Where to Stay in Seoul 2024 (Everything You Need to Know)
I’ve visited Seoul eight times now, and have stayed in several parts of Seoul to experience different neighborhoods and areas.
I also love walking all over the place and each area has unique places to visit.
Here are my favorite areas to stay in Seoul, recommendations on where to stay in Seoul based on your interests, and nearby attractions in each area.
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 | Top CBD Hotels |
| Kpop Fans | Multiple! | Top Hotels in Seoul |
Where to Stay in Seoul for First-Time Visitors
📍 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 close to other top places to visit in Seoul too.
Nearby Myeongdong Attractions:
- Myeongdong Shopping Street
- Namsan Park and Seoul Tower
- Namdaemun Market
- Deoksugung Palace
- Cheonggyecheon Stream
Nearby Alternative to Myeongdong: CBD
📍 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 here a few times, and they have really good hotels like Travelodge Myeongdong City Hall.
Ready to Book?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Travelodge Myeongdong City Hall
📍 Located in downtown Seoul
✅ 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.
📍 Itaewon
Ready to Book?
📍 Hongdae
Nearby Hongdae Attractions:
- Hongdae Shopping Street
- Hongik University Street
- Gyeongui Line Forest Park
- Hongdae clubs and cafes
- Yonsei University
Ready to Book?
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. It’s also close to most of the royal palaces of Seoul.
Nearby Insadong Attractions:
- Insadong Street
- Ssamzigil Mall
- Annyeoung Insadong Mall
- Bukchon Hanok Village
- Ikseondong Hanok Village
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Changdeokgung Palace
- Cheonggyecheon Stream
Ready to Book?
Where to Stay in Seoul for Nature Lovers & Runners
📍Namsan 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
Best Area 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?
🌳 Book a hotel near Namsan Park
👟 Book a hotel near Han River
Where to Stay in Seoul for Families
📍Seoul’s 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 probably 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 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
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Changdeokgung Palace
- Cheonggyecheon Stream
Ready to Book?
🏙 Book a hotel near CBD / Seoul City Hall
🏯 Book a hotel in Insadong
Where to Stay in Seoul for Kpop Fans
For my fellow kpop stans, here are three of the best areas in Seoul to stay at:
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?
🎶 Top Hotels in Gangnam
🛍 Top Hotels in Myeongdong
🎤 Top Hotels in Hongdae
More posts for kpop fans visiting Seoul:
- Top 12 Kpop Tours in Seoul to Check Out in 2024
- 7 Best Kpop Stores in Seoul to Visit in 2024
- Ultimate Kpop Seoul Guide: Kpop Shopping, Concerts, Cupsleeves, Tours
- Kpop Fan’s Guide to Attending The Show in Seoul
Tips for Booking Hotels in Seoul
- The main 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 actually right around the corner from each other:
Best Area to Stay in Seoul?
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 always nice to be closer to places I want to visit.
📖 Read next: my most popular Seoul blog post: 28 Top Places to Visit in Seoul
Recap:
| 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
