Sokcho
A five-minute walk from the intercity bus terminal, this place combines the niceties of Korean motel rooms – minifridge and basic toiletries – with free…
Must-see hotels in South Korea
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Run by the welcoming and convivial Shrek Lee, this hostel is easily the best budget digs in Itaewon. Fourteen dorms and four twins are stacked in a…
Jeollanam-do
This idyllic traditional hanok inn, built around a courtyard, is inside Duryunsan Provincial Park, about two-thirds of the way between the car park and…
Jeonju
Hard to find, but worth the effort, this utterly charming hanok (traditional wooden home) guesthouse is surrounded by a delightful garden. Cosy rooms have…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Making the most of its hilltop aspect, the Grand Hyatt is lord of all it surveys. On a clear day, the views from the lobby lounge, through a soaring wall…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
This hotel has rooms dedicated to Line Friends – cartoon characters from popular Japanese-Korean social-media app Line – so fans of cuteness overload and…
Seoul
The husband-and-wife team who converted this house have keen design sensibilities. K-Pop-fanatic Jacqueline chooses photogenic, homey decor and cooks…
Gangneung
This delightfully landscaped choice is right by the sea. A large variety of contemporary and stylish rooms are at hand, including a vast penthouse and…
Busan
The tiny, minimalist rooms in this slick and serene capsule hotel feature high-key, all-white-marble finishings and stunning views of the beach and…
Jeju-do
If Hallim's sleepy port and rugged Hyeopjae beach left you feeling nautical, then try sleeping in these converted shipping containers. It's much more…
Seoul
Creatively decorated in bright colours and modern furnishings, this cosy guesthouse feels more like a cool arty apartment. Martin, the convivial English…
Seoul
There is a stream of K-Pop on the TVs at this memorabilia-adorned hostel in the heart of Hongdae's bar area next to Hongik University. But even if you…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
An excellent-value, midrange option that's very affordable for this end of town, the 50-room boutiquey Tria has lots going for it. Opt for any room above…
Jeju-do
People will pinpoint this guesthouse as the moment Woljeong Beach became a hot spot. Gentleehouse is matched with chic new restaurants nearby, yet…
Gwangju
Gwangju local and veteran traveller Pedro Kim runs this homey guesthouse filled with books and travel souvenirs. The rooms (some with private baths) are…
Busan
Busan’s oldest international hotel gets better with age. A hint of retro shaken, not stirred, with modern touches creates a James Bond – a la Sean Connery…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
An excellent midrange choice, this small professionally run hotel has boutique aspirations. Splashes of style abound, from the flashy, metallic lobby to…
Busan
Fantastic views of Haeundae beach, grovelling service and decent on-site dining make the Paradise stand out. The rooms are somewhat worn and the casino is…
Daegu
This guesthouse is part of the Center for North Korean Defectors (www.nkpeople.or.kr), and 20% of proceeds go to resettlement elsewhere. It's a great…
Gyeonggi-do & Incheon
If you're planning to overnight by the airport, you might as well do it in style. This 370-room cubist-meets-modernist structure looks like a concrete…
Seoraksan National Park
Just 300m from the park entrance, in the crook of a mountain, is this English oasis with Edwardian armchairs in the lobby and two red London Routemaster…
Gyeonggi-do & Incheon
This snazzy pension on a hillside set back from the beach offers bright, ondol (traditional, sleep-on-a-floor-mattress) rooms that can sleep up to seven…
Gangwon-do
Standing tall conveniently just a block back from the bus terminals is this superb love motel. Rooms are spotlessly clean, with huge beds, coffee sachets,…
Seoul
Near the War & Women's Human Rights Museum, this appealing guesthouse is worth the trek from Hongdae. Rooms are attractively decorated with hanji …
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
A discreet entrance – look for the rock sticking out of the wall – sets the Zen-minimalist tone for this gorgeous property. Each floor only has 10 rooms…
Jeonju
It's not the spiffiest hotel in the Gaeksa market and the room interiors might be a little weathered, but it gets top marks for price and location. A…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
You can't get more central than the Plaza, opposite the striking rising glass edifice of City Hall. Rooms sport a smart design with giant angle-poise…
Seongeup Folk Village Traditional Houses
Jeju-do
The village offers comfortable accommodation in six volcanic-stone and thatched-roof cottages. Inside they have two bedrooms with ondol (heated) floors…
Gangwon-do
This architectural oddity by the Haslla Art World is an oasis of design: beds are shaped like large wooden bowls, rooms are furnished with quirky pieces…
Chungcheongnam-do
Comfortable cottages, with fridges, facing the sea. Find it by walking past the motels to the northern end of Mallipo Beach, stopping only when you see a…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
Billing itself a ‘sanctuary for the senses’, the Banyan Tree occupies a hilltop tower designed by feted local architect Kim Swoon Guen, and offers just…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
Opened in 2016, this boutique hotel was founded by veteran actor Shin Young-kyun and takes on a Korean cinema theme. Each room has stills of films that…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
In the guesthouse enclave that's sprung up along the hill to Namsan, Zaza is one of the best with its contemporary building full of design touches and…
Jeollanam-do
This guesthouse in a renovated traditional home has thoughtful modern design touches and cozy beds. There are bikes available to borrow, a rooftop lounge…
Gwangju
Park Sung-hyun, one-time curator of the Gwangju Biennale, restored this 60-year-old hanok himself and opened it as a guesthouse. The three rooms (two with…
Mokpo
Located along the waterfront Peace Park promenade in Hadang, this hotel is refreshingly understated. Rooms aren't big, but they have picture windows and…
Gyeongsangnam-do
Here's the business-class hotel that engineers, technicians and ship-industry professionals choose when visiting Geojedo. Not far from the Samsung…
Busan
The Hound Hotel is a boutique hotel that combines design with beautiful views. The Hound's prices are reasonable considering its prime waterfront location…
Ibis Ambassador Busan City Centre Hotel
Busan
Towering over Bujeon Market, Ibis wins for location (a five-minute walk from Seomyeon), cheery staff and understated, chic rooms, which have LCD TVs…
Jeollanam-do
This modern hostel has ensuite bathrooms in the 4-person dorms and ample cooking and lounging facilities. The young staff speak some English. It's a…
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