Neighborhood guide
Where to Stay in Seoul
The 4 areas worth basing yourself in Seoul, South Korea — ranked by our editors, with walking distances from the center. First-timers: start with Hongdae.
City centerNeighborhoodsClick the map to enable scroll zoom
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We’ll match Seoul’s neighborhoods to how you travel — and show you why.
Top pick
Hongdae
Youth culture, clubs, indie cafés, university energy.
4.7 km from center
#2
Itaewon
International food, vintage shops, evening rooftops.
3.5 km from center
#3
Gangnam
Luxury, modern restaurants, K-pop label headquarters.
8.2 km from center
#4
Bukchon Hanok Village
Traditional wooden houses, old-Seoul photo strip.
30 min walk from center
Getting around
Seoul Metro is among the world’s best — fast, signposted in English, clean.
Buy a T-Money card on arrival. Buses are also excellent. Use Kakao T or Uber for taxis.