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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Plan your trip
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Frequently asked questions
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.
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.