The bustling heart of the old city — walking distance to the great palaces, Namsan tower and City Hall, wrapped around Myeongdong's neon shopping streets and street-food stalls. Central, well-connected and packed with hotels for every budget; busy and touristy, but the most convenient base for a first visit, with everything a short metro hop away.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
₩250,000–500,000
typical per night in South Korea
You pay for the postcode
One of the pricier addresses in Seoul.
Where it sits
The circle is Myeongdong & Jung-gu and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Insadong tea & antiques11 min walk892 m
- Gwangjang Market street food19 min walk1.6 km
- Changdeokgung & the Secret Garden22 min walk1.8 km
- Bukchon Hanok Village25 min walk2.1 km
- Dongdaemun Design Plaza26 min walk2.2 km
- A night out in Hongdae16 min taxi5.5 km
- Korean barbecue17 min taxi5.5 km
- The Han River parks17 min taxi5.7 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 1.Gyeongbokgung Palace — The grandest of Seoul's five royal palaces, the seat of the Joseon dynasty — sweeping tiled roofs, a throne hall reflected in a lotus pond, and the mountains rising behind. Come for the changing-of-the-guard ceremony, and rent a hanbok (traditional dress) nearby to get in free and feel part of the scene. The essential first stop in old Seoul.
- 3.N Seoul Tower & Namsan — The tower crowning Namsan mountain in the centre of the city, and the best view in Seoul — the whole endless metropolis spread below, magical after dark. Ride the cable car or walk up through the park, clip a 'love lock' to the fence, and time it for sunset as the neon comes on. The classic Seoul panorama.
- 7.Myeongdong shopping & street food — Seoul's neon shopping mecca — a grid of streets crammed with K-beauty stores, fashion, and after dark a carnival of street-food carts selling cheese-pulled tteokbokki, egg bread and tornado potatoes. Frantic and touristy, but a fun, only-in-Seoul evening; graze your way through the carts and watch the city shop till late.
- 9.Cheonggyecheon stream — A restored stream threading right through downtown — a sunken ribbon of water, stepping stones and greenery below the traffic, where office workers eat lunch and couples stroll at night under the lit bridges. A lovely, unexpected escape in the heart of the city; walk a stretch of it, especially in the evening or during a lantern festival.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Myeongdong & Jung-gu; flights via Google Flights.