WHERE TO STAY IN SEOUL

Based on our own experiences and what I’ve read online, Myeongdong, Insadong, Hongdae, and Itaewon are ideal places to stay in Seoul for tourists. It all depends on what you want. Myeongdong is for shopping, Insadong is for culture, Hongdae is hip, and Itaewon is the international district. We’ve visited all four areas but we’ve only stayed in Myeongdong and Hongdae. Personally, we prefer Hongdae.

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Both times, we booked our rooms through AirBnB, but you can search on Booking.com and Agoda as well. Be sure to go through all three sites to find the best accommodations for you. 

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MYEONGDONG: i-House

i-House is a 13-room guesthouse conveniently located in the quiet neighborhood of Hoehyeondong. It’s a 3-minute walk to Namsan Cable Car (which takes you up to N Seoul Tower), and just 10 minutes away from the hyper shopping district that is Myeongdong. If you’re in Seoul primarily to shop, then Myeongdong is definitely where you should stay.

At just USD 34 a night through AirBnB, i-House is a great value. There’s a kitchen on the top floor of the guesthouse where you can help yourself to breakfast. The only thing I didn’t like about the place is that there’s an uphill walk to get there from the subway station. If you have mobility issues, then you may want to stay somewhere else.

The host manages multiple listings at i-House and other properties as well, which you can check out HERE. You can also book a room at i-House through Booking.com or Agoda. Be sure to check all three sites to find the best deal. As described above, you can get USD 31 free travel credit if you’re new to AirBnB.

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HONGDAE: Bingo House

Ren and I aren’t into shopping so we preferred staying in Hongdae, which is the area around Hongik University. It’s a fun, hip area with a college town vibe. This was our favorite neighborhood in the city so we’ll probably stay here on every return trip to Seoul.

Bingo House is a small 5-room guesthouse just a short walk from Exit 6 of Hongik University Station. There’s a 7-Eleven and a GS25 convenience store nearby, as well as a few restaurants and cafes. There’s a common area with free water and kitchen supplies but no breakfast. We paid USD 44 a night to stay here through AirBnB, but you can book a room here via Agoda as well. Be sure to check both sites to find the better deal. As previously described, you can get USD 31 free travel credit if you’re new to AirBnB.