Where to stay in Seoul: a first-timer’s guide to 7 areas
Where to stay in Seoul: Myeongdong for a first trip (hotels typically about $99 a night), Insadong for palaces and hanok stays (about $58), and Hongdae for nightlife (about $86).
Seoul is big and divided by the Han River: the palaces, markets, Myeongdong and Insadong are north of it, Gangnam's shopping and nightlife to the south. The subway is fast and signed in English, so being near a station matters more than being in the exact centre. We compared 147 hotels in 7 areas: what each is like, its catch, who it suits, what its hotels typically cost and the best-rated ones, so you can choose by your own priorities.
Short on time? The quick answer
- First tripMyeongdong $99 or Insadong $58Shopping, street food and the palaces.
- Best valueInsadong $58, Dongdaemun $65 or Itaewon $78The lowest typical prices of the areas with 8 or more hotels.
- NightlifeHongdae $86, Itaewon $78 or Gangnam $99Clubs, live music and late bars.
- Traditional SeoulInsadong $58Palaces, Bukchon and hanok guesthouses.
- Incheon AirportMyeongdong $99 or Hongdae $86AREX trains from Seoul Station and Hongik Univ., and airport buses.
- LuxuryMyeongdong $99 or Gangnam $99The highest typical prices and many of the city's grandest hotels.
- FamiliesInsadong $58The areas whose hotels guests most often recommend for families.
Best areas to stay in Seoul at a glance
| Area | Best for | Typical price | Transit | Evenings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myeongdongshopping, street food, airport buses | shopping, street food, airport buses | $99 | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | 8.3 |
| Insadong, Bukchon and the palacespalaces, hanok, traditional Seoul | palaces, hanok, traditional Seoul | $58 | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | 8.4 |
| Dongdaemunnight markets, DDP, value | night markets, DDP, value | $65 | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | 8.4 |
| Hongdaenightlife, youth culture, airport train | nightlife, youth culture, airport train | $86 | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | 8.6 |
| Itaewoninternational food, bars | international food, bars | $78 | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | 8.2 |
| Gangnamupscale, business, K-pop | upscale, business, K-pop | $99 | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | 8.2 |
| JamsilLotte World, families | Lotte World, families | $90 | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | 8.7 |
Typical price: the median nightly rate of the area's hotels on Staylist World. Transit: metro, rail and airport links. Evenings: how lively the area is after about 9 pm. Score: the average hotel score.
4 rules before you choose an area
- Stay north of the river for a first trip. The palaces, markets, Myeongdong and Insadong are all north of the Han River. Gangnam is great for shopping and nightlife but far from the historic sights.
- Be near a subway station. Seoul's subway is fast, cheap and signed in English. A hotel within about 5 minutes of a station, ideally on Line 2 (the loop) or near an AREX stop, saves time every day. Each hotel below shows its estimated walk to the area's main station.
- Plan the airport trip. AREX trains run from Incheon Airport to Seoul Station and Hongik University, and limousine buses stop at most big hotels in Myeongdong, Dongdaemun and Gangnam. Choose a hotel on one of these routes.
- Check the hills. Bukchon, Itaewon and the streets below Namsan are steep. With luggage or children, check the walk on the map before you book.
1. Myeongdong: best for a first trip, shopping and street food
Why stay here. Seoul's shopping district: cosmetics and fashion stores, department stores and, every evening, rows of street-food stalls. Namsan Seoul Tower is above it by cable car, Deoksugung Palace and City Hall are a short walk west, and Seoul Station, with AREX trains to Incheon Airport and KTX trains to Busan, is two stops away on Line 4. Airport limousine buses stop here too.
The catch. It is touristy and very crowded, especially in the evening, and rooms are often small for the price.
- Good for
- First-timers, shoppers, food lovers, easy airport transfers
- Not ideal for
- A local, residential feel
By the numbers: 53 hotels, typically about $99 a night (most $37 to $182), average score 8.3. In 15 AI overviews of guest reviews, the most common praise is for the location (8) and staff (4); the most common complaints are about small rooms (4). Includes 6 female-only and 1 capsule.
Best hotels in Myeongdong
- 19.0Royal Hotel Seoul Myeongdong4-star · about 6 min walk to Myeongdong Stationfrom $137 / night
- 29.2L’Escape, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Seoul Myeongdong5-star · about 9 min walk to Myeongdong Station$246 / night
- 39.6Hotel28 Myeongdong4-star · about 7 min walk to Myeongdong Station$1,060 / night
Compare the top 5 in Myeongdong All hotels near Myeongdong, with walk times
2. Insadong, Bukchon and the palaces: best for palaces, hanok stays and traditional Seoul
Why stay here. Between the two great palaces, Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung: Insadong's tea houses and craft shops, the hanok houses of Bukchon and Ikseon-dong's cafés in old courtyard homes. You can sleep in a hanok guesthouse here. Lines 1, 3 and 5 serve the area, and Myeongdong is about 15 minutes away.
The catch. Hanok rooms are small, with thin walls and sometimes shared bathrooms. Bukchon is a lived-in neighbourhood that limits visitor hours in parts, its lanes are hilly, and the area is quiet at night.
- Good for
- Culture seekers, couples, hanok stays, early palace visits
- Not ideal for
- Nightlife and travellers with lots of luggage
By the numbers: 24 hotels, typically about $58 a night (most $36 to $106), average score 8.4. Includes 4 female-only and 2 capsule.
Best hotels in Insadong
3. Dongdaemun: best for value and late-night shopping
Why stay here. The silver curves of Dongdaemun Design Plaza, wholesale fashion malls that stay open late, and Gwangjang Market's food stalls a short walk north. Subway lines 1, 2, 4 and 5 stop here, and hotels are often better value than in Myeongdong.
The catch. It is busy, traffic-heavy and less charming than the palace district, and the malls draw crowds late into the night.
- Good for
- Budget travellers, shoppers, night owls, families on a budget
- Not ideal for
- Quiet, leafy streets
By the numbers: 27 hotels, typically about $65 a night (most $44 to $88), average score 8.4. Includes 1 female-only.
Best hotels in Dongdaemun
- 19.4Another House Dongdaemun (Women Only)2-star · about 11 min walk to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Stationfrom $18 / night
- 29.1JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul5-star · about 9 min walk to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station$515 / night
- 39.2Sotetsu Hotels THE Splaisir Seoul Dongdaemun4-star · about 1 min walk to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Stationfrom $145 / night
Compare the top 5 in Dongdaemun All hotels near Dongdaemun Design Plaza, with walk times
4. Hongdae: best for nightlife and youth culture
Why stay here. The university district: buskers, indie music venues, clubs, cafés and fashion shops, with the Yeonnam-dong park and cafés next door. Hongik University Station is on Line 2 and has a direct AREX train to Incheon and Gimpo airports.
The catch. It is loud late on weekends, and it sits on the west side: the palaces and Myeongdong are 20 to 30 minutes away, Gangnam longer.
- Good for
- Young travellers, nightlife, solo travellers, easy airport trains
- Not ideal for
- Early nights and a central sightseeing base
By the numbers: 14 hotels, typically about $86 a night (most $40 to $312), average score 8.6. Includes 3 female-only and 1 capsule.
Best hotels in Hongdae
5. Itaewon: best for international food and bars
Why stay here. Seoul's most international neighbourhood, below Namsan: restaurants from around the world, cocktail bars and the hilly lanes of Haebangchon and Gyeongnidan. The National Museum of Korea and the Leeum museum are close.
The catch. The streets are steep, the bar strip is noisy at weekends, and Line 6 is less convenient than the central lines.
- Good for
- Food lovers, nightlife, longer stays, an international crowd
- Not ideal for
- A first-time sightseeing base
By the numbers: 8 hotels, typically about $78 a night (most $21 to $420), average score 8.2. Includes 4 female-only and 1 capsule.
Best hotels in Itaewon
6. Gangnam: best for upscale shopping and business trips
Why stay here. South of the Han River: wide avenues, office towers, the COEX mall and aquarium, the boutiques of Garosu-gil and Apgujeong, and K-pop agency streets around Cheongdam. Line 2 and the Sinbundang line serve it.
The catch. It is far from the palaces and old Seoul (35 to 45 minutes), and it feels corporate between the shopping streets.
- Good for
- Business trips, shoppers, K-pop fans, nightlife
- Not ideal for
- A first trip focused on palaces and markets
By the numbers: 14 hotels, typically about $99 a night (most $74 to $188), average score 8.2.
Best hotels in Gangnam
7. Jamsil: best for families and Lotte World
Why stay here. Lotte World theme park and aquarium, Lotte World Tower with its Seoul Sky observation deck, Seokchon Lake and Olympic Park. Lines 2 and 8 run here.
The catch. It is in the far south-east: the palaces and Myeongdong are about 40 minutes away.
- Good for
- Families, theme parks, concerts at the Olympic venues
- Not ideal for
- A whole first trip
By the numbers: 7 hotels, typically about $90 a night (most $62 to $550), average score 8.7.
Best hotels in Jamsil
Staying a week? Split your stay
Seoul is big, and splitting a week works well: 3 or 4 nights in Myeongdong or Insadong for the palaces and markets, then 2 or 3 in Hongdae or Gangnam for nightlife and shopping.
Where not to stay in Seoul
- Hotels far from a subway station: Seoul is spread out and taxis get stuck in traffic.
- Gangnam as the only base for a palace-focused first trip.
- Hanok guesthouses if you need space, a private bathroom or step-free access: check before you book.
- Bukchon's lanes late at night: it is a residential area with visitor hours.
Tips for booking a hotel in Seoul
- Book early for peak dates. Cherry blossom (early April), autumn leaves (late October to early November), Chuseok and Lunar New Year holidays, and big K-pop concerts fill hotels fast. Book with free cancellation.
- Get a T-money card. A rechargeable transport card for the subway, buses and many taxis; you can buy and top it up at convenience stores.
- Check the room size. Central Seoul rooms are often small. If you have big suitcases or children, look for 20 m² or more.
- Check the bathroom in a hanok. Many hanok stays have floor beds (yo) and some share bathrooms. Read the room details before you book.
- Drop your bags before check-in. Most hotels keep luggage before check-in and after check-out, so you can sightsee on arrival and departure days.
- Compare a few hotels side by side. Every area above lets you compare its top picks by score, typical price and walk to the station before you book.
The best hotel in each area, side by side
One pick per area, compared on score, typical price and what guests say.
Compare 7 areas' top hotels or explore Seoul on the map
Questions about where to stay in Seoul
Where is the best place to stay in Seoul for first-timers?
Myeongdong: you are central, close to the palaces and Namsan Tower, two stops from Seoul Station and on the airport bus routes. Staylist World lists 53 hotels there, typically about $99 a night. Insadong is the choice for a more traditional stay.
Is it better to stay in Myeongdong or Hongdae?
Myeongdong for sightseeing and shopping (53 hotels, about $99 a night). Hongdae for nightlife and a younger crowd (14 hotels, about $86 a night), with a direct train to Incheon Airport. They are about 20 minutes apart by subway.
What is the cheapest area to stay in Seoul?
Insadong (about $58 a night), Dongdaemun (about $65 a night) and Itaewon (about $78 a night) have the lowest typical prices of the areas we compared, counting only areas with 8 or more hotels.
Is it better to stay in Gangnam or north of the river?
North of the river for a first trip: the palaces, markets and Insadong are there. Gangnam (14 hotels, about $99 a night) suits shopping, nightlife and business, but the palaces are 35 to 45 minutes away.
Where should I stay in Seoul for Incheon Airport?
Near Seoul Station or Hongik University Station, both on the AREX airport railway, or in Myeongdong, Dongdaemun or Gangnam on the airport limousine bus routes.
Is it worth staying in a hanok in Seoul?
For a night or two, yes: you sleep in a traditional courtyard house in Bukchon or near Insadong, close to the palaces. Rooms are small and some share bathrooms, so check the details first.
Where should families stay in Seoul?
Guests most often recommend hotels in Insadong for families. Check the room size and bed type on each hotel's page before you book.
Should I stay in more than one area of Seoul?
Seoul is big, and splitting a week works well: 3 or 4 nights in Myeongdong or Insadong for the palaces and markets, then 2 or 3 in Hongdae or Gangnam for nightlife and shopping.
Where are the female-only hotels in Seoul?
Staylist World lists female-only hotels, capsules and floors in Myeongdong (6), Insadong (4), Itaewon (4) and Hongdae (3). See all of them on the female-only hotels page.
Our verdict
For a first trip, book Myeongdong for shopping, street food and easy airport links, or Insadong and Bukchon for the palaces and a hanok night. Choose Dongdaemun for value, Hongdae or Itaewon for nightlife, Gangnam for upscale shopping and business, and Jamsil for a family trip to Lotte World. Then pick a hotel within 5 minutes of a subway station.
How we compared: each hotel belongs to its nearest area centre (within walking distance) and is counted once. Walk times are estimates from the map. Prices, scores and guest praise or complaints come from Staylist World's data and AI overviews of guest reviews; transit and evening ratings are our own judgement of rail links and nightlife. Previously observed price; confirm current price and availability. Data updated 27 October 2026. How Staylist ranks hotels.