Hotels in Seoul: Which Area Fits Your Trip

Hotels in Seoul that suit a first visit gather in three areas: City Hall and Myeong-Dong in the centre, the Dongdaemun Market area, and Gangnam south of the Han River. The cheapest of the nine hotels costs less than half the priciest, and the centre has the highest starting prices, so the area is the bigger decision.

Hotels in Seoul by Area: Prices at a Glance

Rates are each hotel's lowest nightly price over the next week.

City Hall and Myeong-Dong start at S$181 to S$241, Dongdaemun at S$154 to S$222 and Gangnam at S$85 to S$164. Gangnam holds the lowest rate of the nine, Toyoko-Inn Seoul Gangnam at S$85, while the cheapest hotel in the centre, HOMES Stay Myeongdong, already costs S$181.

Staying in Seoul from Singapore: Myeong-Dong for Shopping

Myeongdong is Seoul's premier shopping and beauty district in Jung-gu, running from Myeongdong Station on Line 4 to Euljiro 1-ga Station on Line 2. Flagship cosmetics and fashion stores, Myeongdong Cathedral, late-night street food stalls and major department stores line its pedestrian streets, and direct airport buses make it a top base for first-time visitors. It is also the best pick for a first visit, central, safe and easy to navigate, with Myeongdong Cathedral and Namdaemun Market nearby.

All three hotels are 4-star. HOMES Stay Myeongdong is the lowest in the area at S$181, and guests say it is easy to get around and close to the metro. Migliore Hotel Seoul Myeongdong costs S$204, and guests call it great value for money, with some saying they have stayed more than once. NINE TREE BY PARNAS SEOUL MYEONGDONG 2 is the priciest at S$241, with comments about easy transport and convenient shopping. Myeongdong is very busy and touristy, especially at weekends, always crowded, and hotels there are pricier for smaller rooms. NINE TREE BY PARNAS SEOUL MYEONGDONG 2 lists Mareunnae-ro, Migliore Hotel Seoul Myeongdong lists Toegye-ro and HOMES Stay Myeongdong lists Pil-dong, all in Jung-gu. For more upscale options, the premium hotels in Seoul page is the next stop.

Dongdaemun as a Base for Hotels in Seoul: A Hostel, a 3-Star and a 4-Star

Dongdaemun is the only area that mixes a hostel, a 3-star and a 4-star hotel. Dongdaemun and Dongdaemun History and Culture Park stations sit on Lines 1, 2, 4 and 5, with Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Heunginjimun Gate and the night markets within walking distance.

DONGDAEMUN NEW HOSTEL is a hostel from S$154, the lowest rate in the zone, and guests call the location convenient and the area easy to get around. Its address is a third-floor unit in Jongno-gu, so check the map for the walk to the market, and its rate is not far below the 3-star Summit Hotel Seoul Dongdaemun at S$177. Summit Hotel Seoul Dongdaemun on Jangchungdan-ro has easy transport and a great bathtub in its reviews. Hotel Skypark Kingstown Dongdaemun, on a lane off the same Jangchungdan-ro, costs S$222 for a 4-star room, and guests mention easy transport and convenient shopping. Dongdaemun has little nightlife beyond shopping, gets crowded in sale seasons and is not ideal for cultural or quiet stays. The 3-star and 4-star hotels list Jung-gu addresses, while the hostel lists Jongno-gu.

Hotels in Gangnam, Seoul: Lower Rates Than the Centre

At these three, yes. Gangnam is an upscale business and shopping district south of the Han River, centred on Gangnam Station, with Seoul's densest cluster of luxury hotels, COEX, Garosu-gil and the Apgujeong shopping corridors. Our three Gangnam picks are not luxury: two are 3-star and one is 4-star, and all start below the cheapest hotel in the centre. Two list Seocho-gu addresses and one lists Gangnam-gu. Toyoko-Inn Seoul Gangnam is on Gangnam-daero, Ocloud Hotel Gangnam on Sapyeong-daero 58-gil and Hotel Newv Gangnam Seoul on Seolleung-ro 85-gil.

Toyoko-Inn Seoul Gangnam on Gangnam-daero is a 3-star room from S$85, and guests praise the breakfast. Hotel Newv Gangnam Seoul costs S$105, and guests call the location convenient and say it is close to the metro. Ocloud Hotel Gangnam is the 4-star at S$164, with easy transport and large rooms in its reviews. Gangnam has notorious traffic jams and expensive hotels and nightlife, and it suits budget travellers least. That sits oddly beside these rates, so check them against the dates you want. COEX, Bongeunsa Temple and Apgujeong Rodeo Street are nearby sights, so check the map for walking times from your hotel.

Getting Around From Each Seoul Area

All three areas are about an hour from Incheon Airport by taxi, and direct airport buses run to Myeongdong. The Myeongdong area spreads across Lines 1 to 5, with stations such as Myeongdong, Euljiro 1-ga, City Hall and Chungmuro.

Gangnam is served by Lines 2, 3 and 9 and the Shinbundang Line, with stations including Gangnam, Sinnonhyeon, Yeoksam, Samseong, Bongeunsa and Apgujeong Rodeo. The Sinnonhyeon strip is the restaurant-and-nightlife stretch, while Sinsa Garosu-gil and Cheongdam are the designer-shopping corridors.

Booking Seoul Hotels from Singapore Around Public Holidays

Check the Singapore calendar before you choose Seoul dates, because the same weeks are busy for every Singapore traveller heading abroad. A holiday that falls on a Friday or Monday gives a three-day weekend, which is enough for a short Seoul trip. Public holidays such as New Year's Day and Hari Raya Haji can form long weekends, and the school breaks add longer windows. Our Singapore public holiday page lists them and advises booking flights and hotels ahead.

Seoul Hotel Questions Worth Asking Before You Book

Which Seoul hotels are close to a metro station?

Guests mention a nearby metro station at HOMES Stay Myeongdong in Myeong-Dong and at Hotel Newv Gangnam Seoul in Gangnam.

Which Seoul hotels are convenient for shopping?

Guest feedback for NINE TREE BY PARNAS SEOUL MYEONGDONG 2 in Myeong-Dong and Hotel Skypark Kingstown Dongdaemun in Dongdaemun mentions convenient shopping.

Where is the cheapest 4-star hotel in Seoul?

In Gangnam. Ocloud Hotel Gangnam starts at S$164, below every other 4-star among the nine hotels.

Which Seoul hotels list a convenient location?

Guest feedback for DONGDAEMUN NEW HOSTEL in Dongdaemun and Hotel Newv Gangnam Seoul in Gangnam mentions a convenient location.

Which Seoul hotels have large rooms or a great bathtub?

Guests mention large rooms at Ocloud Hotel Gangnam and a great bathtub at Summit Hotel Seoul Dongdaemun.

※ Rates above start from the cheapest room over the next week and move with your dates, so confirm them on the hotel page.