Are you looking for the best hotels in Gangnam Seoul? Perfect! We are going to show you the 8 top rated cheap, mid range and luxury hotel options available in the popular Gangnam neighborhood for your visit to Seoul, South Korea.
Instead of trawling through randomly listed hotel search engine results, use our research and data driven guide to find the best hotels in Gangnam based on location, value, previous guest ratings and our own personal experiences in Seoul.
Here’s how we will break down the best hotels in Gangnam Seoul to help you find the perfect place to stay:
- Our experience in Gangnam
- Is Gangnam a good place to stay in Seoul?
- Gangnam hotels map
- 8 best Gangnam hotels
Let’s find you the perfect Gangnam hotel for your trip to Seoul!
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Our Experience In Gangnam
Just as the cherry blossoms were blooming at the end of March 2023, we took our first trip to Seoul and spent 2 amazing weeks exploring the city as far and wide as possible.
During our research on where to stay in Seoul, we had pegged Myeongdong as one place we definitely would stay for a week as it is the most popular tourist spot in the city. Then it was between Gangnam and Hongdae for our other week.
In the end we plumped for Hongdae because it is the urban hipster up-and-coming neighborhood that everyone is talking about and it is closer to Seoul station for Incheon airport access.
But because we stayed in Hongdae, we decided to spend two full days ticking off attractions in and around Gangnam so we could get a real feel for the area.
We liked all three areas of Seoul but in hindsight we would have maybe preferred to stay in Gangnam over Hongdae because it is serves as a superb base for ticking off attractions on the south side of the Han River.
Over the course of two days in Gangnam we figured out where we would stay the next time we visit Seoul. In this guide we will show you the best hotels in Gangnam based on our experiences.
Is Gangnam A Good Place To Stay In Seoul?
Yes, Gangnam is one of the best places to stay in Seoul for visitors who want a lively and expansive area filled with high end shopping, restaurants, nightclubs and access to attractions in the south of the city.
But with so many places you can potentially stay in Seoul, why would you choose a hotel in Gangnam?
Here are just some of our favorite reasons that make Gangnam a great place to stay in Seoul:
- There are several micro-neighborhoods to explore in the expansive Gangnam area.
- Perfect base for exploring Seoul attractions south of the river like Seoul Sky Lotte Tower.
- Gangnam will give you more of a real and authentic experience in Seoul.
- There are countless places to eat and drink from cheap and cheerful to fine dining.
- Hotels in Gangnam have the highest range in Seoul from low budget to 5 star luxury.
Overall, we think Gangnam will suit most first time visitors to Seoul. Gangnam is dubbed the Beverly Hills of Seoul and it is filled with wealthy people, sports cars and luxury. But there is more to Gangnam and you just have to get lost in the intricate back streets to get away from the superficial fronts.
The major downside to staying in Gangnam is that almost all of the top bucket list attractions in Seoul are north of the Han River.
This means you would spend a lot of time traveling on the subway to reach palaces, hikes and meeting points for tours. Even traveling from Hongdae to Gangnam on two of our days resulted in us losing a lot of time sat on the subway both ways.
Not sure where to stay in Seoul? Here’s our popular guide to the 20 best hotels in Seoul so you can see all of your top rated options across the city.
Should You Stay In Myeongdong, Hongdae Or Gangnam?
This is a great question and it is one most visitors (including ourselves) consider before booking a hotel in Seoul. You could also include Itaewon and Insadong in this list but we think they are better suited to a second or third visit.
We spent one week in Hongdae and one week in Myeongdong but we also heavily explored Gangnam.
In truth, any of the three areas will work just fine for a first time visit to Seoul. You will find plenty to do, plenty of eateries and good connections to other parts of Seoul.
We suggest Myeongdong as the overall best place to stay in Seoul for a first visit because it is the most central to major attractions and the most heavily trafficked with tourists.
However, Hongdae and Gangnam are excellent alternatives and they will suit certain travelers more so than Myeongdong.
If you have plenty of time in Seoul, why not try splitting where you stay into two different neighborhoods like we did?
Here’s a summary of the other two popular places to book hotels in Seoul:
Myeongdong
Myeongdong is the busiest tourist area of Seoul filled with shopping, restaurants, museums and coffee shops.
We really liked the easy access Myeongdong affords to reaching most of the top attractions in Seoul, including the palaces and the nearby Namsan Seoul Tower observation deck.
The area itself is fun to walk around by day and night but it is very touristy for a city that isn’t especially touristy in general.
If you only have a few days in Seoul and want to tick off attractions, we would recommend staying in Myeongdong because it is central to the city and it has better transport links.
Want to stay in Myeongdong? Read our guide to the 8 best hotels in Myeongdong Seoul to see if a hotel in the most popular tourist neighborhood is a better fit for you.
Hongdae
Hongdae is a lovely small area with loads of great places to eat, drink and explore.
It is the trendy hipster neighborhood with a superb culinary scene and we really liked the area. It is definitely more authentic than the touristy Myeongdong and it is way more condensed than the expansive Gangnam area.
One downside is that Hongdae is a little bit isolated and you can’t really walk to any top attractions. Whereas in Myeongdong you can walk to several top sights.
You would spend a lot of time on the subway if you have an attraction heavy bucket list and you stay in the Hongdae area.
Want to stay in Hongdae? Read our guide to the 8 best hotels in Hongdae Seoul later to see the top rated hotel options in the urban hipster neighborhood.
What Are The Best Hotels In Gangnam-gu?
The term best can be interpreted in several ways and it has a different meaning for everyone.
Does best simply mean the highest rated? The highest quality? What about price and location?
In this guide we strive for inclusivity when we show you our version of the best hotels. Our list is based on the highest guest ratings and our own experiences but crucially we include every budget category so that every type of traveler can find the best hotel available.
Are you curious about the best hotels in Gangnam based purely on ratings?
Here are the top 3 hotels in Gangnam according to thousands of reviews from several popular online sources (with at least 100 authentic guest reviews – correct as of July 2023 but subject to frequent changes):
Booking
Hotels (Expedia)
Tripadvisor
As you can see, there is a nice spread of hotels appearing at the top of different search engines. This is a good sign because it means there are plenty of excellent hotel options available.
Ratings are good to use as a guide but they are subjective and will fluctuate over time. Look for hotels with high scores and a high number of ratings. That is the sign of a quality hotel.
One thing to note is that hotels with the best ratings often translate to hotels with the highest nightly cost. And that is why we do not simply list hotels with the highest ratings in our guides.
Are Hotels In Gangnam Expensive?
No, hotels in Gangnam and Seoul in general are not overly expensive when compared to similar popular city destinations in Asia such as Tokyo or Singapore.
Gangnam has the largest selection of hotels and the highest range of nightly prices of all areas in Seoul. You can stay in cheap high quality hotels or you can stay in expensive 5 star luxury hotels in Gangnam.
Prices at hotels in Gangnam tend to stay fairly consistent throughout the year. As a result, you won’t have to contend with seasonality driving prices through the roof at any point.
At the time of writing in July 2023, we have selected 3 future dates for all of the hotels listed in this guide (along with several alternative hotel options) and the prices are uniform throughout.
The difference with Gangnam compared to Myeongdong or Hongdae is that Gangnam has a much greater quantity of true 5 star hotels with eye watering price tags.
Hotel Tax In Gangnam, Seoul
Bear in mind when booking your hotel in Gangnam that you will pay 10% hotel tax on top of your base rate.
So let’s say the basic nightly room cost at a cheap Gangnam hotel is $120.00 for one night, your actual total cost is going to be $132.00.
- When booking your hotel using Booking.com look under the price for includes taxes and fees. This means the price you see is final and will not be subject to further add ons.
- Conversely, if you see text reading something like +$30 for taxes and fees, that means you will pay the hotel room cost + the additional 10% tax.
Want to save on attractions in Seoul? We highly recommend saving money with a Discover Seoul Pass if you plan to visit multiple attractions on your visit to Seoul.
Where To Stay In Gangnam
The Gangnam District covers a huge sprawling area to the southeast of Seoul. Technically, Gangnam means “south of the river” which means it could cover the entire southern portion of Seoul.
In this guide we are narrowing down Gangnam to just include the major touristy areas (see map below). We are also including hotels at nearby Lotte World because it is such a popular spot between Gangnam and the Olympic Park.
Excluding Lotte World, we can split Gangnam into 3 areas:
- 1. COEX (East Gangnam)
- 2. Gangnam Subway Station (West Gangnam)
- 3. North Gangnam
You can stay in any of the areas of Gangnam and find plenty of places to eat out, drink, party, shop or visit museums. We wouldn’t say there is a better or worse part of Gangnam to stay.
With that said, our top recommendation for booking a hotel in Gangnam is to stay somewhere near a subway station so you have instant access to other parts of Seoul. Long walks to and from subway stations adds on a lot of time each day.
Gangnam Hotels Map
Let’s take a quick look at an interactive Google Map showing the locations of our 8 best Gangnam Seoul hotels featured in this guide.
Map key:
- Green stars – Cheap hotels in Gangnam
- Red stars – Mid range budget hotels in Gangnam
- Blue stars – Luxury hotels in Gangnam
Click or touch the map to activate.
Zoom in and out, move around the Gangnam area and see exactly where each lodging option is located.
8 Best Hotels In Gangnam
OK, let’s take a look at each of the best Gangnam hotels.
We have hand picked the top 8 Gangnam hotels by compiling and comparing previous guest ratings, location, value for money and our own experiences in the area.
Featured hotels are listed in order of average nightly cost within three price range categories; cheap, mid range and luxury.
We selected three future dates in different seasons and collated prices in order to list with a degree of accuracy.
You will find 3 x cheap hotels, 3 x mid range hotels and 2 x luxury hotels. Each represents a top rated hotel within its price category.
Let’s kick things off with the best cheap hotels in Gangnam Seoul!
1. Toyoko Inn Gangnam
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.3 / 10
- Google – 4.2 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast included
- Location: Southwest side of Gangnam
- Subway: Gangnam station
Toyoko Inn is one of the best cheap hotels in Gangnam with excellent guest ratings and consistently lower prices than other hotel options in the area. It is located on the main shopping street of Gangnam-daero, close to Gangnam subway station and it even has breakfast included in the cost.
Reviewers rate staff, cleanliness, value for money and location the highest at Toyoko Inn Gangnam. If you are visiting Seoul on a budget and want to stay in Gangnam, this hotel is a fantastic benchmark to use as you try to find better rates for a hotel with such solid ratings.
>> Book Hotel: Toyoko Inn Gangnam
2. Dormy Inn Gangnam
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.7 / 10
- Google – 4.5 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Amenities: Free WiFi, on site onsen and sauna, laundry, breakfast available
- Location: West side of Gangnam
- Subway: Sinnonhyeon station
Dormy Inn is among the overall best Gangnam hotels when you take value, quality, ratings and location into consideration. It has exceptional reviews, affordable nightly price points and a superb location in one of our favorite parts of Gangnam close to a wide range of excellent dining options.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and facilities the highest at Dormy Inn Gangnam. Rooms are smaller than average and the public bath is traditional but you can’t argue with thousands of positive reviews. Another strong contender for those visiting Seoul on a budget.
>> Book Hotel: Dormy Inn Gangnam
3. L7 Gangnam
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.5 / 10
- Google – 4.2 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Amenities: Free WiFi, fitness center, on site restaurant and bar, breakfast available, laundry
- Location: Center of Gangnam
- Subway: Seolleung station
L7 Gangnam is a fantastic low budget hotel in Gangnam Seoul. The L7 hotel chain is extremely popular throughout the city, but this particular branch is very highly regarded and it is located in a great spot close to everything in Gangnam.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at L7 Gangnam. This hotel is only slightly more expensive than the other cheap Gangnam hotels in this list so if you can stretch the budget a little more this could be a top hotel option.
>> Book Hotel: L7 Gangnam
4. Voco Gangnam
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 9.0 / 10
- Google – 4.4 / 5
- Price: Mid range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast available, fitness center, on site restaurant and bar, shared kitchen, laundry
- Location: Northern side of Gangnam
- Subway: Sinsa station
Voco Gangnam is a top rated mid range hotel in Gangnam Seoul. It is a brand new hotel with modern facilities, it has a terrific location in the trendy northern area of the neighborhood and it is on the affordable end of mid range.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Voco Gangnam. As far as ratings go this is one of the best Gangnam hotels and it even has a highly rated breakfast buffet to boot. Definitely one to consider if you are traveling on a comfortable budget.
>> Book Hotel: Voco Gangnam
5. AC Hotel Gangnam
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.8 / 10
- Google – 4.3 / 5
- Price: Mid range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast available, multiple on site restaurants and rooftop bar, fitness center, sauna, onsen, laundry
- Location: Center of Gangnam
- Subway: Yeoksam station
AC Hotel is a solid mid range budget hotel in Gangnam from the Marriott brand. It has an excellent location just steps from Yeoksam subway station, nestled between the major Gangnam shopping streets and COEX Center.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at AC Hotel Gangnam. This hotel is another slight step up in price but the rooftop bar and other amenities are high quality, which puts it right around the middle of the road for cost vs what you get.
>> Book Hotel: AC Hotel Gangnam
6. Lotte Hotel World Gangnam
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.6 / 10
- Google – 4.3 / 5
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, multiple on site restaurants and bars, breakfast available, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, onsen
- Location: Lotte World (3 subway stops east from COEX)
- Subway: Jamsil station
Lotte Hotel World is an affordable luxury resort style hotel near Gangnam Seoul. What makes this hotel special is instant access to the expansive Lotte World Mall, Lotte World Adventure theme park, a huge lake that you can walk around with a morning coffee and the subway line.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Lotte Hotel World. The facilities, rooms and hotel in general offer an upscale experience at rates you can afford. There are better 5 star hotels in Gangnam but they are far more expensive.
>> Book Hotel: Lotte Hotel World Gangnam
7. Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Gangnam
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.9 / 10
- Google – 4.5 / 5
- Price: Luxury $$$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, multiple on site restaurants and bars, breakfast available
- Location: East side of Gangnam (COEX)
- Subway: Samseong station
Grand InterContinental is a luxury 5 star hotel in Gangnam with a superb location next to the COEX Mall and several tourist attractions. This hotel is great for business trips, families, couples or solo travelers because it is directly connected to so many amenities, attractions and the subway line.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas. The hotel is upscale, high quality and luxurious but it is quite expensive. You can expect overpriced drinks and food on site, but that is to be expected at a 5 star hotel, right?!
>> Book Hotel: Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Gangnam
8. Signiel Gangnam
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 9.1 / 10
- Google – 4.6 / 5
- Price: Luxury $$$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, panoramic views, champagne bar, on site Michelin starred restaurant, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, breakfast available, spa
- Location: Lotte World (3 subway stops east from COEX)
- Subway: Jamsil station
Signiel is one of the best 5 star luxury hotels in Gangnam, Seoul and maybe even Asia. The hotel occupies floors 76 to 101 of the Lotte World Tower (below Seoul Sky) in the 6th tallest building in the world. It has impeccable reviews and is the epitome of a true luxury hotel.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, facilities, cleanliness and location the highest at Signiel. It scores immaculately for everything we consider when reviewing hotels and we would love to stay here ourselves. The only downside is exorbitant costs, but this is one place we would splurge in Asia!
>> Book Hotel: Signiel Seoul Gangnam
Best Hotels In Gangnam FAQ’s
Let’s take a quick look at some of the most frequently asked questions about where to stay in Gangnam Seoul.
What is the best cheap hotel in Gangnam?
Dormy Inn is a fantastic cheap hotel in Gangnam with a superb location, excellent guest reviews and affordable nightly prices. If you need a cheap Gangnam hotel, the Dormy Inn is a great place to start.
What is the best luxury hotel in Gangnam?
With exceptional guest ratings and near perfect review scores, the 5 star Signiel Seoul is the best luxury hotel in Gangnam. The hotel occupies floors 76 to 101 of the Lotte World Tower and it is everything a true 5 star hotel should be.
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We hope this guide to the best hotels in Gangnam helps you book the perfect hotel for your visit to Seoul, South Korea!
Please let us know if you have any questions about any of the hotels in our list of best places to stay in Gangnam Seoul by commenting below.
Happy Booking,
Mark and Kristen
Best Hotels Anywhere
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