Hongdae vs Myeongdong: Which to Book for a First Trip to Seoul

Our pick for a first trip is Myeongdong. The one condition that flips it: if you plan to be out after dark most nights, book Hongdae.

Stop counts follow the station numbers on each line. The changes are at Chungmuro (Myeongdong) and Euljiro 3-ga (Hongdae) for Gyeongbokgung, and at Sadang for Gangnam from Myeongdong.

Why does Myeongdong win for a first trip?

Because a first trip is mostly days, and Myeongdong is closer to where those days happen. Gyeongbokgung is one stop on Line 4 to Chungmuro and four on Line 3. Seoul Station, for the KTX and the AREX express, is two stops the other way.

The trade-off is the evening. The Korea Tourism Organization describes Myeongdong as one of Seoul's primary shopping districts, lined with brand shops and department stores such as Lotte and Shinsegae. That makes it a place to shop and eat rather than a place to stay out, which is exactly what you want before an early palace start.

The street food is the evening. Myeongdong's stalls trade under Jung-gu district permits on an alternate-day rota, and the district has brought in posted prices and card terminals. It is an easy dinner for a family after a long day.

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Our pick for families, for a one-night stopover before a KTX from Seoul Station, and for anyone whose list is palaces and markets rather than bars.

Why would you pick Hongdae instead?

For the nights. The Korea Tourism Organization describes Hongdae as a neighbourhood with a youthful ambience, streets filled with buskers and dance performances, and a Club Street. Myeongdong has nothing like it, and staying there means a ride back at the end of the night instead of a walk.

Hongdae also has the better transport in two cases. Hongik University Station is on the AREX, so the airport is one seat away, and it is on Line 2, which reaches Gangnam in 17 stops without a change. If your plans lean south of the river, Hongdae is the easier of the two bases.

The cost is noise. The streets around the clubs stay busy late, and weekends are the loudest. For Hongdae's evenings with a quieter room, look on the Yeonnam-dong side near Gyeongui Line Forest Park, a linear park off Exit 3 of Hongik University Station lined with cafes and restaurants.

Hongdae also has a head spa and a personal color studio that take bookings from foreign visitors, both covered in head spas in Seoul and personal color analysis in Seoul.

Our pick for travellers in their twenties and thirties, for anyone landing late, and for trips split between the old city and Gangnam. A poor choice with young children.

Which is easier from Incheon Airport?

Hongdae. The AREX all-stop train calls at Hongik University Station before Seoul Station, so there is no change and no dragging bags through a transfer. The fare is 4,650 won from Terminal 1 on a transit card, or 5,250 won from Terminal 2, and the ride is slightly shorter than the 59 minutes AREX gives from Terminal 1 to Seoul Station.

For Myeongdong, take the all-stop train to Seoul Station for 4,750 won from Terminal 1, or the express for 13,000 won, then change to Line 4 for two stops. The alternative is Airport Limousine bus 6015, which serves Myeongdong for 17,000 won and skips the station stairs.

After the last trains the gap widens. Night bus N6002 reaches Hongdae about 45 minutes after leaving Terminal 1. N6701 reaches Seoul Station in about 60 minutes and Euljiro Entrance in about 65. Both cost 18,000 won. Taxis and the rest of the options are in the airport guide.

Related guideIncheon Airport to Seoul: AREX, Airport Bus or TaxiThe AREX express reaches Seoul Station in 43 minutes for 13,000 won. The all-stop train costs a third of that, buses reach some hotels, and taxis cover the night.

Where should you book?

Pick the area first, then filter hotels by walking distance to the station: Myeongdong Station for Line 4, or Hongik University Station for Line 2 and the AREX. A hotel far from either loses most of the advantage above.

Either base puts you on a card-tap subway, and fares and transfers are worked through in the Seoul subway fares guide. If neither area fits, where to stay in Seoul covers Jongno and Gangnam as well.

Related guideWOWPASS vs T-money vs Climate Card: Which Transit Card to GetT-money is the default transit card for Korea. A Climate Card pass beats it on Seoul-heavy trips. WOWPASS only earns its fee as a prepaid shopping card.

For what to do once you have a base, start from the Seoul travel guide.