Where to Stay in Seoul – The Best Hotels and Areas (Updated 2020)

It can be quite a headache deciding where to stay in Seoul, as it is a large city with many prominent districts, each with their own distinct styles and attractions. Most tourists like staying in Myeongdong, a vibrant neighbourhood with many shopping and dining options. While this is indeed a great area to stay, there are many other good neighbourhoods too. Therefore, I have listed down eight best places to stay in Seoul below, along with their respective best hotels. This article was last updated on 03 June 2020.

Summary of Best Places To Stay In Seoul

1. Myeongdong: The Best For First Time Tourists. This vibrant district offers many wonderful shopping and dining options.
2. Seoul Station: Most Peaceful Neighbourhood. This quiet district is within close proximity of Myeongdong.
3. Gangnam: The Best For Luxury Shopping. There are many high end boutiques in Cheongdam Fashion Street and Apgujeong Rodeo Street.
4. Insadong / Samcheong-dong: The Best For Culture and Heritage. Explore Korean palaces, quaint teahouses, and traditional Korean villages.
5. Itaewon: The Best For Diversity and Nightlife. The nightlife scene is very vibrant here, and the district also has a strong cosmopolitan vibe.
6. Dongdaemun / Namdaemun: The Best For Shopping. Dongdaemun has many huge shopping malls, and Namdaemun Market is a huge local market with over a thousand stalls.
7. Sinchon / Hongdae (University Quarter): The Best For Budget Shopping and Nightlife. Prices at shops are catered to the budget-conscious student population. The area is home to a sprawl of nightclubs and pubs too.
8. Yeouido: The Best For Business Hotels. This is a convenient place to stay if your meetings or conferences are scheduled in this district.

Map of Seoul Neighbourhoods

This is a rough map of Seoul above to give you an idea of the eight neighbourhoods’ locations.

1. Myeongdong

Myeongdong is a vibrant district with plenty of amazing shopping and dining options. It is arguably the most popular area for tourists. We had a great time indulging in the delicious food here! The wife also had a fantastic time shopping at the myriad of cosmetic shops.

Why Stay in Myeongdong

You can’t really go wrong with staying in Myeongdong because the neighbourhood has loads of great street food, awesome restaurants, and modern shopping malls. However, take note that this bustling district remains quite lively late into the night, so it might disturb your rest a little.

Where to Stay in Myeongdong

Budget – Hotel Skypark Central Myeongdong is a budget hotel that offers clean basic rooms. Service is decent and the hotel is located near Euljiro 1-ga Station.

Mid Range – Aloft Seoul Myeongdong is an awesome modern hotel conveniently located near Myeongdong shopping street. It offers a small gym and the rooms come with Nespresso machines too. I highly recommend staying at this hotel.

Mid Range – Metro Hotel is an extremely popular hotel that is just steps away from the Euljiro 1-ga Station. The rooms are a little small but they are modern and comfy.

Mid Range – Hotel28 Myeongdong is an excellent boutique hotel that offers luxurious rooms at reasonable prices. Service is great and the hotel rooms even have free mini bars that are refilled daily. It is located near Euljiro 1-ga Station too.

2. Seoul Station

We stayed near Seoul Station, which is just two stops away from Myeongdong station. The huge convenience store Lotte Mart is located here, which ensured that we never went hungry at night. We bought loads of Korean snacks here to bring back to Singapore!

Why Stay Near Seoul Station

This is an ideal area for people who prefer an area that is more peaceful at night but still within close proximity of Myeongdong (just two train stops away).

Seoul Station is also an interchange that conveniently links to various other subway and bus lines.

You will also find cheaper accommodations here than in Myeongdong.

Where to Stay Near Seoul Station

Airbnb – I recommend staying at our Airbnb (picture above), which is a pretty duplex apartment. You can check out my full review of it here.

Budget – Hotel Stay Inn Seoul Station is a decent budget hotel that offers basic clean rooms at very affordable prices. It is just a two-minute walk from Seoul Station Exit 12. However, take note that the hotel has no elevators.

Mid Range – If you prefer to stay in a luxury hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Namsan is a 4 star hotel conveniently located near Seoul Station. The rooms are very clean and clean, and the bathrooms even have electronic bidets. The staff speak English and are very helpful. The hotel offers free shuttle service to and fro AREX station (for the Incheon airport express train).

3. Gangnam

Gangnam is an upscale district where you will find many upscale residences and luxury boutiques. Yes, it is the same “Gangnam” that Psy was referring to in his famous song.

Why Stay In Gangnam

If you are into luxury shopping, Gangnam is a good area to stay. There are plenty of high end boutiques in Cheongdam Fashion Street and Apgujeong Rodeo Street.

This neighbourhood is also great for cafe hopping. You will find plenty of beautiful cafes in Garosugil, a hip neighbourhood that is home to an eclectic mix of retail stores, art galleries and artisan cafes. We had a wonderful time exploring this area.

Last but not least, this area has a vibrant nightlife. Gangnam clubs have a reputation of hosting famous and rich partygoers.

Where to Stay in Gangnam

Budget – Ocloud Hotel is located in the heart of Gangnam, and offers clean modern rooms at very affordable prices. It is just a short walk away from Sinnonhyeon Station.

Mid Range – Dormy Inn Premium Seoul Garosugil is a great value-for-money hotel. The location is perfect as it is just around the corner from Garosugil, and a short walk away from Sinsa subway station. The hotel rooms are a little small, but it makes up for this with free spa and sauna facilities.

Luxury – InterContinental Seoul COEX is a 5-Star hotel that spacious and luxurious rooms at reasonable prices. It has many great facilities, including a 25 metre indoor swimming pool, gym, and spa. It is conveniently connected to a large underground mall and is very near Samseong Station.

4. Insadong / Samcheong-dong

Insadong and Samcheong-dong were home to the elite aristocratic families during the Joseon Dynasty. Therefore, these two areas are rich in culture and you will find an interesting amalgamation of charming Korean traditional houses, Korean art galleries, teahouses, restaurants, majestic palaces, artisan cafes, and fashion boutiques.

Why Stay in Insadong / Samcheong-dong

This is a good area to stay if you enjoy visiting cultural attractions like the Korean palaces, quaint teahouses, and traditional Korean villages.

Where to Stay in Insadong / Samcheong-dong

Budget – Seoul YMCA Tourist Hotel is a very affordable hotel in a great location. The rooms are not the best, but they are decent enough for a short stay. It is just a short walk from Jonggak Station.

Mid Range – Shilla Stay Gwanghwamun is a value-for-money 4 Star hotel that offers well-furnished modern rooms. It is within walking distance of Gyeongbokgung Palace and various metro stations like Gwanghwamun and Jonggak.

Mid Range – CenterMark Hotel is another pleasant basic hotel located conveniently near the majestic palaces and metro stations.

5. Itaewon

Itaewon is a culturally diverse district in Seoul where you can find a variety of international retail shops and restaurants. This is because the area developed around the American military bases situated here. As a result, many of the people staying or working here speak good English, and you will have a good chance of socialising with them if you stay in this area.

Why Stay In Itaewon?

If you are into partying and nightlife, then Itaewon is a great place for you to stay. The nightlife scene is very vibrant here, with many of the pubs and clubs located behind Hamilton Hotel.

The district also has a strong cosmopolitan vibe, as it’s home to many expats living in Seoul and therefore there are plenty of foreign shops.

You will find plenty of affordable hotels in this neighbourhood.

Where to Stay in Itaewon

Budget – Hamilton Hotel is a budget hotel located in the heart of Itaewon. It is right beside many restaurants, bars and shops. However, this also means it will be very noisy at night. There is a rooftop pool but even hotel guests need to pay to use it. It is just steps away from Itaewon Station.

Budget – Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel is another value-for-money hotel that offers clean rooms with modern amenities. It is perfectly located to enjoy the many restaurants and bars in the area, and is just a few minutes’ walk away from Itaewon Station.

6. Dongdaemun / Namdaemun

Dongdaemun
Fancy late night shopping? Then perhaps you should consider staying at Dongdaemun, where the malls and stores operate well past midnight. The wife had a great time shopping here, and we only went back to our hotel at about 1 am!

Namademun
Namdaemun Market is a huge local market with over a thousand stalls selling a large variety of items such as clothes, art, ginseng, fishing equipment, etc. However, we found it to be more of an interesting locale than a good shopping location. There are no major shopping malls here; only an open air market and buildings with many small shops inside.

Why Stay in Dongdaemun

If you love shopping, you should definitely stay in the Dongdaemun area. As mentioned above, you will be able to shop late into the night.

Where to Stay in Dongdaemun

Budget – Hotel Skypark Kingstown Dongdaemun is a great value-for-money hotel with clean, modern and spacious rooms. It is in a fantastic location surrounded by famous Dongdaemun malls, and is just a 10-minute walk away from Dongdaemun Station.

Luxury – JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul is a wonderful 5-Star hotel that offers beautiful luxurious rooms and excellent service. It is near all the prominent shopping malls and is just steps away from Dongdaemun Station.

Why Stay in Namdaemun

If you prefer shopping at at local market instead, you can consider staying around Namdaemun Market.

Where to Stay in Namdaemun

Budget – Sotetsu Hotels the Splaisir Seoul Myeong-Dong is a great value-for-money hotel located near Namdaemun Market, and a 15-minute walk away from Myeongdong. The rooms are clean, spacious and modern. The bathroom even has a wooden bathtub.

Budget – Floral Hotel Shin Shin Seoul Myeongdong is a great hotel with many positive reviews online. It is a short walk from Namdaemun Market. The rooms are clean, modern, and even has floor heating. However, they are a little small.

Mid Range – Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Namdaemun is a classy hotel that offers beautiful modern rooms, a spacious gym, and good service. It is within walking distance of Namdaemun Market.

7. Sinchon / Hongdae (University Quarter)

The Sinchon and Hongdae districts are known collectively as the University Quarter.

This is because these two districts house two elite universities respectively: Ewha Womans University (Sinchon), and Hongik University (Hongdae).

Consequently, this is a youthful area with many businesses catered to the young students, with plenty of shopping and dining options.

Why Stay In Sinchon / Hongdae

This is a good area to stay for budget shopping. We managed to find many bargain buys here as the prices are catered to the budget-conscious student population.

The University Quarter is also famous for its vibrant nightlife, and you will have no problem finding nightclubs and pubs here.

Where to Stay In Sinchon / Hongdae

Budget – Marigold Hotel is a convenient hotel to stay at if you love clubbing, because it is located at the doorstep of the Hongdae club district.

Budget – L7 Hongdae is a great value-for-money hip hotel with clean and modern rooms. There is a guest lounge where you can chill out, play pool, and play vinyl records. There is even a bar and rooftop pool.

Mid Range – 9Brick Hotel is a new boutique hotel that offers beautiful artistic rooms at good prices.

8. Yeouido

Yeouido is home to the beautiful Yeouido Hangang Park, which is famous for its gorgeous Cherry Blossoms in spring. However, there are not that many tourist attractions here because Yeouido is the financial district of Seoul.

Why Stay In Yeouido

It is nice to visit this area during spring to see the Cherry Blossoms, but I wouldn’t recommend staying here as it is mainly home to parks, government buildings, and corporate buildings.

This is unless you are having a business trip and your meetings or conferences are scheduled in this district.

Where to Stay in Yeouido

Budget – GLAD Hotel Yeouido is a great value for money hotel with modern and spacious rooms. Service is good and there is a daily breakfast buffet too.

Budget – Best Western Premier Seoul Garden Hotel is a decent hotel in this area which offers clean and modern rooms at affordable prices.

Mid Range – Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Times Square is a modern hotel conveniently located at the Time Squares Mall. It has a large and well-equipped gym.

Luxury – Conrad Seoul is a luxury hotel located very near Yeouido Hangang Park. It offers beautiful rooms, a swimming pool, a fitness centre, and an executive lounge.

This article is part of our completely free and fantastic Ultimate Seoul Travel Guide. Why spend days researching when all your holiday information is simply a click away?