Where to Stay in Seoul for First Timers: Best Areas and Hotels

Last updated on October 5th, 2025

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Looking for where to stay in Seoul for first timers? I’ve got you! From buzzing Myeongdong to cultural Insadong, here’s everything you need to know about choosing the best area to stay in the city.

As you sit down to plan your dream Seoul itinerary, you’ll quickly realize that there’s an infinite combination of incredible things to see, do, and eat—all spread out throughout the city.

After spending three months living in the South Korean capital and exploring every corner of the city, I have a pretty good understanding of its layout and the best districts to stay in Seoul to make the most of your trip.

While I have an idea of what would be the best spot for me, it doesn’t mean that it would be the same for you; it all depends on your priorities and travel style.

Whether you’re only spending 2 days in Seoul or have some extra time to plan a 5-day Seoul itinerary, choosing the right base for you will guarantee you make the most of your time in this exciting city.

This guide to the best districts to stay in Seoul will break down the best areas in the city, based on convenience, vibe, and proximity to main attractions, as well as featuring hotel recommendations for every budget.

So, hopefully, you will walk away from this confident in choosing the best area to stay in Seoul for your trip.

Let’s get started!

Where to Stay in Seoul for First Timers

As soon as you start looking at a map and start pinning all the top things to see in Seoul, you’ll realize that there’s some ground to cover.

Depending on how long you plan to stay, it will change what areas of the city you should prioritize.

While I have a very clear favorite on where to stay in Seoul for first-timers, you might disagree with me based on your travel preferences.

At the end of the day, it’s all about how long you have and what’s important to you.

What are the main things you want to see on your trip? The culture and history, or would you rather be in the middle of all the young and fun neighborhoods?

To give you a better look at all the options, here’s an overview of some of the best areas to stay in Seoul:

Quick Overview: Best districts to stay in Seoul for first-time travellers

Area	Vibe	Best For	Cons
Myeongdong	Busy and lively day & night	First-time visitors, shopping lovers	Can feel crowded and touristy
Insadong / Jongno	Traditional, walkable, central	Culture & history lovers	Quieter at night, fewer nightlife options
Hongdae	Trendy, youthful, energetic	Young travelers, nightlife, art	Can get noisy, especially on weekends
Gangnam	Chic, upscale, business-oriented	Modern Seoul, shopping, K-pop fans	Hotels can be pricey, less historic charm

Myeongdong: Best place to stay in Seoul for a central location

If you want to be in the center of all the action when visiting Seoul, then Myeong-dong might be the right neighborhood for you.

Right in the heart of the city, Myeongdong has so much to offer—packed with shops, restaurants, metro connections, and that neon sign aesthetic you see in K-dramas.

• Pros: Staying in Myeongdong literally puts you in the center of the map, making it a very convenient starting point no matter where you decide to go in the city.
  
  Here, you have everything you need at your fingertips: tons of restaurants, bars, the famous Korean street food stands, great shopping, and a very central location.

• Cons: Since you are in the heart of all the action, this also means lots of people, so if you get overstimulated easily—like I do sometimes—this might feel a little too busy and touristy for you.

Where to stay in Myeongdong, Seoul:

Things to do in Myeongdong, Seoul:

• Discover Seoul’s Korean street food scene at the famous Myeongdong Night Market.
• Stock up on all the incredible Korean skincare at Olive Young.
• Try the popular dumpling soup at the Michelin-recognized Kyoja Main Store—one of the best places to eat in Seoul.
• Shop around the many local and international shops.
• Follow the local crowds into one of the many Korean BBQs in the area.

Insadong: Best place to stay in Seoul for a traditional vibe

I might be biased, since this is where I lived for three months while in Seoul, but I love Insadong, and I personally think it’s the best area to stay in Seoul for first-timers.

This opinion was validated by various local friends I made, who told me this was the perfect spot in the city to be in.

Insadong is one of the best districts to stay in Seoul if you want to be close to the cultural center of the city, without compromising on food options and accessibility to other areas.

• Pros: While staying in Insadong, you are surrounded by more of Seoul’s traditional vibe, with picturesque hanoks, temples, craft stores, cute cafes, and plenty of restaurants.
  
  From here, you are a short walk away from some of Seoul’s most iconic attractions, such as the charming Bukchon Hanok Village and the unmissable Gyeongbokgung Palace. For anything else, you can just hop on the metro.

• Cons: If you are looking for an area with an active nightlife, this area might not be the right one for you, as it’s quieter in the evenings. This neighborhood is also slightly further from other areas you might want to visit, like Gangnam.

Where to stay in Insadong, Seoul:

Things to do in Insadong, Seoul:

• Wander the charming streets of the Bukchon Hanok Village.
• Take a free guided tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
• Go souvenir shopping at Insadong Culture Street.
• Visit some of the best coffee shops in Seoul, like Cafe Soodal, Blue Bottle, and Komfortabel.

Hongdae: Best place to stay in Seoul for a younger, artsy vibe

If, on the other hand, you would like to experience Seoul’s younger, artsy side, then you might be interested in Hongdae.

Hongdae is a university neighborhood in Seoul, which is why this side of town has a younger feel to it—packed with thrift and vintage shops, street performers, art markets, street art, galleries, bars, and more.

This area has a completely different feel from the touristy Myeongdong or the more traditional Insadong.

• Pros: If staying in Hongdae, you will get to see a completely different side of Seoul, probably something closer to what you see in younger Korean TV shows, with colorful streets lined with quirky shops.
  
  This is such a fun neighborhood to explore, so if this is more your vibe, staying in it will allow you to deep dive into this more off-the-beaten-path side of the city.

• Cons: Staying in Hongdae puts you further away from many of the main tourist attractions in Seoul. The vibe is less traditional and more niche, young and contemporary, so it might not be what you are looking for as your first experience of Seoul.

Where to stay in Hongdae, Seoul:

Things to do in Hongdae, Seoul:

• Walk along the colorful main road, Eoulmadang-ro.
• Browse the many vintage stores and quirky shops.
• Admire the unique street art of this younger neighborhood.
• Get your haircut at one of the many hair studios in the area.
• Visit one of the many cute photobooths.

Gangnam: Best place to stay in Seoul for modern vibes

Gangnam is one of the best districts to stay in Seoul if you’re looking for that modern, chic, and upscale business side of the city.

You definitely have heard of Gangnam, if it’s not through that catchy song, at least you have seen it in some TV shows.

This area of Seoul offers lots of great shopping and food options, as well as some smaller city pockets that are fun to explore.

• Pros: Staying in Gangnam offers a look into Seoul’s more modern side, with tall shiny buildings, great shopping, and the opportunity to explore Seoul’s famous beauty treatments, as this district is packed with beauty clinics.
  
  Staying in Gangnam gets you closer to the picturesque Coex Mall and the Gangnam Hands Statue—if that’s something you are interested in.

• Cons: Because of the businessy nature of the district, hotels can be a little bit pricier on this side of town. And if staying in this modern area, you are losing all that traditional charm that you could get somewhere else, like Insadong.

Where to stay in Gangnam, Seoul:

Things to do in Gangnam, Seoul:

• Shop around the many luxury and international shops.
• Get a Hydrafacial at Muse Clinic—I did this one a few times and loved it!
• Visit COEX Mall and its Pinterest-famous Starfield Library.
• Explore the shops and cute cafes around the Sinsadong neighborhood.
• Follow the locals to a Korean BBQ spot in Yeongdong Traditional Market.
• Have some incredible cocktails at Alice Cheongdam—I had a version of a Negroni with mezcal, and it’s now one of my favorite drinks ever!

Final thoughts on where to stay in Seoul for first timers:

While there’s an infinite list of things to do and see in Seoul, it’s good to have clear what the priorities are for your trip.

This way, you’ll know what the best base is for your stay in Seoul.

Being a first-time visitor to Seoul, I would recommend staying closer to Myeong-dong and Insadong to cover most of the city’s essential spots, especially if you are on a tight schedule.

On the other hand you prefer to explore Seoul’s more off-the-beaten-path areas, then the young and trendy Hongdae might be more your vibe.

Or lastly, if you want those modern big city vibes, you can’t go wrong with Gangnam.

Wherever you decide to stay in Seoul, just know that public transportation is very efficient, with well-connected Metro lines, and very affordable Uber rides.

I hope this guide on where to stay in Seoul for first timers helps you make a confident decision on your base for your upcoming trip.

Which area do you think is the winner for you? Let us know in the comments.