Facts checked against live data · 21 Oct 2026

Wander Atlas

Essentials · Getting around

Getting around

From the airport, step by step

The transport basics that apply almost anywhere — then pick your destination.

Checked against official sources · October 20, 2026 · 28 countries

Getting around, by country

28 countries · details change, check before you book

Your pick carries over to the other essentials pages.

South Korea · Getting around

Get a T-money card

Works on subways, buses, taxis nationwide

All South Korea essentials →
1

Get a T-money card day one

Works on subways, buses, most taxis, convenience stores, vending machines, AREX, and some cafés.

2

Tourist unlimited passes

New for 2026: 1-day (₩5,000), 3-day (₩10,000), or 5-day (₩15,000) passes for unlimited Seoul subway/bus rides.

3

Card payments catching up

Most recharge kiosks now accept foreign cards, but a physical T-money card remains the simplest fallback everywhere.

Transport basics that work almost anywhere

  1. 1

    Transit cards

    Almost every major destination has one rechargeable tap card that covers the subway, city buses, and sometimes taxis and convenience stores — T-money in Korea, Suica/ICOCA in Japan, Oyster in London, EZ-Link in Singapore, Octopus in Hong Kong. Buy it at a station or convenience store when you land, load it with cash, and you’ve unlocked the cheapest way around town.

  2. 2

    City subways & buses

    Big cities usually have clean, frequent, English-signed metro systems and extensive bus networks. Fares are distance-based and low. The main gotcha is navigation: Google Maps transit is excellent in most countries but weak in a few (use Naver Map or Kakao Map in Korea), so check your destination’s guide.

  3. 3

    Between cities

    Where it exists, high-speed rail is usually the best way between major cities — comfortable, central-to-central, and often faster than flying once you count airport time (Korea’s KTX, Japan’s Shinkansen, Europe’s TGV/Frecciarossa). Intercity buses reach smaller towns the train doesn’t.

  4. 4

    Taxis & ride-hailing

    A local ride-hailing app usually beats flagging a cab for price transparency and to avoid language barriers over your destination — Kakao T in Korea, Grab across Southeast Asia, DiDi in China, Uber/Bolt in much of Europe and the Americas. The country guides note which one works where you’re going.

  5. 5

    Airport transfers

    Most large airports have a dedicated rail link or official airport bus that’s far cheaper than a taxi into town. Buy your transit card at the airport first, then take the train or bus. See the per-country guide for the exact option.

Getting around, by country

Editor summary from each country guide · tap a country for its full guide

CountryGetting aroundDetails
Australia City-specific transit cards Contactless cards now accepted in most cities
Cambodia Negotiate tuk-tuk fares —
China High-speed rail backbone Book via 12306; metros in major cities are English-signed
France Navigo Easy card Paper tickets phased out, use card or app
Georgia Metromoney card Tbilisi metro/bus fares from 1 GEL
Germany Deutschlandticket €63/month covers all local and regional transport
Hong Kong Octopus card everywhere Tap on MTR, buses, trams, ferries, and shops
India Metro, trains, flights Metro cheapest; book trains via FT Quota early
Indonesia Apps and transit cards Grab/Gojek plus TransJakarta card or MRT contactless
Italy High-speed rail backbone Trenitalia and Italo link major cities
Japan IC card plus JR Pass Suica/Pasmo for cities, JR Pass for 3+ cities
Macau Bus & Taipa light rail Use a Macau Pass card to save on fares
Malaysia Touch 'n Go card Covers MRT, LRT, Monorail and Rapid KL buses
Mexico Metro flat fare —
Mongolia Buses need smart card U Money card required; no metro yet
New Zealand City-specific smartcards AT HOP, Snapper, Metrocard; contactless spreading
Philippines Beep card for rail Covers LRT/MRT/Carousel, not Grab or jeepneys
Singapore Tap contactless card S$0.60 daily fee for foreign cards on MRT/bus
South Korea Get a T-money card Works on subways, buses, taxis nationwide
Spain Trains and metros AVE high-speed rail plus city metros and trams
Taiwan iPASS also works —
Thailand BTS/MRT beat traffic 20 min by train vs 1 hour by taxi across town
Turkey Istanbulkart for transit Reloadable card covers metro, tram, bus, ferry
United Arab Emirates Metro, taxis, Nol card Dubai Metro plus buses, trams, water buses
United Kingdom Tap-and-go contactless Contactless bank card simplest for London transport
United States Rideshare, subway, Amtrak USA Rail Pass: 10 segments in 30 days, $499
Uzbekistan Trains link main cities Afrosiyob and Sharq connect Silk Road cities
Vietnam Ride-hailing dominates Grab, Be, Xanh SM lead; metros limited to 2 cities

Get moving the moment you land

Book an airport pickup ahead, or have data working as soon as you land.

Book an airport pickup →Private car eSIM data →Online on arrival

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Frequently asked questions

Fares, apps, and schedules vary by country and change over time — the country guides above give each destination's specifics and official apps/sites. Confirm before you travel.

Should I get a transit card?

In most major cities, yes — a rechargeable tap card is the cheapest, easiest way to ride subways, buses, and often taxis (Korea's T-money, Japan's Suica/ICOCA, London's Oyster, Singapore's EZ-Link, Hong Kong's Octopus). Buy one at a station or convenience store on arrival and top it up with cash. See each country guide below for the local card.

Which map app should I use abroad?

Google Maps works well for transit in most countries, but a few need local apps — Korea uses Naver Map or Kakao Map, and mainland China needs a local app or VPN. Each country guide notes the right one and the local ride-hailing app (Grab, Kakao T, DiDi, Uber, etc.).

What's the best way in from the airport?

Big airports usually have a fast rail link or official airport bus that's far cheaper than a taxi (Seoul's AREX, Tokyo's Narita Express, Hong Kong's Airport Express). Grab your transit card at the airport first. The per-country guides list the specific options.

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