Where to stay · Seoul · South Korea
Where to stay in Seoul
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: *Youngjin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Jongno and Insadong. Palaces, hanok lanes, tea houses and traditional craft shops. Best alternatives — budget: Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong; nightlife: Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong.
Key facts
- First visit
- Jongno and Insadong
- Families
- Jongno and Insadong
- Budget
- Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong
- Nightlife
- Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Jongno and Insadong | Palaces, hanok lanes, tea houses and traditional craft shops |
| Families | Jongno and Insadong | Palaces, hanok lanes, tea houses and traditional craft shops |
| Couples | Jongno and Insadong | Palaces, hanok lanes, tea houses and traditional craft shops |
| Budget | Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong | University district of buskers, clubs, indie shops and cafés |
| Luxury | Gangnam | Office towers, Garosu-gil boutiques, COEX and polished restaurants |
| Nightlife | Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong | University district of buskers, clubs, indie shops and cafés |
| Food lovers | Itaewon and Hannam-dong | International restaurants, bars and hillside boutiques below Namsan |
| Solo travellers | Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong | University district of buskers, clubs, indie shops and cafés |
| Shopping | Myeongdong | Cosmetics shops, street-food stalls and department stores |
| Quiet stays | Jamsil | Lotte World, Seokchon Lake and the 555-metre Lotte World Tower |
Seoul neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, couples and families
Jongno and Insadong
The historic core north of the river holds Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung and Jongmyo Shrine, the hanok houses of Bukchon and Ikseon-dong and the craft and tea shops of Insadong. It is the best base for culture, with plenty of hanok guesthouses as well as mid-range hotels, and the Cheonggyecheon stream for evening walks.
- Good
- Walk to the palaces; Hanok stays available; Good subway links
- Watch out
- Quieter late at night; Old lanes can be hilly
- Nearby
- Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong, Gwangjang Market
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and families
Myeongdong
Myeongdong is the shopping district most visitors pass through: blocks of K-beauty shops, evening street-food stalls, the Lotte and Shinsegae department stores and Myeongdong Cathedral. It has the densest cluster of tourist hotels in Seoul and sits between Namsan and City Hall, with an airport bus and subway link.
- Good
- Central and convenient; Lots of hotel choice; Airport limousine buses stop nearby
- Watch out
- Crowded and commercial; Street-food prices aimed at tourists
- Nearby
- N Seoul Tower, Namdaemun Market, Myeongdong Cathedral, Deoksugung
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, solo travellers and shopping
Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong
Around Hongik University, Hongdae is Seoul's youth and indie-music district, with street performers, live venues, clubs and inexpensive bars. Next door, Yeonnam-dong's Gyeongui Line Forest Park is a linear park along a former railway lined with cafés. Hostels and guesthouses are plentiful, and AREX trains run straight to Incheon Airport.
- Good
- Direct train to Incheon Airport; Good-value stays; Lively every night
- Watch out
- Noisy on weekends; About 25 minutes by subway from the palaces
- Nearby
- Gyeongui Line Forest Park, Mangwon Market, Hongik University
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and couples
Itaewon and Hannam-dong
Itaewon has long been Seoul's most international district, with restaurants from dozens of countries, bars and the area's mosque, while Hannam-dong next door has designer boutiques, galleries and the Leeum museum. It is a good base for eating and drinking, a short taxi ride from Myeongdong and Namsan.
- Good
- Wide range of international food; Lively bars; Close to Namsan
- Watch out
- Steep streets; Only one subway line through the area
- Nearby
- Leeum Museum of Art, Namsan, War Memorial of Korea, Gyeongnidan-gil
$$$$ · Best for shopping, luxury and nightlife
Gangnam
South of the river, Gangnam is the modern business district: the COEX Mall and Starfield Library, Bongeunsa temple facing the towers, the boutiques of Garosu-gil and Apgujeong's luxury department stores. Hotels are business-grade and large, though most historic sights are 30–40 minutes away by subway.
- Good
- Modern, high-end hotels; Excellent shopping and dining; Quick to Lotte World and Jamsil
- Watch out
- Far from the palaces; Car-oriented and less walkable
- Nearby
- COEX Mall, Bongeunsa, Garosu-gil, Apgujeong Rodeo Street
$$$ · Best for shopping, food lovers and couples
Seongsu-dong
East of the centre on the Han River, Seongsu-dong's red-brick workshops now house roasteries, design shops and brand pop-up stores, beside the green expanse of Seoul Forest. It has few hotels but is one of the most interesting areas to explore by day.
- Good
- Creative cafés and shops; Seoul Forest on the doorstep; Fewer tour groups
- Watch out
- Limited accommodation; Away from the historic sights
- Nearby
- Seoul Forest, Ttukseom Hangang Park, Konkuk University
$$$ · Best for families, shopping and quiet stays
Jamsil
In the south-east, Jamsil is home to the Lotte World theme park and aquarium, the Lotte World Tower observation deck and Seokchon Lake, ringed by cherry trees in spring. Olympic Park is nearby. It suits families, with big hotels and malls connected to the subway.
- Good
- Theme park and aquarium on the doorstep; Large family rooms; Lakeside walks
- Watch out
- Far from the old city; Fewer neighbourhood restaurants
- Nearby
- Lotte World, Lotte World Tower, Seokchon Lake, Olympic Park
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Jongno and Insadong | $$ | Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong, Gwangjang Market |
| Myeongdong | $$$ | N Seoul Tower, Namdaemun Market, Myeongdong Cathedral, Deoksugung |
| Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong | $$ | Gyeongui Line Forest Park, Mangwon Market, Hongik University |
| Itaewon and Hannam-dong | $$$ | Leeum Museum of Art, Namsan, War Memorial of Korea, Gyeongnidan-gil |
| Gangnam | $$$$ | COEX Mall, Bongeunsa, Garosu-gil, Apgujeong Rodeo Street |
| Seongsu-dong | $$$ | Seoul Forest, Ttukseom Hangang Park, Konkuk University |
| Jamsil | $$$ | Lotte World, Lotte World Tower, Seokchon Lake, Olympic Park |
Getting to your hotel
Incheon International Airport is about 50 km west of the centre. AREX express trains reach Seoul Station non-stop in about 45 minutes, all-stop trains take about an hour, and airport limousine buses serve major hotel districts. Gimpo Airport, for domestic and some regional flights, is about 30 minutes from the centre by subway.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Seoul for first-time visitors?
Jongno and Insadong. The historic core north of the river holds Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung and Jongmyo Shrine, the hanok houses of Bukchon and Ikseon-dong and the craft and tea shops of Insadong.
+Where should families stay in Seoul?
Jongno and Insadong: Walk to the palaces.
+Which area of Seoul is best for a budget stay?
Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong ($$): University district of buskers, clubs, indie shops and cafés.