Planning a trip to South Korea can be super exciting, but thinking about how to get around the cities is another story. Between navigating public transport, translating menus, and finding the best routes to reach the stops on your itinerary, having the right apps on your phone can surely make a difference.
Here are the locally approved apps worth downloading before you board your flight; you’ll thank yourself (and us) later.
Visit Seoul
This is Seoul’s official tourism app. It offers a wide variety of carefully selected spots you cannot miss during your stay in the city. From current cultural events happening every month to restaurants and attractions, it will help you navigate Seoul like a local.
The interface is also available in English, Japanese, and Chinese (simplified & traditional).
Download link: App Store / Google Play
NOL world
Formerly known as Global Interpark, this app is your one-stop center for booking tickets to K-pop concerts, festivals, guided tours, musicals, K-Beauty experiences, and more.
It’s tailor-made for tourists who want to make the most of their trip by visiting hidden gems off the typical tourist routes. Best of all, it’s available in English, Japanese, and Chinese.
Download link: App Store / Google Play
Naver Map
The number one map app in South Korea, loaded with detailed local listings, reviews from actual visitors, real-time traffic updates, and accurate public transport information.
Unlike other navigation apps, Naver provides English translations of everything you need to know to get around the country, including fare prices, bus routes, stop names, subway exits, and routes that will take you to your final destination.
Download link: App Store / Google Play
Kakao Map
Just like Naver, Kakao Map also provides you with detailed public transport information and local listings of restaurants, stores, or any type of businesses you would like to visit.
But Kakao features more user-generated content, which ranges from star ratings and blog reviews to photos of places uploaded by users. And it’s especially useful during the cherry blossom season, as the map shows the exact locations where the trees are in full bloom.
If you have to choose between two, consider using them interchangeably as they both complement each other while exploring South Korea.
Download link: App Store / Google Play
Kakao Taxi
This is the most popular taxi app among both locals and tourists in South Korea. It offers a selection of vehicles to suit your needs, as well as all the necessary information about the driver to ensure you have a safe ride.
It’s available in English, Japanese, Chinese (traditional & simplified), and you can access over 100 language auto-translation options for searching destinations. For extra convenience, Kakao Taxi is even available on Jeju Island.
Note: You will need to sign up for Kakao Talk (a Korean messaging app) using your international phone number to use the app.
Download link: App Store / Google Play
K. Ride
Developed by the same company behind Kakao Taxi, this app offers a similar experience but with a more intuitive and user-friendly interface designed for foreign visitors.
Unlike Kakao Taxi, you don’t need a Kakao Talk account to sign up, and you can register international credit cards directly in the app.
The only downside is that it tends to be a little pricier than Kakao Taxi, and it doesn’t work as well in Jeju Island. But it’s a great option if you prefer a smoother experience with fewer steps.
Download link: App Store / Google Play
Naver Papago
For better, more accurate translations that capture context, polite terms, and Korean slang, Papago is your best choice. It can help you get better results while translating menus, street signs, and snippets of conversations.
You can also use the offline mode if you don’t have an internet connection.
Download link: App Store / Google Play
DeepL Translate
This option is best suited for longer, more complex translations, such as lengthy documents or content from Korean websites. It often provides just the same accuracy in translation as Papago, but can be a little more “natural” when translating from English to Korean.
Download link: App Store / Google Play
And if partly because of K-Dramas, South Korea feels familiar to you even though it’s your first time, we totally get it.
Noonas Noonchi prepared, for that reason, the most personal travel guide that will make your heart as full as watching the scenes you love. From Crash Landing on You to Goblin, we’ve got all the deets of the locations from your favorite stories on our K-Drama Location Map.
Or, if you’d rather have it all figured out for you, our K-Drama Tours take care of everything, so all you have to do is show up and enjoy it.
Because sometimes, the best travel itinerary starts with the spots where your favorite K-Drama characters pursued their dreams.
