Districts · Seoul
Seoul by district
The old city north of the Han river holds nearly everything a first visit needs: palaces and Bukchon in Jongno, Myeongdong and Namsan in Jung, Hongdae in the west. Gangnam, Seongsu and Jamsil are 20–40 minutes away by subway across the river.
About these names
Seoul has 25 districts (gu); people navigate by neighbourhood (dong) and subway station. This table uses the names drivers and apps recognise.
- Jongno: palaces and Insadong종로seesleepeatSuits: Palaces, museums, a traditional feelGyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Jongmyo, Bukchon and Insadong on foot. Quiet after 22:00 away from Jongno 3-ga.Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Jongmyo, Bukchon and Insadong on foot. Quiet after 10:00 PM away from Jongno 3-ga.2 sights · 1 eatsDistrict guide →
- Bukchon and Samcheong-dong북촌 · 삼청동seeSuits: A morning walk; hanok guesthouses for a slow staySteep lanes and restricted visiting hours in the core; no big bags.1 sightsDistrict guide →
- Seochon서촌eatseeSuits: Cafés and small restaurants west of GyeongbokgungTongin Market, Suseong-dong valley below Inwangsan; calmer than Bukchon.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- Myeongdong and Jung-gu명동 · 중구sleepeatseeSuits: First visit, 2–4 nights, shoppersOne stop from Seoul Station; street food and cosmetics until late; loud and crowded.1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- Hongdae, Yeonnam and Mangwon홍대 · 연남 · 망원sleepeatSuits: Young travellers, nightlife, budgetDirect AREX to both airports; busking, clubs and cafés; weekend nights are noisy.1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- Itaewon and Hannam이태원 · 한남eatsleepSuits: International food, bars, the Leeum museumHilly; mixed crowd; Line 6 is slow to reach the palaces.District guide →
- Seongsu성수eatSuits: Pop-up shops, cafés in old factories, Seoul ForestLine 2; busy with queues at weekends.District guide →
- Gangnam and Sinsa강남 · 신사eatsleepSuits: Business trips, shopping, K-pop agencies, clinicsWide roads and towers; 30–40 min to the palaces. Garosu-gil and Apgujeong Rodeo for shops.District guide →
- Jamsil잠실seeSuits: Lotte World, Lotte World Tower, Seokchon Lake, baseballFar south-east; one day covers it.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- Yeouido여의도seeSuits: Han river park, cherry blossom, The Hyundai Seoul mallFinance island; empty on weekday nights.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- Dongdaemun동대문seeeatSuits: DDP, night fashion malls, Gwangjang Market nearbyWholesale malls run through the night; good hotel value.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- Yongsan and Seoul Station areaskip as a baseSuits: Train connections, the National Museum and War MemorialTransit hub more than a place to spend time; the museums are the reason to come.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
Hover, tap or tab to an area to see what it is like. Pins are sleep areas; arrows at the edge point to the airport.
Off the map: Gimpo International Airport (GMP) (28–38 min by the usual route).
Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Seochon, Itaewon and Hannam, Seongsu, Gangnam and Sinsa, Jamsil, Yeouido, Dongdaemun, Yongsan and Seoul Station area. See the table above.
Where’s what, as a list:
- Jongno: palaces and Insadong (종로): Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Jongmyo, Bukchon and Insadong on foot. Quiet after 22:00 away from Jongno 3-ga.Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Jongmyo, Bukchon and Insadong on foot. Quiet after 10:00 PM away from Jongno 3-ga. Suits: Palaces, museums, a traditional feel.
- Bukchon and Samcheong-dong (북촌 · 삼청동): Steep lanes and restricted visiting hours in the core; no big bags. Suits: A morning walk; hanok guesthouses for a slow stay.
- Seochon (서촌): Tongin Market, Suseong-dong valley below Inwangsan; calmer than Bukchon. Suits: Cafés and small restaurants west of Gyeongbokgung.
- Myeongdong and Jung-gu (명동 · 중구): One stop from Seoul Station; street food and cosmetics until late; loud and crowded. Suits: First visit, 2–4 nights, shoppers. Price band $$.
- Hongdae, Yeonnam and Mangwon (홍대 · 연남 · 망원): Direct AREX to both airports; busking, clubs and cafés; weekend nights are noisy. Suits: Young travellers, nightlife, budget. Price band $$.
- Itaewon and Hannam (이태원 · 한남): Hilly; mixed crowd; Line 6 is slow to reach the palaces. Suits: International food, bars, the Leeum museum.
- Seongsu (성수): Line 2; busy with queues at weekends. Suits: Pop-up shops, cafés in old factories, Seoul Forest.
- Gangnam and Sinsa (강남 · 신사): Wide roads and towers; 30–40 min to the palaces. Garosu-gil and Apgujeong Rodeo for shops. Suits: Business trips, shopping, K-pop agencies, clinics.
- Jamsil (잠실): Far south-east; one day covers it. Suits: Lotte World, Lotte World Tower, Seokchon Lake, baseball.
- Yeouido (여의도): Finance island; empty on weekday nights. Suits: Han river park, cherry blossom, The Hyundai Seoul mall.
- Dongdaemun (동대문): Wholesale malls run through the night; good hotel value. Suits: DDP, night fashion malls, Gwangjang Market nearby.
- Yongsan and Seoul Station area: Transit hub more than a place to spend time; the museums are the reason to come. Suits: Train connections, the National Museum and War Memorial.
- Sleep area Hongdae: suits Young travellers, nightlife, budget, price band $$.
- Sleep area Myeongdong: suits First visit, 2–4 nights, shoppers, price band $$.
- Gimpo International Airport (GMP), 28–38 min by the usual route.
- Incheon International Airport (ICN), about 49 km30 mi from the centre, 62–75 min by the usual route.