Planning a trip to Seoul, South Korea, and wondering Where To Stay In Seoul? You’re not alone! Seoul is a sprawling metropolis, and choosing the right neighborhood can significantly impact your travel experience. When I planned my family trip to Seoul, this was my biggest concern. Each ‘dong’ (neighborhood) offers a unique vibe and caters to different interests. Having spent nine days exploring Seoul with my family, and even longer on solo trips covering different areas, I feel confident in guiding you to the perfect location for your stay. Thankfully, we chose an area that suited our group perfectly, and I want to share my insights to help you nail your accommodation choice too.
A vibrant shopfront in Insadong adorned with cherry blossoms
Seoul is a massive city, and deciding where to stay in Seoul involves considering a few key factors to ensure you pick the best base for your trip. Think about these questions:
- What’s your age group and what are your interests? (Culture, shopping, nightlife, food?)
- Is this your first time visiting Seoul?
- What’s the main purpose of your trip? (Sightseeing, shopping, business, relaxation?)
- How will you be getting around Seoul? (Subway, taxi, walking?)
- How much time do you have in Seoul?
To give you some context, my trip included myself (33), my sister (34), my Mum, and my Aunty. None of us had been to Seoul before, so sightseeing was a priority. While we enjoy shopping, it wasn’t the primary focus. Being a group of four, we found Uber taxis very convenient and cost-effective for transportation. And as I mentioned, we had a wonderful nine days together in Seoul to explore.
My Personal Recommendations on Where to Stay in Seoul
To help those with similar travel styles and interests, here’s my personal ranking of where to stay in Seoul. Let me emphasize that I loved every area of Seoul I explored. My ranking is based purely on what worked best as a central base for our trip and might differ based on your preferences.
It’s worth noting that I didn’t get to Hannam-dong. It’s known as a trendy area near Itaewon and is often recommended. There are likely other fantastic, less touristy neighborhoods I haven’t explored yet. However, I feel I covered the most popular and recommended areas for tourists quite well.
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Insadong, Ikseondong, and Jongno Areas: In my opinion, these areas topped the list for where to stay in Seoul. They are incredibly walkable and offer a fantastic mix of everything. You can easily walk to the beautiful Bukchon Hanok Village, the grand palaces, and the serene Jongmyo Shrine. Food options are diverse, ranging from traditional temple food to authentic Korean restaurants and even Western-style cafes. Brunch spots are also plentiful and open relatively early, which is a bonus if your hotel doesn’t include breakfast (like ours). Plus, Myeongdong is within walking distance, and public transport links are excellent. Euljiro is another good option nearby – slightly further from Myeongdong but closer to the bustling Gwangjang Market and Dongdaemun.
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Myeongdong: Yes, Myeongdong is often described as touristy and crowded. But as a first-time visitor, I didn’t find the ‘touristy’ atmosphere off-putting; it was still exciting and new. Myeongdong is incredibly convenient for public transport and has every amenity you could possibly need. Many attractions are within walking distance, including Insadong and Bukchon Hanok Village. The Cheonggyecheon Stream is a lovely place for a stroll, and the backstreets are full of hidden gems. Also, many DMZ tours conclude in Myeongdong, making it convenient if you plan on taking day trips.
Image alt text: Experience the bustling energy and endless shopping in Myeongdong, a popular choice for where to stay in Seoul.
My Personal Recommendations Continued
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Seongsu-dong and Seoul Forest Area: I absolutely loved the vibe of Seongsu-dong and felt like we didn’t have enough time to fully explore it. It’s often called the “Brooklyn of Seoul” – think trendy, with converted warehouse cafes, stylish restaurants, and unique shops. However, it’s not the most centrally located if you plan to explore many different areas of Seoul. But, it’s undeniably cool. If I return to Seoul for a second trip, Seongsu-dong is likely where I would stay in Seoul.
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Cheongdam in Gangnam: My Mum and I arrived in Seoul a few days before the rest of the family, and we spent those initial days in Gangnam. I had initially considered Seongsu-dong for this part of the trip, but hotel availability was limited. We stayed near the COEX Mall and found the area generally lacked character. If you choose to stay in Gangnam, I highly recommend the Cheongdam area. It’s filled with chic cafes, excellent restaurants, and high-end boutiques. You’ll also find a street packed with fantastic cocktail bars.
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Haebangchon: Looking at Naver Maps, the boundaries between Haebangchon and Itaewon seem blurred. The hilltop area near Vin Vin was stunning, with breathtaking views of Seoul. While incredibly charming and full of cute spots, Haebangchon might not be the most practical area to stay in Seoul due to its hilly terrain and slightly less convenient transport links compared to other areas. I would rank it higher for its beauty, but accessibility is a factor.
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Hongdae and Itaewon: For me, as a 33-year-old who has definitely moved past the hardcore party scene, Hongdae and Itaewon were the least appealing areas for accommodation. The crowds were very young, and the atmosphere felt overwhelmingly bar-centric and busy (for my personal taste, of course! Everyone is different).
A stunning sunset view of Seoul from a Haebangchon rooftop
If You Love Shopping and Nightlife / Are Young and Social
Personally, I didn’t rate either Hongdae or Itaewon as the best areas to stay, but that’s likely because my travel style has evolved beyond party-focused holidays. I’m sure if I were younger, I’d find Hongdae and Itaewon the perfect locations. Both are known as party hotspots with tons of shops and eateries. I imagine they’d be incredibly fun during summer and at night.
The vibe I got from these areas was somewhat similar to Phuket in Thailand. If you enjoy partying and having everything conveniently located in one place, Hongdae would likely be a great fit. Itaewon felt slightly less intensely youthful, with a broader range of options catering to different age groups. If you want a mix of party atmosphere and other activities, consider Itaewon. I’ve also read that Itaewon is a popular residential area for international expats in Seoul, potentially giving it a more multicultural feel.
Image alt text: Experience the international and vibrant nightlife of Itaewon, a dynamic area to consider when deciding where to stay in Seoul.
If You Love Shopping and Exploring Trendy, Cool Areas
For this, I’d recommend Seongsu-dong and the Seoul Forest area. It’s a sprawling district that felt much larger than it appeared on maps. There are countless shops, restaurants, cafes, and charming hidden gems to discover.
From the Myeongdong side, you’re relatively close to Hannam-dong and Haebangchon, both known as trendy and well-loved neighborhoods.
Seongsu-dong is also conveniently located near the Gangnam area, making it easy to explore Cheongdam and Sinsa – two more exceptionally trendy spots.
A cute cafe facade adorned with Christmas decorations in Seongsu-dong, Seoul
If You Love Culture and Walkable Holidays
Insadong, Ikseondong, or Jongno are your ideal choices! This is where we stayed in Seoul, and as I mentioned, I thought it was perfect. We chose the Moxy Insadong, which was literally across the street from the charming Ikseondong Hanok Village with its cafes and restaurants. Hotel addresses can be tricky, and while it was technically in Jongno, it felt seamlessly connected to both Insadong and Ikseondong. From here, we easily walked to Bukchon Hanok Village, both Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, Myeongdong, and everything that area offers.
It’s also within walking distance of the Seochon Village area near Bar Cham (a fantastic bar, and Seochon is another super charming area with hanok buildings that we almost missed!). Even better? It’s walkable to the Samcheongdong area too. This is yet ANOTHER beautiful area with numerous cafes, shops, and hanok-style buildings. There’s even a branch of the popular London Bagel Museum here that didn’t have a queue when we walked by!
The area boasts a number of museums, and I found that Korean museums are often beautifully designed and interactive. I’m not usually a big museum person, but I found the craft museum very charming (and a great place to warm up or use the restroom!). My Mum also highly praised the folk museum.
Ikseondong Hanok Village's charming cafes and shops
If You Plan to Utilize Seoul’s Excellent Public Transport for Exploration
Myeongdong is definitely the best choice for where to stay in Seoul if you plan on using public transport extensively. The area is incredibly well-connected to subway lines that reach every corner of Seoul. Staying centrally will minimize your travel time on public transport. Choose a hotel near a major station, as Myeongdong itself is quite large.
Myeongdong is also the most convenient location if you are taking organized day trips (like to the DMZ), as many tours start and end in Myeongdong.
Cheonggyecheon Stream illuminated during the Winter Festa in Myeongdong, Seoul
If You Have a Short Amount of Time in Seoul
For short trips, I would personally recommend Insadong, Ikseondong, and Jongno areas. Because they are so walkable and feature a high concentration of hanok-style architecture, you can experience both the traditional and modern sides of Korea in a short amount of time. You have shopping options, cultural landmarks, and attractions right at your doorstep.
If You Are Vegan or Vegetarian
If you are vegetarian or vegan and plan to have dinners near your hotel, it absolutely has to be Insadong, Ikseondong, or Jongno areas. These neighborhoods have a higher concentration of temple food restaurants (which are vegetarian/vegan) than any other area I visited.
Temple food was a lifesaver in Seoul for us vegetarians, and it was incredibly convenient to have so many options within walking distance. You can find my Seoul Naver map link here – it includes vegetarian restaurants, cute cafes, and many places I found on TikTok that I wanted to visit.
Delicious and healthy temple food in Seochon, Insadong
More Travel Resources
- Vegetarian in Seoul
- Vegetarian in Busan
- Where to stay in Busan
- Tips for Seoul, South Korea
- Christmas in Seoul
- The travel archive on my site
