Hotels in Seoul

Seoul moves fast: a city of 24-hour food, serious shopping and pop culture, layered over Joseon-era palaces. Gyeongbokgung with its changing of the guard and the Bukchon hanok quarter cover the historic side; Hongdae runs on students, live music and late nights, while Myeongdong is wall-to-wall skincare shops and street snacks.

Korean barbecue and Gwangjang Market alone justify the trip, and the metro is cheap, immense and bilingual. It is a hilly, sprawling city, so pick your district deliberately. Stay in Myeongdong for a central, first-visit base near the palaces, Hongdae for nightlife and younger energy, or Gangnam if you want the polished, modern side — accepting it is a long ride from the historic sights.