Where to Stay & Eat in Seoul
Which neighbourhood fits your trip, and where the good, honestly priced food actually is.
Seoul’s neighbourhoods each have a distinct character, historic and central in one direction, youthful and creative in the other. Here’s an honest breakdown of where to stay, and where to eat once you’re there.
Where to stay, by neighbourhood
Jongno
Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon and Insadong all within easy walking distance, the natural choice for a first trip focused on the historic sights. Considerably calmer than Myeongdong in the evenings, with plenty of traditional teahouses nearby.
Myeongdong
A properly central, shopping-focused district with strong transit connections across the city, Myeongdong offers easy access to nearly everywhere else. Busier and pricier than Jongno, worth it for the convenience on a short stay.
Hongdae
A genuinely lively, youth-driven district near Hongik University, Hongdae offers a strong nightlife and street performance scene, considerably more affordable than staying centrally. A straightforward metro ride to the historic sights.
Itaewon
A properly international district with a diverse dining scene, Itaewon offers a different pace from the historic core, considerably calmer during the day. A short subway ride to the main sights, popular with expats.
Where to eat
Street food is genuinely essential rather than optional, a proper cart in Myeongdong or Hongdae offers considerably better value and often better food than a tourist-priced restaurant near the palace. Tteokbokki, kimbap and Korean fried chicken remain the city’s staples, worth seeking out from a stand with a proper queue.
Seoul’s fine dining scene is worth knowing about too, several Michelin-starred restaurants sit alongside affordable street food in the same neighbourhoods. Hongdae and Itaewon both hold a genuinely strong, more affordable dining scene beyond the tourist-heavy Myeongdong streets.
A note on getting around and safety
Seoul is genuinely one of the safest cities in the world for visitors, low crime across nearly every neighbourhood. The subway covers the whole city efficiently, considerably better than relying on taxis given cost and traffic.
That’s everything I’ve got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government’s latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
