Where to stay in Seoul on a first trip: five neighbourhoods, honest trade-offs
“Where should I stay?” is probably the most asked question on Seoul travel forums. There is no single right answer, but the same five areas keep coming up.
Myeongdong / Jung-gu Central, easy airport bus links, shopping on the doorstep. The downside people mention: very touristy and quiet late at night once shops close.
Hongdae / Yeonnam Young, lively, lots of cafés and nightlife, and a direct airport rail line. Can be noisy on weekend nights.
Jongno / Insadong / Ikseon-dong Palaces, hanok alleys and older Seoul within walking distance. Good for culture-first trips, fewer late-night options.
Seongsu Pop-up stores, cafés and a newer, creative feel. Fewer hotels, and a bit further from the palaces.
Gangnam / Sinsa Clinics, shopping streets and business hotels. Handy if your trip is built around appointments south of the river, but longer rides to the old city.
A tip that comes up a lot:pick a placewithin a few minutes' walk of a subway station on a line that goes where you will spend most days. That matters more than the neighbourhood name.
Where did you stay, and would you book the same area again?
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