Discovering Hidden Gems in Seoul: Hop on a Random Bus or Subway! ✨ Travel writer Wahida Asrani shares why even seasoned visitors should explore Seoul's random subway stations and bus stops. With apps like Naver Map and KakaoMap, navigating the city is easy—but the real adventure comes from hopping on a bus or subway without a plan. You might stumble upon hidden cafes, local markets, or peaceful spots that tourists often miss. Wahida’s spontaneous journey led her to discover Seongsu-dong's chic Dior store and a beautiful outdoor library near Seoul City Hall. Whether it’s wandering through quiet alleys or observing daily life, this experience offers a fresh perspective on the city. Next time you're in Seoul, skip the touristy spots and embrace the thrill of random exploration. You never know what gems you'll find! 💖 👉 Ready for a spontaneous adventure? Read on for more tips from Wahida! ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ These days, I often receive requests from friends asking for assistance in creating their Korea travel itineraries. Although they know Google is very helpful (along with another favourite tool, ChatGPT), some still reach out to see if there are other things they can do, especially since many of them are returning visitors. Besides suggesting different places to explore, another activity I often recommend is exploring random subway stations and bus stops. Those who have been to Seoul and used its public transportation will definitely agree that it is very efficient, with many places easily accessible by buses and subways. Just make sure to install useful apps like Naver Map and KakaoMap before your trip, as these apps will help you move around Seoul and other cities easily. For example, if you want to take the subway from Gangnam to Myeongdong, the app will suggest which subway line to take. Most apps also provide real-time schedules. The same goes for public buses. Although it can be confusing at times, travellers don’t need to worry because the subway lines are colour-coded, making them easier to spot However, for travellers like us, especially first-timers, the subway lines and bus routes can sometimes be very confusing. I experienced taking the subway for almost an hour, only to realise later that I should have gotten off at an earlier station to change to another subway line. Seoul's subway has more than ten lines, but you don't have to worry because these lines are also color-coded—for example, Line 2 is green, while purple represents Line 5. At the stations, the line number and its designated colour are usually displayed on the walls and sometimes on the floor. The apps I mentioned earlier also show the correct colours for each line, so you don’t have to worry about spotting the right numbers and colours. Naver Map is one of the useful apps that helps travellers navigate Seoul’s public transportation easily Somewhat similar to subways, buses are also categorised by colours based on their routes. The most common ones you will find in Seoul and likely ride are blue and green, but you will also see yellow and red buses at times. I’m not going to go in-depth about where these buses stop based on their colours, as plenty of information is available online. However, what I can guarantee is that the apps I mentioned earlier will definitely make your life easier when you are there. Just key-in your current location and destination, the app will suggest the relevant subway lines and bus numbers you can take (yes, with their colours too!). These apps have made me confident in taking any subway or bus in Seoul without worrying too much about where to stop. You just need to be alert of where to stop. If you are taking the subway, make sure to get off at the correct station and double-check if you need to transfer to another line. Sometimes, you may need to switch between multiple lines in a single trip. For buses, take note of the bus number (and its colour), which is displayed on the bus itself. Most bus stops have an LED screen showing the arrival times of upcoming buses, but the information is in Korean. There are also route maps at almost every bus stop based on bus numbers, but since they are mostly in Korean, it is best to rely on your app for guidance. When a random stop leads to an “unexpected” discovery Alright, back to the “activity” of exploring random subway stations and bus stops that I mentioned earlier. Since last year, this has become a “habit” of mine when exploring Seoul. Sometimes, I don’t even use the app. It all started last summer when I “accidentally” discovered the famous Seongsu-dong street while taking a bus (I had no idea where to go and simply hopped on any bus that stopped near my hotel). While on the ride, I spotted the Cube Entertainment building, and without hesitation, I pressed the bell and got off. Writer in front of the stunning exterior of Dior Seongsu I wandered around the area and followed a small alley where many people seemed to be heading. Then, right in front of me, I saw the beautiful and unique Dior Seongsu store. Despite Seongsu-dong gaining attention from tourists at the time, I had never been there before. So, discovering it in such an unexpected way felt like a great achievement for me! That experience inspired me to explore the city in this way, believing that I might stumble upon other amazing and “unpopular” areas too. At times, you may be familiar with an area, but different seasons might bring events you weren’t aware of - that’s how I discovered the beautiful outdoor library concept in front of Seoul City Hall last year, simply by passing through the area. Observing locals’ daily routines I usually choose one of two options; either exploring a few stations within the same subway line or hopping on a blue or green bus and getting off at any stop that feels interesting. I prefer the second option because bus routes often take me through areas I’m not familiar with. Once I get off at a random bus stop, I would start walking around, exploring small alleys, which I’ve grown to enjoy. Simply wandering through these alleys gives me a different kind of “Seoul vibe.” I love observing locals going about their daily routines—an ahjumma selling fruits at a shop, a group of ahjussi eating and chatting at a small restaurant, food delivery riders weaving through the alleys on their bikes, or a group of school teens walking home. Left: Travelers will experience a unique “Seoul vibe” when walking through its alleys; Right: A beautiful outdoor library concept that the writer spotted while passing through Seoul’s City Hall area on a bus Whatever it is, always choose areas where you feel safe to stop and explore. I still have many places left to discover this way, as most of my trips to Seoul are only about three days. So whenever I have free time, especially on my last day, I make sure to hop on a bus and get off wherever I feel like stopping or pick a subway line and explore different stations along the way. Cool cafes, even if they are not famous For those who love café-hopping, you might want to explore some “hidden” cafés around Seoul. We all know how amazing Korea’s café culture is, right? I’m sure anyone who has been to Seoul has visited at least one famous themed café, such as Onion Café, Rain Report Café, Green Mile Coffee Bukchon, Nakwon, Knotted Café, or Café Layered. Besides being Instagram-worthy, many of these cafés are also known for their specialties; whether it’s a great latte or adorable yet delicious pastries. I’m one of those travellers who is “obsessed” with visiting cafés in Seoul. Walking around neighbourhood areas after getting off a bus has led me to discover quite a few hidden gems. There was one time when I was walking uphill to Naksan Park (after spotting signs for Naksan Park and Ihwa Mural Village once I got off a green bus), and along the 15-minute walk, I came across several small and quiet cafés. Unless it’s the first or second café I visit that day, when I will usually sit down and order something, I often just step inside for a quick look at the setting and check out their menu. So, if you prefer less crowded cafés that still have a nice ambiance, exploring random areas like this might lead you to some great finds. Left: A beautiful view from the rooftop of a café at Naksan Park; Right: Writer in front of a café she discovered while walking up to Naksan Park after getting off at a random bus stop nearby Peaceful moments I’m not sure if you will feel the same way I do whenever I do this kind of activity. Perhaps it’s because I usually do it alone rather than in a group, so whenever I walk from a bus stop or subway station, exploring those streets and alleys, I find the moments peaceful. Maybe it’s also because some areas I explored were less crowded compared to central Seoul or the usual tourist spots. And that’s why I think returning visitors should consider adding this to their next trip’s itinerary. If you’ve been to Korea more than three times, you’ve probably already covered at least 80% of the main tourist attractions. So why not try something different? This time, don’t plan too much. Just hop on a bus or take any subway, get off wherever you like, and see what the area has to offer. You might discover new places and experiences along the way. Of course, Korea has many cities to explore whenever you return. For example, Incheon (which I’m thinking of visiting soon after seeing some beautiful pictures of Wolmido online!). But don’t you think it’s nice to be a little adventurous and spontaneous once in a while? When you are taking a bus or subway, just try stopping anywhere you like because you might discover some nice spots too Always remember your transportation card! Taking a subway and riding a bus are quite easy actually, though it can be confusing if you have specific places to go, so you need to be alert about the stops. If you are taking a bus, make sure to tap your transportation card (T-Money is the common one for travellers) on the card reader when you get on, and don’t forget to tap again before getting off. Always remember, you need to board through the front door and exit through the back. There’s a card reader at the back too, so it’s easy to tap before leaving. The same style applies for taking a subway. You need to tap the transportation card when entering and exiting the station (there’s no entering and exiting through front or back door for subways like riding buses). Those who have never been to Seoul, the transportation card like T-Money is a must-have for travellers as we can easily use it to ride buses, take subways or even taxis. It can be purchased at any convenience store and can be easily reloaded even at subway stations. Also, make sure you check out the new Climate Card as well, which was launched last year for international travellers, as it offers unlimited use of public transportation for a selected period at a low cost. So, have fun exploring! Till then, annyeong! *The writer has been relying on public transportation for years whenever she's in Seoul. However, lately, she has been considering driving outside the city, perhaps to Gangwon, to enjoy the scenic views along the way. For now, she still enjoys her random explorations via subways and buses. Who knows, she might embark on her first road trip this year! *Kawan-Kawan, if you'd like to share your own Korea travel stories, we'd love to hear from you! Drop us an email at [email protected].

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