Hongdae Travel Guide

Seoul

Hongdae which includes outdoor art, street scenes and a city
Hongdae
Hongdae which includes night scenes, a city and street scenes
Hongdae
Hongdae featuring night scenes, markets and nightlife

This is Seoul at its most youthful and liveliest. Come here for cafés, bars, clubs, cinemas and boutiques. 

The Hongdae district isclose to Hongik University, and is a favourite with young revellers. HongdaeYoung Street constitutes the main artery of life in the area. Soak up the urbanculture found in the shops and galleries by day. After dark, this is the placeto experience Seoul’s nightlife. 

Start at the HongdaeTourism Information Centre, where friendly staff will provide you with a mapand information about what’s happening in the area. The centre is openlate.  

If you’re looking forgifts or items for yourself, explore the various boutiques and vintage storesthat line Hongdae Young Street. Don’t miss Sangsangmadang this 11-storybuilding houses an independent cinema, performance hall and various stallsselling arty souvenirs. If you appreciate street art, bring your camera. Thearea around Hongik University is covered in accomplished work created bystudents and other artists.

You won’t have any troublefinding cafés and restaurants in Hongdae Young Street. There are manyindependent outlets selling homemade food for affordable prices. There’s also amassive variety of cuisine, including everything from Korean to Irish toVietnamese. 

Hongdae Young Street isthe centre of Seoul’s nightlife. During the day, you’ll likely see buskers andbreak dancers in the street. At night the clubs and bars along the street blastall types of music: indie, electronic, hip-hop and acid jazz. Many bars areopen late and some are open 24 hours a day, especially at the weekend.

There is often a specialevent happening in Hongdae Young Street. Club Day, on the last Friday of eachmonth, gives you entry to a number of clubs in the area for the price of onenormal entrance fee. Every Sunday, Hongdae hosts a bazaar, where you can pickup secondhand goods and handmade crafts.

To reach Hongdae YoungStreet, catch the subway to Hongik University Station.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Hongdae

Localstitch Creator Town Seogyo
Localstitch Creator Town Seogyo
3 out of 5
460-25 Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu, Seoul, Seoul
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Seoul. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (376 reviews)
"Great amenities although I didn’t use (ex. gym), laundry worked well, vibes in the lounge was a great chill area. Only thing was the room lacked space for luggage and the shower head was very weak"

Reviewed on 6 Jun 2025

Localstitch Creator Town Seogyo
L7 HONGDAE by LOTTE
L7 HONGDAE by LOTTE
4 out of 5
141, Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
The price is ฿4,981 per night from 8 Jul to 9 Jul
฿4,981
฿5,479 total
8 Jul - 9 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Seoul. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,152 reviews)
"Great place to stay! Super convenient to walk to all kinds of shops; especially loved the thoughtful touch of a shower scrub in the shower. Only negatives were pool use was a bit expensive, and bathroom sliding door seemed to need fixing."

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2025

L7 HONGDAE by LOTTE
Holiday Inn Express Seoul Hongdae by IHG
Holiday Inn Express Seoul Hongdae by IHG
3.5 out of 5
188 Yanghwa-ro, Seoul, Seoul
Fully refundable
The price is ฿3,752 per night from 30 Jul to 31 Jul
฿3,752
฿4,127 total
30 Jul - 31 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Seoul. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,002 reviews)
"Clean, friendly staff, and in the best spot if you want to live it up in Hongdae."

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2025

Holiday Inn Express Seoul Hongdae by IHG
The Shilla Seoul
The Shilla Seoul
5 out of 5
249, Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
The price is ฿9,531 per night from 1 Jul to 2 Jul
฿9,531
฿10,484 total
1 Jul - 2 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Seoul. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,004 reviews)
Amazing Hotel/Excellent Service in Seoul
"By far and away the best service I have ever received at a hotel, and I have traveled extensively. We had two different people greet us before even making it near the entrance, then a single person made sure we were guided and immediately attended to. We were graciously given a free upgrade and when ..."

Reviewed on 30 Jun 2025

The Shilla Seoul
Sotetsu Hotels The Splaisir Seoul Myeongdong
Sotetsu Hotels The Splaisir Seoul Myeongdong
4 out of 5
15, Namdaemun-ro 5-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, Seoul
The price is ฿2,789 per night from 16 Jul to 17 Jul
฿2,789
฿3,068 total
16 Jul - 17 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Seoul. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,558 reviews)
"Hotel muy confortable, limpio, bien ubicado, buena atención"

Reviewed on 24 Jun 2025

Sotetsu Hotels The Splaisir Seoul Myeongdong
Toyoko Inn Seoul Gangnam
Toyoko Inn Seoul Gangnam
3 out of 5
323 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul
The price is ฿2,588 per night from 7 Jul to 8 Jul
฿2,588
฿2,846 total
7 Jul - 8 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Seoul. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,639 reviews)
"Located in the heart of K-Culture. Lots of dining options available at the walking range."

Reviewed on 21 Jun 2025

Toyoko Inn Seoul Gangnam
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Hongdae

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Mapo-gu

4.5/5(94 area reviews)

Spend some time visiting places like Seoul World Cup Stadium while getting to know Mapo-gu, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at Mapo-gu Office Station or Mangwon Station to see more of the area.

Mapo-gu
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Yeongdeungpo-gu

4.5/5(11 area reviews)

Noted for its shopping and river views, there's plenty to explore in Yeongdeungpo-gu. Top attractions like KBS Exhibition Hall and Times Square Mall are major draws, and you can hop on the metro at Yeongdeungpo Market Station or Singil Station to see more of the city.

Yeongdeungpo-gu
War Memorial of Korea featuring signage and modern architecture as well as a large group of people

Yongsan-gu

4/5(31 area reviews)

Travellers choose Yongsan-gu for its ample dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Hyochang Park Station or Namyeong Station and check out top sights like Yongsan Electronics Market.

Yongsan-gu
Deoksugung Palace showing a garden as well as a small group of people

Sogong-dong

Sogong-dong is popular for its popular shops. Explore top sights like Namdaemun Market and Seoul Museum of Art, and you can get around town on the metro at City Hall Station.

Sogong-dong
Namdaemun Market which includes a city, street scenes and markets

Hoehyeon-dong

While you're in Hoehyeon-dong, take in top sights like Namdaemun Market and jump on the metro at Hoehyeon Station to see more of the city.

Hoehyeon-dong
Gwangjang Traditional Market which includes signage

Jongno-gu

4.5/5(86 area reviews)

Jongno-gu is highly notable for its popular shops, and you might want to visit top sights like Sejong Cultural Center and National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. See more of Seoul by jumping on the metro at Gwanghwamun Station or Jonggak Station.

Jongno-gu


Hongdae Travel Guide