So, you’ve booked the flights and accommodations for your trip to South Korea – but what’s next? Good preparation goes a long way when it comes to traveling – that includes downloading the right apps to make your life easier at your vacation destination! Like the 5 must-download apps before you visit Korea mentioned in this blog post.
From transportation and language challenges to entertainment and taking care of your health: There are various apps that got you covered. As Google Maps has only limited functionality in Korea, Kakao Maps and Naver Maps are your new best friends when it comes to bookmarking places and navigating the country. Papago, a translation app, helps to bridge language gaps while Trazy, Klook, and Airbnb take care of providing cool experiences you can book easily. Shopping is fun. But how much are 55.000 Korean Won in your country of residency’s currency? A currency converter will let you know. Last but not least: Concerned about air quality? AirVisual got you covered as it helps navigating South Korea’s fine dust challenges. But let’s dive a bit deeper.
Here are 5 must-download apps before you visit Korea
kakao map / naver map
카카오맵 / 네이버맵
category: transportation
cost: free
download: android – apple (kakao); android – apple (naver)
Cute cafés, tasty restaurants, temples, palaces, and other sights to see: Collecting places to go before traveling somewhere is part of the fun. And getting around in a new city or country isn’t always easy. However, in case you’re an avid Google Maps user, you should prepare yourself for switching to either Kakao or Naver Map when going to Korea as places on Google Maps here aren’t always the most up-to-date and the navigation functions are limited.
Whether you want to use Kakao Map or Naver Map depends on your personal preference. With both, you can create various lists for different categories (similar to Google Maps), check out photos, menus, and reviews for cafés and restaurants, opening hours, and the best routes to reach your desired destination. Both apps are available in English.
Disclaimer: Even if you’re using the apps in English, you sometimes might have to enter names of places in Hangul (Korean alphabet) as the romanizations is sometimes rather…creative.
papago
파파고
category: language/translation
cost: free
download: android – apple
Getting around without knowing the language can be tough. You can’t read any of the signs or menus and talking to the locals can be challenging as English isn’t necessarily as common as one might think. Papago to the rescue!
The language app is similar to Google Translate, but usually more accurate and linguistically more “natural” sounding in Korean. You can scan as well as type text to get translations for written input, but also use the voice feature to directly translate what people say to you – and let Papago reply in your stead, making it easier to have conversation with a native speaker.
Tip: If you’re a Korean language learner, I recommend using the Papago phrasebook widget to get your daily dose of Korean sentences right to your phone screen.
currency converter (misc)
통화 변환기
category: money
cost: free / paid
download: android – apple
Souvenirs, snacks, skincare – shopping in Korea can easily get out of hand. Whether it’s affordable practical things at Daiso, k-beauty on sale at Olive Young, or discounted cute stuff at Artbox: It’s very easy to fall into the trap of spending money without having an idea whether a bargain is really a bargain or not. Of course you should treat yourself – you’re on vacation after all! – but still being aware of what exactly you’re paying by checking what the price is in the currency of your home country can come in quite handy.
There are various currency converter apps to choose from – free and paid. So check out which one works best for your needs.
trazy / klook / airbnb
category: tours/experiences
cost: free
download: android – apple (trazy); android – apple (klook); android – apple (airbnb)
Trazy and Klook are two travel apps via which you can’t just book tours and tickets for certain sites – look out for great deals! – but also SIM cards and wifi eggs to stay “online” while traveling. You can collect points with every purchase that you can use for discounts on your next order(s).
Similarly, Airbnb Experiences gives you the opportunity to book unique experiences (as the name suggests) from guided walking tours conducted by locals and carving traditional stone seals to Saju readings (traditional fortune telling technique) and photo shoots in Hanboks (traditional wear).
In case you’re traveling alone or want to meet new people in general, tours and experiences are a great way to do so.
airvisual
category: health
cost: free
download: android – apple
Air pollution, fine dust, and the like are no joke in Korea. You’ll experience days when you can’t even see certain buildings, mountains, landmarks etc. because they’re completely covered by what looks like fog. That’s annoying because a) you won’t be able to enjoy the view when hiking or going sightseeing, but also b) it’ll be tough on your respiratory system, and you should definitely make sure to wear a mask.
AirVisual gives you a real-time report on air quality as well as predictions for the next couple of days.
There are obviously some more apps that can be quite helpful (and that I might cover in another post), but with those 5 apps, you should be fine for your next trip to the land of Kimchi!
Which apps would you add to the must-download apps before you visit Korea list?
InInterested in learning more about Korean culture? Check out my blog posts about Dancheong, making your own DIY souvenirs, Korean Culture with a Twist, Lotus Lantern Festival, and Traditional Children’s Games as seen on Squid Game.
Also, on my blog, you can find a post on the best time to visit South Korea as well as a free printable travel prep checklist.
Are you traveling to South Korea?
Get your eSIM via Saily* to have unlimited data while on vacation and check out NordVPN* to stay protected online or watch your Netflix shows available in your home country. 😉
*Affiliate link: I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no additional cost to you. 🙂
