Seoul is a huge city with nearly ten million residents, divided in two by the Han River. North of the river, you’ll find the old royal palaces, markets and most of the classic sights, while Gangnam to the south has high-rise buildings, shopping and expensive hotels. The metro is cheap and covers the city, but journeys take time.
That makes your choice of area important. Choose well and you can walk to the palaces or get home from a night out in ten minutes. Choose poorly and you can easily spend more than an hour a day on the metro. Here are my recommendations for six good areas in Seoul, with places to stay at different prices.
Contents
The Best Areas in Seoul
- Myeongdong - best area for first-time visitors and shopping
- Hongdae - best area for nightlife and young travellers
- Insadong and Jongno - best area for palaces and culture
- Gangnam - best area for luxury, shopping and K-pop
- Itaewon - best area for international restaurants and bars
- Dongdaemun - best area for a lower budget and late-night shopping
Below, I go through the areas one by one, explain who they suit and recommend three places to stay at different prices, so you can find the right base for your trip to Seoul.
1. Myeongdong - best area for first-time visitors and shopping 🛍️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’ll be in a central location north of the river, at the foot of Namsan and near City Hall. The palaces are a few metro stops away.
- 🚇 Transport: Myeongdong Station on line 4 and Euljiro 1-ga Station on line 2.
- ✈️ Time from Incheon Airport: The AREX Express Train reaches Seoul Station in 43 minutes from Terminal 1, followed by two stops on line 4. Airport bus 6015 goes directly to Myeongdong and costs 17,000 won, around €11.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€€. When I searched for a weekend in November, three-star hotels cost around €210 to €270 a night, while five-star hotels started at about €495.
- 👮 Safety: Safe, but very crowded for much of the day. Check the room type, as the cheapest rooms may have no window.
Myeongdong is my first choice for a first visit to Seoul or a stay of just a few days. It’s the city’s main shopping district, which the city tourist board says attracts up to two million people a day. Its streets are full of Korean cosmetics shops and clothing chains.
Street-food stalls sell skewers, tornado potatoes and other snacks, making it an easy place to try Korean street food. In the middle of it all stands Myeongdong Cathedral, built in 1898 as Korea’s first brick Gothic church.
Namsan rises behind the neighbourhood. The cable car to the top is just under 600 metres from the metro station and takes three minutes. At the summit stands N Seoul Tower. Namsan Park itself is free to enter if you’d rather walk up.
See places to stay in Myeongdong here.
The main advantage is the location. You have an airport bus on your doorstep, two metro lines and easy access to both the palaces in Jongno and Namdaemun Market. It’s a convenient base for seeing plenty in a short time.
The drawback is that Myeongdong is neither quiet nor particularly local in feel. Hotels are more expensive than elsewhere in the city, and rooms are small. For more character and lower prices, I’d look at Insadong or Dongdaemun instead.
Places to Stay in Myeongdong
Hotel Skypark Myeongdong 3 - best budget choice beside the metro
Hotel Skypark Myeongdong 3 is right beside Myeongdong Station. This practical three-star hotel has a 24-hour reception, luggage storage and a small convenience shop. A double room measures just under 20 m², and some rooms have neither a window nor natural light. Check the room type before booking.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Overall, we’re happy with the location, staff and room temperature.”
See photos and book Hotel Skypark Myeongdong 3 here.
Hotel Prince Seoul - best mid-range hotel for value
Hotel Prince Seoul is on the main road, Toegye-ro, a few steps from the metro station, and has a guest rating of 8.9. Rooms are soundproofed, and there’s a laundry and 24-hour reception. The smallest double room measures just 15 m², and several guests feel the rooms need renovating.
One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “Brilliant hotel in an excellent location. Very good value for money.”
See photos and book Hotel Prince Seoul here.
Le Meridien Seoul Myeongdong - best luxury hotel with a pool
Le Meridien Seoul Myeongdong is a newer five-star hotel with a heated indoor pool, gym, restaurant and bar. A standard room measures 34 m². It’s my suggestion for staying in the middle of Myeongdong without compromising on space. Prices are high, and there’s no sauna.
One guest says on Booking.com: “Everything was excellent! Friendly and helpful staff, a good location and a new, comfortable hotel.”
See photos and book Le Meridien Seoul Myeongdong here.
2. Hongdae - best area for nightlife and young travellers 🎶
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Hongdae is west of the centre, around Hongik University. Allow around 15 minutes by metro to City Hall.
- 🚇 Transport: Hongik University Station is on line 2, the Gyeongui-Jungang line and the AREX airport railway.
- ✈️ Time from Incheon Airport: The AREX All Stop Train goes directly to Hongik University Station in just under an hour from Terminal 1. The Express Train doesn’t stop here. Airport bus 6002 costs 17,000 won, around €11.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€. Four-star hotels cost around €215 to €295 a night, while the most expensive of my three suggestions was around €420.
- 👮 Safety: Safe, but noisy. Street performers play in the evenings on weekdays and from midday at weekends.
Hongdae is the area for nights out. The neighbourhood grew around Hongik University, known for its arts courses, and is associated with neon signs, live music and indie culture. Along with Itaewon, it’s where most of the bars and clubs are concentrated.
On pedestrianised Hongdae Busking Street, around 170 metres from exit 8 of the metro, young dancers, singers and magicians perform. It’s free entertainment and a big part of staying here.
For a break from the noise, Gyeongui Line Forest Park is right beside exit 3. A former railway line has been turned into a long, narrow park with ginkgo trees, surrounded by the cafés and small restaurants of Yeonnam-dong.
See places to stay in Hongdae here.
Hongdae also has the easiest airport journey of the six areas: you can take a direct train from Incheon without changing. That’s welcome after a long flight, and the connection is useful for domestic flights from Gimpo too.
The drawbacks are the noise and the distance from the palaces. Light sleepers should choose a hotel a couple of streets away from the clubbing streets and request a room on a high floor. If palaces and museums are the main reason for your trip, Insadong is a better base.
Places to Stay in Hongdae
Amanti Hotel Seoul Hongdae - best budget choice with a rooftop pool
Amanti Hotel Seoul Hongdae is around 500 metres from Hongik University Station and has a seasonal rooftop pool, gym, café and free parking. A standard room measures 23 m², a decent size by Seoul standards. Guests disagree on how comfortable the beds are, and some find the rooms a little dark.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Large bed and comfortable mattress. Clean room with good facilities.”
See photos and book Amanti Hotel Seoul Hongdae here.
L7 Hongdae by Lotte Hotels - best mid-range hotel near the station
L7 Hongdae is around 100 metres from Hongik University Station and, with more than 4,000 reviews, is one of the area’s most popular hotels. There’s a heated rooftop pool with a seasonal pool bar, plus a restaurant, bar and gym. Breakfast is criticised for offering too little choice for this standard of hotel, so you might prefer to eat out.
One guest describes the hotel on Booking.com: “The hotel is modern, with excellent facilities and helpful staff.”
See photos and book L7 Hongdae by Lotte Hotels here.
RYSE, Autograph Collection - best design hotel in Hongdae
RYSE is Hongdae’s design hotel, with a restaurant, bar, gym and rooms from 29 m². Its guest rating is 9.0. It suits travellers happy to pay more for the interiors and atmosphere in the heart of the neighbourhood. There’s no pool, and a few guests mention that soundproofing could be better.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Stylish and with a great atmosphere, perfect for a trip with your best friend. Blue Bottle coffee, the scent, the location, and friendly, cool staff.”
See photos and book RYSE, Autograph Collection here.
3. Insadong and Jongno - best area for palaces and culture 🏯
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’ll be in the historic centre. Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces, Bukchon and Gwangjang Market are all within walking distance.
- 🚇 Transport: Anguk Station on line 3, Jonggak Station on line 1 and Jongno 3-ga Station on lines 1, 3 and 5.
- ✈️ Time from Incheon Airport: Airport bus 6011 goes to Anguk Station and Changdeokgung for 17,000 won, around €11. You can also take AREX to Seoul Station and change to line 1.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€. The three hotels cost around €175 to €335 a night, and you’ll generally get more for your money than in Myeongdong.
- 👮 Safety: Safe. Demonstrations regularly take place around Gwanghwamun Square; simply avoid walking through them.
Insadong and the rest of Jongno are the best places to stay for Seoul’s history. From your hotel, you can walk to Gyeongbokgung, built in 1395 and the largest of the city’s five royal palaces. It’s closed on Tuesdays, and admission costs 3,000 won, around €2. Entry is free if you wear a traditional hanbok.
A little further east is Changdeokgung, built in 1405, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and known for its Secret Garden behind the palace. Nearby Jongmyo Shrine is also a World Heritage Site.
Insadong itself is a 700-metre street of galleries, antiques, calligraphy and teahouses, closed to traffic at weekends. In Ikseon-dong, near Jongno 3-ga Station, cafés and small restaurants occupy old hanok houses. At Gwangjang Market, you can try mung bean pancakes and small gimbap rolls from morning until evening.
See places to stay in Insadong and Jongno here.
Between the two palaces is Bukchon Hanok Village, with its traditional hanok houses. It’s a residential neighbourhood, so tourists may only visit the most popular streets between 10am and 5pm, with fines for breaking the rules. Guests staying in the neighbourhood’s guesthouses are exempt.
This isn’t an area for clubs and late nights, and most restaurants close earlier than in Hongdae. You do, though, have metro lines 1, 3 and 5 on your doorstep, making the rest of the city easy to reach.
Places to Stay in Insadong and Jongno
Hotel Lemong - best budget choice in Jongno
Hotel Lemong has more than 5,000 reviews and a guest rating of 8.8. It’s the cheapest of my three suggestions in the area. Rooms are soundproofed, there’s a café and free parking, and Jongno 3-ga Station is around ten minutes’ walk away. A few guests have complained about street noise and cleaning, so read the latest reviews.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Brilliant location, good rooms and a varied breakfast.”
See photos and book Hotel Lemong here.
Amid Hotel Seoul - best mid-range hotel in Insadong
Amid Hotel Seoul is on a side street off Insadong, around ten minutes’ walk from Jonggak Station. A standard room measures 22 m², and the hotel has a gym, restaurant and room service. It’s a solid choice for couples wanting a quiet, central base. A few guests can hear traffic in the morning.
One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “Quiet and clean hotel with a huge bed, a good location and an excellent price.”
See photos and book Amid Hotel Seoul here.
Orakai Insadong Suites - best aparthotel with a pool and sauna
Orakai Insadong Suites is an aparthotel with a kitchenette in every unit, an indoor pool and a sauna, around three minutes’ walk from Jongno 3-ga Station. With more than 4,000 reviews and a rating of 9.0, it’s a reliable choice for families and longer stays. Furniture and carpets are older, and breakfast is simple.
One guest says on Booking.com: “Lovely neighbourhood, beautiful views from the room and friendly staff. Decent breakfast and a lovely sauna and pool.”
See photos and book Orakai Insadong Suites here.
4. Gangnam - best area for luxury, shopping and K-pop 💎
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Gangnam is south of the Han River. Allow a little over half an hour by metro to the palaces.
- 🚇 Transport: Line 2, with Gangnam, Seolleung and Samseong stations, plus line 9. The Sinbundang line charges an additional fare.
- ✈️ Time from Incheon Airport: Airport bus 6703 goes to COEX and Gangnam for 18,000 won, around €12. Bus 6020 goes to Gangnam Station for 17,000 won, around €11.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€€. This area has the widest range: from around €150 a night at a three-star hotel to about €640 at the luxury hotel I recommend.
- 👮 Safety: Safe. Roads are wide and distances are large, so you’ll use the metro more than your feet.
Gangnam is modern Seoul, with office towers, luxury shops and some of the city’s best hotels. It suits business trips, shopping and visits focused on K-pop and Korean beauty treatments.
The main gathering point is COEX Mall, an underground shopping centre with more than 260 shops, an aquarium and the much-photographed Starfield Library. Directly opposite is Bongeunsa Temple, founded in 794 and free to enter, providing a pleasant contrast to the glass-fronted buildings.
One metro stop away are the Seonjeongneung royal tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with admission costing 1,000 won, around €0.70. For shopping outside the malls, Garosu-gil near Sinsa Station is known for its small fashion boutiques and cafés.
See places to stay in Gangnam here.
Hotels in Gangnam are newer and larger than those north of the river. You’ll find reasonably priced chain hotels as well as luxury options. Rooms are generally more spacious, and many hotels have pools and spas.
The main disadvantage is the distance. All five royal palaces are north of the river, so staying in Gangnam means crossing the city each day. For a first visit of three or four days, I’d choose Myeongdong or Insadong and come here for an afternoon.
Places to Stay in Gangnam
Ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Gangnam - best budget choice near COEX
Ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Gangnam is a three-star chain hotel with a restaurant, bar and gym, around ten minutes’ walk from Samseong Station and COEX. It’s the cheapest of my Gangnam suggestions, and a standard room measures 19 m². Some guests find the room lighting gloomy.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The room was very clean and well maintained, as was the bathroom. The view from the window was excellent, and the staff were very friendly and always ready to answer questions.”
See photos and book Ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Gangnam here.
L7 Gangnam by Lotte Hotels - best mid-range hotel near the metro
L7 Gangnam is on the main road, Teheran-ro, around three minutes’ walk from Seolleung Station. It has a restaurant, bar, gym and soundproofed rooms measuring 25 m², making it a good choice for holidays and work trips. There’s no pool, and guests mention that breakfast is the same every day.
One guest highlights this on Booking.com: “The location, peace and quiet, friendly staff and a good bed for a good night’s sleep.”
See photos and book L7 Gangnam by Lotte Hotels here.
Josun Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel - best luxury hotel in Gangnam
Josun Palace has a guest rating of 9.7 and is one of Seoul’s most attractive hotels, with a heated indoor pool with views, sauna, gym and rooms from 44 m². It’s somewhere for a special occasion, with prices to match. Yeoksam Station is around nine minutes’ walk away, so you won’t be staying directly above the metro.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Without doubt one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve stayed in. Fantastic views across Seoul, all the way to Lotte Tower.”
See photos and book Josun Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel here.
5. Itaewon - best area for international restaurants and bars 🍜
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Itaewon is on the southern side of Namsan, in Yongsan. There’s no direct metro line to the palaces, so you’ll need to change.
- 🚇 Transport: Itaewon Station and Noksapyeong Station on line 6.
- ✈️ Time from Incheon Airport: Airport bus 6702 stops at the Grand Hyatt and in Itaewon, costing 18,000 won, around €12.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€. The choice of hotels is small, with prices starting at around €170 a night and rising to about €350 to €370 for the five-star hotels.
- 👮 Safety: Safe, but the streets are steep. Watch your belongings and drinks on nights out, as you would in any big city.
Itaewon is Seoul’s international neighbourhood. Many of the city’s overseas residents live here, and you can find Indian, Thai, Greek, Mexican and Italian food on the same street if you fancy a break from kimchi. The neighbourhood also has Seoul’s main mosque, halal shops and a street with around 100 antiques shops.
In the evenings, Itaewon and Hongdae are the city’s most popular areas for going out. Next door is Haebangchon, where restaurants and cafés climb Namsan’s slopes along steep streets and stairways.
A couple of the city’s best museums are also nearby. The Leeum art museum was designed by Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas, and is closed on Mondays. Both the War Memorial of Korea and the National Museum of Korea, with around 420,000 objects, offer free admission.
See places to stay in Itaewon here.
Itaewon suits returning visitors, longer stays and trips where food and bars matter more than palaces. It’s also a good choice for a large hotel with a pool and views: two of the city’s well-known five-star hotels are on the slopes above the neighbourhood.
The drawbacks are the hills and limited hotel choice. The two large hotels are more than a kilometre from the metro station, so check the distance if you have heavy luggage or troublesome knees.
Places to Stay in Itaewon
Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel Itaewon - best affordable hotel near the metro
Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel is on the main road, around three minutes’ walk from Itaewon Station, and was renovated in 2025. A superior room measures 25 m², and there’s a gym and 24-hour reception. It’s the cheapest of the well-reviewed hotels in the neighbourhood. Walls are thin, and guests report hearing the television next door.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Beautifully decorated, excellent facilities and close to the metro. Breakfast was a highlight.”
See photos and book Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel Itaewon here.
Mondrian Seoul Itaewon - best design hotel with a rooftop bar
Mondrian Seoul Itaewon is a five-star design hotel with an indoor pool, seasonal outdoor pool, rooftop bar and spa. It suits adults wanting a hotel with plenty going on and good views. Rooms are small, several facilities cost extra or have age restrictions, and Itaewon Station is around 1.5 kilometres away.
One guest says on Booking.com: “The hotel is first class and one of the best experiences we’ve had. The room with a city view on one of the upper floors is particularly spectacular.”
See photos and book Mondrian Seoul Itaewon here.
Grand Hyatt Seoul - best classic luxury hotel with views
Grand Hyatt Seoul sits high on Namsan’s slopes, with an indoor pool, seasonal outdoor pool, tennis court, spa and garden. Airport bus 6702 stops at the hotel. It’s a good choice for families and a resort feel in the city. Itaewon Station is a little over a kilometre downhill, and guests disagree about the size and condition of the rooms.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything! Attentive and helpful staff, and large, extremely quiet rooms with beautiful views.”
See photos and book Grand Hyatt Seoul here.
6. Dongdaemun - best area for a lower budget and late-night shopping 🧵
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Dongdaemun is just east of the historic centre, four stops from City Hall on line 1.
- 🚇 Transport: Dongdaemun Station on lines 1 and 4, and Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station on lines 2, 4 and 5.
- ✈️ Time from Incheon Airport: Airport bus 6002 goes to Dongdaemun for 17,000 won, around €11, while bus 6702 stops at Dongdaemun Design Plaza for 18,000 won, around €12.
- 💰 Prices: € to €€€€. The cheapest of the six areas: from around €115 a night, about €175 to €255 for three- and four-star hotels, and around €515 for the five-star option.
- 👮 Safety: Safe. It’s a busy shopping district with people on the streets until late in the evening.
Dongdaemun is my suggestion for a central base that costs less. The neighbourhood takes its name from the city’s old east gate and is now Seoul’s main textile and fashion district, with several thousand shops in the shopping centres around the metro stations.
Its most distinctive building is Dongdaemun Design Plaza, designed by Zaha Hadid and opened in 2014. The silver-coloured building is right beside the metro exit and looks best in the evening.
From Dongdaemun Station, you can also walk up onto the old city wall, built in 1396 and 18.6 kilometres long. The section across Naksan starts a few hundred metres from the station and offers good views over the city. Gwangjang Market is just one metro stop west.
See places to stay in Dongdaemun here.
The main practical advantage is the metro. With four lines across two stations, you can reach almost any part of the city without changing, and airport buses stop in the neighbourhood.
Dongdaemun doesn’t have the same charm as Insadong. It’s a commercial district of wide roads and large buildings, so choose it for its prices and transport connections rather than its atmosphere.
Places to Stay in Dongdaemun
Mangrove Dongdaemun - best budget choice for solo travellers and couples
Mangrove Dongdaemun is a modern mix of hotel and co-living accommodation, around 300 metres from Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station. All rooms have private bathrooms, and there’s a shared kitchen, but no breakfast. It was the cheapest well-reviewed place I found in Seoul. Rooms are small, and the shower fits into a very tight space.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Perfect for the price, modern, and the location is good because you have access to many metro lines.”
See photos and book Mangrove Dongdaemun here.
Hotel Skypark Kingstown Dongdaemun - best mid-range hotel near the station
Hotel Skypark Kingstown Dongdaemun is around 350 metres from Dongdaemun Station and has a gym, terrace, restaurant and free parking. A double room measures just under 21 m². With more than 2,700 reviews and a rating of 8.7, it’s a reliable mid-range choice. One guest mentions that their room got too hot in winter because the air conditioning couldn’t cool it.
One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “Everything was good, the location is perfect and the room is clean.”
See photos and book Hotel Skypark Kingstown Dongdaemun here.
JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul - best luxury hotel beside the east gate
JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square is around 120 metres from Dongdaemun Station, with a heated indoor pool, spa and gym. Even the smallest rooms measure 38 m². Its guest rating is 9.1, and you get luxury at a lower price than in Gangnam. Request a high floor, as the lower floors have no view.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Lovely breakfast and good facilities, including an indoor pool. The staff are helpful.”
See photos and book JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul here.
Where Should You Avoid Staying in Seoul?
I wouldn’t stay near Incheon Airport to save money. Getting into the city takes 43 minutes on the Express Train and around an hour on the All Stop Train. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, most public transport from the airport stops around 11.30pm. Staying there only makes sense the night before a very early flight.
I’d also avoid Gangnam on a short first visit focused on the palaces, and the steepest streets of Haebangchon and upper Itaewon if you have heavy luggage. In Myeongdong, check the room type carefully so you don’t end up without a window.
My choices would be Myeongdong or Insadong for a first trip, Hongdae for young travellers and nights out, and Dongdaemun on a tight budget. Gangnam and Itaewon are best once you’ve seen the classic sights and want to experience another side of the city.
In all six areas, you’ll need a T-money card. It costs 3,000 to 5,000 won in convenience shops such as GS25, CU and 7-Eleven and works on the metro and buses. A metro journey costs around 1,550 won, roughly €1.10, with the card, and you can change lines without an extra charge along the way. The airport website lists the airport buses serving your hotel.
Combining Seoul with other Asian cities? See my guides to where to stay in Tokyo, where to stay in Bangkok and where to stay in Singapore too.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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