Best Hostels In Seoul
Seoul isn’t renowned for being a budget-friendly Asian city, particularly when compared to the likes of Ho Chi Minh and Bangkok, but when done correctly, you can travel in Seoul on a budget.
This all begins with a reliable, cheap hostel. This is why we have created this list of the best hostels in Seoul.
Seoul remains one of the coolest cities we have ever visited.
It is like nowhere else in the world, and this list of the best hostels in Seoul is only the beginning of your Korean adventure.
So, let’s dive into: Best Hostels in Seoul
Disclaimer - this blog post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission if you make a purchase through them (at no extra cost to you).
Best Hostels in Seoul: Quick View
| Reason to Stay | Area of Seoul | Hostel |
|---|---|---|
| Best All-Round Hostel | Hongdae | Zzzip Guesthouse |
| Cheapest Hostel | Insadong | Insa Hostel |
| Best for Solo Travellers (Most Sociable) | Hongdae | Time Travelers Party Hostel |
| Best for Digital Nomads | Myeongdong | Step Inn Myeongdong |
Best Hostels in Seoul
Seoul is a lively and dynamic mega-city in East Asia and as such, the prices of accommodation can skyrocket during the busy periods.
To make your life easier, we have assembled a list of what we believe to be the best cheap hostels in Seoul, so you don’t have to break the bank when visiting this incredible city.
Seoul is one of our favourite cities in the world and we promise it can be done on a budget, you just have to know where to look.
We’ve assessed everything a good hostel should have and made sure that the hostels on this list all have:
Good price - Seoul isn’t a particularly cheap city to visit, certainly not compared to popular spots in South East Asia, so the hostels need to be affordable for a budget traveller so you can spend your money elsewhere
Good location - the hostel needs to be close to the major sites in Seoul
Good reviews - there is no better way to assess how good a hostel is than reading the reviews by fellow travellers
Good vibes - this one is harder to assess, but we try and give you an idea of whether the hostel has a party vibe, chill vibe or is better for digital nomads and longer stays
Is Seoul Walkable? Thankfully, Seoul is routinely voted one of the most walkable cities in the world, so you can save even more money by walking everywhere and staying at an affordable hostel!
Best Overall Hostel in Seoul: Zzzip Guesthouse - Hongdae
Communal Area in Zzzip Guesthouse
The very social Zzzip Guesthouse is found in Seoul’s lively Hongdae district, the best place for partying and nightlife in the city. A stay at the guesthouse includes complimentary tea and coffee, as well as a free breakfast every morning.
The owners Bryan and Gina are super accommodating and will help you out with anything you need for your stay in Seoul.
Zzzip Guesthouse is the perfect place to stay in Seoul with a friendly, social atmosphere that makes it easy to meet other travellers in Korea.
Average price per night for a hostel dorm bed: £25
See Zzzip Guesthouse on Google Maps
Read more reviews on Hostelworld
Best Party Hostel in Seoul: Time Travelers Party Hostel - Hongdae
Meeting new friends at Time Travelers Party Hostel
The clue is in the name here - if you want a party hostel in Seoul with a lively atmosphere and the chance to meet young people from all over the globe, Time Travelers Party Hostel is the best option for you.
Again, the hostel is based in the centre of the busy Hongdae district of Seoul and is the perfect place to rest your head after a big night out in Hongdae.
Time Travelers features a large, basement bar stocked to the seams with soju and beer - what more could you want from a cheap hostel in Seoul?
Average price per night for a hostel dorm bed: £18
See Time Travelers Party Hostel on Google Maps
Read more reviews on Hostelworld
Best Quiet Hostel in Seoul: The Cube Hotel
Cube Hotel with cute dorms fitted with curtains
We know what you’re thinking -’ This is a hotel, not a hostel’. Well, it’s not quite what you’re imagining. Nifty, innovative cube dorms make up the bulk of the options at The Cube Hotel, making it more of a hostel than a hotel.
One of the quieter hostels on this list, The Cube Hotel is perhaps best suited for solo travellers looking for a relaxing stay in Seoul.
Free breakfast, free wifi and a 5 minute walk from central Myeongdong, it’s hard to argue against The Cube Hotel being one of the best hostels in Seoul.
Average price per night for a hostel dorm bed: £28
See The Cube Hotel on Google Maps
Read more reviews on Hostelworld
Cheapest Hostel in Seoul: Insa Hostel - Insadong
Rooftop hangout area at Insa Hostel
Within walking distance from Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace and the traditional Korean Bukchon Hanok Village, the Insa Hostel is one of the best hostels to stay in Seoul for its location alone.
Above that, however, Insa Hostel also boasts a complimentary breakfast and a cool rooftop hangout area - great for relaxing or socialising with other travellers. It’s definitely one of the nicest hostels in South Korea, for sure.
Average price per night for a hostel dorm bed: £17
See Insa Hostel on Google Maps
Read more reviews on Hostelworld
Most Relaxing Hostel in Seoul: Time Travelers Relax Guesthouse
Chilled out space in Time Travelers Relax Guesthouse
You may recognise the name of this hostel. The best party hostel in Seoul has a relaxed, chilled-out sibling that is perfect for people searching for a calmer, quieter place to stay in Seoul.
The Time Travelers Relax Guesthouse is exactly as you’d expect - a lovely homely vibe where people sit and relax throughout the day. Seoul can be a pretty chaotic and full-on city at times, so having a place to stay that feels like home can be the perfect remedy.
It’s once again found in Hongdae, so has a perfect location for exploring all the weird and wonderful sites in Seoul.
Average price per night for a hostel dorm bed: £18
See Time Travelers Relax Guesthouse on Google Maps
Read more reviews on HostelWorld
Best Hostel in Seoul for Longer Stays (Digital Nomads): Step Inn Myeongdong
Communal area where breakfast is served at Step Inn Myeongdong
We appreciate that only some people are looking for a hostel where you can socialise and drink every night. For some, being on the road is just a way of life, in which case, you’re going to need a hostel that’s a little quieter and has reliable wifi.
The best hostel in Seoul for more extended stays, particularly for Digital Nomads, is Step Inn Myeongdong. The hostel is located on Myeongdong’s main shopping street, where the famous Myeondong Street Food market is held.
It means all the best things to do in Myeongdong are right on your doorstep and convenient access to coffee shops for those long, remote working days.
The breakfast is again complimentary. When we stayed, it was a simple but tasty toast, jam, peanut butter, fresh juice offering - you really can’t complain about that for the price!
Average price per night for a hostel dorm bed: £16
See Step Inn Myeongdong on Google Maps
Read more reviews on Booking.com
Best Located Hostel in Seoul: G Guesthouse - Itaewon
G Guesthouse - Itaewon
Known for its cosmopolitan dining and great nightlight options, Itaewon is a brilliant alternative to Seoul's often crowded Hongdae district and is our recommendation of where to stay in Seoul for first time visitors.
The G guesthouse is only 2 minutes from Itaewon station, making the famous sites in Myeongdong and Gangnam super accessible.
The hostel comes with free Wi-Fi (like almost every hostel in Seoul), sociable communal areas, and a complimentary breakfast each morning.
Average price per night for a hostel dorm bed: £23
See G Guesthouse Itaewon on Google Maps
Read more reviews on Hostelworld
Best Hostel in Seoul for Cheap Drinks: Inno Hostel and Pub Lounge - Hongdae
Not only is there a bar downstairs, but the beds at Inno Hostel look like this…
Another popular option in the busy Hongdae district is the Inno Hostel and Pub Lounge. As you may have guessed, it is a combined hostel and bar, so you won’t have far to stumble back to your room after a big night out in Seoul.
A complimentary breakfast is included in the stay, but the main appeal of this hostel is the chance to be sociable and meet lots of new friends in the bar. Why not play a game of darts together?
Inno Hostel is within walking distance of the Hongdae Shopping Street and is conveniently located next to many cafes and restaurants.
Average price per night for a hostel dorm bed: £21
See Inno Hostel and Pub Lounge on Google Maps
Read more reviews on Hostelworld
Cheapest Hostel in Seoul for Private Rooms: Birdsnest Hostel - Hongdae
The homely communal area at Birdsnest Hostel
We know that from time to time, the grind of sleeping in hostels can get all too much, which is why we wanted to highlight the best hostel in Seoul for staying in a private room.
The Birdsnest Hostel in Hongdae is not only affordable, given it is around £25 per night for a private room, but it’s also ideally located in the heart of the thriving party district.
The fully equipped kitchen means you can even buy cheap food and bring it back to the hostel to make. One of our handy South Korea travel tips is to buy ramen from the convenience stores - unsurprisingly, they taste far better than store-bought ramen at home!
Average price per night for a private room: £25
See Birdsnest on Google Maps
Read more reviews on Hostelworld
Tips for staying in Hostels in Seoul (and elsewhere)
When we travel, we prefer to stay in hostels. It’s our preferred accommodation option because it’s affordable and you get to meet people from all around the world. Over the years we have learned plenty of tips for surviving in hostels as a couple and so we thought we’d share a few of them here for you.
Even if you are a solo traveller, these tips will help you out when you’re staying in a hostel in Seoul - and anywhere else in the world for that matter.
Mixed-gender dorms aren’t popular in Seoul - something that took us by surprise was the lack of mixed-gender dorm rooms in Seoul and South Korea in general. Typically, if travelling as a couple, you will either need to book a private room or know that you’re likely to get split up even after booking a ‘mixed-gender dorm’ online
Bring some great travel games with you - it’s our number one tip for meeting new people at a hostel. Playing some of the best travel games is a super easy ice-breaker and a great way to socialise in a hostel!
Use a towel as a privacy curtain on a bed - not all hostel rooms have curtains on the beds, so one of our best packing tips for long-term travel is to bring a set of quick-dry microfiber towels with you and use one as a regular towel and the other can double-up as a curtain for that bit of extra privacy.
There we have it folks, a complete round-up of the best hostels in Seoul. South Korea’s dynamic capital city is an incredible place to explore in East Asia and we hope this list of hostels helps you to find a great, affordable accommodation option for your stay in Seoul.
Bonus Seoul Travel Tips
Here are some links to articles that we think will come in handy for your upcoming trip to Seoul.
Seoul, South Korea, is routinely voted one of the world’s most walkable cities - but how walkable is Seoul in reality? In this article, we discuss how easy it is to walk around Seoul.