8 Reasons to Stay at Myeongdong
Myeongdong is only good to visit for food? Eight reasons on why you have to stay at Myeongdong when visiting Korea!
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When visiting Seoul, many people choose to stay at Myeongdong. What is the main reason behind this? I will introduce the Top 8 reasons on why people choose and should choose to stay in Myeongdong when coming to Seoul.
Reasons to stay at Myeongdong
1. Duty-free Shop
Everyone knows that Myeongdong is known to be a shopping paradise in Seoul. But many people also come to Myeongdong to shop at the duty-free shops here. As long as visitors present their passports, they can purchase goods they want at the duty-free price. There are various duty-free shops here that you can visit that are perfect for shopping.
Myeongdong Lotte Duty-free Shop
- 서울 중구 소공동 을지로 30
Myeongdong Shinsegae Duty-free Shop
- 서울 중구 충무로1가 퇴계로 77
2. Bustling Shopping District
You can find the majority of popular brands to all have stores or their products sold in the Myeongdong Shopping District. These products range from beauty, clothes, k-pop albums, and more which you can buy walking around the streets of Myeongdong.
Also the employees in the majority of stores in Myeongdong can speak Chinese making communication to not be a problem.
3. Money Exchange
Money Exchanges at Myeongdong can be referred to as one of the best money exchanges in the country with the best exchange rates. The Myeongdong Embassy and Ilpumhyang Money Exchanges are the two most visited exchanges in Myeongdong and when you compare them to other money exchanges, they offer much better rates.
- Embassy Money Exchange : 서울 중구 충무로1가 명동2길 26
- Ilpumhyang Money Exchange : 서울 중구 남대문로 52-13
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4. Streetfood
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Myeongdong's street food carts operate from the afternoon to late at night and it is perfect to try a variety of Korean street food at once.
Weekdays | Holidays | |
Hours | 16:00 - 23:00 | 14:00 - 23:00 |
5. One Day Trips
If you are staying at Myeongdong and going for the Nami Island One Day Trip, you can conveniently go to Yongsan to start your trip.
Staying at Myeongdong is perfect if you plan on going on One Day Trips as the start point of these trips are all near Myeongdong.
6. Convenient Communication
When asking about the place where the most Chinese is spoken in Korea, it would have to be Myeongdong. There are Chinese menus and Chinese speaking staff in the majority of stores at Myeongdong making communication to be not an issue.
For people that haven't travelled Korea often, it is extremely convenient to stay at a location where they don't have any communication barriers.
7. Convenient Transportation
Airport Bus from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong | |||
Arrival | Bus Number | First Bus Time | Last Bus Time |
Myeongdong | 6001 | 04:50 | 22:40 |
6015 | 05:35 | 22:50 | |
Euljiro | 6701 | 04:45 | 22:44 |
To ride the airport railway you have to go to Seoul Station and transit to Line 4 and get off Myeongdong station. The first subway line from Myeongdong to the airport is at 06:55 so it may be a good choice to not ride the subway and ride the bus.
8. N Seoul Tower
Myeongdong is close to a landmark of Seoul which is the N Seoul Tower. Myeongdong to N Seoul Tower only takes around a 20 minute walk to the entrance or you can also take the yellow bus to go all the way up.
Namsan Tower Tourist Bus | |
Bus Number | Areas it reaches |
Yellow 05 | Myeongdong, Chungmuro |
I mentioned the 8 reasons above to show that Myeongdong is one of the best places to stay when visiting Korea for the first time. If you have visited Korea multiple times, there may be better options for you to stay to explore Seoul more.
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But thinking about it are there not cons about staying at Myeongdong? No there are but these cons are minimal to those visiting Korea for the first time.
Myeongdong Accommodation Cons
- It is always full of people
- The alleys are confusing and dirty
- They speak so much Chinese it doesn't feel like Korea
- It is more expensive than other places
These cons are expanding in Myeongdong making it a place where Koreans no longer want to visit frequently.
But I sorted out accommodation in Myeongdong that is not only cheap but convenient when using transportation. It is very cost-effective.
Myeongdong Accommodation Recommendation : Precautions
Price Difference | Depends on Exchange Rate Differs from when you make your reservation |
Lowest Price | Book your accommodation at the lowest price Enter the code: CREATRIP |
Casa Myeongdong - Lowest Price 26 USD
★★★★☆(5.0/4.4)
3 Minute Walk from Myeongdong Station
Welcome to Stay Alone
Cooking, Living Equipment
★★★★☆(5.0/4.6)
10 Minute Walk from Myeongdong Station
Welcome to Stay Alone
Cooking, Living Equipment
Seoul AR Tour ARTravel - Lowest Price 36 USD
★★★★★(5.0/5.0)

BR Studio - Lowest Price 71.5 USD
★★★★★(5.0/4.8)
10 Minute Walk from Myeongdong Station
Convenient Location to Myeongdong Shopping District
Beautifully Decorate
Large and Clean Room
Just Myeongdong - Lowest Price 99 USD
★★★★★(5.0/5.0)
10 Minute Walk from Myeongdong Station
Convenient Location to Myeongdong Shopping District
Large and Clean Room
Myeongdong The DADA House - Lowest Price 44 USD
★★★★☆(5.0/5.0)
5 Minute Walk from Myeongdong Station
Kind Employees, and Cost-efficient
Can see the beautiful scenery of Namsan
Sunshine Guest House - Lowest Price 57.5 USD
★★★★★(5.0/5.0)
3 Minute Walk from Myeongdong Station
Convenient to Myeongdong Shopping District




57 Myeongdong Hotel - Lowest Price 62 USD
★★★★☆(5.0/4.7)
5 Minute Walk from Myeongdong Station
Quiet even though it is next to Myeongdong Shopping District
Mmmio II Design Residence - Lowest Price 68.5 USD
★★★★☆(5.0/4.6)
5 Minute Walk from Euljiro 3-ga Station
Can walk to the Myeongdong Shopping District
Very Cost-efficient
Spacious Room and Beautiful Design
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