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Seoul · Where to stay

Where to stay in Seoul

서울 숙소 지역

Seoul rewards a well-chosen base. Pick the neighbourhood that matches your trip and the city falls into place around it: palaces on foot from Jongno, shopping from your door in Myeongdong, late nights in Hongdae, conference halls in Gangnam. Here is how the seven areas compare, how the airport lines feed them, and the one we would book for each kind of trip.

Quick pick

Quick pick by trip type
Your tripStay inWhy
First visitMyeongdongLines 4 and 2 at the door, an airport bus named after it, and Namsan, Namdaemun Market and Deoksugung all within easy reach.
Shopping and K-beautyMyeongdongSeoul's shopping capital, packed with Korean cosmetics stores and street stalls, with an underground mall running through to City Hall.
Palaces and cultureJongno 3-ga & InsadongChangdeokgung, Jongmyo, Bukchon and Insa-dong are all on foot, and Gyeongbokgung sits on the same Line 3 as Anguk.
Street food and tent barsJongno 3-ga & InsadongJongno 3-ga, Time Out's coolest neighbourhood for 2026: Ikseon-dong's hanok lanes, red pojangmacha tents after dark and Gwangjang Market close by.
NightlifeHongdaeThe leading bar and club district for foreign visitors, with buskers and Club Street, and a no-change AREX ride from Incheon.
FamiliesJamsilLotte World Adventure, Korea's largest indoor theme park, is a step-free underground walk from Jamsil Station, with Seokchon Lake beside it.
Business and COEXGangnamCOEX has four exhibition halls and 50 conference rooms, served by airport buses 6103 and 6703 and the Line 9 express from Gimpo.
Design and cafésSeongsuConverted factories, pop-ups and flagship stores in one of Seoul's most influential trend-setting districts, with Seoul Forest next door.
Long stayItaewon & YongsanEnglish is widely spoken, the international food is the city's best, and shops stock imported clothing sizes that are hard to find elsewhere.
Early train and onward travelItaewon & YongsanKTX trains leave from Yongsan Station, the starting point of the Honam Line to Mokpo and of ITX-Cheongchun to Chuncheon.

How Seoul fits together

The Han River runs through the middle of Seoul and gives the city two halves that feel very different to stay in. North of the river is the old capital. Gyeongbokgung, the first royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty, stands here with Changdeokgung, Jongmyo Shrine and Deoksugung; Cheonggyecheon Stream runs through downtown; and Namsan Park sits at the foot of Namsan Mountain in the heart of the city. Five of our seven areas are on this side: Jongno and Insadong, Myeongdong, Itaewon and Yongsan, Hongdae and Seongsu.

South of the river are Gangnam and Jamsil. Gangnam-gu describes itself as a centre of Hallyu and a global tourism city for fashion, beauty and MICE, and its streets back that up: COEX and its conference halls, Garosu-gil's K-beauty flagships, the shopping of Apgujeong Rodeo. Jamsil is built around Lotte World Tower, about 555 metres and 123 storeys, with Lotte World Adventure and Seokchon Lake at its feet.

The subway ties the two halves together, and one line matters more than any other for a visitor. Line 2 runs through Hongik University (Hongdae), Euljiro 1-ga (Myeongdong), Seongsu, Gangnam, Samseong (COEX) and Jamsil. That puts five of the seven areas on a single line, so moving between them never needs a change. Jongno sits on Lines 1, 3 and 5, and Itaewon on Line 6.

The practical rule is simple. Stay where you will spend your mornings. If your days are palaces, markets and a first look at the city, stay north of the river. If they are conferences, K-beauty flagships or a theme park with children, stay south.

Choosing by airport: AREX and the limousine buses

Most visitors land at Incheon, and the Airport Railroad (AREX) is the backbone of the trip into town. It connects downtown Seoul with both Incheon and Gimpo airports and runs two kinds of train. The Express runs non-stop between Incheon Airport and Seoul Station; the All Stop train calls at every station on the way. Incheon Airport's own timetable gives the all-stop times from Terminal 2: Gimpo Airport in 44 minutes, Hongik University in 58, Gongdeok in 62 and Seoul Station in 66.

That table decides a lot. Hongdae is the only one of the seven areas with AREX in its own station, so you step off the airport train and you are home. Itaewon is one change away: ride the all-stop to Gongdeok, which serves Lines 5 and 6, and change to Line 6. Myeongdong and Jongno both route through Seoul Station, which connects to KTX, Line 1 and Line 4: take Line 4 for Myeongdong, Line 1 for Jonggak or Jongno 3-ga. Seoul Station also houses the City Airport Terminal, where Express passengers check in and drop bags from 05:20 to 19:00 for same-day international flights.

Airport limousine buses reach every major area of Seoul, and Visit Seoul puts the ride at 60 to 80 minutes depending on traffic and destination. At Terminal 1 the Seoul buses leave from outside Arrival Hall exits 3 to 7. For Gangnam and Jamsil, the bus beats the train. These are the routes to know:

Flying into Gimpo

Gimpo is the easier arrival for several areas. Its station is served by AREX, Lines 5 and 9, the Gimpo Goldline and the Seohae Line, and three of our seven areas are a single ride from the terminal.

For Gangnam, Gimpo is the clear winner. Gangnam-gu calls the Line 9 express to Sinnonhyeon the most convenient route, at about 30 to 35 minutes, and COEX puts the Line 9 express to its door at about 40 minutes. For Jongno, Line 5 runs from Gimpo Airport straight to Jongno 3-ga with no change. For Itaewon, the same Line 5 takes you to Gongdeok, where you change to Line 6. For Myeongdong, take the AREX all-stop to Seoul Station, about 23 minutes, then Line 4. For Hongdae, the AREX all-stop runs straight to Hongik University.

The seven areas in brief

Jongno and Insadong is the historic heart and the best base for palaces. Anguk Station (Line 3), Jongno 3-ga (Lines 1, 3 and 5) and Jonggak (Line 1) frame the area. Insa-dong is the city's showcase of traditional culture, with galleries, teahouses and craft shops in the alleys off one main road, which closes to cars on Saturdays from 14:00 to 22:00 and Sundays from 10:00 to 22:00. Changdeokgung, Jongmyo Shrine, Bukchon Hanok Village and Ikseon-dong are a walk away, and many Bukchon hanok houses operate as guesthouses. Bukchon's Red Zone keeps tourists out from 17:00 to 10:00, and guests staying there are exempt.

Myeongdong is the easiest first-visit base in Seoul. Myeongdong Station (Line 4) and Euljiro 1-ga (Line 2) put two lines at the door, and airport bus 6015 is named after it. Visit Seoul calls it Seoul's shopping mecca: street stalls, retail outlets and a dense run of Korean cosmetics stores. Myeongdong Cathedral, the first Roman Catholic parish church in Korea, is here, and the underground shopping centre links through to City Hall. Namdaemun Market, the largest traditional market in Korea, is at Hoehyeon Station on the same Line 4, and Namsan Park is 846 metres from Exit 3, with the cable car running until 23:00.

Hongdae is the base for nightlife, youth and an easy airport run. Hongik University Station carries Line 2, the Gyeongui-Jungang Line and AREX. The streets are known for their youthful energy: clothing, cosmetics and book shops, unusual cafés, buskers and dance performers, and Club Street. Visit Seoul ranks Itaewon's bar and club scene second only to Hongdae's among foreign visitors. Gyeongui Line Forest Park, a 6.3-kilometre park built partly on old railway, is about 447 metres from Exit 3, and its busiest stretch runs through Yeonnam-dong, a favourite gathering place for young people.

Seongsu is the base for design, cafés and the city's newest ideas. Seongsu and Ttukseom stations are on Line 2, and Seoul Forest Station is on the Suin-Bundang Line. Visit Seoul calls Seongsu one of Seoul's most influential trend-setting districts, once called the Brooklyn of Korea, where brands open pop-ups and flagship stores. Korea's largest handmade shoe district sits beside cafés and galleries in converted factories: Onion Seongsu in a 1970s factory, Seongsu Yeonbang in a former chemical plant, Daelim Changgo in an old rice mill. Seoul Forest is open 24 hours and free.

Gangnam is the base for business, COEX and K-beauty. Gangnam Station (Line 2 and the Sinbundang Line), Samseong (Line 2), Bongeunsa (Line 9) and Sinsa (Line 3) cover it. COEX holds four exhibition halls, 50 conference rooms, Starfield COEX Mall, COEX Aquarium and Starfield Library with its 13-metre bookshelves. Bongeunsa Temple, founded in 794, stands just north of COEX. Gangnam-gu's own advice on where to stay is clear: Gangnam Station for transport, Samseong-dong and COEX for business hotels, Cheongdam and Apgujeong for luxury boutique hotels.

Jamsil is the family base. Jamsil Station carries Lines 2 and 8. Lotte World Tower stands 29 metres from Exit 2, with Korea's highest observation deck at about 500 metres. Lotte World Adventure, Korea's largest indoor theme park with over 50 attractions and daily parades, is reached from the station by a step-free underground passage. Seokchon Lake Park, about 2.5 kilometres around, is open 24 hours and free, and Visit Seoul singles it out for its night views of the lit tower.

Itaewon and Yongsan is the base for international food, long stays and onward trains. Itaewon and Noksapyeong stations are on Line 6, Yongsan on Line 1 and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, and Ichon on Line 4. Itaewon is a melting pot of cultures, home to Seoul's best international food, the Seoul Central Mosque, Antique Furniture Street and Gyeongnidan-gil, and shop staff often speak English, Japanese or Chinese. Yongsan adds the National Museum of Korea, ranked the sixth largest museum in the world, the War Memorial of Korea, Leeum Museum of Art and a KTX station.

When two bases make sense

For a trip of a week or less, one base is the right call, and the quick pick above will find it. Two bases earn their place when your trip has two distinct halves, and the trick is to split along a single line so that moving day is one easy ride.

Line 2 makes this effortless. Hongdae, Myeongdong (via Euljiro 1-ga), Seongsu, Gangnam and Jamsil all sit on it, so any pair of those five is a no-change transfer with your luggage. The AREX line helps at both ends of the trip: start in Hongdae and you step off the airport train at your door; finish in Myeongdong or Jongno and you are a direct ride from Seoul Station on Line 4 or Line 1, where Express passengers check in and drop bags before riding non-stop to Incheon.

These are the pairings we recommend:

Arrival made simple: T-money, your address in Korean and 1330

Get a transport card first. T-money is sold and topped up at convenience stores nationwide and at the information centres on Seoul subway Lines 1 to 8, and you reload it at the ticket machines inside any subway station. T-money works on virtually all public transport in Korea, taxis included. If you prefer an unlimited pass, the Climate Card covers Seoul-based subway lines except the Sinbundang Line and GTX, which matters if you are staying by Gangnam Station. WOWPASS needs your passport. Mpass covers AREX but not the Express train.

Sort your phone at the airport. Roaming centres at Incheon and Gimpo sell prepaid SIM cards and hand over cards ordered online in advance, and SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ all run counters on the first floor of both Incheon terminals, each with a 24-hour counter in Terminal 1. Free public Wi-Fi covers airports, subway stations and train stations.

Save your stay's address in Korean before you land. Korea uses road-name addresses, a street name plus a building number, which became the legal address on 29 July 2011 and the only address in use from 1 January 2012. With the Korean address in hand, a taxi app gets you to the door. k.ride is built for foreign visitors, takes foreign credit cards and auto-translates your destination; TABA is backed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government; Kakao T needs a KakaoTalk account and a local mobile number. At Incheon, take only the designated taxi stands; International Taxi and Smart Taxi are the official taxis for foreign visitors.

Keep 1330 in your phone. The Korea Travel Hotline, run by the Korea Tourism Organization, gives tourist information, interpretation and help with complaints. Dial 1330 inside Korea, or +82-2-1330 from a foreign phone; English, Japanese and Chinese are answered around the clock, and calls are free through the Visit Korea app on Wi-Fi. For help in person, the Myeong-dong Tourist Information Center opens 09:00 to 17:30 and closes on Sundays, and the Itaewon centre by Itaewon Station opens 10:00 to 19:00.

Plan your days around closing days

Seoul's big sights close on fixed weekdays, and the rule of thumb is that palaces and museums rest early in the week. Build your first days around these and you will never arrive at a locked gate.

Every Seoul area guide

Questions visitors ask

Which area is best for a first visit to Seoul?

Myeongdong. It has Line 4 and Line 2 at the door, a direct airport bus (6015), and the shopping streets, Myeongdong Cathedral, Namdaemun Market and Namsan Park all close by. Seoul Station, for AREX and KTX, is on the same Line 4. If palaces matter more to you than shopping, choose Jongno and Insadong instead.

Which area is easiest to reach from Incheon Airport?

Hongdae. Hongik University Station is on AREX, so the all-stop train takes you from Incheon to your neighbourhood without a single change, 58 minutes from Terminal 2 on the airport's own timetable. For a late arrival, night bus N6002 reaches Hongdae in 45 minutes from Terminal 1. Myeongdong is a close second, with limousine 6015 named after it.

Is Gangnam a good base for sightseeing?

For business, COEX, K-beauty flagships and Bongeunsa Temple, Gangnam is the best base in the city. For palaces and old Seoul, it is the wrong side of the river: stay in Jongno and Insadong. If you want both, split your trip, or stay near Gangnam Station, where Line 2 runs through to Euljiro 1-ga for Myeongdong without a change.

Can I stay in a hanok in Seoul?

Yes. Bukchon Hanok Village in Jongno is home to hundreds of traditional houses, and many operate as guesthouses. Bukchon's Red Zone closes the streets to tourists from 17:00 to 10:00, but guests with accommodation in the area are exempt, so a hanok stay gives you the lanes in the quiet hours. Anguk Station on Line 3 is the closest stop.

Which area suits a late-night arrival?

Hongdae, Gangnam or Jamsil, because the late-night airport buses serve them directly. N6002 reaches Hongdae in 45 minutes from Terminal 1; N6703 reaches COEX in 65 minutes and Jamsil Lotte World in 70; N6000 reaches Gangnam Express Bus Terminal in 70. For Myeongdong, N6701 stops at Seoul Station and Euljiro Entrance.

Where should I stay for KTX trips out of Seoul?

Itaewon and Yongsan. KTX departs from Yongsan Station, which is also the starting point of the Honam Line to Mokpo and of ITX-Cheongchun to Chuncheon. For trains from Seoul Station, Myeongdong is the better pick, since Line 4 runs straight there.

Sources & review

Editorial review: · Korea Standard Time