How to Choose a Hotel in Seoul: Honest Picks from a Local (2026)
Yunjae
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Choosing a hotel for your trip can be really stressful. Even with all the money in the world, you still want your money to count.
So I'm here to take some of that weight off and help you pick a hotel that's good enough. I think "perfect" is overrated. Nothing is perfect. Aiming for good enough is perfect.
I split this by the kind of trip you're planning. They overlap, and that's fine:
- Out all day: you only come back to sleep, so location matters most
- On a budget: you want clean, safe and cheap
- Treating yourself: you've been to Korea before and want some luxury
- Slowing down: you want a view and a quiet place, not to run around
Find the one that sounds like you and start there.
1. Out all day: location matters most
If you won't spend more than a few hours at the hotel other than sleeping, location matters most. And I don't think you should spend much money on it either.
As long as nothing gets stolen, it's fine. Good news: Korea is one of the safer places you can travel. The US government's own safety report calls Seoul and Busan low-threat for crime, and most issues are pickpocketing in crowded nightlife areas, not hotel break-ins (OSAC).
My rule: Korean public transportation is amazing, but the walk from the station is still on you. After 30,000 steps a day, even an extra 10 minutes on foot drains you. So don't book anything far from a subway station, and check the walk on Naver Map before you pay, not after.
First time in Korea? Stay near Gwanghwamun
If it's your first time in Korea, stay somewhere near Gwanghwamun. The palaces, Insadong, Bukchon, Cheonggyecheon stream and Myeongdong are all walkable or one or two stops away.
Brands you can trust
Shilla Stay and Lotte's hotels are really solid. In Korea, a big brand name actually means something: rooms are clean, staff are trained, and the locations are usually amazing. L7 (also Lotte) is another great one.
| Hotel | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shilla Stay Gwanghwamun | Old city | Palaces, Insadong and Myeongdong all close. My first-timer pick. |
| Nine Tree Premier Insadong | Old city | Insadong right outside, Jongno 3-ga station nearby. |
| L7 Myeongdong | Myeongdong | In the middle of Myeongdong, shopping and street food at the door. |
| Lotte City Hotel Myeongdong | Myeongdong | Same brand, simpler rooms, great base. |
| Nine Tree Myeongdong | Myeongdong | Clean, central, usually a bit cheaper. |
| L7 Hongdae | Hongdae | Right on Hongik Univ. station. Airport train on your doorstep. |
| Shilla Stay Mapo | Mapo | At Mapo station, near the Han River. Quieter than Hongdae, a short ride away. |
| Shilla Stay Samsung | Gangnam (COEX) | COEX mall, Starfield Library, airport limousine bus nearby. |
One honest note: business hotels in Korea can have thin walls. But that happens in hotels all over the world. I've stayed at 4- and 5-star hotels and still heard people in the hallway or through the wall. For the price, it's fine. Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper.
2. On a budget: clean, safe, cheap
First, a warning: Seoul hotels got expensive. I once stayed at an ibis in Dongdaemun, and now I see it going for over €200 a night on busy dates. An ibis.
It's not just that hotel. Seoul had about 53,600 hotel rooms in 2019 and only about 56,200 in 2025, while visitor numbers are heading toward 20 million in 2026. New hotels won't open until around 2028 to 2030 (Hankyung). So book early, especially for spring, autumn and holidays.
What's a "Korean business hotel"?
You'll see a lot of these. They're not motels, but they're not full hotels either. Small rooms, a tiny lobby, almost no extras, but clean and usually right by a station. Many are old motels that got remodeled into hotels. For a trip where you're out all day, they're perfect.
These usually come in under ₩250,000 a night (prices jump a lot by date):
| Hotel | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Toyoko Inn Dongdaemun | Dongdaemun | Japanese chain, simple and cheap, breakfast included. |
| Toyoko Inn Gangnam | Gangnam | Same deal, Gangnam side. |
| Travelodge Myeongdong Namsan | Myeongdong | Newer, between Myeongdong and Namsan. |
| Travelodge Dongdaemun | Dongdaemun | Good for night shopping at DDP and the markets. |
| Nine Tree (Myeongdong / Insadong / Dongdaemun) | Central | Parnas group, clean and reliable. |
| Lotte City Hotel (Myeongdong / Mapo) | Central | Big Korean brand, no surprises. |
| Glad (Yeouido / Mapo) | Yeouido, Mapo | Modern rooms, near the Han River. |
| Hotel The Designers (Dongdaemun / Jongno) | Central | Boutique, every room is designed differently. Fun if you want something less boring. |
Tip: the best-located ones here (Nine Tree Myeongdong and Insadong, Lotte City Myeongdong) are also in my location list. Cheap and central is the sweet spot.
3. Treating yourself: go luxury
If you've already been to Korea a few times and want to relax and feel that strong currency, go luxury if you can afford it. Think about it: a top hotel in Seoul often costs a fraction of what the same level costs in Paris, London or New York.
I've stayed at most of the big ones. Here's my honest take.
My favorite: Josun Palace
Josun Palace in Gangnam is amazing. The swimming pool, the service, the whole thing is just tremendous. If you only splurge once, splurge here.
Also stayed
- Andaz Seoul Gangnam: Sinsa / Apgujeong, right by Garosu-gil's cafés and shops. Stylish and fun.
- JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square: really cozy and nice. The location is good, the night view is pretty good, and Heunginjimun, the old city gate everyone calls Dongdaemun, is right next to it. I love that. The only catch is the price, haha.
- Paradise City: next to Incheon Airport. Great for your first or last night, not for exploring Seoul.
On my list: Signiel Seoul
The only big one I'm missing. It's at the top of Lotte World Tower and I hear it's great. Full review when I finally go.
I wouldn't recommend
- Four Seasons Seoul: I stayed during COVID when it was much cheaper. At today's prices, no. The view is honestly kind of bad, and Gwanghwamun has protests almost every weekend. You can actually hear them from the room.
- Conrad Seoul: I stayed in a suite. The lobby feels mixed up with the shopping mall next door, and the whole thing felt weird to me. The river view is there, but it didn't wow me.
- JW Marriott Hotel Seoul: the one at the Express Bus Terminal. A nice hotel, but for that price, the location is off.
4. Slowing down: view + relaxing
Not every trip has to be busy busy busy. If you want a hotel that's part of the holiday, pick one of these. They're a bit away from the action, and that's the point.
| Hotel | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Walkerhill Douglas House | Gwangjin (Achasan) | Only 52 rooms in the forest on the hill above the Han River. Hammocks, quiet, feels nothing like Seoul. |
| Vista Walkerhill | Gwangjin (Achasan) | Same hill, Han River views, a resort feel without leaving the city. |
| Banyan Tree Club & Spa | Namsan | A resort on Namsan mountain. Pools and spa, city below you. |
| Sofitel Ambassador Seoul | Jamsil | Views over Seokchon Lake and Lotte World Tower. Beautiful in cherry blossom season. |
| Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery | Mapo | Han River views, calmer than central Seoul. |
| Signiel Seoul | Jamsil | If the view is the whole point, it's the top of the tallest building in Korea. |
Booking tip for view hotels: book the "river view" or "city view" room type. The cheapest rate usually means the back side of the building.
What about Airbnb?
Airbnbs are great. But for a first trip to Korea, I wouldn't. Most are tucked away in small alleys and hard to find, a lot of them are uphill, and some buildings don't even have an elevator. Have fun with your suitcase.
And at most places, you're expected to clean pretty well before you leave. Even the trash. Like, huh?
So on your first trip, splurge on the service and comfort a hotel gives you, and just focus on enjoying Korea.
Still can't decide?
| If you are | Go with |
|---|---|
| First time in Korea | Shilla Stay Gwanghwamun |
| On a tight budget | Toyoko Inn or Nine Tree |
| Here for shopping and street food | L7 Myeongdong |
| Treating yourself | Josun Palace |
| Here to slow down | Walkerhill Douglas House |
Good enough is perfect. Book it, and go enjoy Korea.
