20 Top Rated Hotels In Seoul South Korea

20 best hotels in Seoul South Korea by Best Hotels Anywhere

Seoul, South Korea is a tourist-friendly city with many high quality hotels suitable for any budget. But first, you need to choose a Seoul neighborhood that works for your travel style and your itinerary. Seoul far exceeded our expectations when we visited and we’re confident you’ll feel the same way.

In this guide we show you the most popular Seoul neighborhoods for first time visitors and we walk you through the best hotels in Seoul for all budgets, based on our own experiences.

Our Experience In Seoul

Hiker stood at the top of Inwangsan Peak in Seoul
Mark at the summit of Inwangsan Peak

We spent a memorable 2 weeks exploring Seoul in late March 2023, near the end of a 6 month trip through South East Asia and the Far East. Stunning cherry blossoms were blooming and the city was beginning to warm up after winter. It was our first visit to Seoul, so we had to research neighborhoods and attractions to figure out where we wanted to stay.

We decided to stay for one week in Hongdae and one week in Myeongdong. But we spent most of our time exploring far and wide throughout Seoul ticking off palaces, museums, shopping streets, cafes and attractions. At the end of our 2 weeks, we both agreed that Seoul was one of our favorite cities to date and we’ve been traveling the world non-stop since 2018. Read more about us.

Popular Seoul Neighborhoods

Myeongdong, Insadong, Itaewon and Hongdae are all popular places to stay above the Han River in Seoul. Below the river you’ll find the other famous tourist hotspot called Gangnam. And they all make up the most common areas for tourists to book a hotel when visiting Seoul.

But remember, you don’t have to stay in one of the touristy neighborhoods. You can also find excellent hotels in off the beaten path areas like Dongdaemun, Jongno and Mapo. And they still have great transport links.

We either stayed in or extensively visited each of the 5 major touristy Seoul neighborhoods to get a good feel for the city. Here’s our summary of each neighborhood:

1. Myeongdong

Myeongdong in Seoul at sunset from the namsan cable car
Looking back at Myeongdong from our cable car ride to N Seoul Tower

Myeongdong is the most popular and heavily trafficked tourist area in Seoul. We loved the narrow streets filled with people, neon lights and hole-in-the-wall restaurants in high rise buildings. The hotel we booked for a week in Myeongdong had a nice quiet location just a few blocks from the busy shopping streets.

It has a buzzing atmosphere and a fantastic central location within the city, so it’s easy to access top attractions from Myeongdong’s various subway stops.

Pros:

  • Excellent transport links
  • Fantastic to explore by day and by night
  • Walking distance to several popular attractions
  • Endless places to eat and drink
  • Huge selection of hotels spanning the budget range

Cons:

  • The most touristy part of Seoul by far
  • Restaurants are busy
  • Less authentic

2. Hongdae

Shopping and dining area in Hongdae Seoul with colorful facades on buildings
The famous shopping and dining street in Hongdae

Hongdae is the up-and-coming, trendy and student heavy area to the west of Seoul. It has a relaxed vibe and lots of cool places to eat out.

We spent a week in a hotel between Hongdae and Mapo, and the downside was that it’s quite an isolated area, which meant we ended up spending a lot of time riding subways to reach attractions.

Pros:

  • Fun to explore by day and by night
  • Cafe culture and younger crowd
  • Diverse range of great places to eat and drink
  • Lots of animal themed cafes

Cons:

  • Transport links aren’t great
  • Not a huge selection of hotels to choose between
  • Few attractions in the immediate area

3. Gangnam

Tourist doing the Gangnam style wrist cross in front of the scultpure
Kristen doing the Gangnam Style pose at the famous sculpture

Gangnam-gu is the wealthy and glamorous district known as “the Beverly Hills of Seoul”. We had a lot of fun exploring attractions around the various micro-neighborhoods in Gangnam.

But getting there required long subway rides each time from our hotels in Hongdae and Myeongdong. So if we’d stayed in Gangnam, we think we’d have ended up taking lots of long subway rides to get to the palaces, hikes, meeting points for tours like the DMZ and traditional Korean villages.

Pros:

  • Excellent transport links
  • Fantastic to explore by day and especially by night
  • Easy access to attractions within Gangnam and Olympic Park
  • So many places to eat, drink and party
  • Vast selection of hotels spanning the budget range

Cons:

  • A long way from top attractions in the north of Seoul
  • Huge district with separated points of interest

4. Itaewon

Itaewon popular dining and drinking street in Seoul
The popular dining and drinking area in Itaewon

Itaewon is the most international area in Seoul with few Koreans and a lot of expats. We enjoyed walking through the cafes, bars and shops in Itaewon, but we didn’t manage to make it back for a night out, which is when this area shines.

After exploring all the major touristy areas of Seoul, Itaewon is the last place we’d recommend you book a hotel if it’s your first time in Korea because it lacks authenticity and it’s more of a partying place. Unless that’s your preferred travel style of course!

Pros:

  • Diverse and international crowd
  • Bustling nightlife scene
  • Varied dining options

Cons:

  • Few attractions and hotels
  • Very hilly and hard to get around
  • Transport links are not as good
  • Not authentic for South Korea

5. Insadong

Shoppers, locals and tourists enjoying Insadong shopping street in Seoul
Insadong’s traditional and authentic shopping street

Insa-dong is one of the best neighborhoods for seeing traditional Korean architecture and culture. We thought the major shopping street running through Insadong with with teahouses, Korean dining and shops selling craft goods was lovely.

Insadong has a superb location within Seoul for a first time visit because it’s within walking distance to many top attractions. We also think it’s arguably the most family friendly place you can stay in Seoul because it’s quiet and authentic.

Pros:

  • Excellent transport links
  • Safe and family friendly
  • Walking distance to several popular attractions
  • Very authentic and quaint

Cons:

  • Fewer hotels and places to eat
  • Not a lot going on in the immediate area

Where Should You Stay In Seoul?

Tourist in Insadong Seoul shopping for local crafts at stalls with lights
Kristen shopping for crafts in Insadong

Personally, we think Myeongdong is the overall best place to stay in Seoul for most first time visitors because despite being the most touristy and obvious choice, it has an unbeatable location near lots of popular attractions, easy transport links, countless dining options and a bustling tourist scene.

But if you prefer nightlife and socializing, you might want to stay in Itaewon or Gangnam. For a quieter, more residential and less attraction heavy itinerary, you should stay in Hongdae. Finally, Insadong is the “hidden gem” place to stay in Seoul because it’s authentic, calm and very close to many of the most famous attractions in the city.

In the end, the best place for you to stay in Seoul depends on your travel style and goals. Now, let’s move from neighborhoods to hotels.

Seoul Hotels Map

Click or touch the map below to activate. Zoom in and out, move around the area to see exactly where each hotel is located.

Map key:

  • Green stars – Low budget
  • Red stars – Mid range budget
  • Blue stars – High budget

Note: We’ve included outlines around Seoul major tourist districts so you get a good feel for the city and so you can see where each hotel below is located.

How We Order Hotels

Tourist walking down a narrow old street in Seoul
Mark walking down the popular Bukchon Hanok Village street

We’ve hand picked 20 Seoul hotels for you to consider booking by taking into account previous guest ratings, location, value for money and our own experiences in the area. Read more about our editorial process.

Hotels in this guide are listed in order of average nightly cost. We analyzed nightly prices on three future dates in different seasons so we could order with a degree of accuracy.

You’ll find 6 x cheap hotels, 9 x mid range budget hotels and 5 x luxury hotels. We periodically update our guides to ensure the previous guest ratings from Booking and Google reviews are accurate.

1. Nine Tree Hotel Dongdaemun

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 8.7 / 10
  • Google – 4.6 / 5
Inside a guest bedroom at a hotel with bed and view out of the window
Photo courtesy of Nine Tree Hotel
  • Price: Cheap $
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast available
  • Location: Dongdaemun

Nine Tree Hotel in Dongdaemun is one of the best cheap hotels in Seoul because it has very high ratings and extremely affordable prices. It’s located in the east of Seoul near some of the popular food and clothing markets, which wouldn’t be our first choice for location but it’s certainly a great budget option.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and value for money the highest at Nine Tree Dongdaemun. So the location isn’t perfect, but if you enjoy markets and street food, this is the perfect hotel if you’re visiting Seoul on the cheap.

BOOK: Nine Tree Hotel Dongdaemun

2. Dormy Inn Gangnam

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 8.7 / 10
  • Google – 4.5 / 5
Entrance to Dormy Inn hotel in Seoul at night
Photo courtesy of Dormy Inn
  • Price: Cheap $
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, on site onsen and sauna, laundry, breakfast available
  • Location: Gangnam

Dormy Inn is another top rated cheap hotel in Seoul. It has everything you need if you’re traveling on a low budget, including good value and quality, excellent reviews and a great Gangnam location.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and facilities the highest at Dormy Inn Gangnam. Rooms are smaller than average but there’s a traditional public hot spring bath and the hotel is incredibly affordable.

BOOK: Dormy Inn Gangnam

3. GLAD Mapo

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 8.7 / 10
  • Google – 4.4 / 5
Upscale fitness center with treadmills and weights in a hotel
Photo courtesy of GLAD Hotels
  • Price: Cheap $
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, fitness center, on site restaurant and bar, breakfast available
  • Location: Mapo

GLAD Mapo is a superb hotel located just two subway stops from Hongdae. It’s a high quality and affordable 4 star hotel with instant access to Gongdeok station, which has direct links to top Seoul attractions.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at GLAD Mapo. We stayed at the Lotte City Hotel in Mapo opposite GLAD, and found that eating out was more challenging in this area but the hotel options are much better value for what you get.

BOOK: GLAD Mapo

4. Nine Tree Premier Insadong

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 8.6 / 10
  • Google – 4.5 / 5
Twin beds in a Seoul hotel room with a view
Photo courtesy of Nine Tree Hotel
  • Price: Cheap $
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast available, fitness center, on site restaurant and bar
  • Location: Insadong

Nine Tree Premier Insadong is a fantastic cheap hotel with the complete package for a budget traveler, including low prices and a truly top notch location in the quieter family friendly Insadong area.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at Nine Tree Premier Insadong. It’s a great spot for couples and families who want a quieter location in authentic and traditional surroundings at low prices.

BOOK: Nine Tree Premier Insadong

5. Four Points Myeongdong

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 8.3 / 10
  • Google – 4.2 / 5
Inside a guest bedroom with bed and ottoman leading to window with view
Photo courtesy of Marriott
  • Price: Cheap $
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, fitness center, on site restaurant and bar, laundry, breakfast available, free bikes
  • Location: Myeongdong

Four Points by Sheraton is a quality cheap hotel with surprisingly affordable rates for its great Myeongdong location, just steps from Euljiro 3 subway station. It’s a 4 star hotel offering a good balance between location, cost and quality.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Four Points. In addition to being close to Myeongdong’s touristy area, it’s also easy walking distance to Insadong, Cheonggyecheon and some of the famous palaces from this hotel location.

BOOK: Four Points Myeongdong

6. G2 Hotel Myeongdong

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 8.9 / 10
  • Google – 4.3 / 5
Twin beds in a room with curtains half closed
Our room at G2 Hotel in Myeongdong with huge comfy twin beds
  • Price: Cheap $
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, fitness center, laundry, breakfast available
  • Location: Myeongdong

G2 Hotel is a popular cheap hotel in Seoul with excellent reviews and a lovely quiet location in Myeongdong. We had a fantastic experience staying at G2 for 7 nights, most notably because the beds were among the most comfortable we’ve ever slept on!

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, facilities, value for money, cleanliness and location the highest at G2 Hotel. If you want to stay in Myeongdong on a low budget, this is a great place to start looking.

BOOK: G2 Hotel Myeongdong

7. Holiday Inn Express Hongdae

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 8.6 / 10
  • Google – 4.4 / 5
Exterior photo of the Holiday Inn Express in Seoul at night
Photo courtesy of Holiday Inn
  • Price: Mid Range $$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, fitness center, on site restaurant, city views, coin laundry, breakfast included
  • Location: Hongdae

Holiday Inn Express is another hugely popular hotel thanks to its location above the main subway line in Hongdae called Hongik University. It also provides a free and highly regarded buffet breakfast, which can be hard to get in Seoul.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at Holiday Inn Express. If you can find good value rates here, this hotel with a perfect Hongdae location is definitely worth considering.

BOOK: Holiday Inn Express Hongdae

8. L’Escape Myeongdong

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 8.8 / 10
  • Google – 4.4 / 5
Entrance to L'Escape hotel in Myeongdong at night
Photo courtesy of L’Escape Hotel
  • Price: Mid Range $$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, on site restaurant and bar, fitness center, breakfast available, free parking, pet friendly
  • Location: Myeongdong

L’Escape is an elegant Parisian style boutique hotel in Seoul. It’s a bougie and upscale hotel located close to Namdaemun Market, Myeongdong and the cable car to visit the popular N Seoul Tower.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at L’Escape Hotel. We think this quirky and unique hotel would be fantastic place to stay in a quieter area near Myeongdong.

BOOK: L’Escape Hotel Myeongdong

9. Mercure Ambassador Hongdae

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 9.0 / 10
  • Google – 4.6 / 5
Exterior photo of a hotel in Hongdae Seoul at night
Photo courtesy of Accor Hotels
  • Price: Mid Range $$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, fitness center, garden, terrace, on site restaurant and bar, breakfast available, coin laundry
  • Location: Hongdae

Mercure Ambassador is one of the overall best hotels in Seoul. It’s a luxury 4 star hotel in Hongdae with a superb location, exceptional guest reviews and surprisingly affordable nightly rates.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Mercure Ambassador. If you want to stay in Hongdae, we can’t recommend this hotel highly enough.

BOOK: Mercure Ambassador Hongdae

10. Voco Gangnam

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 9.0 / 10
  • Google – 4.3 / 5
Inside a guest room with bed sofa and carpet in South Korea
Photo courtesy of IHG
  • Price: Mid Range $$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast available, fitness center, on site restaurant and bar, shared kitchen, laundry
  • Location: Gangnam

Voco Gangnam is a brand new hotel with a superb northern Gangnam location, excellent ratings, modern facilities and surprisingly affordable rates for what you’re getting.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Voco Gangnam. You’ll benefit most from a highly rated breakfast buffet (which is rare!) and being in the heart of a trendy Gangnam neighborhood.

BOOK: Voco Gangnam

11. RYSE, Autograph Collection Hongdae

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 8.9 / 10
  • Google – 4.6 / 5
Inside a guest room with bed and desk leading to huge windows and view
Photo courtesy of Marriott
  • Price: Mid Range $$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, fitness center, on site restaurant and bar, breakfast available
  • Location: Hongdae

RYSE is the most luxurious hotel in the Hongdae neighborhood of Seoul. It’s a boutique hotel featuring a movie theme throughout and it’s about as bougie as it gets in Hongdae.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, facilities, cleanliness and location the highest at RYSE. We think it would be a classy place to stay with a top location and excellent ratings, but it’ll definitely cost you a touch more.

BOOK: RYSE, Autograph Collection Hongdae

12. Hotel 28 Myeongdong

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 9.2 / 10
  • Google – 4.5 / 5
Inside a guest bedroom with sink leading to bed and window on wooden floor
Photo courtesy of Hotel 28
  • Price: Mid Range $$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, rooftop garden, on site restaurant and bar, fitness center, breakfast available
  • Location: Myeongdong

Hotel 28 is the top rated hotel in the Myeongdong neighborhood of Seoul. It’s a luxury boutique hotel with near perfect reviews, an unbeatable location and affordable rates for what you get.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities, value for money and location the highest at Hotel 28. It takes a clean sweep across the board with ratings, which makes this another contender for the best hotel in Seoul.

BOOK: Hotel 28 Myeongdong

13. The Plaza Seoul

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 8.6 / 10
  • Google – 4.4 / 5
Inside a unique guest room with pink colored walls and bedding at a hotel in Seoul
Photo courtesy of Marriott
  • Price: Mid Range $$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast available, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, spa, laundry, on site restaurants and bar
  • Location: Jongno

The Plaza Autograph Collection is a fantastic mid range budget hotel with an outstanding location close to Deoksugung Palace. It’s a luxury boutique hotel with rated that might surprise you, in a good way.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at The Plaza. If you can find prices in the low $200’s USD per night, it’s a hotel that should be on your shortlist.

BOOK: The Plaza Seoul

14. Lotte Hotel World

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 8.5 / 10
  • Google – 4.3 / 5
Inside a guest bedroom with two large beds and wooden floors at night
Photo courtesy of Lotte Hotel
  • Price: Mid Range $$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, multiple on site restaurants and bars, breakfast available, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, onsen
  • Location: Songpa

Lotte Hotel World is a luxury resort style hotel located between Gangnam and the Olympic Park. The hotel provides instant access to Lotte World Mall, Lotte World Adventure theme park and a subway line. It’s a great hotel for families visiting Seoul with a comfortable budget.

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’s better 5 star hotels in Seoul but they’re also far more expensive.

BOOK: Lotte Hotel World

15. Westin Josun Seoul Hotel

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 8.6 / 10
  • Google – 4.5 / 5
Exterior photo of a popular Seoul hotel lit up at night with sunset colors in the sky
Photo courtesy of Marriott
  • Price: Mid Range $$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast available, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, spa, sauna, laundry, on site restaurants and bar
  • Location: Jongno

The Westin Josun is one of the best affordable luxury hotels in Seoul. It has a sensational location in between Myeongdong and City Hall, thousands of positive reviews and excellent accommodations.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Westin Josun. It’s another fantastic hotel option if you’re traveling on a comfortable mid-range budget.

BOOK: Westin Josun Seoul Hotel

16. Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 8.9 / 10
  • Google – 4.5 / 5
Seoul hotel lit up at night with sunset colors in the sky silhouetting buildings
Photo courtesy of IHG
  • Price: Luxury $$$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, multiple on site restaurants and bars, breakfast available
  • Location: Gangnam

Grand InterContinental is a luxury hotel in Seoul with a superb Gangnam location next to the popular COEX Mall. This hotel works for any type of visitor to Seoul thanks to excellent transport links and nearby attractions.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas. It’s the top hotel in the most touristy part of Gangnam.

BOOK: Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas

17. Lotte Hotel Seoul Executive Tower

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 9.0 / 10
  • Google – 4.5 / 5
Inside a plush upscale guest bedroom with bed sofa table and view
Photo courtesy of Lotte Hotel
  • Price: Luxury $$$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, on site 3 star Michelin restaurant, bar, fitness center, indoor swimming pool, spa, breakfast available
  • Location: Myeongdong

Lotte Hotel Seoul Executive Tower is a true 5 star hotel in Seoul with a magnificent location. It’s a classy and upscale hotel, and it’s the most luxurious place you can stay in Myeongdong.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, facilities, cleanliness and location the highest at Lotte Hotel Executive Tower. You simply won’t find a better luxury hotel in Myeongdong!

BOOK: Lotte Hotel Seoul Executive Tower

18. The Shilla Seoul

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 9.0 / 10
  • Google – 4.6 / 5
Inside a guest bedroom with comfy bed desk and armchair at night with view
Photo courtesy of The Shilla
  • Price: Luxury $$$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, 6 dining options and bars, 2 swimming pools, full service spa, fitness center, indoor golf range, yoga and aerobics classes, breakfast available
  • Location: Jung-gu

The Shilla is one of the best luxury hotels in Seoul. Perched atop a hill in traditional surroundings and with stunning views over the city, it’s a 5 star hotel with exceptional reviews and top class service.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and facilities the highest at The Shilla. It isn’t the most expensive luxury hotel in Seoul but it isn’t far off!

BOOK: The Shilla Seoul

19. Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 9.2 / 10
  • Google – 4.5 / 5
Exterior photo of the Four Seasons in Seoul with traditional wooden building structure
Photo courtesy of Four Seasons
  • Price: Luxury $$$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast available, 5 dining options, bars, fitness center, Korean sauna, indoor golf, indoor swimming pool
  • Location: Jongno

Four Seasons is another of the very best luxury hotels in Seoul. It’s a 5 star hotel with incredible reviews, impeccable service and a near perfect location between Deoksugung and Gyeongbokgung Palaces.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Four Seasons. If you’re looking for true luxury at a globally recognized hotel brand, this is where you should stay in Seoul.

BOOK: Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

20. Signiel Seoul

Guest ratings:

  • Booking.com – 9.2 / 10
  • Google – 4.6 / 5
Looking up at Signiel Seoul in the Lotte World Tower from ground level
Signiel Seoul occupies high floors in the Lotte World Tower
  • Price: Luxury $$$
  • Amenities: Free WiFi, panoramic views, champagne bar, on site Michelin starred restaurant, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, breakfast available, spa
  • Location: Songpa

Signiel is the best 5 star luxury hotel in Seoul. The hotel occupies floors 76 to 101 of the Lotte World Tower (below Seoul Sky observation deck), which is the 6th tallest building in the world.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, facilities, cleanliness and location the highest at Signiel. This incredible luxury hotel has impeccable ratings across the board and we think it’s the place you should book if you’re on your honeymoon in Seoul!

BOOK: Signiel Seoul

Where Did We Stay?

Tourist checking into G2 Hotel in Myeongdong Seoul
Kristen checking us into G2 Hotel in Myeongdong

During our 2 week visit to Seoul we spent 7 nights at a hotel near Hongdae and 7 nights at a hotel in Myeongdong.

We were booking last minute hotels because we were traveling long term through several countries in Asia and we wanted to keep a flexible schedule. It didn’t cause too many issues on the trip, but we did have a problem booking a hotel with good value for money in Hongdae.

So instead we stayed at Lotte City Hotel in Mapo, which is just 2 subway stops from Hongdae. It turned out to be a great stay and the instant access to Gongdeok subway station was incredibly convenient.

In Myeongdong, we stayed at G2 Hotel and it was fantastic. The beds were some of the best we’ve ever slept in (seriously!) and it has a nice quiet location on the eastern fringes of Myeongdong’s tourist area.

Where Would We Stay Next Time?

Google Map showing star locations of attractions in Seoul
Screenshot of our Google Maps showing locations of our hotels (blue suitcases), attractions we saw (yellow stars) and restaurants we wanted to try (green flags)

With hindsight and the knowledge we now have of the city, we think the perfect way to do Seoul is to stay in Gangnam for 3 or 4 nights and then stay in either Myeongdong or Insadong for 7 nights.

That’s enough time early in the trip to tick off the top attractions around Gangnam and the southeast, before spending the majority of the trip within easy walking or subway distance of the attractions in the north. It’s more efficient because it saves lots of time sitting on subways between Gangnam and the other areas.

Here are the hotels we would pick next time within each budget category:

Cheap:

Mid Range:

Luxury:

Best Hotels In Seoul By Reviews

Tourist standing in front of the Olympic Park Sculpture in Gangnam Seoul
Kristen at Seoul Olympic Park with Lotte World Tower in the background

We always look at guest reviews when booking our hotels in new travel destinations. Previous guest reviews are a fantastic resource to use because you can see genuine unbiased pros and cons from a wide range of real people.

But it’s important to use reviews as a guide only because you might not necessarily agree with others. Let’s take a look at the best hotels in Seoul as per genuine user generated reviews from popular online resources.

1. Booking.com

According to previous guest reviews on Booking.com, your three top rated hotel options are:

2. Hotels.com

According to previous guest reviews on Hotels.com, your three top rated hotel options are:

3. Google

According to previous guest reviews on Google, your three top rated hotel options are:

4. Tripadvisor

According to previous guest reviews on Tripadvisor, your three top rated hotel options are:

Affordability

Tourist at the DMZ sign in Korea on a sunny day
Kristen at the famous sign on our tour of the DMZ in Korea

Hotel prices in Seoul are slightly cheaper than we imagined, especially when compared to other popular cities in Asia such as Tokyo and Singapore. There’s a great blend of cheap and luxury hotels to choose between in most areas of Seoul so it’s easy to find a quality hotel no matter your budget.

What we like the most is that hotel prices don’t fluctuate heavily throughout the year, unlike most popular tourist destinations which often have huge spikes in peak seasons.

Added Tax

Bear in mind when booking your hotel that you’ll typically pay 10% hotel tax on top of your base rate.

So let’s say the basic nightly room cost at a cheap hotel is $120.00 USD for one night, your actual total cost is going to be $132.00 USD.

  • 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’ll pay the hotel room cost + the additional 10% tax.

Our Verdict

Seoul is a truly fantastic travel destination and it has a superb selection of high quality hotels available to suit any budget. So you’ll have no problems booking a great cheap, mid range or luxury hotel in Myeongdong, Hongdae, Insadong or Gangnam. You just need to figure out which neighborhood you want to stay in.

Personally, we think G2 and Hotel 28 in Myeongdong are the best cheap and mid range hotels for first time visitors to Seoul. In the luxury category we’d go for Signiel because the rooms are near the top of the world’s 6th tallest building, which would be a pretty cool experience!

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We hope this guide to the best hotels in Seoul helps you book the perfect hotel for your visit to South Korea!

Please let us know if you have any questions about any of the hotels in our list by commenting below.

Happy Booking,

Mark and Kristen
Best Hotels Anywhere

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