It can be quite a headache deciding where to stay in Seoul, as it is a large city with many prominent districts, each with their own distinct styles and attractions. Most tourists choose to stay at Myeongdong, a super popular area that’s great for the usual shopping and eating. However, there are many other areas in Seoul that are interesting to stay at too. Below are brief descriptions of the respective areas. I have also included a map of Seoul at the end of the article for you to get a better sense of the locations. Feel free to leave any questions in the comments section!
Myeongdong
Myeongdong is arguably the most popular choice for tourists to stay at. This is because the area has loads of great food and modern shopping malls. You can’t really go wrong with staying here. However, this bustling district remains vibrant late into the night, so it might disturb your sleep a little.
Seoul Station
We stayed at Seoul Station, which is just two stops away from Myeongdong station. Above is the picture of the Airbnb we stayed at. Click out our full review of this pretty Airbnb. This is an ideal area for people who prefer an area that is more peaceful at night but still within close proximity of Myeongdong. Seoul Station is also an interchange that conveniently links to various other subway and bus lines. The huge convenience store Lotte Mart is located here, which ensured that we never went hungry at night. We bought loads of Korean snacks here too to bring back to Singapore!
Gangnam
Yes, this is the same “Gangnam” as the one in the song “Gangnam Style”. This is an upscale district where you will find various high-end hotels. The luxurious Ritz Carlton Seoul is located here. A popular area in Gangnam is Garosugil, which is home to an eclectic mix of retail stores, art galleries and artisan cafes. In our opinion this is the best area in Seoul to café hop.
Insadong / Samcheong-dong
Insadong and Samcheong-dong were home to the elite aristocratic families during the Joseon Dynasty. Therefore, these two areas are rich in culture and you will find an interesting amalgamation of charming Korean traditional houses, Korean art galleries, restaurants, teahouses, fashion boutiques, majestic palaces, artisan cafes, and fashion boutiques.
Itaewon
Itaewon is a culturally diverse district in Seoul where you can find a variety of international retail shops and restaurants. This is because the area developed around the American military bases situated here. As a result, many of the people staying or working here speak good English, and you will have a good chance of socializing with them if you stay in this area. The nightlife scene here is quite vibrant, with many of the pubs and clubs located behind Hamilton hotel.
Namdaemun / Dongdaemun
Fancy late night shopping? Then perhaps you should consider staying in either Namdemun or Dongdaemun, where the malls and stores operate well past midnight. Raevian had a great time shopping here, and we only went back to our hotel at about 1 am!
Sinchon / Hongdae
The Sinchon and Hongdae districts are known collectively as the University Quarter. This is because these two districts house two elite universities respectively: Ewha Womans University in Sinchon, and Hongik University in Hongdae. Consequently, this is a youthful area with many businesses catered to the young students, which makes it a great place to shop and eat. We managed to find many bargain buys here as the prices are catered to the budget-conscious student population. The University Quarter is also famous for its vibrant nightlife, and you will have no problem finding nightclubs and pubs here.
Yeouido
Yeouido is home to the Yeouido Hangang Park, which is famous for its gorgeous Cherry Blossoms in spring. However, you will find mainly the office crowd here as Yeouido is the financial district of Seoul. It is enjoyable to visit this area (especially during spring to see the Cherry Blossoms), but I wouldn’t recommend staying here as there are mainly just parks, government buildings, and corporate buildings.
Map of Seoul
Hopefully this map will give you a better idea of where to stay in Seoul!