Seoul (서울) is the heart of South Korea, hosting about a quarter of the country's population of nearly 50 million. Seoul was also the historic capital of Korea from the 14th century until the nation's partition into North and South in 1948. Located just 50 kilometres south of the North Korean border, Seoul symbolises the division of North and South Korea.
Seoul enjoys a lively nightlife, which has earned it comparisons with Tokyo. Thankfully though, Seoul is much cheaper than the Japanese capital.
Administratively, Seoul is divided into 25 districts, further subdivided into 522 sub-districts. For travellers the following areas are of importance:
Seoul has cold but relatively dry winters, averaging around zero degrees Celsius during the day and around -8 °C at night, but dropping as low as -22 °C sometimes. Most of the precipitation during this time is in the form of snow. Summers are tropical with hot and humid conditions. Temperatures average between 26 °C and 31 °C from June to September with nights around or above 20 °C. This is also the wet season with July topping at almost 400 mm of rain. The best times obviously are spring and autumn with much less rain and agreeable temperatures.
Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) serves as the gateway to Seoul and South Korea. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, located around 70 kilometres west of the capital and has been ranked one of the best airports in the world, together with the ones in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Korean Air serves dozens of destinations in Japan and China, as well as other cities and countries in Asia. It also has connections to about a dozen cities in North America and even more to European cities. It has flights to Australia, Sao Paulo and Pacific destinations like Fiji and Guam on top of that.
Another big airline is Asiana Airlines with just slightly less destinations further away but even more in both China and Japan.
Getting to/from the airport:
The old Gimpo International Airport now mainly functions as a center for domestic flights although there are services to Tokyo, Osaka and Shanghai.
Seoul is the northern terminus of the KTX high-speed line. There are three KTX stations within city limits:
Nearly all ordinary (non-KTX) services also use one or both of the above terminals, but services east to Chuncheon or Gangneung and southeast to Gyeongju via Danyang use Cheongnyangni Station to the east of the city on line 1.
There are several bus terminals, but Seoul Express Bus Terminal is the largest and serves pretty much the entire country, but most services head east (incl. Busan, Daegu, Daejeon). Lines to Jeolla, however, use the Central City/Honam Terminal right next door. Nambu Bus Terminal, Nambu Bus Terminal stn (Line 3). Serves places southwest of Seoul (Southern Gyeonggi, South Chungcheong and nothern North Jeolla). Sinchon Bus Terminal, Sinchon (Underground) stn (Line 2) or Sinchon stn (Gyeongeui Line). Buses to Ganghwa Island.
The extensive Seoul Metro Subway is inexpensive and easy to use.
As with any large city, Seoul has many different areas to stay, such as Gwanghwamun, Insadong, Bukchon Hanock Village, Myeongdong, Itaewon, Honggik/Sinchon/Ewha.
| Property | Address | Type | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Guesthouse | 109-28 ho 2nd floor,Nogosan-dong Mapo-gu | Guesthouse | 83 |
| Ann Guesthouse | 159-6,(Room number514)paradisetel dongkyo-dong | Hostel | 90 |
| Backpacker Friends Guest House | 404-8 4F, Seokyo-dong Mapo-gu | Guesthouse | 87 |
| Backpacker Mr sea | #B101 195-10 Myeongyun 2ga Jongrogu | Hostel | 90 |
| Backpackers INSIDE | 2F Myeongryun 2ga Jongrogu | HOSTEL | 91 |
| Backpackers Korea | 1054, Sungin-dong Jongno-gu | Hostel | 92 |
| Banana Backpackers | 30-1, Iksun-dong Jongno-Gu | Hostel | 89 |
| Bangrang Hostel | 397-14 Chungnim-Dong Jung-Gu | Hostel | 92 |
| Bebop Guesthouse | #464-50 BeBop house Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu | Hostel | 90 |
| Beewon Guest House | 28-2 Unni-dong Jongno-gu | Guesthouse | 82 |
| Blu Guest House | 464-63 Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu | Hostel | 88 |
| Bong House | 1st floor, 117-2, Myeungryun-3ga, Myeungryun-Dong Jongro-Gu | Hostel | 89 |
| Carpe Diem Guesthouse | 200-1. JK Building.501. Dongkypdong. Mapogu | Hostel | 87 |
| Golden Pond Guesthouse | 188-40, 14/5 Myeongnyun-dong 4-ga Jongno-gu | Hostel | 83 |
| Grape Garden House | 334-33 SeoGyo-dong MaPo-gu | Hostel | 90 |
| Guesthouse Korea | 155-1 Kwonnong-Dong Jongno-Gu | HOSTEL | 84 |
| Happy Guesthouse | #432-2051 Sindang 2 dong Jung-gu | Hostel | 91 |
| HEY Backpackers | 21 Yangwa-ro 16-gil (Seogyo-dong, 355-12) Mapo-gu | Hostel | 84 |
| Kimchi Hong Guesthouse | 448-6 Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu | Guesthouse | 86 |
| Hongdae Guesthouse | #302 Paradisetel, 159 -6 Dongkyodong | Hostel | 88 |
| Hongdae Guesthouse 2.0 - New | Mapo-gu-yeon Nam Dong | Hostel | 82 |
| Hostel Korea | 178-65, Sungin-Dong Jongno-Gu | Hostel | 87 |
| Hotel Victoria Seoul | 42-8 Mia 4-dong Gangbuk-gu | Hotel | 80 |
| Hwa Seong Guest House | 11, 801 beon-gil, Jeongio-ro Kyung-gi do | HOSTEL | 87 |
| Jin Guesthouse | Pildong 2-ga 80-1 2F Jung-gu | Hostel | 89 |
| Kims' Guest House | 443-16, Hepjeong-dong Mapo-gu | Hostel | 84 |
| LEE & NO Guesthouse & Hostel | 561-29 Yeon Nam Dong Mapo Gu | HOSTEL | 91 |
| Namsan Guest House | 50-1, Namsandong 2Ga, Jung-Gu | Hostel | 83 |
| NAMU Guesthouse | Hanil heights # 101,504-42 yunnam-dong Mapogu | Hostel | 94 |
| BJ Guest House | #105-19, 1ga, Seong-Book Dong Seong-Book Gu | HOSTEL | 90 |
| Saerim Hotel | 192-17 Kwanhun-Dong, Jongro-Ku | Hotel | 77 |
| Seoul I Guesthouse | 561-61, Yeonnam-dong Mapo-gu | Hostel | 89 |
| Seoulbackpackers Guesthouse | 205-125 Namchang-Dong Junggu | Hostel | 89 |
| Soul Guest House | Unit#505 159-6 Paradisetel Dongkyodong | Guesthouse | 87 |
| Stay Korea | 566-4 Yeonnam-dong Mapo-gu | Hostel | 91 |
| Travelers A Guesthouse | 106-2 Jugyo-dong Jung-gu | Hostel | 83 |
| Windflower | Windflower Guesthouse 85-5, Myeongnyun-dong 3-ga Seoul | Hostel | 81 |
| Windroad Guesthouse | 1F, 66-12, Changgyeonggung-ro 27-gil Jongno-gu | Hostel | 83 |
| Hongsi Hostel | 463-22 Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu | Hostel | 88 |
| B and B Morning Calm | Jongnogu Pyeongchangdong 345-89 | Guesthouse | 92 |
| Backpackers Space | 358-116 3F Seogyo-dong,Mapo-gu | Hostel | 85 |
| Mr.Kim's Friends Guest House - Mr.kim's Branch | 446-11 Seogyodong Mapogu | HOSTEL | 86 |
| Seoulwise Guesthouse | 197-29 Donggyo-dong Mapo-gu | Hostel | 93 |
| Sunshine Guesthouse | 30. Doni-dong Jongno-gu | Hostel | 85 |
| Tradiontional Korean Guesthouse | 178-75 Sungin-Dong Jongno-gu | GUESTHOUSE | 88 |
| Seoul Hostel | 53 ikseon-dong Jongno-gu | Hostel | 85 |
| JK House in Seoul | 5F 53-22 Changchun-Dong Seodaemun-Gu | HOSTEL | 92 |
| Backpackers Korea | 106-105, Nogosan-Dong Mapo-gu | Hostel | - |
| RedFish Guest House | 153-1 Myeongnyun 3 ga Jongro-gu | HOSTEL | 89 |
| IS@K Guest House | 4F, 683-134 Hannam-Dong Yongsan-Ku | HOSTEL | 89 |
| Come Inn Guesthouse | 3F, 358-91, Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | 92 |
| BLU: HOME Guesthouse | 464-52 Seogyo-dong Mapo Gu Seoul | HOSTEL | 85 |
| Seoul Walker | 441-31, Hapjeong-dong Mapo-gu, Seoul | HOSTEL | 88 |
| Yoon&Jin Hostel in Myeongdong | Unit 101 Gadong SamHo villa, Heohyeon-dong 1ga Ju | HOSTEL | 85 |
| Kimchi Hongdae Hostel | 570-16, Yeonnam-dong Mapo-gu, Seoul | HOSTEL | 88 |
| Studio41st (Studio Type) Hostel | 561-29 Yeonanm Dong Mapo Gu, Seoul | HOSTEL | 89 |
| 2C House | 19-77 Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu | Guesthouse | - |
| Miso Guesthouse and Hostel - Mr Kim's Branch | 2F, 11-1 29 Dagil Wawoosan-Ro, Mapo-Gu, Seoul | HOSTEL | - |
| Hong-dae Pencil Guesthouse & Hostel | 149-11, Dong-kyo Dong Mapo Gu | HOSTEL | 88 |
| Ciara 920 | 258, Insa-dong Jongno-Gu | HOSTEL | 83 |
| Seoul MyeongDong House | Namsan-dong 2-ga, Jung-gu | HOSTEL | 88 |
| RakuRaku Guesthouse | 2-180 Garibong-Dong Guro-Gu | HOSTEL | - |
| City Guest House 1 | 119-7 Seodaemun-gu Yeonhui-dong | HOSTEL | 89 |
| Shin Chon Guest House | 145 Dae Hyun Dong Seo Dae Moon Gu | HOSTEL | 91 |
| City Guest House2 | 328-69 Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu | Hostel | 93 |
| Korea Central Backpackers | 146-1 Myeongnyun 4-ga Jongno-gu | HOSTEL | 93 |
| Fully Guest House | 5 bun g myeungyun 3ga Jongrogu | HOSTEL | 91 |
| HEY Backpackers 2 Hongdae | 30-5 Yangwa-ro 16-gil (Seogyo-dong, 369-42) Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | 81 |
| BnB 126 Mansion | 126. Palpan-dong Jongno-gu | GUESTHOUSE | 94 |
| Dasol Livingtel | 1589-1 Seocho-dong Seocho-gu | HOSTEL | 81 |
| Zaza Backpackers Hostel | 32-3, Namsandong-2ga Jung-Gu | HOSTEL | - |
| Kim's Hongdae Guest House - Mr.kim's Branch | 446-7 1F Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu | Hostel | 84 |
| 2nd Hong-dae Pencil Hostel | 570-10, Yeon Nam Dong Mapo-Gu | HOSTEL | 92 |
| JJ Guest House | 113-23 Donggyo-Dong Mapoku | HOSTEL | 88 |
| Khaosan In Seoul | 3F, 5F, 195-10 Myeongnyun 2 Ga Jongro Gu | HOSTEL | 90 |
| Sleeping Strawberry | #302 Daejaebilla, Dongkyo-dong Mapo-gu | GUESTHOUSE | - |
| BiBim HOUSE | 241-28 Yeonnam-dong Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | 91 |
| H2O Guesthouse | 293-1 sanlimdong Jung gu | HOSTEL | 82 |
| Big Choi's Hongdae Guest House - Mr.Kim's Branch | 448-6 Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | 87 |
| Jin's Paradise | 7th floor, 36-18 Itaewon Dong Yongsan Gu | HOSTEL | 91 |
| Doo guesthouse | 15-6 Gye-dong, Jongno-gu, Seou | Guesthouse | - |
| SEOUL i Guesthouse | 561-61,Yeonnam-dong,Mapo-Gu | Guesthouse | - |
| Alpha Guesthouse | Nogosandong 109-28 | Guesthouse | - |
| Tango Guesthouse | 448-14 Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu | Guesthouse | 91 |
| Phil Guesthouse | Guui 76-14 (Cheonhodaero 130 gil) Gwangjingu | HOSTEL | 91 |
| Yonsei Guesthouse | 90-15 daehyun-dong seodaemun-gu seoul KOREA | Guesthouse | - |
| Kozy Korea Guesthouse | 624-5 Geomam- dong | Guesthouse | 92 |
| DongDaeMun Hostel | Jung-Gu Gwanghee-2 Dong 43-1 | HOSTEL | 87 |
| Shinchon Hostel | 90-15, Daehyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu | HOSTEL | 88 |
| Hill Livingtel | Wunyuro 2 65-7 manje-buling 6th Youngsan-Gu | GUESTHOUSE | - |
| Dalkom Guest House | InHyeonDong 2-Ga 181-5 Jung-Gu | HOSTEL | 85 |
| An-Nyoung! Guesthouse Hongik Univ. Mr.Kim's Branch | 504-31, Yeonnam dong Mapo gu | HOSTEL | 88 |
| Time guesthouse & Hostel in Hongdae | 1F/2F, 255-9 Yeonnam-dong Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | 92 |
| Hongdae JK House | #909 Paradistel 159-6 Dongkyo-Dong Mapo-Gu | Hostel | 89 |
| Mint Guesthouse in Hongdae | 567-27 Yeonnam-dong Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | 85 |
| Birdsnest Hostel | 561-34 Yeonnam-dong Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | 91 |
| Hostel Hongdae | 568-7, Yeonnam-dong Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | 89 |
| J Guesthouse | 57-23 Changcheondong Seodaemungu | GUESTHOUSE | - |
| Beehive Guesthouse - Mr Kim's Branch | 397-5, Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | 87 |
| Big Tree House | 482-4, Seokyo-dong, Mapo-gu Seoul | HOSTEL | 95 |
| IPS Lounge Myeongdong | 14-1 Namhak-Dong Jung-gu | Guesthouse | - |
| The Zip Female Only | 554-11, Sinsa-Dong Kangnam-Gu | HOSTEL | - |
| ABC Guset House | 49-32 4F, Nogosan-dong Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | 89 |
| Egg Hostel in Hongdae | #302, 156-2 Donggyo-dong Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | 92 |
| Hong Guesthouse Downtown | 233-3, Hyoje-dong Jongno-gu | HOSTEL | 87 |
| Ed House (Tripnbed Guesthouse) | 3F, 367-15 Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | 93 |
| Lee and No guesthouse | 561-29 Yunnam-dong,Mapo-gu | Guesthouse | - |
| Hi Guesthouse | 468-20 Seogyodong Mapo-Gu | GUESTHOUSE | 89 |
| Choi's House | Dongsomun-Dong 6-ga Songbook-Gu | GUESTHOUSE | - |
| BoA Guesthouse | 15, Sinchon-ro 1-gil Seodaemun-gu | GUESTHOUSE | 93 |
| Morning Guest House | Third floor, Shinsung Building, 829-13 Yeok sam-dong | GUESTHOUSE | - |
| Hostel in Seoul | 2F 195-10 Myeongyun 2 ga Jongrogu | HOSTEL | 89 |
| Lodge 82 in Korea | 65-101, Singil 1-dong Yeongdeungpo-gu | GUESTHOUSE | - |
| Cooking House M | 391-6 Hapjeong-dong Mapo-gu | GUESTHOUSE | 88 |
| Seoul Hostel Center | 5th Floor, 6 Cheung jin Dong Jongno Gu | HOSTEL | 82 |
| U & I Hostel | Cheongpa-dong 3-ga 71-8 Yongsan-gu | HOSTEL | - |
| Twin Rabbit Hostel in HongDae - Mr Kim's Branch | 504-7, Yeonnam-dong Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | - |
| Elmtree Guest House Myung-dong | 129-1 Bukchang-dong Jung-gu | HOSTEL | 86 |
| Seoul Base Camp | The 3rd Floor, 383-14 Hapjeong-dong Mapo-gu | HOSTEL | 90 |
| May Guesthouse | 396-41 Seokyodong Mapogu | GUESTHOUSE | - |
| Hongdae Uncle Residence - Mr Kim's Branch | 459-7 4floor, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu Seoul | HOSTEL | 83 |
| Mi House | 1233,sungin-dong jongrogu seoul | Guesthouse | - |
| Kimchi Guest House | 228 Pilun-dong Jongno-gu | Guesthouse | - |
| Jimmy's Guesthouse | 1061-11 Namhyeon-dong Gwanak-gu | Hostel | - |
| Able Hostel in Dongdaemun | NO. 205, Unit 1, Kumho Twin Officetel 89-1, Kwanghuidong-1ga, Jung-gu | HOSTEL | 88 |
| Cozy Hotel Myoungdong | 199-6, HOEHYEONDONG 1-GA, JUNG-GU | Hotel | - |
| Crib 49 Guesthouse | 49-28 Namsan Dong 2 Ga | GUESTHOUSE | - |
| Mi House | 1233, Sungin-Dong | HOSTEL | - |
| Hostel Korea5th | No.440 Geumho Dong 2ga Sung Dong Gu | HOSTEL | - |
| SH Seoul Guesthouse | 156-2, Dongkyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul | GUESTHOUSE | 91 |
| Orange Guesthouse | 463-21, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea | GUESTHOUSE | - |
| Housetay Guesthouse | 335-31 seokyo-dong Mapo-gu | GUESTHOUSE | - |
| Lime Guesthouse | 2F 72-3 Sung-san Dong Mapo-Gu | GUESTHOUSE | - |
| Banana Backpackers | 30-1 iksun-dong jongno-gu | HOSTEL | - |
| NJoy Seoul | Room #601, Paradisetel, 159-6, Donggyo-Dong, Mapo- | HOSTEL | - |
| Hostel Korea 6 | 202-13 Sungin-dong, Jongno-gu | HOSTEL | - |
| Seoul Oasis guest house | 336-9 seogyo-dong, mapo-gu | GUESTHOUSE | - |
Internet is widely available in South Korea. The country is the sixth highest user of Internet in the world and there are internet cafes around the country in public places such as airports, train stations and bus terminals in South Korea. ‘PC bangs’ are rooms full of computers, predominantly started for people to play games. They are cheap and many open 24-hours with snacks available.
See also International Telephone Calls
Korea Post is the national postal service and has fast, reliable and well-priced services. Standard letters and postcards start at 400 Won for domestically send ones. On their website you can find more about pricing details, as there are many different rates, depending on the zone (which country) you want to send it to, how much it weighs, wether it is air or ground service etc. Generally, post office hours are from Monday to Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm, though the larger central post offices tend to be open until 8:00pm and sometimes also on Saturday or even Sunday, usually only mornings.
Utrecht (47%)
chandie702 (33%)as well as joffre (12%), (4%), Hien (2%), dr.pepper (2%), Peter (1%)
Help contribute to this article to share the ad revenue.

Ask zergsprincess a question about SeoulI've been able to see Seoul with my cousin who is a native of Korea since I was in 3rd grade. I'm now out of college. Also, I've lived in Seoul and have gotten to know the city very well because of my work which requires me to travel to different cities daily !
I can let you know the good areas to go shopping in, give some good general tips about Korea, and give you some recommendations on housing among other things :)
This is version 58. Last edited at 7:58 on May 14, 13 by EventBot. 135 articles link to this page.

Except where otherwise noted, content of this article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License