Seoul metro app

Gers

I'm going across for a family wedding next year and am really looking forward to it apart from some nervousness around reading the street information. I understand that since the Olympics were held the city has become very user-friendly for overseas visitors.

Can anyone recommend a good IoS app for the metro system in Seoul please?  I've had a look though most have very old reviews so I'd appreciate any first hand knowledge. Same for a city map too please? I saw recently the use of an app which, when held up to signs, translated Korean into English so that would be fantastic.

jimi_man

Hi. Rome2rio is pretty good. But any city map app on your phone which you can download and use offline is fine. Same with a metro app. 

I went there in 2019 and it was pretty easy to get around both on the streets and on the metro which was very good. 

I don’t recall needing an app for the metro - it was very easy. 

Doshwaster

Never been to Seoul but in other cities CityMapper has been hard to beat. Usually better with public transport than Google Maps.

Ballard

I’d second Citymapper and also Google Maps which allows you to download areas so using it doesn’t use data. 

I went to South Korea about 8 years ago and found it to be a delight. I don’t recall having any trouble getting anround and we travelled around the country by bus. English isn’t widely spoken but it wasn’t a problem. I’m pretty sure that the metros must have all had English signs and announcements alongside Korean.

I really think that the Koreans are missing a trick by not promoting tourism much. I’ve been to a lot of SE Asia and South Korea is among the best. 

zagfles

Just download the Google Translate app, and download the Korean language and then you'll be able to use it offline, including using the camera to translate street signs, metro signs etc. And it's free.

Not used it in Korea but have in loads of countries including ones which don't use Roman script.

For a metro app and other local info, Tripadvisor forums are excellent for destination specific advice https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g294197-i8161-Seoul.html

Gers

Thanks for all the info - today I found papago which translates text and converts speech in real time.  My nephew, in Seoul didn't know about the signs translation and spent a lot of time with me on Facetime doing with books and food packets! I think that this must be the one I saw used on a Ch5 travel programme recently. Almost magic.