Hongdae
NightlifeThe university district: live music, street performers, cheap eats and the city's best clubs. Good for meeting people.
Seoul city guide
Things To Do In Seoul
Royal palaces beneath granite mountains, night markets, cafés and some of the best nightlife in Asia, in a capital that never seems to sleep.
48
Hostels in the city
8.5
Average, from 17,549 reviews
600+ years
As capital
Free
Palaces in hanbok
2.5 h
KTX to Busan
Palaces and neon
Seoul has been Korea's capital for more than six hundred years. Five Joseon dynasty palaces still stand among the office towers, and the city is ringed by granite mountains, with a national park, Bukhansan, inside its limits.
It is also one of the most energetic cities in the world: 24-hour cafés and convenience stores, street food markets, K-pop, skincare shops and nightlife that runs until the first trains. Each district feels different, from the student bars of Hongdae to the hanok alleys of Jongno and the glossy towers of Gangnam.
A week would not be too long, but four or five days covers the palaces, the markets, a hike and a night or two out, with a day trip to the DMZ or Suwon.
Where to stay
Stay in Hongdae for nightlife, Myeongdong or Jongno for the palaces.
Jongno
PalacesThe historic centre, close to the palaces, Insadong and Bukchon. Quieter at night.
Myeongdong
First-timersShopping streets and an evening street-food strip, with direct buses from the airport.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Seoul
Start at Gyeongbokgung, the main royal palace (3,000 won, closed Tuesdays). The changing of the guard happens at the main gate at 10am and 2pm. Rent a hanbok, the traditional dress, for 15,000 to 30,000 won and you get into all the palaces for free.
Next door, Changdeokgung (closed Mondays) is a UNESCO site, and its Secret Garden can only be seen on a guided tour (8,000 won with palace entry). Tickets go online six days ahead at 10am and sell out fast in spring and autumn.
Walk through Bukchon Hanok Village, a neighbourhood of traditional tiled-roof houses where people still live. The busiest lanes are closed to visitors from 5pm to 10am and fines apply, so go late morning and keep your voice down. Insadong, next to it, is the place for tea houses and crafts.
Eat your way through Gwangjang Market, climb or take the cable car up Namsan to N Seoul Tower for the view, and hike Bukhansan for granite peaks an hour from the centre. A DMZ tour visits the border with North Korea; bring your passport.
More on things to do in Seoul
Free things
Free things to do in Seoul
Wear a hanbok and every palace is free. Rentals near Gyeongbokgung cost 15,000 to 30,000 won for a few hours, less than you'd save in entry fees on a full palace day.
Walking the Cheonggyecheon stream, which runs for kilometres through the centre, is free, and it is lit up at night. So are the Namsan trails up to N Seoul Tower (you only pay for the observatory), the street performers in Hongdae and the lanes of Bukchon and Ikseon-dong.
Bukhansan National Park costs nothing to enter, and the subway gets you to the trailheads. The changing of the guard outside Gyeongbokgung is free to watch too.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Seoul
Korean barbecue is the classic night out: grill pork belly (samgyeopsal) at the table and wrap it in lettuce with garlic and ssamjang paste. Bibimbap, kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) and fried chicken with beer (chimaek) are the other staples, and every meal comes with free side dishes, refilled for free.
Gwangjang Market is the best place for street food: bindaetteok (crispy mung bean pancakes), mayak gimbap (mini rice rolls) and yukhoe (raw beef). Myeongdong's street stalls open in the evening.
Convenience stores sell good, cheap food around the clock. A meal is €6 to €12 (about 9,000 to 18,000 won), and there's no tipping.
Nightlife
Going out in Seoul
Hongdae is the student district, with live music, street performers, cheap bars and clubs that fill up after midnight. Itaewon is the most international, with craft beer and rooftop bars. Gangnam is glossier and pricier, and Euljiro has small bars hidden in old print shops.
Nights run late. The subway stops around midnight, so many people stay out until the first trains at 5:30am. Soju is the national drink, often mixed with beer (somaek). A beer costs €3 to €6 and a bottle of soju less than that in restaurants.
Getting around
Getting around Seoul
From Incheon Airport, the AREX express train reaches Seoul Station in 43 minutes for 11,000 won. The all-stop train takes about an hour and costs less than half that, using a T-money card.
The subway is fast, clean and signposted in English. A ride costs 1,550 won with a T-money card, which you can buy and top up at any convenience store. Visitors can also buy a Climate Card for unlimited rides over a set number of days.
Google Maps doesn't give proper directions in Korea, so download Naver Map or KakaoMap. KTX trains reach Busan in about two and a half hours.
Costs
What Seoul costs
Seoul is mid-priced. Dorms start around €18 and a careful day costs €40 to €60. Palaces are cheap at 3,000 won (or free in a hanbok), and street food keeps eating costs down.
The currency is the won (KRW): about 1,530 to the euro. Cards work almost everywhere, even for small amounts, and there's no tipping. Get a T-money card when you arrive; it covers the subway, buses and convenience stores.
Safety
Staying safe in Seoul
Seoul is very safe, day and night, and the subway is fine late in the evening. Phones and bags left on café tables are usually still there when you come back, but keep an eye on them in crowded markets.
In Bukchon, people live in the houses: keep quiet, don't go into courtyards, and respect the visiting hours, as fines apply.
Emergency: 112 police, 119 fire and ambulance. 1330 is the free tourist helpline, in English.
Day trips from Seoul
A UNESCO fortress an hour away, the island from the dramas, and the border with North Korea.
Suwon
Walk the 5.7 km of Hwaseong Fortress walls, a UNESCO site built in the 1790s, then eat Suwon's famous marinated galbi.
Nami Island
Tree-lined avenues made famous by the drama Winter Sonata, at their best with the autumn colours in late October.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Lotus Lantern Festival lights up the city in May.
Staff pick
19 Sep – 29 Nov
Seoul Autumn Festa
Seoul Autumn Festa transforms Seoul, South Korea, into a citywide celebration of performing arts each autumn, connecting over 110 public and private performances and…
12 Sep – 31 Oct
Hangang Drone Light Show
Hundreds of drones take to the sky above the Han River, forming illuminated shapes and patterns against the darkness in a display that draws…
17–23 October
Seoul Silver Grass Festival
Silver grass fields blanketing Haneul Park turn golden each autumn, drawing visitors to one of Seoul's most photogenic seasonal moments. Walking trails wind through…
1–27 October
Maeheon Citizens' Forest (International Garden Expo)
The fall edition of the 2026 Seoul International Garden Show takes over Maeheon Citizens' Forest from October 1 to 27, featuring around 50 gardens…
3–4 October
Let’s Rock Festival
A two-day outdoor rock festival takes over Nanji Hangang Park with a diverse lineup of live performances along the Han River. The event welcomes…
30 October
Marvel Run
Marvel fans lace up for this themed running event that brings the comic universe to the streets of Seoul. You can choose between a…
1 November
JTBC Seoul Marathon
The JTBC Seoul Marathon offers a scenic course through the heart of Seoul, passing major historical sites and Olympic landmarks. This popular race draws…
3–4 October
Porsche Vibe
Porsche Vibe Seoul brings the brand's global culture together with Korean lifestyle at Oil Tank Culture Park, a striking urban regeneration space where past…
Hostels
Where to stay in Seoul
The top-rated places to stay in Seoul right now, live from Hostelworld.
Original Backpackers
Dorms from €28 a night
See dates and book
Zzzip Guesthouse in Hongdae
Dorms from €15 a night
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Jin's Paradise
Dorms from €19 a night
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OYO Hostel Dongdaemun 1
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Solo stay Myeongdong
Dorms from €23 a night
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Jongno Stay
Dorms from €19 a night
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G Guest House Itaewon In Seoul
Dorms from €25 a night
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Time Travelers Relax Guesthouse Seoul
Dorms from €3 a night
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Seoul Cube Jongro
Dorms from €26 a night
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The Cube Hotel
Dorms from €20 a night
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Inno Hostel & Pub Lounge Hongdae
Dorms from €33 a night
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YaKorea Hostel Gangnam
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
When to go
April and May bring cherry blossom and warm days; September to November brings clear skies and autumn colour. July and August are hot and humid, with the monsoon.
Jan
Cold
Feb
Cold
Mar
Spring
Apr
Cherry blossom
May
Good
Jun
Rainy season starts
Jul
Monsoon
Aug
Hot, humid
Sep
Chuseok
Oct
Autumn leaves
Nov
Good
Dec
Cold
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Winters are cold, summers hot and wet.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in won locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Doing things—
Seoul travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How do I get from Incheon Airport?
The AREX express reaches Seoul Station in 43 minutes for 11,000 won. The all-stop train takes about an hour and is cheaper.
Does Google Maps work?
Not for proper directions. Use Naver Map or KakaoMap, both in English.
Are the palaces free?
Yes, if you wear a hanbok. Otherwise Gyeongbokgung costs 3,000 won.
Can I visit Bukchon at any time?
No. The busiest lanes are closed to visitors from 5pm to 10am, and fines apply.
Can I visit the DMZ?
Yes, on a tour from Seoul. Bring your passport.
How do I pay for the subway?
With a T-money card, from any convenience store. A ride costs 1,550 won.
Should I tip?
No, tipping isn't expected in Korea.
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