Where to stay

The Jung-gu, Jongno-gu and Seodaemun-gu historic triangle of Seoul is dotted with the remnants of the Joseon Dynasty. Stay in these neighborhoods to see fascinating sites such as ancient city gates and the "Five Grand Palaces," as well as a preserved Hanok village. Hotels in the Myeongdong, Chunghyeon-dong and Jeong-dong are closest to the major historic sights of Jung-gu, the heart of Seoul, including the iconic Sungnyemun (or Namdaemun) Gate. From nearby City Hall, history buffs can take the subway to the Gyeongbok-gung (palace) in Jongno-gu and historic museums, prisons and ancient Buddhist temple below Mount Ansan in Seodaemun-gu. Sogong-dong, on the outer edge of Jung-gu, is much closer to the palace complex of Deoksu-gung and many vacationers choose to stay in this neighborhood because of its wide range of deluxe rooms in big-name hotels.

Gangnam, literally "South of the River," shows both the old and modern cultural sides of Seoul. For traditional Korean dance, music, art and calligraphy, book a hotel in Greater Gangnam's residential Seochu-gu, with its Seoul Art Center and National Gugak Center. The hotels in the more famous, central parts of Gangnam are perfectly placed to introduce visitors to the quirks of K-Pop, the city's Korean Wave (Hallyu) youth culture. K-Star Road in Cheongdam-dong not only shows South Korea's obsessions with glitz and glamour, but also has trendy anime artist studios and a huge GangnamDol to honor PSY's Gangnam Style song.

The hotels in Itaewon-dong are close to rows of traditional, neon-lit Korean barbecue restaurants and the trendy nightclubs of the wider Yongsan-gu district. Those on a budget will love the cheap eats and accommodations of Hongdae, a culturally rich neighborhood in the riverside Mapo-gu to the west. Hongdae has a lively night market, noraebangs (karaoke rooms) and cafés that have anime character themes or offer the chance to cuddle animals. From many central Jung-gu hotels, it's easy to walk to the Cheonggyecheon Stream with its illuminated Candlelight Fountain in Cheonggye Plaza, a romantic spot to end a day of sightseeing. South of the river in popular Gangnam, the glamorous Apgujeong Rodeo Street in Sinsa-dong has chic and trendy clubs, bistros and wine bars, as well as some very fancy hotels.

Find a Jongno-gu hotel to be near the Dongdaemun Market, a huge commercial district in central Seoul. In the nearby district of Jung-gu, the huge Lotte Department Store in Myeongdong even has its own hotel. The small designer boutiques of Sinchon in the Seodaemun-gu are aimed at the fashion-aware students of the local women's university. Savvy travelers can save money by finding a budget hotel in this still quite central historic neighborhood. South of the river, in Gangnam, high-end shops sell international fashion labels and expensive jewelry. The high-rating hotels on top of the nearby COEX Mall in Gangnam's Samseong-dong are good places to stay for those traveling by plane, since this conference complex has a tax-free shopping zone and speedy airport connections. Alternatively, book a more atmospheric hotel in Insadong to shop for traditional Korean crafts in its pedestrianized main street.

Hotels in the Namsan Mountain area of central Jung-gu are right under the iconic Seoul Tower with its observation deck, while the more central hotels near the City Hall allow visitors to zoom up to the Jeongdong Observatory to get a bird's-eye view of the historic Deoksu-gung palace complex. Stay in Jamsil-dong to be near the even higher Lotte World Tower, topped by the Seoul Sky Observatory. Hotels in the Sinchon neighborhood of Seodaemun-gu are close to the panoramic Mount Ansan Beacon Mound, a great place for skyline views at sunset. The international chain hotels with their uninterrupted views of Yeouido (or Banpo) Hangang Park in Seocho-gu are good choices too, since the park's Rainbow Fountain, flower-themed floating islands and bridges are illuminated at night.