Hoards of shoppers head over to Seoul with empty luggage bags and a fixed look of determination. No surprises there – a holiday in Seoul means loading up on everything you’ve ever coveted, from skincare products to on-trend streetwear. Here’s a tip for the avid shopper: pick a hotel near a desirable shopping district.
Whether you’re there for luxury fashion or flea market bargains, there’s no need to tire yourself out by lugging all your shopping around. Here are 10 hotels in Seoul that are just a short 10 minutes stroll* to shopping havens like Dongdaemun and Garosu-gil:
*All walking distances estimated using rome2rio.com.
Image credit: @traveleyz
Expect to jostle through like-minded shoppers at Myeongdong, all aiming to get their hands on cult Korean beauty products. You can easily spend your entire holiday trawling through the shops since the streets are covered with cosmetic boutiques like Innisfree and Laneige.
Tip: It’s the best shopping street to cinch skincare samples!
While waiting to check in, there’s an Etude House dressing table to try different shades of nail polishes.
Image credit: Hotel Skypark
It doesn’t get much better than Hotel Skypark, since it’s almost literally at the doorstep of Myeongdong Station. Staying bang-smack in the middle of Myeongdong certainly has its perks – there’s no need to take your shopping breaks at a cafe when your hotel’s just an easy stroll away.
Image credit: @asa_matsunaga
Starting from $69, the rooms range from a Standard Double Room that comfortably sleeps two to a Quadruple Room for four.
There’s even a Princess Suite for those who want to thoroughly pamper themselves – it comes fully decked out in an Etude House theme. Choose this if you’re on a shopping trip with your girlfriends, if not for the vibrantly pink decor, then the complimentary Etude House bathroom amenities.
All hotel guests can enjoy 10% off Etude House purchases in Myeongdong, simply by flashing their hotel keycard.
Address: 139, Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Distance to Myeongdong Station: 81m, 1 min walk
Book Hotel Skypark Myeongdong III.
Image credit: Hotel The Designers
Although the rooms at Hotel The Designers Jongno are well-designed – in the quirkiest way possible – their reasonable hotel rates are far from busting your travel budget. Rooms start from $65/night and come with all the modern amenities we expect, like WiFi and hairdryers.
Image credit: Hotel The Designers
Rooms range from a Superior Double Room to a Suite – themed rooms are only available with the Suite option. Whether you prefer rooms themed after Retro School Days – a quaint wooden desk and minimalist trimmings, or Street Soul – with walls splashed out in street art, there’s bound to be a dream hotel room for everyone.
Address: 89-8, Supyo-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Distance to Myeongdong Station: 1.2km, 14 min walk
Book Hotel The Designers Jongno.
Image credit: @travels.annetold
When you’ve got a university as stylish as Ewha Women’s University, no doubt that the surrounding streets are going to be filled with trendy fashion boutiques. Rummage through the countless racks of streetwear: they’re all reasonably priced and worth the luggage space.
Image credit: Hotel LASSA
Hotel LASSA is a no-frills hotel, but their compact rooms come with everything you need. Starting from $105/night, choose from rooms like the Standard Double Room or the Royal Suite – both can fit up to three guests.
Being a short walk away from Ewha Women’s University, you’ll have plenty of time to marvel at the university’s stunning architecture or load up on Korean cosmetics and streetwear.
Address: 3 Yonsei-ro, 2 Ga-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
Distance to Ewha Women’s University Station: 860m, 10 min walk
Book Hotel LASSA.
Image credit: Shinchon Ever8 Serviced Residence
The central location of Shinchon Ever8 Serviced Residence makes it a stones throw away from the best attractions around Ewha Women’s University, including the StyleNanda flagship store and Ewha Womans University Fashion Street.
A standard room starts from $166/night and comes with a mini kitchen with a stove so you can indulge in a midnight ramen feast. There’s also a washing machine and dryer if you want to wear the shirt you just bought the next day.
Address: 7 Sinchonnyeok-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
Distance to Ewha Women’s University Station: 410m, 5 min walk
Book Shinchon Ever8 Serviced Residence
Image credit: @kolbasyanka
Much like Orchard Road, there’s no shortage of high-rise shopping malls at Dongdaemun. But unlike Orchard Road, the shops here are affordable and will sell things at wholesale prices – meaning, you fetch a better bargain with the more items you purchase. Plenty of shops stay open till 5AM too!
Theme: My Secret Catwalk.
Image credit: Hotel The Designers
Once again, we’re back to looking at Hotel The Designers but this time – their Dongdaemun branch. Just like the Myeongdong hotel, the rooms here are decked out in different themes. From the luxe decor of The Great Gatsby to the French chic of Paris – Isabel Marant, there’s a wide array of themes for you to choose from.
Theme: Funky & Punk.
Image credit: Hotel The Designers
If you’re not there for the novel room designs, then the Deluxe Twin Room ($112/night) is comfy enough – you’ll hardly have time to enjoy the decor anyway, what with the 26 or so shopping malls of Dongdaemun.
Theme: The Great Gatsby.
Image credit: Hotel The Designers
Address: 306, Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Distance to Dongdaemun Station: 1km, 12 min walk
Book Hotel The Designers Dongdaemun.
Image credit: JW Marriott
Those who don’t mind splurging on their accommodation can consider the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square. As the only luxury hotel located within the hip district, you won’t have to lug your shopping far. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza is also within walking distance, so you can take those brutalist-aesthetic #OOTDs to your heart’s content.
Address: 229 Chunggyecheon-ro, Seoul
Distance to Dongdaemun Station: 690m, 8 min walk
Book JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul.
Image credit: @greysuitcase
If Ewha Women’s University has its fair share of girly street fashion, Hongdae is the more alternative twin with plenty of independent fashion labels. For the lack of a better word, the clothes here are fashionably hipster, with minimalistic designs and muted shades. Sift through bargains from sales racks that are sitting near the storefront.
If you’re there between March and November, head down to the Saturday Hongdae Free Market to see a vast selection of handcrafted goods and art exhibitions.
Image credit: @l7hongdae_floating
If you’re looking for a plush 4-star hotel, L7 Hongdae by LOTTE certainly fits the bill. And they’ve got the rooftop swimming pool to prove it too. Rooms start from $125/night for the Standard Double Room, which comes with stylish blue and yellow accents.
Image credit: Lotte Hotel
Since it recently opened in early 2018, you can expect the furnishings and amenities to be in tip-top condition. Plus, it’s decked out in all the latest tech, so make full use of those USB chargers and check-in kiosks.
Address: 141, Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Distance to Hongik University Station: 691m, 8 min walk
Book L7 Hongdae by LOTTE.
Image credit: @thesonys
Wew, this hotel lobby knows its photogenic angles. With a millennial pink backdrop and pastel shades throughout, RYSE, Autograph Collection is one of Seoul’s most stylish hotels. In terms of hotel rooms, they’ve been designed thematically according to various creative jobs, such as the Creator Room, Editor Room, and Producer Suite.
Image credit: @ordinaryydays
Rates start from $187/night for a Creator Room, which sleeps two guests. Also, since it’s part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection series, you can expect nothing but quality service.
There’s also a rooftop bar lounge where you can enjoy the city lights while sipping on a cocktail.
Address: 130, Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Distance to Hongik University Station: 712m, 8 min walk
Book RYSE, Autograph Collection.
Image credit: @vanity_fair2015
Garosu-gil is a tree-lined street that’s filled with boutique shops where you’ll be paying prices slightly steeper than Hongdae or Ewha Women’s University. They emphasise quality designs here – you won’t find any mass-produced designer rip-offs.
It’s worth wandering through for the unique storefronts and cafes, especially when every single person around looks like they stepped right out of a fashion magazine.
Image credit: @orada
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves have always been the dream, and now it’s come to life at Hotel La Casa Garosugil. Although it’s tempting to sink into one of their lobby’s armchairs, you’re too close to Garosugil Street for that.
Image credit: @hotel_lacasa_official
But once you’ve shopped and people-watched all you can, the rooms here are clean and practically designed. Rates start from $125/night for the Iacasa West Double, and all rooms come with a scenic garden view. There’s also an in-house restaurant if you get peckish, serving up Western food.
Address: 83, Dosan-daero 1-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Distance to Garosugil Street: 728m, 8 min walk
Book Hotel La Casa Garosugil.
Image credit: Hotel Highland
For an affordable stay near Garosu-gil – an area typically associated with the rich and famous of Gangnam – Hotel Highland is a solid choice, with a Standard Room starting from $78/night. It’s also a stone’s throw away from Apgujeong Rodeo Street, another shopping district renowned for fashion.
All rooms have deep bathtubs for you to unwind, after a day spent shopping.
Address: 166, Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Distance to Garosugil Street: 470m, 5 min walk
Book Hotel Highland here.
With no shortage of shopping streets and glitzy shopping malls in Seoul, those planning to shop till they drop will need a conveniently-located hotel – just so you can easily chuck all your shopping bags in your room before dinner.
And while many of us feel pressured to book our hotels as soon as we’ve booked our flights, there’s honestly no reason to rush when you’ve got Expedia’s Add-On Advantage.
It’ll give you much-needed time and flexibility so you can book your flight first and hotel later – up till the day of your trip, you can even claim up to 57% off selected hotels*! Take the time you need to thoroughly browse Expedia’s different hotel options in Seoul to make sure you’ve selected the perfect one.
*T&Cs apply.
All prices accurate as of 12th October 2021
This post was brought to you by Expedia.
Cover image adapted from (L-R): Sky Park Hotel, Lotte Hotel
Originally published on 31st August 2018. Last updated by Josiah Neo on 12th October 2021.
Offers listed in this article may no longer be available.
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