Finding cheap rooms in Seoul is easier when you know where to look. We compare live hotel rates across the top booking sites and point you to the neighborhoods where hotels are cheap but the location is still great.
Cruise ships calling for Seoul dock at Incheon on the coast west of the city, so allow time for the transfer.
Shopping streets, street food and a big choice of mid-range hotels — the classic first-timer base.
Close to Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon’s traditional hanok houses, with tea houses and craft shops.
The university district with cafés, live music and nightlife, plus good-value guesthouses and a direct rail link to Incheon Airport.
Sleek, modern and business-oriented south of the river, with large hotels and upscale shopping.
An international neighborhood of restaurants and bars, central and well connected.
Zoom and pan the map to compare hotel prices by neighborhood; rates come live from the booking sites.
Spring (April–May) and fall (September–November) are the most pleasant; summers are hot and rainy and winters are cold. Rates rise around the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays.
Myeongdong and the Jongno–Insadong area are central, close to the palaces and markets, and well served by the subway.
Hongdae and the areas around Seoul Station and Dongdaemun have plenty of good-value hotels and guesthouses.
The AREX airport railroad runs to Seoul Station, stopping at Hongdae on the way, and airport buses serve most major hotel areas.