Why stay in Seoul?
The South Korean capital city of Seoul is gigantic, and has suffered from many of the problems large cities have - including traffic congestion and pollution. Both of those issues are far better than they once were, and Seoul is a great city to visit. There are several royal palaces to see, the nightlife is thriving, and Seoul is a Mecca for fans of knock-off shopping. Who could ask for more?
While traffic can still be a problem, travelers can take advantage of Seoul's excellent subway system and avoid all of the confusion above ground. The subway also makes it easy to get from your hostel to anything you want to see and back. It is important to remember that "hostels" are not just for young people or the backpacking crowd (even if the place has the word "backpacker" in the name!) - hostels are ideal for budget-conscious travelers who are interested in meeting other travelers. A few Seoul hostels worth mentioning are highlighted below.
Golden Pond Guesthouse was just opened in late 2006 and is 5 minutes from Hyehwa Station and 1 minute from a major bus station near the city center. Beewon Guest House is in central Seoul within walking distance of most of the city's main sights.
Hostel Korea is also in the city center, 5 to 10 minutes' walk from the main attractions. Travelers A Guesthouse is in central Seoul and a 2 minute walk from a subway station.
If none of these hostels sounds like it will be perfect for you, do not worry. There are other Seoul hostels where those came from. Just keep reading the listings until you find the one that suits you.
Is there anything else you still need for your trip? Do not forget that you can search for the best deals on international airfare to Seoul and book your ticket now. You can also learn more about the area in our Seoul Travel Guide.