Seoul Climate Card: Unlimited Subway and Bus Pass Guide

Hi everyone! Let's get to what I think is one of the most useful topics for a trip to South Korea: getting around. If you're staying in Seoul for a few days, there's a card that makes public transport much easier: the Climate Card.

In short: The Climate Card gives you unlimited rides on Seoul's subway and buses. I paid 15,000 won for a 5-day pass and 3,000 won for the card itself, 18,000 won in total (roughly €12 / US$13). We bought it at a subway station.

Why We Didn't Rent a Car

In Thailand you can rent a vehicle cheaply and explore at your own pace. In Pattaya we rented a motorbike for 250 baht a day to explore the island. In Seoul, renting a car can get quite expensive. Add city traffic and parking, and public transport makes much more sense.

So we went for public transport, and found a really handy system.

What Is the Climate Card?

The Climate Card (기후동행카드) is a transport card from the Seoul Metropolitan Government that works like a subscription. For the length of your pass, you can ride Seoul's subway and buses as much as you like.

With a regular transport card, a fare is deducted every time you ride. With the Climate Card, you don't think about how much each ride costs; you tap and go. Since you're constantly moving between neighborhoods in Seoul, that's a big convenience.

Prices: What We Paid

I bought the 5-day pass:

Item	Cost
5-day pass	15,000 won
The card itself	3,000 won
Total	18,000 won

Current short-term pass prices for visitors:

Pass	Price	Cost per day
1 day	5,000 won	5,000 won
2 days	8,000 won	4,000 won
3 days	10,000 won	~3,333 won
5 days	15,000 won	3,000 won
7 days	20,000 won	~2,857 won

You buy the card (3,000 won) once and can load new passes onto the same card later.

Is the Climate Card Worth It?

A single subway ride in Seoul costs about 1,550 won with a transport card, and a city bus about 1,500 won. On the 5-day pass you pay 3,000 won a day, so you save money as soon as you take more than 2 rides a day.

When sightseeing in Seoul, 3–5 subway rides a day is completely normal. Heading back to the hotel, transfers, going to another district for dinner: the rides add up quickly. If you're staying a few days, the Climate Card is almost always worth it.

Where Does It Work?

Seoul's subway system is very well developed, so you can reach almost anywhere in the city by public transport.

Covered:

• Seoul Subway Lines 1–9 and lines such as Ui-Sinseol, Sillim and Gyeongui-Jungang (sections within Seoul)
• Seoul-licensed city buses (blue, green and neighborhood buses)
• AREX only between Seoul Station and Gimpo Airport

Not covered:

• The AREX train between Incheon Airport and Seoul
• Airport limousine buses
• The Sinbundang Line
• Intercity buses licensed in Gyeonggi or Incheon

So you can't use the Climate Card to get from Incheon Airport into the city. For airport transport, see our Incheon Airport to Seoul guide.

Where to Buy and How to Load the Climate Card

Getting the card isn't hard. We bought ours at a subway station, and you can find it at many places around the city.

1. Buy the card: From ticket machines in subway stations or some convenience stores near stations, for 3,000 won.
2. Load a pass: At the recharge machines in stations, switch to English and choose a 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7-day pass.
3. Payment: Cash works. Since March 2026, new machines at many stations also accept foreign credit and debit cards (with a small fee).
4. Ride: Tap at the subway gate, or when boarding a bus. Remember to tap again when getting off the bus.

Having some cash on hand helps. I wrote about where we got a good exchange rate in Seoul in our Myeongdong money exchange post.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Validity starts on the day you load the pass. For example, a 1-day pass loaded on Monday is valid until Monday's last service. To get a full first day, load it in the morning.
• You can't load a pass in advance. You load it on the day you start using it.
• No refunds after expiry. If you want a refund, request it before the pass expires; the amount used and a fee are deducted.
• On trips outside Seoul, watch out for stations and buses where the card isn't valid.

A Souvenir Worth Keeping

The card also looks great, so it doesn't feel like something to throw away after use. I still keep mine in my wallet, a little souvenir from Korea. On your next trip to Seoul, you can load a new pass onto the same card.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Climate Card?

The Climate Card is a subscription-style transport card from the Seoul Metropolitan Government that gives unlimited rides on Seoul's subway and city buses for a set period. Visitors can choose 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7-day passes.

How much does the Climate Card cost?

The card itself costs 3,000 won. Passes cost 5,000 won for 1 day, 8,000 won for 2 days, 10,000 won for 3 days, 15,000 won for 5 days and 20,000 won for 7 days. We paid 18,000 won in total with a 5-day pass.

Where can I buy the Climate Card?

From machines in Seoul subway stations and some convenience stores near stations. Passes are loaded at the recharge machines in stations.

Can I use the Climate Card from Incheon Airport?

No. The Climate Card isn't valid on the AREX train between Incheon Airport and Seoul or on airport buses. On AREX it only works between Seoul Station and Gimpo Airport.

Climate Card or T-money: which is better?

If you're staying in Seoul for a few days and taking more than 2 subway or bus rides a day, the Climate Card is better value. If you'll barely use public transport or often travel outside Seoul, pay-as-you-go T-money may make more sense.

Is it worth renting a car in Seoul?

In our experience, no. Renting a car in Seoul can be expensive, and with traffic and parking on top, the excellent subway and the Climate Card are far more practical and affordable.

Conclusion

In short, if you're staying in Seoul for a few days, definitely look into the Climate Card. It pays for itself after a few rides a day, you don't have to think about fares, and you get a nice souvenir too.

Curious where we stayed in Seoul? Read our Urban Hotel & Play review.

Stay tuned for more about Korea. See you soon!