Trip planningBy Clever Tourists · Published
Yes, South Korea is a very good country for solo travel: transit is cheap and easy once you have a T-money card, crime against foreigners is rare, and one-person meals are common outside barbecue. The practical solo problems are the two-portion minimum at barbecue restaurants, taxis where drivers speak little English, and nightlife areas where the UK government reports assaults. We spent about 32 days in South Korea in June and July 2023: Seoul (10 days across two visits), Jeonju (3), Suncheon (3), Busan (4), Seogwipo and Jeju City (6 combined), Gyeongju (3) and Sokcho (3). This page covers safety, costs, food and where to base.
Free toolConvert to your own currency at live rates →Live mid-market rates for all 17 currencies we used, so you can see what a price actually costs.The UK Foreign Office says crime against foreigners is rare but occasional thefts happen, so watch passports, cards and cash in crowded areas and foreigner hangouts such as Itaewon. It also says assaults, including sexual assault, happen mainly around bars and nightlife areas, and advises against travelling alone at night there, using only legitimate taxis or public transport. Spiked drinks and bar-district incidents are the main risk to a solo traveler, far above street crime.
Check the current US State Department level on its site before you travel. Our dedicated page is is South Korea safe to visit. The FCDO notes that foreigners cannot take part in political demonstrations, so avoid large gatherings, and that civil defence sirens signal drills, when vehicles stop and you may be directed underground. It also warns that penalties for drugs are severe, including long jail terms for small amounts of marijuana for personal use.
The natural hazards are seasonal. Typhoons run June to November, and heavy rain in June and July can cause flash floods and landslides, which matters because our own visit was June and July. Use the Korea Meteorological Administration or the Emergency Ready App.
Meals come with free refillable side dishes, so a stew, bibimbap or noodle lunch is a full meal for one. Barbecue is the exception: it is usually priced per portion with a two-portion minimum, which is where solo travelers overspend. The workaround is to ask whether a place serves a single portion, or to eat stews and kimbap on your own and save barbecue for a meal shared with other travelers from your hostel. Markets such as Gwangjang are the cheapest good eating in Seoul: see Seoul night markets. Convenience stores and groceries are covered in Korean grocery stores. Tipping is not expected: tipping in Japan and South Korea.
Our model's typical band for South Korea is US$50 to $90 per person per day on a budget and US$85 to $120 at mid-range, from published 2025 and 2026 cost guides, not from what we spent. Seoul rooms and KTX trains are the biggest costs. Dorm beds in Seoul run about 25,000 to 45,000 won a night in published averages. Those figures assume a shared room, and in our estimates a room for yourself raises accommodation roughly 1.5 times on a budget and 2 times at mid-range.
Full detail: how much a trip to South Korea costs.
A rechargeable card makes buses and subways simple: start with the T-money transit guide and the Climate Card vs T-money comparison. For Seoul to Busan, see KTX tickets, time and price.
The FCDO says taxi drivers often speak little English, so carry your destination written in Korean with a map. Save addresses in your map app and ask your accommodation to write down the return address. The FCDO also says carrying some form of identification is legally required, though rarely checked.
Seoul (10 days) is the right first base. Choose an area near a subway line: where to stay in Seoul, the 3 days in Seoul guide and how many days in Seoul. Busan (4 days) is the easy second city: 4 days in Busan, with Busan to Gyeongju as a day trip to the temple town where we spent 3 days. Jeju (Seogwipo and Jeju City) is the island add-on: see the Seogwipo guide.
A longer solo loop is in our 32-day route, and a tighter version is 10 days in South Korea. Temple etiquette: temple and shrine dress code.
Most visitors need K-ETA or an exemption: read K-ETA 2027 how to apply and the e-arrival card guide. For data, see South Korea eSIM for tourists.
Emergency numbers: 112 police and 119 fire, ambulance and rescue. 1330 is the Korea Travel Hotline run by the Korea Tourism Organization, available around the clock in several languages, and its interpreters can join a 119 call. It is for help and translation, not a replacement for 112 or 119.
Generally yes. The UK government says crime against foreigners is rare, with assaults mainly around bars and nightlife areas. It advises against travelling alone at night there and says to use legitimate taxis or public transport.
It is harder. Barbecue is usually priced per portion with a two-portion minimum. Stews, bibimbap, noodles and kimbap are easy for one person and come with free side dishes.
Our model's typical band is US$50 to $90 per person per day on a budget and $85 to $120 at mid-range, assuming a shared room. A private room raises accommodation roughly 1.5 times on a budget and 2 times at mid-range.
112 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance. The 1330 Korea Travel Hotline gives help and interpretation around the clock and can join a 119 call.
Seoul, then Busan, with Gyeongju as a day trip and Jeju as an island add-on.
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