8 best hostels in Seoul

Seoul is a stunning city with towering skyscrapers that are surrounded by breathtaking natural landscapes like the Bukhansan National Park. With gorgeous cherry blossom trees that bloom in the fall, ancient palaces, temples and Hanok villages, the city is also home to a rich culture and heritage which is one of the many reasons that vacationers like to travel here. In Seoul, you'll also find the largest underground shopping mall in the world and the biggest indoor theme park, but what the city is best known for is being the birthplace of K-pop.

No matter what brings you to Seoul, one thing that we can all agree on is that traveling can be expensive. But that doesn't mean that those who are traveling on a budget can't come here, and in fact, there are lots of great ways to spend less while in this city. One way is to book hostels in Seoul instead of a hotel or Airbnb which can be much more costly. If you're vacationing by yourself or are just someone who always likes to make new friends then you'll definitely appreciate the social atmosphere that hostels have as well.

Other than spending less by staying in hostels, we recommend that you protect your belongings when you travel by taking advantage of the many Bounce luggage storage locations in Seoul. That way you can focus on your vacation without having to worry about the safety of your bags. Bounce partners with many hostels around the globe, so there's that option as well. But if your chosen accommodation is not a Bounce partner, locate a Seoul luggage locker on the app.

Time Travelers Party Hostel in Hongdae

This is a highly recommended hostel, mainly because of its fantastic amenities. Take advantage of a guest kitchen, free wifi, washing machines, free tea and coffee, plus friendly staff that are ready to plan events or help you out with any of your needs. They have several types of rooms available including female only dorms and mixed gender dorms, or private rooms that can sleep 2 guests.

The Seodaemun Prison History Hall, War and Women's Human Rights Museum, Seodaemun Museum of Natural History, Bongwonsa Temple and Dongjin Flea Market are all within walking distance in under half an hour, and there is plenty of nightlife nearby as well. If you're looking for a quieter location, check out the Time Travelers Relax Guesthouse instead.

What makes Time Travelers Party Hostel in Hongdae unique

There are several things that make this the best party hostel in Seoul. Make use of the on site lounge, basement bar and cafe where you can sit and chat with other travelers staying here. The staff is excellent at planning activities like pub crawls, Korean BBQ nights on Fridays, or pool, darts and foosball tournaments.

Time Travelers Party Hostel in Hongdae pricing

Staying in a dorm at this location will cost you around ₩24,000 per night. You can also stay in a double or twin private room for approximately ₩90,000.

G Guest House Itaewon in Seoul

Located in the bustling Itaewon neighborhood, G Guest House is the perfect place to come back to and relax after a busy day of exploring Seoul. The hostel features free wifi around the entire property, laundry facilities, a kitchen and dining area, luggage lockers, and ensuite bathrooms in every room.

With close proximity to the Itaewon Subway Station and Seoul Station, it's your gateway to exploring the rest of the city, and is also close to some of the top tourist attractions. The nearby nightlife is great, and you can explore places like Namsan Mountain and Han River Park as well as the Seoul Central Mosque with ease.

What makes G Guest House Itaewon in Seoul unique

This hostel is perfect for both partyers and sightseers, and all guests staying here will be treated to a filling and free breakfast every morning. They also have a lovely rooftop terrace with a BBQ where you can hang out with other travelers and admire the views of the city centre below. The hostel also offers bike rentals for whenever you want to get out and be active and for staying in, puts on fun movie nights every Thursday.

G Guest House Itaewon in Seoul pricing

G Guest House Itaewon in Seoul is a busy and popular spot to call home base. The average nightly price for a dorm bed is ₩27,000. Private rooms in this hostel start at ₩138,600.

OYO Hostel Myeongdong 1

This Seoul hostel has a great location in the entertainment district of Seoul; Myeondong. You'll find much to do in this hostel which is close to plenty of restaurants, shops and landmarks. Some examples include the Myung-Dong Nanta Theatre, the Myeongdong Cathedral and the Bank of Korea Money Museum.

Included amenities are free wifi, access to washing machines and air conditioning. They have dormitory rooms as well as private spaces available, and since you can even rent out small dorms for yourself it's a great choice for groups traveling together.

What makes OYO Hostel Myeongdong 1 unique

Guests staying at this hostel in Seoul can enjoy a tasty free breakfast before heading out into the city. When you come back from a tiring day of sightseeing you can take it easy and relax in the common lounge room.

OYO Hostel Myeongdong 1 pricing

Rooms sell out fast so try to book your spot in advance if you can. A private room for 3 costs about ₩130,000 per night, and a private dorm that sleeps up to 4 begins around ₩150,000.

Seoul Dalbit Dongdaemun Guesthouse

Here, you'll be conveniently located in the Jongno-Gu district of Seoul, leaving you just a short walk away from the Dongmyo Subway Station. There are several interesting places to go shopping around here like the Dongdaemoun Market, the Pyounghwa Market and the Gwangjang Market which are all close by.

They have cozy rooms that are perfect for couples, especially since there is a wide selection of private accommodation, but they also have dorms that are great for solo travelers. Female only dorms are available, too. All guests can take advantage of the on site kitchen, internet access and laundry facilities.

What makes Seoul Dalbit Dongdaemun Guesthouse unique

You can relax right inside your room in this budget hostel since each one has its own flat screen TV, or chill in the common space. Tours and events happen regularly here giving you plenty of opportunity to make new friends, and free breakfast is served in the mornings.

Seoul Dalbit Dongdaemun Guesthouse pricing

This Seoul hostel has some great private rooms, like a standard twin bed room with a private bathroom for approximately ₩37,402 or a triple room with a bathroom in the ballpark of ₩59,424.

The Cube Hotel

With both male and female designated dorms and private rooms available, this location is more than just a hotel. It's centrally located in Myeongdong so you'll be just a couple steps away from the Myeong-dong Station, the Seoul Station, as well as places to go sightseeing like the Namdaemun Market and the Myeongdong Cathedral.

It's a pretty quiet and cheap hostel where you can get your own room for a good price, and the included facilities will provide you with everything that you need for a comfortable stay. Look forward to free wifi, air conditioned rooms, laundry facilities, as well as a microwave, cooker and fridge that you can use for your own meals.

What makes The Cube Hotel unique

While staying at The Cube you'll be treated to a free breakfast when you wake up, and will have access to a common room with board games and a PlayStation. They also have an outdoor terrace with a BBQ.

The Cube Hotel pricing

Thinking about The Cube as a place to stay in Seoul? The cost of staying in one of their 10 bed gendered dorm rooms averages ₩46,550 per night.

Zzzip Guesthouse

When you're looking at Seoul hostels, keep Zzzip Guesthouse in mind. They are situated in a good location close to lots of attractions like the Love Museum, Hongik Park and Wau Children's Park. The Modern Design Museum, Kim Koo Museum, Seoul Energy Dream Center and Seoul Tower are all not too far away either, and subway stations like the Hapjeong Subway Station can be reached within minutes.

This top hostel features a shared kitchen, laundry facilities, air conditioning, and free wifi throughout the property. Take your pick between shared and private accommodation depending on what kind of trip you want to have.

What makes Zzzip Guesthouse unique

At Zzzip Guesthouse you'll be able to hang out with other guests in the shared common room or on the outdoor terrace. They even have board games and puzzles that you can use, making it a great location for solo travelers.

Zzzip Guesthouse pricing

For about ₩37,000 per night, you can get a bed in a 6 person dorm room, and a bunk in the 4 person mixed dorm costs ₩40,000.

Hostel Haru

Welcome to Hostel Haru located in Downtown Seoul where you'll find many happy budget backpackers inside. They have nice dorms equipped with bathrooms, a hair dryer, a flat screen TV, heating and air conditioning, plus the private rooms are great, too. This might be the best budget hostel in Seoul and it offers free wifi, a free airport shuttle, and fantastic city views from your room.

We think that this is one of the coolest hostels in the city because it's located close to so many must-see places like the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namdaemun Market, Johngo Tower, Art Center Nabi, the Ilmin Museum of Art and Kyungin Museum of Fine Art, Tapgol Park, Grevin Seoul Museum, and much more. Staying here you'll have access to some of the best attractions the South Korean capital has to offer.

What makes Hostel Haru unique

This could be the ideal hostel for you thanks to its central location and fantastic city views. The best place to take it all in is on the shared terrace.

Hostel Haru pricing

This hostel prices its private rooms at about ₩153,000 for a double or twin room, and a room that sleeps up to 3 is priced at around ₩186,000 per night.

Bunk Guest House Hongdae

Bunk Guest House has everything that you could need for a comfortable stay in Hongdae including a tour desk and free wifi, plus shelves, power sockets and reading lights on each bunk. Individual rooms have their own private bathroom and most dorms have access to a shared one. It's also a safe hostel with cameras plus a laundry room and a BBQ for cooking meals.

You won't have any problems finding something to do nearby with attractions like the Modern Design Museum, Kakao Friends Concept Museum, Gyeongui Line Forest Park and much more, all easily accessible from the hostel.

What makes Bunk Guest House Hongdae unique

One of the best things about this Seoul backpackers hostel is all of the places that you can hang out like the terraces and rooftop patio. They also have a shared lounge and a nice garden that is perfect for relaxing in after a busy day of visiting Seoul.

Bunk Guest House Hongdae pricing

Ready to choose Bunk Guest House Hongdae? For a bed in a 6 person dorm the price is in the range of ₩28,000 per night. A standard twin room is priced at about ₩174,000 per night.

Save money while vacationing in Seoul, South Korea

Like many other cities, Seoul has a wide selection of places to stay which makes it accessible for travelers of all budgets. There are some fantastic cheap hostels that will help you spend less on accommodation giving you the freedom to do more during your trip.

Lots of people choose to sleep in hostels while on vacation which also gives you the opportunity to connect with other travelers and meet people who come from places all over the world. There is a lot more that you can learn about Seoul and we recommend you read about the best museums in Seoul and how to see Seoul on a budget.