Layover guide
Tipping in Seoul
Taxis do not require a tip, and the extras on the meter are published percentages rather than anything discretionary.
All of Seoul
The national tourism authority says most taxis charge by the taximeter inside the cab and do not require tips. Fares are paid by cash, credit card or transport card.
What can look like an expected top-up is a published surcharge. A night surcharge of roughly 20 to 40 per cent applies between 22:00 and 04:00, and on an airport run the 7,900 won expressway toll is added on top of the meter. None of it is at your discretion.
- Korea Tourism Organization: Taxi · checked 2026-09-03
- Incheon International Airport: Taxi and call van guide · checked 2026-09-03
- Seoul Metropolitan Government: Getting to Seoul from Incheon Airport · checked 2026-09-03
The rest of Seoul
The whole guideGetting out of the airportExpress train, 43 minutes from Terminal 1 and 51 from Terminal 2. The last express back leaves Seoul Station at 23:00, and the last airport-bound all-stop at 23:40.Ride-hailingMetered taxis from numbered ranks outside arrivals, with surcharges that are published rather than negotiated.Local laws that catch crew outCannabis sits with opium and cocaine on the restricted list, food is a quarantine matter, and cash over ten thousand dollars is declarable in both directions.Staying connectedRoaming centres at Incheon and Gimpo sell SIMs and rent Wi-Fi eggs, convenience stores sell SIMs too, and free public Wi-Fi is widespread.WeatherJanuary in Seoul runs between minus 5.5 and 2.1 degrees, August between 22.9 and 30, and the rain arrives in one concentrated month.Eating near the crew hotelsWater and side-dish refills are free, every table has a call button, and tips are not expected.What to buyDuty-free bought inside Korea counts against your 800 dollar allowance, and the VAT refund starts at a kiosk before you check your bags.