If you are planning a trip to Seoul, one of the first things you will probably need to decide is where to stay.
Seoul is a massive city, but luckily, its public transportation system is excellent. And compared to somewhere like Busan, where attractions are spread across completely different sides of the city, I personally find Seoul a little easier to get around.
That means I wouldn’t stress too much about finding the one perfect neighbourhood. As long as you are relatively close to a metro station, you can get pretty much anywhere.
However, some areas are definitely more convenient than others, especially if you are visiting Seoul for the first time.
I have visited Seoul several times now, both while I was studying abroad in South Korea and on more recent trips. I have stayed in different parts of the city over the years, including Hongdae, Itaewon and Myeongdong.
And even though Myeongdong might be Seoul’s most touristy neighbourhood, it is still where I would personally stay if I only had a few days in the city.
But the best area really depends on what you want from your trip. So here are the five areas I would consider staying in Seoul, along with the pros and cons of each.
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Where Should You Stay in Seoul?
If you don’t want to read the entire post, this is how I would choose:
Myeongdong: Best for first-time visitors. Super central, loads of shopping and restaurants, and convenient for sightseeing.
Hongdae: Best for nightlife, younger travellers and a more energetic atmosphere.
Insadong/Jongno: Best for palaces, traditional Seoul and somewhere a little calmer.
Gangnam: Best for shopping, beauty treatments and modern Seoul, but less convenient for sightseeing north of the river.
Itaewon: Best for international restaurants, bars and nightlife with a slightly more grown-up crowd than Hongdae.
If you ask me, I would stay in Myeongdong, especially if you only have a few days in Seoul.
Where to Stay in Seoul: Myeongdong
Myeongdong is probably one of the most controversial areas to recommend staying in Seoul.
It is incredibly touristy. It doesn’t necessarily feel like the most authentic part of Korea, and you will often hear people say that the street food here is overpriced or that there are much more interesting neighbourhoods elsewhere in Seoul.
And honestly, all of that is kind of true.
But I would still stay here.
The biggest reason is the location. Myeongdong is extremely central, which is especially useful if it is your first time in Seoul and you want to see as much as possible within a few days.
You are close to places such as N Seoul Tower, while Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong and several other major attractions are only a short metro or bus ride away. If you are following my 4-day Seoul itinerary, it makes a very convenient base.
There is also loads going on directly in Myeongdong.
The main shopping streets are packed with Korean skincare and cosmetics shops, clothing stores, restaurants, cafés and street food stalls. Myeongdong is one of Seoul’s major shopping areas and is particularly well known for its cosmetics stores.
If shopping for Korean skincare is part of your Seoul plans, you definitely won’t struggle here. There are also plenty of beauty and skincare clinics around Myeongdong, which can be convenient if you plan to have any treatments during your trip.
And even after visiting Seoul multiple times, I still usually end up coming back to Myeongdong at some point.
It might not be the neighbourhood where you experience the most local side of Seoul, but having restaurants, shops, street food and public transport all around you is just really convenient.
Where I Stayed in Myeongdong
On my most recent trip to Seoul, I stayed at Philstay Myeongdong Boutique Female, a female-only hostel right in Myeongdong.
I was travelling solo, and for me, the location was the biggest advantage. You are right in the middle of Myeongdong, with shops, restaurants, street food and public transport all nearby, which made it really easy to get around Seoul.
It isn’t the most social hostel I have ever stayed in, so I wouldn’t necessarily choose it if your main goal is meeting loads of other travellers. However, the beds have curtains and give you quite a bit of privacy, which I really liked. If I was travelling solo in Seoul again and wanted somewhere affordable and central, I would happily stay here again.
🏨 Travelling solo as a woman? Check prices for Philstay Myeongdong Boutique Female here.
There is also Philstay Myeongdong Station, which is open to all genders and in a similarly convenient location. So if you like the idea of staying somewhere affordable and central but can’t or don’t want to stay at the female-only property, I would have a look at this one instead.
If you would rather stay in a proper hotel, there are also loads of options around Myeongdong. L7 Myeongdong by LOTTE is a good mid-range option in a very central location, while Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Myeongdong 1 is another popular choice if you want something a little more comfortable while still being within walking distance of Myeongdong.
🏨 Want a hotel instead? L7 Myeongdong by LOTTE or Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Myeongdong 1
The main downside of staying in Myeongdong is obviously that it is busy and very tourist-focused. Accommodation can also be more expensive than in less central parts of Seoul.
But if you are only in the city for a few days, I personally think the convenience outweighs that.
To summarise: Stay in Myeongdong if it is your first time in Seoul, you want to be central and you want loads of shopping, food and sightseeing within easy reach. It is touristy, but I still think it is the best all-round base for a short trip.
Where to Stay in Seoul: Hongdae
Hongdae is probably the area I would recommend most if you are younger and nightlife is an important part of your trip.
When I was studying abroad in Busan, Hongdae was usually where I stayed whenever I came to Seoul.
The neighbourhood is centred around Hongik University, so it has a noticeably younger atmosphere than somewhere like Myeongdong or Itaewon.
There are loads of inexpensive clothing stores, restaurants, cafés, bars and clubs around the area, and there is pretty much always something happening.
If you want to go out at night, I would much rather base myself here than travel back across Seoul after a night out.
Hongdae is also a fun area during the day. You can find trendy shops, photo booths, cafés and several flagship stores around the neighbourhood. Even though I don’t usually stay in Hongdae anymore, I still tend to come here at least once whenever I visit Seoul to have a look around the shops.
It is one of those areas where you can easily spend a couple of hours without really having a plan.
The main disadvantage is that it isn’t quite as convenient for some of Seoul’s traditional attractions.
If you want to spend most of your time around Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Myeongdong and the older parts of central Seoul, you will spend more time on public transport than you would if you stayed around Myeongdong or Jongno.
Still, Seoul’s metro is so efficient that I wouldn’t consider this a huge problem.
🏨 Planning to experience Seoul’s nightlife? Have a look at accommodation in Hongdae here.
To summarise: Stay in Hongdae if you want nightlife, shopping and a young, lively atmosphere. I would particularly recommend it for students, backpackers, and younger solo travellers who want to go out while in Seoul.
Where to Stay in Seoul: Insadong & Jongno
If you are more interested in Seoul’s traditional and historic side, I would look at accommodation around Insadong and Jongno.
This puts you close to some of the city’s biggest sightseeing spots, including Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village.
Insadong itself is known for its traditional tea houses, galleries, crafts and shops selling Korean souvenirs, so the atmosphere is completely different from somewhere like Myeongdong or Hongdae.
If visiting the palaces is high on your list of the best things to do in Seoul, staying around here can be really convenient.
It is also a good area if you are planning to rent a traditional Korean outfit while visiting the palaces. I have a complete guide to renting a Hanbok in Seoul if that is something you want to do.
Personally, I think this area would suit someone who wants somewhere a little calmer.
There is still plenty to see, and you certainly aren’t isolated, but there isn’t the same nightlife or constant busy atmosphere that you get in Hongdae or Myeongdong.
Accommodation can sometimes be better value around Jongno as well, especially once you move slightly away from the most touristy streets.
And as Seoul has such good public transport, you don’t necessarily need to stay right in the middle of the busiest neighbourhoods anyway. If you are spending a week or longer in Seoul, I would be much more open to staying around here.
🏨 Want to stay close to Seoul’s palaces? Browse accommodation around Insadong and Jongno.
To summarise: Stay in Insadong or Jongno if you want to be close to Seoul’s palaces and traditional neighbourhoods, prefer somewhere calmer and don’t care as much about nightlife.
Where to Stay in Seoul: Gangnam
Gangnam is probably Seoul’s most famous modern and upscale district.
This is where you will find huge shopping centres, designer shops, cafés, restaurants and plenty of beauty and cosmetic clinics.
One of the biggest attractions in the area is COEX, a massive complex around Samseong Station that includes COEX Mall and plenty of shops and restaurants.
Inside the mall, you can also find Starfield Library, and right across the road is Bongeunsa Temple. There is also the famous Gangnam Style statue outside COEX, so you will probably end up visiting this area at some point during your Seoul trip anyway.
Gangnam is also one of the main areas people associate with beauty treatments, cosmetic clinics and more luxury shopping.
Personally, though, I probably wouldn’t stay here if I were visiting Seoul for only a few days.
Gangnam is south of the Han River, while many of the attractions most first-time visitors want to see are on the other side.
Getting to Myeongdong, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village or Eunpyeong Hanok Village can therefore take quite a while.
That doesn’t mean Gangnam is badly connected. The public transportation is excellent. It is just that you could save yourself quite a bit of travelling by staying somewhere more central to the places you actually want to visit.
🏨 Want to stay in modern Seoul? Browse accommodation in Gangnam here.
I would consider staying here if you have already visited Seoul before, are staying for longer or specifically want to spend a lot of time around Gangnam.
To summarise: Stay in Gangnam if shopping, beauty treatments and modern Seoul are your priorities. For a short first trip focused on sightseeing, I would personally choose somewhere north of the river instead.
Where to Stay in Seoul: Itaewon
Itaewon was actually the area I stayed in on my very first trip to Seoul.
At the time, I didn’t really know anything about Seoul’s different neighbourhoods, but location-wise, it wasn’t a bad choice at all.
Itaewon is known for being one of the more international areas of Seoul. You’ll find lots of restaurants serving food from around the world here, as well as plenty of bars and nightlife.
There are also plenty of bars around here.
Compared to Hongdae, I would say Itaewon generally suits a slightly more grown-up nightlife crowd. Hongdae has much more of a student and university atmosphere, whereas Itaewon has more pubs, bars, lounges and international restaurants.
It can therefore be a good compromise if you want somewhere lively but don’t necessarily want to be surrounded by university students every night.
You are also fairly close to Namsan and the War Memorial of Korea, and it isn’t too difficult to travel into central Seoul from here.
Personally, though, it wouldn’t be my first choice anymore.
There aren’t as many major tourist attractions directly around Itaewon, and if it is your first time in Seoul, I think Myeongdong gives you a more convenient base for sightseeing.
🏨 Want restaurants and nightlife nearby? Have a look at accommodation in Itaewon here.
To summarise: Stay in Itaewon if you want international restaurants, bars and nightlife but prefer a slightly more grown-up atmosphere than Hongdae.
Which Area of Seoul Is Best for First-Time Visitors?
For a first trip to Seoul, I would choose Myeongdong.
I know Myeongdong sometimes gets a bad reputation because it is extremely touristy, and no, I wouldn’t tell you that this is where you should go if you want to experience the most authentic side of Seoul.
But for accommodation, I think that is a different question.
If you only have three or four days in Seoul, being able to get around easily matters. Myeongdong gives you a convenient location, excellent public transport and loads of restaurants, shops and things to do right outside your hotel.
You can always travel to more interesting neighbourhoods during the day.
Where Should Younger Travellers Stay in Seoul?
If nightlife is one of your priorities, I would stay in Hongdae.
There are loads of bars and clubs, affordable restaurants, shops and cafés, and the entire area has a younger atmosphere because of the universities nearby.
Especially if you know you are going to be going out several nights, staying within walking distance of the nightlife makes much more sense than having to travel back to another area afterwards.
For people who still want nightlife but don’t necessarily want the university crowd, I would choose Itaewon instead.
Does It Matter Where You Stay in Seoul?
Not as much as you might think.
Seoul is huge, so you are inevitably going to spend some time travelling between different neighbourhoods.
But the public transport is very efficient, and I personally find getting around Seoul easier than Busan because many of the main tourist attractions are concentrated around the central part of the city.
The most important thing I would look for is a hotel close to a metro station.
You should also download Naver Map or Kakao Map before your trip rather than relying entirely on Google Maps. I have included both, along with the other apps I use in Korea, in my guide to the best apps for travelling in South Korea.\
Going to Busan next? Check out how to get from Seoul to Busan!
Best Areas to Stay in Seoul: My Conclusion
So, where should you stay in Seoul?
If it is your first visit and you only have a few days, I still think Myeongdong is the best option.
Yes, it is probably the most touristy area in Seoul. But you have restaurants, shopping, skincare stores, street food and excellent public transport right outside your accommodation. And when you only have a limited amount of time, that convenience matters.
If your priority is nightlife and you want a younger atmosphere, I would stay in Hongdae. If you prefer Seoul’s traditional side and want to be close to the palaces, look around Insadong or Jongno.
Gangnam makes more sense if shopping, cosmetic treatments or that side of Seoul are the main purpose of your trip, while Itaewon is a good alternative for international restaurants and nightlife.
And if you are staying in Seoul for longer, I wouldn’t worry as much about being right in the centre. Moving slightly further away from the biggest tourist areas can get you better accommodation prices, and Seoul’s public transport makes getting around pretty straightforward anyway.
If you are still putting together the rest of your trip, have a look at my One Week in South Korea guide. If you have a little longer, my 10-Day South Korea Itinerary covers Seoul, Busan and more.
Let me know if you have any questions
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