Gwanghwamun hotels & places to stay

We enjoyed our 14 days stay in this hotel. The service, amenities, and most specially the location was perfect. The hotel is very near to Insadong, Myeongdong, Gwanghwamun Square. Also, Gangnam is only 10,000 won taxi ride, around 15-20 minutes only. Will definitely stay here again this December! However, the only bad thing about this hotel and for other hotels in Seoul is that the air-conditioning system is not opened during spring. And there are days when the temperature is warm. But luckily, the hotel provides an electric fan when requested.

Although it took us ~10 mins to find (there are many hanok houses all together), it was a great choice of accommodation for our night in Seoul! The staff were smiley and accommodating, helpfully explaining the layout and how to lock the doors, and happy to give my mum an extra futon. The place itself is all beautiful brown wood, with almost paper-like walls. You’re provided with a bed roll, pillow, and duvet, a little table, and a coat stand in the room, and communally there is a table low to the floor plus everything you could want in the kitchen and bathroom! Lovely shower, very hot. It’s quiet even though it’s fairly close to the road. Gyeongbokgung station is down the street and along the way you pass many restaurants! Be aware that you are making a booking to sleep on the floor, so if you know you won’t be comfortable then don’t book. If you’re up for some traditional living then this is perfect! There’s also aircon for those unused to the heat. I will recommend to my friends :D

We booked this hanok because of it’s lovation and private bathroom. .. both did not disappoint. The location is great, right up a lane with a craft beer bar and cute restaurants and boutiques. Walkable to Insadong, The hanok village, and the metro. The bathroom was new and very clean. We couldn’t access our room when we arrived early but the staff were super friendly to tell what we needed to know. We were upgraded to a bigger room, which was a nice plus. I’m glad we decided to stay in a traditional hanok for the experience and I would recommend you do so for at least one night!

Bibimbap hanok guest house is located at Jongno-3-ga station (purple line) exit 4. it's just a cross over the street from the station exit, alley right turn straight. station has an escalator which makes it convenient for luggage. it's walkable distance to Tapgol Park, and a good base to start touring the palaces from Jongmyo shrine, Changdeokgung,Bukchon Village, Gyeongbokgung,Gwanghwamun,Insadong etc..Host is friendly with breakfast Bibimbap and porridge on the last day. bed is nice to sleep and with hot water readily available for winter.

We arrived late in the evening and Sophia came out to greet us and made us feel very welcome. we had 2 rooms between 3 of us, very simply furnished with futons and Koren cabinets. The rooms were clean and air conditioned. The mechanism for securing a Hanok room is a bit tricky if you are in a hurry, but we got the hang of it after 3 nights! The rooms are set around a small courtyard which is cool and peaceful, apart from a 5 am awakening from the cats caterwauling but that could happen anywhere! We shared a small bathroom with one other guest, again very simple just a loo and a hand held shower so you leave behind the luxuries of hotel life here. Breakfast is prepared in the homely kitchen, I think Sophia and her mother have tried to Wetsernise the breakfast as we had mushroom soup that tasted like Campbell's, hard boiled eggs and toast and jam, with fresh apple slices and tomatoes. All fine when you are hungry but a slightly odd East meets west combination. The nice thing is sharing the kitchen table with other guests. The location is fantastic, if you are tired of the heat and busyness of Seoul, stay here in Bukchon Hanok vilage. walking through it in the evening is like therapy, cicadas singing, no traffic noise, trees, houses and small shops and some of the best cafes we have encountered. And in walking distance of the main palaces, the Museum of Modern Art and subway station only 7 minutes walk and the Airport Limousine stop is very close to Anguk subway station. I highly recommend Sophia's to anyone who is willing to forgoe the trappings of modern travel and just live simply for a few days.

If you want to be among the first to enter Gyeongbokgung in the morning, then this is the place for you to stay as the guesthouse is just right next to it. The guesthouse does have rooftop access and the panoramic view up there overlooking Gyeongbokgung, Cheongwadae (Blue House) and Bugaksan (Mount Bugak) is amazing. Bukchon Hanok Village is just a stone's throw away and a convenience store (GS) is about 5 minutes walking distance but you'll have to cross the busy main road which passes Gwanghwamun. The nearest subway station is Anguk of Line 3, and it's about 7~10 minutes walking distance. The disappointing thing about this guesthouse was that the reception was not manned at all. Even the contact number printed on the reservation copy was temporarily suspended. I had to call Agoda customer service for help and they managed to contact the owner, which apparently is on the rooftop doing the laundry. Furthermore, it is located 3 floors above ground with no elevator! Good luck if you have a heavy luggage. There is however an intercom on the ground floor which you can page them to come down to help you carry up your luggage but with the absence of someone at the reception, expect to do it yourself. But once you've checked-in, the keys to your room and the main door lock sensor are given to you so you can go out and come back in anytime as you wish. Oh and the owner, Mr Woo does speak English.

Great experience to stay in the traditional Korean Hanok Guesthouse, warm heated room during cold winter night. Walking distance to Gyeongbokgung Palace and from there, we could walk to Gwanghwamun Square and a bit further we could reach Insadong or Bukchon Hanok Village. We arrived late due to flight delay and the host had been trying to reach us to make sure we found our way to the guesthouse. The host came out to the main road at 11pm in cold winter night to lead us back to the guesthouse. On the day of our departure, the host contacted our pick up driver to reconfirm pick up location and time to ensure our onward journey went smoothly. It was a great help since the host helped us communicate with the driver in Korean. Very helpful and kind host.

NagNe house is a boutique hotel so its a modern version of the traditional Hanoks in Korea. I really loved everything about this place, the location is perfect; very near a lot of restaurants and even the most famous ginseng chicken restaurant in the nation, its about a minute walk from the subway station, and not far away from the tourist sights. The room is clean but People might find it too small, i myself don't really mind that at all. The owner is very friendly and helpful and would gladly recommend you with places to visit around the area. the hotel could be quite challenging to locate especially if you arrive via taxi, but our driver called the hotel and the owner met us along the main street so we didn't have to find the hotel on our own. The room comes with free coffee or tea, and they have eggs in the fridge that you could cook on your own in the kitchen.Over all we had a very pleasant stay at Nagne house and would recommend it to tourists looking for a charming and affordable place to stay in South Korea. I myself would definitely book this place again when i go back :)

I stayed at the Side Hanok Guesthouse for three nights in December 2016. The room itself was clean and just as shown on the pictures. The internet and floor heating worked well. There were a few minor problems. The bathroom is inconvenient to use and not very clean, it constantly smells like urine. In addition, the ceiling of the Hanok was unstable, and bits of rubble and paint kept falling on the floor, on the bed, and on my personal items every day. What disqualifies the Side Hanok Guesthouse is the shocking treatment of a guard dog at the property's courtyard. This very friendly animal is tied on a short leash outside, day and night, regardless of the weather and air temperature. The owners pay almost no attention to him and rarely even clean up the excrements around the yard. I asked the employees about this problem and was told that this was the owner's wish. It is a heartbreaking view and for this single reason I would strongly advise any travelers with a sense of compassion to stay away from Side Hanok Guesthouse. 저는 2016년 12월에 사이드 한옥 게스트 하우스에서 3일간 머물렀습니다. 방은 깨끗했고 사진에서 보던 것과 같았습니다. 인터넷과 난방도 잘 되었습니다. 하지만 몇 가지 조그만 문제점들이 있었습니다. 화장실이 사용하기 불편하고 깨끗하지 않아서, 소변 냄새가 계속 났습니다. 그리고 천장이 잘 마무리 되어 있지 않아 먼지 덩어리와 페인트가 바닥, 침대, 그리고 제 개인 용품들에 매일 떨어졌습니다. 그리고 가장 실망스러웠던 점은 마당에 있었던 주인집 반려견에 대한 충격적인 태도였습니다. 매우 착했던 이 친구는 밤과 낮으로, 날씨나 바깥 온도와는 상관 없이 짧은 줄로 바깥에 매여있었습니다. 주인은 반려견을 거의 돌보지 않아서, 마당에 있는 배설물도 잘 치우지 않았습니다. 직원 분들에게 여쭈어 보았더니 주인이 이렇게 하기를 원한다고 하셨습니다. 이 모습은 보기에 굉장이 마음이 아팠고, 따라서 이러한 상황에 조금이라도 공감하시는 여행자 분들은 사이드 한옥 게스트 하우스를 꼭 피하시기 바랍니다.

Soo Song is great place to stay. It is conveniently located and it is clean. They give you fresh towels and bottled water everyday. The best part about this place is the staff. They are incredibly friendly and helpful. They will go out of their way. I needed a knife to cut some fruit and the manager gave me his own to use. When I needed directions to the nearest subway station, one of the morning staff actually walked us to the station. The night manager (이재현/ Timothy Lee) was especially helpful. Ordered take out dinner for us and eventually ordered airport ride for us as well. When you are traveling and feeling out of your element, nothing means more than people who are willing to go out of their way to get you oriented. The location is also great. Nearest subway station is only about 7 minute walk. If I were to return to Seoul, I would definitely stay at Soo Song again.

It was one of the best lodgment I've ever had. 88GuesthouseNcafe is located near the heard of Seoul city, so transportation access cannot be better. It has newly opened, so everything in the room/bathroom is literally in mint condition with NEW ROOM SMELL. Price is very reasonable, given stuffs free of charge, including breakfast, Wi-Fi, copy/fax, wecome drinks. It is remodelled from a regular house into current guesthouse, so you will be able to taste a traditional Korean housing as well. Most of all, however, the best beauty of 88GuesthouseNcafe is its serviceare of the staffs. They are most friendly, well prepared, and professional. I would recommend this place to you with enthusiasm, and of course, I will definately come back when I have next trip to Seoul. Thank you alot, 88GuesthouseNcafe.

I stayed here with my family from USA for 3 nights. The house was clean, pretty and quite. Kids loved hot stone beds. It takes only 3 minutes to Kyuongbok-gung, 5 minutes to subway station. there are many interesting cafe, restaurants and stores around the house. The hostess was really kind and freindly. She's also a good cook. She made great breakfast to us. Thank you!

We really really enjoyed our stay at Raon. The manager sent me an email w/ all kinds of useful info as soon as I made the reservation, and he greeted us at Raon at the time I requested to check in, w/ all AC on(It was such a hot day.)The location is easy to find w/ maps they provided, about 10 min or less walk from airport bus stop, no stairs. It’s super close to Gyeongbuk Palace and easy to go to Bukchon Vallage, Insa Dong, and so on. It’s very nice to take a walk in the evening, and enjoy a cup of drink at any cafe in the area. Manager also gave us a list of nice restaurants in the area, which is sooooo helpful for foodies like us. (P.s.Most instructions/info there are in multiple languages. )The neighborhood is cozy but quiet, rooms are very clean, and bedding is very comfortable. My parents were worried about sleeping on the floor, but it turned out they love it so much! For group/family travelers, family rooms are definitely recommended, cuz you also get your private bathroom and easy access to kitchen area. I wish we could stay there for a longer time. Overall, I will recommend Raon to anyone who wants to experience traditional Hanok house with reasonable price, a perfect location, and a helpful manager.

Location : Ohbok Hanok is about 10-15 mins walk (depends on your pace) from Anguk Railway Station Exit 1 or Bus stop 6011 (airport bus) (you can also find the location map on its website). It is just 2 min walk from National Museum of Modern Art and 10-15 min walk from other sightseeing places e.g. Sam Cheon Dong area, Gyeongbukgong Palace, Insadong, etc. Room Condition: We were upgraded from double room to triple room (weekday). Both the room and washroom were very clean, tidy and well maintained, thus the room was very similar to the pictures shown in Agoda. Wifi signal was strong in room. We think some criticized that the room was very small is unfair since it is traditional Korean Hanok and the room size is already shown in sq. m in room info. So you should acknowledge the room size when you make reservation. Service: Basic breakfast is provided from 8am-10am. The host can speak English and he is very generous. After checked in, he not only showed and gave us the map with the location of restaurant we wanted to go, he was also worried the restaurant already closed by the time we got there (we checked in quite late that night) thus he also suggested other restaurants near that area just in case. The next day we inquired about other sightseeing info. He showed us clearly and he also wrote the address in Korean in case we need to ask other Korean people who don't speak English/ show to driver. He also recommended local shop to us instead of those 'targeted' tourists. The host mother cannot speak English but she had tried her best to serve us, we managed to communicate with body language and 'google translate', and it was also a special experience to us! We recommend to get the contact no. from the host in case you really can't communicate with host mother/ in emergency while he is away. Overall: We recommend Ohbok Hanok Guesthouse to those who would like to experience traditional Korean accommodation.

If you ever wanted to stay in a traditional Korean house---a Hanok, this is a great place to do it. Although a hanok is similar to a Ryokan Inn, it is different in that the wooden floors are heated, although now it's done with electric heat rather than wood. It's really quite comfortable. There is a plethora of things to do close by, including innumerable Korean restaurants within a 2 block area. Across the street is also a Dunkin' Donuts and a Starbucks for those needing a US coffee fix. The easiest way to get here from the airport is the No 6011 bus which costs only $10 USD. It makes much more sense than to take the train because it is quicker and almost door-to-door while the airport express train only goes to Seoul Station. You can buy a ticket at the airport and get directions and pay the bus driver 10,000 won in cash to go back to the airport. If you elect to take the subway to arrive or even while you are staying at Sejong Hanok Guesthouse, take Exit 1 or 2 from Gyeongbokgung subway station. So very convenient. Located nearby are several palaces and attractions including the "blue house" where the South Korean president lives. The US Embassy is also within several blocks. Sleeping on the floor is a novelty for some, but it grows quite comfortable. Breakfast is provided and Sunny does a good job preparing it. There's free wireless and Sunny will give you maps and tips for what to do in Seoul. The Hanok is not your place if you require a lot of space. The common living area/kitchen is where to sit and relax, but you're not in Seoul to hang out in your room. For an average $50, it's a bargain. I would definitely go back here. E-mail Sunny or find Sejong Guest House on Facebook for specific directions. Room Tip: I would recommend one of the two rooms attached to the living area/kitchen.

1. Perfect location (Central Seoul) The Vine Hanok guesthouse proved to be the perfect accommodation for the first part of my stay in Korea. Nearly 150-year-old traditional architecture is very charming and while it is close to a busy main road the guesthouse felt peaceful and quiet. Of course the house is located near the subway station. The area is close to the west wall of Gyeongbokgung, and has numerous very smart coffee shops and art galleries, and is well served for affordable Korean, Japanese and Western-style restaurants. You can easily walk to Gwanghwamun Square and adjacent areas and transport links are good. It is really easy to go to Myengdong, Dongdaemun, Ehwa Women's univ, Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon, Insa-dong and all other touristic places. 2. Korean traditional breakfast While staying in this house, they provided me with real Korean traditional dish called ‘Rick cake soup’, which Korean used to eat to celebrate their New Year’s day and Korean Royal cousine called ‘Steamed rice wrapped with lotus leaf’. This was the first time that I ate Korean foods, and I felt it is warming. 3. Really Nice and helpful host Minha and her mother were gracious hosts and helped us whenever we wanted to go places and were unsure of how to get there. Even she wrote name of restaurants and interesting places in Korean which she was worried about that we could not find them They are really She is a great host and she welcomed us the guest house with a lovely letter left by the door as we arrived late in the evening. She promptly replied to my messages when I enquired about anything from places to eat in the area and coach timings. She is extrimely friendly and we loved staying in there for 2 days. 4. Underfloor heating called ‘Ondol’ - so warm and cozy Our stay was during winter and the underfloor heating made it very cosy - especially with the traditional bedding on the floor.

Wonderful host, room, breakfasts, and neighborhood--perfect alternative to tourist hotels. Besides being gracious and friendly, host gives great travel & shopping advice and provides a fascinating walking tour of the neighborhood in the throes of change, revealing things I would never have found or noticed myself. The neighborhood is a mix of artsy and Old Seoul--alleyways lined with hip little shops, restaurants, bakeries, and cafes, yet with traditional market nearby, park/walking trails up the street, very quiet & safe at night. It's in a well-renovated home, with the first floor consisting of the kitchen and dining area, a suite on the second floor and another on the third floor. Suite was very clean, modern, bed very comfortable (on the firm side). Breakfasts were delicious and healthy (no MSG). Stayed for 6 nights with my 12yo, location was a great home base for exploring all the main sights of Seoul--we would start by taking the convenient green shuttle bus 5 mins to the subway (Gyeongbokgung) or grab a short-throw taxi in the "village square" that was just down the street. Would love to stay here again.

I love this guesthouse so much. It's so clean and equipped with basic facilities. Feels like my own house. Never thought that that we will have tv, side table, rack and even a hairdryer in our room since the picture was only showing the bed (which acceptable enough considering how much I pay). I'm also particular on the cleanliness of toilet and it didn't disappoint me either. The house owner was trying his best to accommodate us. We requested for a small pail to soak my sister's swollen feet and he did find one for us. On the location wise, it might takes about 10-15 minutes walking from the Exit 1 of Gwanghwamun Station (mybe bcs we walked slowly and too immersed with the surroundings. haha) but we find it good enough. And if you love walking like us, you can just walk to Gyeongbokgung palace, central monuments and Insadong street. Thank you Goong Guesthouse for the hospitality and I'm surely will come back. Much love from Malaysia. **This review is based on my personal experience and might differ from others. Thanks.

Nice and helpful owner. Owner have prepare some direction/guide for us go to attractions location.(Many is walking distance only) The house is full furniture like a home. You can cook or BBQ in the house. You also can get fresh food ingredients near the house just 5min walking distance. Toilet is clean and owner prepare a lot tower for us. Floor have heater, so dun worry when cool weather. Owner also bring us go hiking near the hotel at the morning. Is a good hotel for me. Next time if I visit Seoul again I will stay here again. Thank you for all you did.