation (8 rides): ₩11,200
- Total regular cost: ₩90,200
With Discover Seoul Pass: ₩39,000 Savings: ₩51,200
Best Value Attractions
| High Value (₩10,000+) | Moderate Value (₩5,000-₩10,000) | Free Entry |
|---|---|---|
| N Seoul Tower | Gyeongbokgung Palace | Changdeokgung Palace |
| Lotte World Tower | Changgyeonggung Palace | Deoksugung Palace |
| COEX Aquarium | National Palace Museum | Seoul Museum of History |
| Trick Eye Museum | War Memorial of Korea | National Folk Museum |
| 63 Building | Dongdaemun Design Plaza |
Korea Travel Card: The Flexible Option
The Korea Travel Card combines transportation with selective discounts.
Features
- 20% discount: Korail trains (except KTX)
- 15% discount: Intercity buses
- Free subway/bus: Up to 20 rides/day
- Valid: 3-30 days
Pricing (2025)
| Validity | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | ₩25,000 | Short trips, Korail trains |
| 5 days | ₩40,000 | Mixed Seoul + day trips |
| 7 days | ₩55,000 | Week-long exploration |
| 30 days | ₩150,000 | Long stays |
Real Savings Example
5-day Seoul + Gyeongju itinerary:
- Seoul transportation: ₩70,000 (50 rides)
- Seoul-Bus train: ₩14,000 (regular) - ₩11,200 (with card)
- Gyeongju local transport: ₩20,000
- Regular total: ₩104,000
- With Korea Travel Card: ₩40,000
- Savings: ₩64,000
Other Pass Options
Metropolitan Pass (for Seoul area only)
- Price: ₩20,000 for 7 days
- Coverage: Seoul + Incheon + Gyeonggi-do
- Best for: Staying in suburbs, commuting to Seoul
- Verdict: Rarely worth it for tourists
Seoul Tourist Pass (older version)
- Status: Being phased out
- Replaced by: Seoul City Pass Plus
- Recommendation: Choose Seoul City Pass Plus instead
How to Buy These Passes
Online (Recommended)
- VisitKorea website: Pre-order before arrival
- Klook: Discounted prices with promo codes
- KKday: Package deals with attractions
- Advantage: Activate when ready, longer validity
In Seoul
- Seoul Station: Tourist information center
- Incheon Airport: Arrival halls 1F
- Convenience stores: Selected CU, GS25
- Hotels: Tourist hotels often sell passes
Digital vs Physical
- Digital: QR code on phone (Korail Pass, Discover Seoul)
- Physical: Card format (T-money required)
- Mix: Most passes require T-money card anyway
Money-Saving Combinations
Budget Option: Just T-money
Cost: ₩2,500 + recharge Best for: 1-3 days in Seoul only Sample 3-day cost: ₩2,500 + ₩30,000 recharge = ₩32,500
Moderate Option: T-money + Select Attractions
Cost: ₩32,500 + ₩50,000 attractions = ₩82,500 Best for: 3-5 days, 5-7 attractions
Premium Option: Discover Seoul Pass
Cost: ₩39,000-₩69,000 Best for: 2-3 days, 10+ attractions Total trip cost: ₩39,000 + accommodation + food
Explorer Option: Korail Pass
Cost: ₩59,800-₩132,200 Best for: Multiple city visits Sample savings: Seoul-Busan-Gyeongju-Seoul
My Personal Recommendations
For First-Time Visitors (3-5 days)
- Stick with T-money only - Most economical
- Buy single tickets for major attractions
- Exception: If you plan 5+ attractions daily, get Discover Seoul Pass
For Return Visitors (5+ days)
- Korea Travel Card if doing day trips
- Seoul City Pass Plus if staying only in Seoul
- Combine with attraction coupons from VisitKorea website
For Families
- Korail Saver Pass splits cost
- Family passes available at some attractions
- Kids under 6: Free transportation, discounted attractions
For Digital Nomads/Long Stays
- 30-day Korea Travel Card - Best value
- Weekly/monthly subway commuter passes - Need Korean ID
- Local resident cards - If you have alien registration
Hidden Tips & Tricks
Timing Matters
- Weekday vs Weekend: Some passes exclude weekend rush hours
- Seasonal promotions: Look for winter/summer discounts
- Holiday blackout dates: Check pass restrictions
Bundle Deals
- Korail + Attractions: Some sites offer combo discounts
- Airport Express + Pass: AREX sometimes bundles with city passes
- Hotel + Pass: Tourist hotels include passes in packages
Special Discounts
- Students: ISIC cards give 10-20% off
- Seniors: 65+ get discounts on most transportation
- Groups: 10+ people qualify for group rates
Common Pass Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying too much pass time - Most overestimate travel
- Not checking activation rules - Some activate immediately
- Ignoring blackout dates - Peak restrictions apply
- Forgetting ID requirements - Some passes need passport
- Mixing similar passes - Don't buy both Seoul City and Discover Seoul
Quick Decision Flowchart
Are you leaving Seoul?
├─ No → Stick with T-money only
└─ Yes
├─ Taking KTX trains?
│ ├─ Yes → Korail Pass
│ └─ No → Korea Travel Card
└─ Visiting 3+ attractions daily?
├─ Yes → Discover Seoul Pass
└─ No → Individual tickets
Final Verdict: Is Any Pass Worth It?
Honest truth: For most Seoul visitors, transportation passes aren't worth the money. Seoul's base fares are already low (₩1,400/ride).
Get a pass if:
- Making 8+ rides daily for 3+ days
- Taking multiple KTX trips
- Visiting paid attractions daily
- Traveling with family (split costs)
Skip passes if:
- Staying only in Seoul for 1-4 days
- Walking most places
- Visiting free attractions
- Taking taxis for groups (might be cheaper)
The math shows that unless you're a heavy user or day-tripper, regular T-money card and single tickets usually win. Calculate your planned trips before buying any pass!
Remember: The goal is to save money, not collect passes. Sometimes the simplest option (just T-money) is the most economical.
