Where to Stay in Seoul 2024 (Based on Your Interests)

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 and essential Seoul travel tips.

Table of Contents

Summary: Best Area 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

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 Night Market
Myeongdong Streeet
Namsan Park and Seoul Tower (north)
Namdaemun Market
Deoksugung Palace
Cheonggyecheon Stream
Myeongdong Cathedral

Nearby Alternative to Myeongdong: CBD

Seoul City Hall building - large ceramic dark green glass

📍 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?

🏨 Look through hotels in Myeongdong | Sort by price and reviews

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

Stay in Itaewon if you like to drink and club (responsibly and safely), and Hongdae for a more chiller party scene and nightlife.

Nearby Itaewon Attractions:

Itaewon Street
Hannam-dong upscale area
Namsan Park and Seoul Tower (south)
Yongsan Park
War Memorial of Korea

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🏨 Look through hotels in Itaewon | Sort by price and reviews

📍 Hongdae

Nearby Hongdae Attractions:

Hongdae Shopping Street
Hongik University Street
Gyeongui Line Forest Park
Hongdae clubs and cafes
Yonsei University

Ready to Book?

🏨 Look through hotels in Hongdae | Sort by price and reviews

Where to Stay in Seoul for Short Visits (and Mega Tourists)

📍Insadong

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?

🏨 Look through hotels in Insadong | Sort by price and reviews

Where to Stay in Seoul for Nature Lovers & Runners

📍Namsan Park Area

Namsan Park Walking Path Seoul South Korea

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:

I Seoul You Sign Courtyard at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul

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?

🌳 Look through hotels near Namsan Park

👟 Look through hotels 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?

🏙 Look through hotels near CBD / Seoul City Hall

🏯 Look through hotels near Insadong

Where to Stay in Seoul for Kpop Fans

Entrance to WithMUU Store Kpop Location - AK Plaza Hongdae

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.

2. Myeongdong

Close to: Most of the kpop stores in Seoul.

3. Hongdae

Close to: Kpop-cover performances during the day and night. Plus, most kpop cupsleeves will be in Hongdae.

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

Tips for Booking Hotels in Seoul

hello. prints on wall of Superior Queen Room - Travelodge Myeongdong City Hall

The main website I book for hotels in Seoul is Agoda.com. 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: