Where to Stay in Seoul for First-Timers (Ultimate Guide)
Choosing where to stay in Seoul can feel overwhelming—it’s a huge city with very different neighborhoods.
After nights visits and stays in several parts of Seoul, I’ve learned what each area offers and who it’s best for.
In this guide, I’ll share my favorite areas to stay in Seoul, recommendations based on your interests, and nearby attractions in each neighborhood.
If you’re new to South Korea, make sure to read my travel guide to South Korea.
Summary: Best Area to Stay in Seoul
| Traveler Type | Area in Seoul | Find a Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| First-Time Visitors | Myeongdong | Top Myeongdong Hotels |
| Solo Travelers | Hongdae/Itaewon | Top Hongdae Hotels Top Itaewon Hotels |
| Short Visits | Insadong | Top Insadong Hotels |
| Nature Lovers | Namsan Park | Top Namsan Hotels |
| Families | CBD / Downtown | Top CBD Hotels |
Where to Stay in Seoul for First-Time Visitors
π Myeongdong
In general, if you’re visiting Seoul for the first time, the best area to stay in Seoul is Myeongdong.
It is a tourist area, but it’s a nice kind of liveliness and Myeongdong is the perfect base to explore the top Seoul attractions.
(Just avoid the large crowds on weekend nights.)
Nearby Myeongdong Attractions:
- Myeongdong Shopping Street
- Namsan Park and Seoul Tower
- Namdaemun Market
- Deoksugung Palace
- Cheonggyecheon Stream
Alternative to Myeongdong: CBD
π For a less touristy area, but still central and walkable to Myeongdong, I suggest somewhere in CBD downtown Seoul near City Hall.
I’ve stayed in the CBD a few times, and the area has really good hotels like Travelodge Myeongdong City Hall or Le Seoul hotel.
Ready to Book?
π¨ Top hotels in Myeongdong — great locations and solid reviews
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Travelodge Myeongdong City Hall
π Located in downtown Seoul
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New and clean
Where to Stay in Seoul for Solo Travelers
If you’re traveling solo and would like to meet other travelers, the best area to stay in Seoul is either Itaewon or Hongdae.
π Itaewon
Stay in Itaewon if you like to drink and club (responsibly and safely), and Hongdae for a more chiller party scene and nightlife.
Along with Myeongdong, youβll find the most foreign tourists in these areas.
Nearby Itaewon Attractions:
- Itaewon Street
- Hannam-dong upscale area
- Namsan Park and Seoul Tower (south)
- Yongsan Park
- War Memorial of Korea
My most luxurious stay in Seoul was in Itaewon at the 5-star hotel Mondrian which was walkable from the busy main street but located in a quieter area.
Ready to Book?
π¨ Top hotels in Itaewon — great locations and solid reviews
π Hongdae
Nearby Hongdae Attractions:
- Hongdae Shopping Street
- Hongik University Street
- Gyeongui Line Forest Park
- Hongdae clubs and cafes
- Yonsei University
Ready to Book?
π¨ Top hotels in Hongdae (book early for the best prices)
For short visits and for my fellow mega-tourists, I recommend staying in Insadong.
If your goal is to cross off as many Seoul attractions during your visit, it’s better to stay in areas in Seoul where there are lots of tourist sites and that are walkable to subway stations.
If you’re only staying for one day in Seoul, I also recommend staying in Insadong.
Itβs also close to most of the royal palaces of Seoul.
Nearby Insadong Attractions:
- Insadong Street
- Ssamzigil Mall
- Annyeong Insadong Mall
- Bukchon Hanok Village
- Ikseondong Hanok Village
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Changdeokgung Palace
- Cheonggyecheon Stream
Ready to Book?
π¨ Top hotels in Insadong — great locations and solid reviews
Where to Stay in Seoul for Nature Lovers & Runners
πNamsan Park Area
For those that like to get in a morning walk or be surrounded by nature, I recommend staying near Namsan Park, where you can walk up to Namsan Tower.
There’s several paths going up to Namsan Tour, each about 30-minutes each way. It’s a nice workout and a walk through trees and paved trails.
Nearby Namsan Park Attractions:
- Namsangol Hanok Village
- Namsan Cable Car
- Namsan Mountain Park
- Namsan Baekbeom Square
- Namsan Botanical Garden
Where to Stay in Seoul for Runners:
If you plan to run during your visit in Seoul, stay near the Han River in the Mapo neighborhood, where you can jog or run along multiple paved river paths and parks.
Ready to Book?
π³ Book a hotel near Namsan Park
π Book a hotel near Han River
Where to Stay in Seoul for Families
πSeoulβs CBD
To be fair, I have not traveled in Seoul with a family, but from reading others’ experiences and general knowledge of Seoul as a tourist, the best area in Seoul for families would be Seoul’s CBD, or Central Business District where more family-friendly hotels are located.
If you need a bigger stay, you can also book stays on Airbnbs for apartments with multiple rooms.
Nearby CBD Attractions:
- Seoul City Hall building
- Seoul Plaza
- Deoksugung Palace
- Seoul Museum of Art
- Cheonggyecheon Stream
Alternative to CBD: Insadong
Insadong is a quieter tourist alternative to the CBD and Myeongdong but still central to family-friendly tourist sites.
Nearby Insadong Attractions:
- Insadong Street
- Ssamzigil Mall
- Annyeoung Insadong Mall
- Bukchon Hanok Village
- Ikseondong Hanok Village
- Changdeokgung Palace
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Cheonggyecheon Stream
Ready to Book?
π Book a hotel near CBD / Seoul City Hall
π― Book a hotel in Insadong
Bonus: Where to Stay in Seoul for Kpop Fans
For my fellow kpop stans, here are three of the best areas for where to stay in Seoul:
1. Gangnam
Close to: K-Star Road, COEX Mall, and a bunch of kpop agencies if you plan to visit them. Search Gangnam hotels.
2. Myeongdong
Close to: Most of the kpop stores in Seoul. Search Myeongdong hotels.
3. Hongdae
Close to: Kpop-cover performances during the day and night. Plus, most kpop cupsleeves will be in Hongdae. Search Hongdae hotels.
TIP for Kpop Fans: If you’re attending a concert, I generally don’t recommend finding a hotel near the venue. Most venues are farther from main tourist sites.
There are late-night trains, and from my experience, it’s generally safe to take trains at night post-concert. There will be lots of other fans doing the same.
Ready to Book?
πΆ Top Hotels in Gangnam
π Top Hotels in Myeongdong
π€ Top Hotels in Hongdae
Tips for Booking Hotels in Seoul
- The website I book for hotels in Seoul is Agoda.com, a main booking site used in Asia. They usually have the cheapest prices and run discounts, even for more expensive hotels.
- Most hotels on Agoda.com have refundable options if you have to cancel a few days before your reservation.
- Some hotels and stays may be located on side streets and alleys. Use Naver Map for the most accurate walking directions.
- Read others’ reviews for any tips on ways to get to the hotel i.e. airport bus, subway, etc.
My Favorite Hotel Stays in Seoul
So far, my favorite hotels in Seoul that I’ve stayed in have been these two hotels near City Hall, which are right around the corner from each other:
Which Seoul Neighborhood Is Right for You?
My personal favorite area to stay in Seoul (as a solo traveler) is central Seoul, whether that’s in Myeongdong, Insadong, or CBD.
However, to change things up since I’ve been visiting Seoul quite a bit, I like to try other areas too.
I have a long Seoul bucket list since there’s always something to do, so it’s nice to be closer to places I want to visit.
Recap: Where to Stay in Seoul
| Traveler Type | Neighborhood | Find a Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| First-Time Visitors | Myeongdong | Top Myeongdong Hotels |
| Solo Travelers | Hongdae/Itaewon | Top Hongdae Hotels Top Itaewon Hotels |
| Short Visits | Insadong | Top Insadong Hotels |
| Nature Lovers | Namsan Park | Top Namsan Hotels |
| Families | CBD | Top CBD Hotels |
| Kpop Fans | Multiple! | Top Hotels in Seoul |
More Seoul Posts
- The Best 5 Days Seoul Itinerary for First Timers
- Best One Day in Seoul Itineraries (+ Hour Breakdown)
- 7 Essential Seoul Travel Tips for First-Timers (+ everything I wished I knew)
- Basic South Korea Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors
- 15 Popular Things to Do in Seoul at Night
- Best Palaces of Seoul to Visit + All You Need to Know
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