You probably know we generate a lot of Korean content, so it’s natural for us to visit Korea a lot. But during our recent trip to Korea, we tried using these 3 apps to get around and they have been a game changer.
These apps range from payment solutions to finding the best spots in town!
3 Korea Travel Apps To Try Out
WOW Pass
We usually opt for the basic travel cards to make payments in Korea, but this time round, we opted for WOW Pass, and here’s our experience.
If you’ve never heard of WOW Pass, it’s similar to a travel debit card. You can top up the card physically via WOW Pass Machines spread throughout Seoul, or top up via the WOW Pass app.
The good thing about WOW Pass is that it’s accepted in places where international credit cards aren’t – so if you’re visiting more rural areas in Korea, WOW Pass might be something to consider. The card also works as a Tmoney transportation card, so you don’t need to get an additional card for public transport.
To apply for a WOW Pass, you simply need to head to their website and reserve one in advance. We picked up our WOW Pass at Incheon Airport Terminal 2 Arrival and activated it via the WOW Pass app.
After topping the card with cash, we found payments everywhere to be seamless.
What we liked about WOW Pass:
- Provides notification on all purchases, good for tracking expenses
- Easy to use, fuss-free interface
- Has a list of perks such as 10% Cashback at CU Convenience stores, 1,000won Cashback at places like Playground, OliveYoung, and LINE Friends
- Able to top up Tmoney directly via the app
- Able to transfer money from WOW Pass to local Korean bank accounts – super useful when we dined at local Pochas that only accept Cash & bank transfer
- Able to top up using foreign cash at WOW Pass kiosks (basically like money exchange and top up all-in-one)
What we didn’t like about WOW Pass:
- Admin fee when topping up using the app (small fee but still a fee…)
Overall, it’s definitely now one of our favourite ways to get around Korea! Just because of WOW Pass, we found ourselves visiting CU Convenience Store a lot more than the other brands, just for the Cashback.
Creatrip
Creatrip is an all-in-one app that offers you information about Korea. It can also be used to be book day tours, activities, transport, beauty services, and more.
We used Creatrip to look for local and trending activities in Seoul, and we found a foot spa therapy session in Anguk and a cleanser-making session in Seongsu.
We also found out that Creatrip has lots of discounts and perks as well, especially for those who love cafehopping. There’s a section dedicated to Cafe Discounts, and this can range from discounted bills to even free beverages. For example, if you visit Teddy Beurre House in Yongsan and show them the Creatrip coupon, you’re entitled to a free beverage.
For those visiting for K-Beauty, you can book various treatments ranging from hair, scalp, and skin treatments, to even personal colour analysis workshops that are all foreigner-friendly!
Catchtable
If you’re a foodie and eating good food is one of your main goals in Korea, Catchtable is an app you need to download this instance. While the main app is in Korean, a Global version is catered to those visiting Korea.
Catchtable allows you to browse through hundreds, if not, thousands of restaurants in Korea. You can then make reservations for these restaurants through the app. During our trip, we secured a table through Catchtable for Mukjung, celebrity chef Austin Kang’s latest restaurant!
If you hate queuing for popular cafes, some of them are available on Catchtable, where you can start queuing before even reaching the location! London Bagel Museum and Artist Bakery are cafes that have this function.
Apps For Korea Travel
If you’re preparing for a trip to Korea, here are some other apps you should check out when visiting. Visit Korea also has an extensive list of apps that might help with your travels!
Some other articles you might find useful:
*This article is brought to you in partnership with Korea Tourism Organization (Singapore).
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