Accommodation
Hotels in South Korea: Where to Stay in Every City
South Korea has a wider accommodation range than most visitors expect. At the top end sit international five-star hotels in Seoul's Gangnam and Mapo districts, luxury resorts along Jeju's south coast, and boutique hanok guesthouses in the historic districts of Jeonju and Gyeongju. At the budget end, guesthouses (yeogwan) and hostel-style accommodation are clean, affordable, and well located.
Value for money varies by city. Seoul is more expensive than elsewhere in the country, but mid-range options in Busan, Jeonju, and Gyeongju are genuinely affordable. Staying in a traditional hanok is the standout experience: especially in Jeonju's Hanok Village, where authentic guesthouses charge ₩60,000–120,000 ($45–90) per night including breakfast. We have written detailed where-to-stay guides for all cities covered on this site.
Hotels by City
Detailed where-to-stay guides for every city: neighbourhood breakdowns, honest hotel picks across budget categories, and booking advice.
Andong
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Busan
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Daegu
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Daejeon
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Gangneung
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Gwangju
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Gyeongju
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Incheon
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Jeju City
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Jeonju
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Seogwipo
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Seoul
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Sokcho
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Suwon
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Hostels by City
South Korea has a growing hostel scene, strongest in Seoul (Hongdae, Insadong, Mapo) and Busan (Seomyeon, Haeundae). Dorm beds in major cities typically run ₩18,000–40,000 ($14–30) per night. We have detailed hostel guides for every city with a meaningful budget accommodation scene.
Types of Accommodation
Hanok Guesthouses
Traditional Korean timber-framed houses converted into guesthouses (the most atmospheric way to stay in Korea). The best concentration is in Jeonju Hanok Village and Gyeongju. Rooms are typically floor-based (ondol heating) with paper-screened walls. Rates: ₩60,000–130,000 ($45–100) per night.
Luxury & Business Hotels
Seoul has an extensive five-star hotel scene, including Lotte, Shilla, Grand Hyatt, Signiel, and Park Hyatt. Rates are high by regional standards: ₩250,000–600,000+ ($185–450) per night. Busan and Jeju also have international-standard resort hotels along their coastlines.
Guesthouses (Yeogwan / Pension)
Budget and mid-range guesthouses (yeogwan) are clean, central, and well-run in most Korean cities. Pensions are more popular in beach and nature destinations (Jeju, Gangneung, Sokcho). Most include en-suite bathrooms and Wi-Fi. Typical rates: ₩40,000–90,000 ($30–67) per night.
Temple Stay
Korea's Buddhist templestay programme offers overnight stays at working temples across the country, including Haeinsa (South Gyeongsang), Beopjusa (North Chungcheong), and Jogyesa (Seoul), where participants join monks in morning ceremonies, meditation, and simple vegetarian meals. Rates are subsidised: typically ₩50,000–80,000 ($37–60) for two days.
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