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Myeongdong

Seoul

Seoul's busiest shopping district, packed with cosmetics stores and evening street-food stalls, between City Hall and Namsan.

Best for First visit · Budget · Families

Transport
5/5
Sights
4/5
Value
4/5
Quiet
2/5
Food
4/5

Typical mid-range hotel ~$120/night · 5 min to City Hall

See hotels in Myeongdong

Myeongdong on the map

Why stay here

  • Central, with hotels at every price
  • Street food and shopping on the doorstep
  • Easy airport buses and trains

Who should stay here

  • First-time visitors
  • Shoppers
  • Families who want everything close

Not ideal if…

  • You want quiet streets
  • You want traditional Seoul around you
  • You want nightlife beyond hotel bars

What it's like

Myeongdong's grid of pedestrian streets is lined with Korean beauty shops, fashion brands and department stores, and from late afternoon the main lanes fill with street-food carts. Myeongdong Cathedral sits at the top of the hill, Namdaemun Market is a short walk west, and the cable car up Namsan to N Seoul Tower starts nearby.

It's the most popular base for first-time visitors: central, full of hotels at every price and well connected to Incheon by airport limousine buses and the AREX via Seoul Station. It's crowded and commercial, though, and quiet only late at night and early in the morning.

Best streets and sub-areas

  • Myeongdong 8-gil

    The main lane of cosmetics shops and evening food stalls.

  • Euljiro

    Old printing alleys turned into bars and cafés, just north.

  • Namdaemun-ro

    Department stores and the way to Namdaemun Market.

Getting around

Nearest stations
Myeongdong (Line 4) and Euljiro 1-ga (Line 2) stations, City Hall nearby for Lines 1 and 2, and airport limousine buses.
To City Hall
About 5 minutes
From Incheon International Airport
About 60 minutes: AREX to Seoul Station, then Line 4 two stops to Myeongdong, or an airport limousine bus.

Nearby attractions

  • Myeongdong street food

    Stalls from late afternoon: tteokbokki, egg bread and grilled lobster.

  • N Seoul Tower

    Cable car or walk up Namsan for views over the city.

  • Namdaemun Market

    Huge traditional market with food alleys.

  • Myeongdong Cathedral

    19th-century Gothic church at the top of the district.

Where to eat and drink

  • Street-food carts

    Best from about 5 pm on the main lanes.

  • Myeongdong Kyoja

    Long-running noodle restaurant known for kalguksu.

  • Euljiro bars

    Hidden bars in old printing workshops.

Where to stay in Myeongdong

A few hotels we'd book in this area, at different budgets.

Luxury pick

Lotte Hotel Seoul

Why we like it: Large hotel linked to the Lotte department store.

Typical luxury rate in Myeongdong: ~$290/night

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Luxury pick

The Westin Josun Seoul

Why we like it: Historic hotel by City Hall, next to Myeongdong.

Typical luxury rate in Myeongdong: ~$290/night

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Best value

L7 Myeongdong

Why we like it: Modern hotel with a rooftop bar in the shopping streets.

Typical mid-range rate in Myeongdong: ~$120/night

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Hotels in MyeongdongMid-range from ~$120/night

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