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Seoul City by By Seoul Fire & Disaster Headquarters-Seoul Fire & Disaster Headquarters Choi Gwang-mo- Wikimedia

Where to stay in Seoul – Best area’s guide

Seoul city is a vast metropolis characterized by skyscrapers, modern subway, Buddhist temples, pop culture, open street markets and bastions.

This South Korean capital has futuristic architecture like the Dongdaemun Plaza with a rooftop park, a palace with more than 7000 rooms, cultural museums with traditional ceramic, knits and jewellery.

There is a lot to explore while in Seoul; one can walk to a manmade stream in the city to cool off, enjoy the beautiful sight of Bukaksan Mountain, the tranquil footpath along metasequoias with clear ponds and lush park. The World cup park in Seoul has more than you can imagine for theme parks.

Not only does the city have all these attractions and ton of activities to do; there is more for your palates to relish the local restaurants, cafes and nightclubs.

The only other thing you may be wondering about is where to stay so as not to miss out on these fun places and activities.

Here are the 5 best areas to stay while in Seoul.

1. Gangnam Neighbourhood

Gangnam By Joop – Wikimedia

First on the list is Gangnam, you probably know it from the PSY hit song Gangnam style.

This neighbourhood is home to some of the leading designer brands in the world, Michelin star restaurants, posh cafés, fancy nightclubs and is always full of activities.

It is not only home to fashion and fine dining but also considered to be the Silicon Valley where big tech firms have their headquarters.

This posh neighbourhood is also home to many South Korean actors.

Its main business district has the largest underground shopping mall with any product one can think of.

The Apgujeong-dong area has more luxurious fashion brands same too Cheongdam-dong shopping district.

A well-maintained old Buddhist temple from 794 AD is still standing in this area, one can also get access to the Photo gallery that has photos of many famous Koreans.

Those travelling on a budget can be able to stay in this neighbourhood too because there are plenty of budget hotels and restaurants. Apart from the fancy night clubs in Gangnam, it is a pretty chill neighbourhood with not bustling streets at night.

This area is preferred by those that want to be close to the city, fancy shopping from both local and international brands, love fine dining and quiet nights with magical views of Seoul skyline.

2. Itaewon- Multicultural neighbourhood

Itaewon, Seoul By by kayakorea -Wikimedia

This is a multicultural neighbourhood loved by most locals and tourists. One can find little from different points of the world here; the cuisine here ranges from India, Pakistan, Germany, Turkey, Portugal, Mexico.

It is a much lively area compared to Gangnam with taverns, cafés, street food, street art and several restaurants serving a variety of cuisine and with a beautiful vibe about them. An interesting fact about Itaewon is that it used to be a red-light district.

It is also the neighbourhood that is home to the only Mosque in Korea, the national museum of Korea, Samsung museum of art, the Leeum and the War Memorial of Korea. These places give one a good understanding of Korean art, history and culture.

Jazz lovers can get to sample the music at an all Jazz club called All that Jazz and get to enjoy sumptuous Korean dishes at Orum’s local food joints.

The accommodation options range from budget to luxury so there’s something for everyone. This area is best for those that want to sample both Korean and middle-eastern culture. It is also the area where English is widely spoken due to the presence of a large ex-pat community.

The favourite restaurants by many are Le Saint-Ex BTartine restaurant and The Flying Pan Blue restaurant.

3. Hongdae-artsy neighbourhood

Hongdae at night By Ken Eckert – Wikimedia

This neighbourhood is suited for those that love art in its every form; street dances, graffiti, handcrafted pieces and many other forms of art that are available at the weekend markets.

Hongdae is home to Hongik University which is the top fine arts institution in South Korea.

The artistic essence can be felt while walking the streets of this neighbourhood. The eateries in this neighbourhood do not disappoint. One can have brunch, sample craft beer and pizza just the way the locals love it.

The nightlife here is something to look forward to, it has some of the famous clubs in the city.

Choosing to stay at Hongdae is best for the young and young at heart that love to wind their day partying or hang out with friends all night with music and drinks.

Accommodation here is affordable with a range of boutique hotels and shared hostels.

Hongdae is also home to the famous The Trick Eye Museum, an interactive museum that gives off impressive optical illusions.

4. Myeongdong- the hub of Korean culture

Myeongdong By Christian Bolz-Wikimedia

This neighbourhood in Seoul is nested between Isandong and Namsan Mountain and is frequented mostly by those that love to shop.

There are several designer shops, local brands and bootleg stores in this area among other large departmental shops.

Staying in this neighbourhood is convenient when one wants to spend some time at Namsan Park, tour the Myeongdong Cathedral and the super tall Seoul tower a landmark of Seoul.

The streets come to life in the evening with neon lights shining as numerous food carts along the streets serve both sweet and savoury dishes and snacks. One can sample delicious noodles and dumplings or grilled meat.

Myeongdong has endless activities to do and one can spend days on end walking and shopping in the malls for beauty products, clothing, toys and other items.

The hotels in this area range from luxurious rooms to budget boutique hotels. This area might be hectic for those with children but favourable for couples, solo or group travellers.

Some attractions in Myeongdong include Nanta Theatre and Cheonggyecheon Stream an artificial reclaimed stream.

5. Insadong-History, Culture and tradition

Insadong is home to Gyeongbukgung Palace, one of the many palaces found in the city. The palace has well-manicured gardens and fascinating architecture.

One can tour the palace for free in English offered by university students or choose to venture alone. It is in this area of Seoul that one will come close to learning the traditions and culture of the Koreans. There is also a museum within the palace compound.

This area is the best place to stay for those that love to learn about other cultures and history of the people. The accommodation here is varied from modern hotel rooms to traditional Korean setups.

The area has plenty of tea houses, restaurants, cafés, art galleries and antique stores.

While in Insadong some places to visit include: the Bukchon Hanok village, Gwanghwamum square, Kimchi Museum, and Alive Museum.

One can also visit the nearby Jongno neighbourhood that is rich with South Korean traditions and culture, it is also home to four of the five grand palaces in the city.