๐งญ First Time in Korea: A Simple Guide for Your First Trip
Korea is easy to visit once the basics are sorted. This guide puts them in the order you meet them, and points to the detailed guide or tool for each step.
Before you go ยท Updated 2026-10-05 ยท 6 min read
1. Check how you enter
Visitors from many countries can enter without a visa for a limited stay, but the length depends on your passport. Use the Visa & Entry checker to see your own rules.
Visa-free travelers must get a K-ETA before boarding unless their passport is on the temporary exemption list, which runs through December 31, 2026. Travelers without a K-ETA complete the free online e-Arrival card up to three days before arrival.
2. Know what you can bring
Most visitors can bring up to US$800 of goods duty-free, plus limited alcohol, cigarettes and perfume. Fresh fruit and vegetables are almost all prohibited, and meat and dairy must be declared. Medicines that contain narcotic ingredients need prior approval.
Power banks and e-cigarettes must go in your carry-on, not your checked bag.
3. At the airport
After landing you pass immigration, where officers take a photo and fingerprints of both index fingers, then collect your bags and walk through customs. Take sunglasses and hats off for the photo.
Our First 2 Hours in Korea guide walks you through the airport step by step.
4. Money, phone and getting around
Cards are widely accepted, but some kiosks and small shops want Korean-issued cards or cash, so carry a second payment method and some won.
For data, buy a SIM or eSIM at an airport counter, or install an eSIM before you fly. Your phone must be carrier-unlocked. Korea uses 220 V power with two-round-pin plugs.
A T-money card makes subways, buses and many taxis simple. For maps, install Naver Map or KakaoMap, because Google Maps navigation is limited in Korea.
5. Weather, holidays and help
Summers are hot and humid with a rainy season from late June to July, and winters are cold. Seollal and Chuseok fill trains and close some shops, so book early if you travel then.
Save these numbers: 112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance, 1330 for the Korea Travel Helpline (24 hours, with English, Japanese and Chinese), and 1345 for immigration questions.
Prices, schedules and entry rules change. The figures below are approximate and reflect information available when this guide was last reviewed; always confirm with the official source before you travel.