Why go
A car rarely improves a city day centered on palaces, markets or nightlife areas. It replaces direct public-transport links with navigation and parking decisions, especially at busy times. Consider driving only when your plan genuinely continues beyond Seoul or needs equipment that transit cannot handle.
The full story
For a visit focused inside Seoul, a rental car is usually a liability rather than freedom. The city's traffic and scarce parking turn even a short stop into a sequence of navigation, drop-off and parking decisions. That is particularly unhelpful in the kinds of compact districts visitors tend to combine, such as central palace areas, markets and evening neighborhoods, where a subway ride followed by a walk is often more direct. A car makes more sense when the destination lies beyond the city and the rest of the journey cannot be handled comfortably by rail or bus. If you do need one, separate the driving day from your central sightseeing day instead of carrying the car between multiple urban stops. Check current traffic, parking and rental conditions before committing, because those operating details can change.
Useful to know
- Keep central sightseeing and any out-of-city driving on separate days when possible.
- Check current traffic, parking and rental conditions before committing to a car.