Hostel Korea – Changdeokgung

Hostel Korea – Changdeokgung Overview

I’ll be honest – when I first heard about Hostel Korea – Changdeokgung, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes the best travel experiences come from spots that don’t try too hard to impress you with fancy lobbies and overpriced minibars. This little hostel actually gets it right in ways that matter.

The location is what really sold me on this place. I mean, you’re literally a stone’s throw from Changdeokgung Palace – and I’m not just saying that because it’s in the name. When you step out in the morning, you can practically feel the history seeping from the hanok-style buildings around you. The whole Jongno-gu area has this incredible mix of old and new that honestly never gets old. You’ll find yourself wandering down these narrow alleys (careful with the delivery scooters, by the way) and stumbling onto traditional tea houses tucked between modern cafes. The staff here actually knows the neighborhood – like, really knows it. They pointed me toward this incredible Korean barbecue spot about three blocks away that I never would’ve found otherwise, and it was packed with locals at 2 AM on a Wednesday.

What strikes me about this place is how it manages to feel both budget-friendly and genuinely comfortable. The 8.4 rating isn’t just inflated review scores – you can feel why people rate it well the moment you walk in. The common areas actually encourage conversation (novel concept, I know), and I ended up chatting with travelers from six different countries over the course of two nights. The bathrooms are clean – cleaner than some hotels I’ve paid three times as much for – and the beds don’t creak every time you roll over, which honestly is half the battle with hostels. Sure, you might hear some street noise in the early morning when the vendors are setting up for the day, but that’s part of the charm of staying in actual Seoul rather than some sterile hotel district. The check-in process was surprisingly smooth too, even with my terrible Korean and their perfectly polite but limited English. There’s something refreshing about a place that focuses on getting the basics right instead of trying to wow you with amenities you’ll never use. If you’re the type of traveler who wants to actually experience a city rather than hide from it, this hostel makes a pretty solid home base.

Hostel Korea – Changdeokgung Accommodations

Reviews of Hostel Korea – Changdeokgung

• Jessica from South Korea (9/10)

  Great location and was comfortable and clean

• Pamela from Australia (9/10)

  The location is really convenient. Nearby streets and laneways are full of interesting shops and good food options, including great place to have brunch/coffee called Knows directly across the road. Very easy to get around the city using buses and less than 5 minutes walk from the airport bus stop.

• Miguel from Portugal (9/10)

  Lovely staff.
  Good location.

• Jinglan from China (7/10)

  Good location ,easy to find,

• Daphne from United Arab Emirates (9/10)

  There was a 7/11 next to it, you can just go down and buy snacks when you need to. A 5 minute walk to 2 different metro lines. The space in the bedroom was sufficient for 2 big luggage. Friendly and accommodating reception staff! 🙂

• Riikka from Finland (8/10)

  Good location, easy to access by foot and explore the area. Metro station is about 10 min walk away and bus stops nearby. 7 eleven is next door. The room was spacious, AC & wifi worked well. There was a filtered water dispenser and small shared kitchen.

• Thib from France (8/10)

  Location was great, the room was clean and well furnished with a very good price for the quality.

• Nicola from Italy (8/10)

  The location Is great and rooms are quite big and comfortable. The price is good

• Karolina from Poland (9/10)

  Everything was fine, the room, the bathroom and the location.

• Lucy from United Kingdom (9/10)

  I've stayed here twice. Once with a friend and we had an amazing time due to the location and the hostel facilities.

Surroundings

Facilities