First solo trip to Seoul as a woman who speaks no Korean: what did others say?
A woman planning her first solo trip asked on the Tripadvisor Seoul forum: will Seoul be hard to get around without Korean? She planned a taxi from the airport and organised day tours, and wanted to know which area to stay in, what to watch out for, and whether she still needed a K-ETA.
What the replies said
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A woman who had travelled solo the previous autumn said it was no different from solo trips in Europe. She took the airport bus that stopped at her hotel, found the subway easy, and did museums, a national park and temples on her own. Younger people often spoke good English, and others still helped.
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Several called Korea one of the safest places they had travelled, including for women alone. One sensible caveat: avoid very quiet lanes late at night, and ask locals if an area has a reputation.
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On the airport run, a taxi was called comfortable but pricey. The airport express to Seoul Station plus a short taxi, or an airport limousine bus to a stop near the hotel, were the usual suggestions. Buses can use bus lanes when traffic is heavy.
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Myeongdong, Insadong and Hongdae came up as easy first bases. One tip: pick the hotel first, then plan the transfer around it.
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One reply read like an advert for a transfer company and added little.
Desk note The K-ETA exemption for certain countries has since been extended to 31 December 2026, according to a Korean embassy notice. The list is limited, so check the official K-ETA site for your own passport before you book.
If you've travelled Korea solo, what was the one thing that made the first day easier?
Original thread: Tripadvisor Seoul forum — a first solo trip without Korean · Reference: Embassy of Korea in Canada
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