your tripChoosing where to stay in Seoul is one of the most important decisions you’ll make on your trip to Korea. The city stretches across both banks of the Han River, and each neighbourhood has a distinct personality. Get this right, and the city feels effortless. Get it wrong, and you’ll spend your trip on the subway.
This guide covers the six best areas for first-time and repeat visitors, with honest pros and cons and which neighbourhood each suits best.
Quick tipGet a T-money card at any convenience store as soon as you arrive. It works on every subway line, bus, and at most convenience stores and costs the same as a single subway ticket to buy.
| Best area for first-timers | Myeongdong or Hongdae |
| Best for K-pop & nightlife | Hongdae or Gangnam |
| Best for culture & history | Insadong or Bukchon |
| Best for shopping | Myeongdong or Gangnam |
| Best for food markets | Gwangjang (Jongno) |
| Best value for money | Dongdaemun or Jongno |
1. Myeongdong
Myeongdong is Seoul’s most tourist-friendly neighbourhood and for good reason. It sits in the centre of the city, with direct subway connections to everywhere you’ll want to go. The streets are lined with K-beauty shops, street food stalls serving tteokbokki and hotteok, and international brands. It’s lively, walkable, and endlessly convenient for a first trip.
The downside is that it’s extremely busy during peak times and cherry blossom season. Hotels here are also more expensive than elsewhere in Seoul. But for a first visit, you won’t regret basing yourself here.
2. Hongdae
Named after Hongik University, Hongdae is Seoul’s youth culture hub, with street performances, indie cafes, vintage clothing shops, and a nightlife scene that runs until dawn. It’s younger, louder, and more creative than Myeongdong, and attracts a mix of students, young Koreans, and tourists who want something more local-feeling.
3. Insadong & Bukchon
If you want traditional Seoul, this is where you find it. Insadong is lined with galleries, teahouses, and shops selling handmade crafts and Korean ceramics. A short walk uphill from there is Bukchon Hanok Village, a preserved neighbourhood of traditional Korean wooden houses (hanok) with views over the city from its narrow alleyways.
“Bukchon in the early morning, before the tour groups arrive, is one of the most beautiful urban experiences in Asia.”
Both areas are also close to Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace, two of Seoul’s most important historical sites, making this a strong base for culturally focused travellers.
4. Gangnam
Yes, that Gangnam. The neighbourhood made famous by the song is Seoul’s most upscale district, with luxury brands, high-end restaurants, sleek apartment towers, and a cosmetic surgery industry that draws visitors from across Asia. It’s polished and expensive, but also genuinely interesting as a window into modern Korean ambition.
5. Itaewon
Seoul’s most international neighbourhood, Itaewon, has restaurants from every cuisine, a vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, and a mix of expats and travellers that gives it a different energy from the rest of the city. It’s not the most “Korean” experience, but it’s welcoming and diverse, with some of the city’s best cocktail bars.
6. Jongno & Gwangjang
Jongno is the historic heart of Seoul, the neighbourhood where Gyeongbokgung Palace sits, where the city’s oldest streets run, and where Gwangjang Market serves some of the most authentic (and affordable) Korean street food you’ll find anywhere. Mayak gimbap, bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), and yukhoe (raw beef) at Gwangjang are unmissable.
Our recommendation
For most first-time visitors, Myeongdong is the safest bet, central, convenient, and tourist-friendly. If you want more character and a younger energy, Hongdae is the better pick. For a slower, more cultural trip, base yourself near Insadong. Whatever you choose, Seoul is compact enough that no neighbourhood leaves you far from anything. Get your T-money card, pick a direction, and start walking.g Seoul reveals itself best on foot.
