Where to stay in Seoul: best neighbourhoods for first-time visitors compared

Myeongdong

• Suits: first-timers, short stays, shoppers, anyone who wants everything close.
• Why: central, packed with cosmetics shops and street food stalls in the evening, and walking distance to Namsan and the N Seoul Tower cable car. Seoul Station is a short ride away on Line 4.
• Downsides: crowded and very commercial; quiet only late at night.
• Airport: airport limousine buses stop in the area, or take AREX to Seoul Station and change to Line 4.

Hongdae

• Suits: younger travellers, nightlife, live music, budget stays.
• Why: a university area with street performers, bars, clubs and independent shops. Neighbouring Yeonnam-dong and Mangwon are calmer, with cafés and the Gyeongui Line Forest Park.
• Downsides: noisy at weekends; a little west of the palaces and Gangnam.
• Airport: the easiest of all. Hongik University station is on the AREX all-stop line, with no change needed.

Insadong and Jongno

• Suits: history, culture, a first look at traditional Seoul.
• Why: walking distance to Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces, Bukchon Hanok Village and Ikseon-dong's small alleys. Some guesthouses are in restored hanok, traditional houses.
• Downsides: quieter in the evening; fewer big hotels in some streets.
• Airport: AREX to Seoul Station then the subway, or an airport bus.

Gangnam

• Suits: business travellers, K-pop fans, those who like modern, polished streets.
• Why: south of the river, with COEX and the Starfield Library, big department stores, smart restaurants and entertainment company buildings nearby. Many hotels are newer.
• Downsides: spread out, and a longer ride to the palaces and old town.
• Airport: direct airport limousine buses run to the main hotels; by rail it means a change or two.

Itaewon

• Suits: international food, travellers who want an English-friendly area, nightlife of a different kind from Hongdae.
• Why: Seoul's most international neighbourhood, with restaurants from around the world, and Hannam-dong's galleries and design shops next door. Line 6 runs through it.
• Downsides: hilly streets; nightlife can be loud.
• Airport: airport bus, or rail with a change.

Seongsu

• Suits: repeat visitors, café hoppers, fashion and design fans.
• Why: former factories and warehouses turned into cafés, pop-up stores and concept shops; Seoul Forest park is next to it. On Line 2.
• Downsides: fewer hotels than the big districts; the big sights are a ride away.
• Airport: rail with changes, or a taxi.

Dongdaemun

• Suits: shoppers who like late hours, travellers wanting value and transport links.
• Why: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), wholesale fashion markets, some open late into the night, and good subway connections on several lines. Gwangjang Market's food stalls are close.
• Downsides: less charming streets; very busy around the markets.
• Airport: airport limousine buses serve the area.

How to choose

1. Three or four days, first visit: Myeongdong or Insadong/Jongno for the centre, Hongdae if you prefer an evening scene.
2. Arriving late with heavy luggage: Hongdae, or a hotel on an airport bus route.
3. Nightlife first: Hongdae or Itaewon.
4. Shopping and modern Seoul: Gangnam or Myeongdong.
5. Second trip: Seongsu, Yeonnam-dong or Seochon for a slower pace.

Practical tips

• Stay within a few minutes' walk of a subway station; it matters more than which district.
• Check the station's line: Line 2 loops around the city and connects many areas.
• Many hills, many stairs. If you have big cases, check for a lift at your nearest exit on Naver Map or KakaoMap.
• Bus routes and stops change, so confirm the airport limousine route for your hotel on the operator's site before you fly.