Where We Stayed in Seoul: Conrad Seoul & Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Myeongdong
"Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn a commission if you click and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you."Choosing where to stay in Seoul was probably one of the things I researched the most before our trip. Since we were staying for a week, we decided to split our time between two hotels in different parts of the city: Conrad Seoul in Yeouido and Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Myeongdong. I’m actually glad we did! Both hotels offered completely different experiences, and changing locations gave us a chance to explore more of Seoul without having to travel as far every day. Here’s what our stay was like at each hotel and what we loved about both.
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Conrad Seoul
We chose Conrad Seoul for the first half of our trip, and after a long travel day, it was such a nice hotel to arrive at. The hotel is located in Yeouido, Seoul’s financial district, and the area felt a little quieter compared to some of the busier neighborhoods we visited later in our trip.
One of my favorite things about staying here was the convenience. The hotel is connected to IFC Mall, and The Hyundai Seoul is also nearby, so we had plenty of shopping and dining options without having to go very far. This was especially nice during the summer when we wanted a break from the heat.
The Room
Our room was spacious and comfortable, which we really appreciated when traveling with our 5-year-old and all of our luggage. Having that extra space made it easy to settle in and relax after spending the day exploring Seoul. One of our favorite things about the room was waking up to the beautiful Han River view!
We loved some of the little touches at Conrad Seoul. The Mojave Ghost toiletries felt luxurious, and I also enjoyed having a Dyson hair dryer in the room. We also appreciated that they had a water dispenser instead of bottled water. What made our stay even more special was the service. I mentioned that we were celebrating our daughter's birthday and preschool graduation, and the staff surprised her with a cake! It was such a thoughtful gesture and one of our favorite memories from our stay.
Location
Yeouido worked really well for the first part of our trip. We could walk around the neighborhood, visit Yeouido Park, and easily spend time at The Hyundai Seoul. The only thing to keep in mind is that many of Seoul’s major tourist attractions aren't right outside the hotel, so we still needed to take the subway or Uber to places like Myeongdong and Gyeongbokgung Palace. The commute wasn't bad at all, though—most places we visited were only about a 20–30 minute ride away.
We loved the breakfast buffet at Zest! The food selection was one of the best we've had, with so many options to choose from. These are just a few of the dishes I managed to take photos of—there was honestly so much more! Everything we tried was delicious, and breakfast was definitely one of the highlights of our stay at Conrad Seoul.
Would We Stay Here Again?
Definitely! Aside from the amazing amenities, what really stood out to us was the service. We loved our spacious room, the convenient access to shopping, and the quieter location in Yeouido. Our stay here felt a little too short, and we'd definitely love to come back and explore more of this side of Seoul next time.
Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Myeongdong
For the second half of our trip, we moved to Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Myeongdong (formerly Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Namdaemun). After spending a few days in quieter Yeouido, staying in this part of Seoul felt completely different. The biggest advantage for us was the location. Namdaemun Market was right nearby, Myeongdong was within walking distance, and we were much closer to many of the places we wanted to explore during the second half of our trip. We loved being able to simply walk out of the hotel and have so much to see and do nearby.
The Room
The room had a different feel from Conrad Seoul, but it was still comfortable and had everything we needed for our stay. Since we spent most of our days out exploring, we really appreciated having a cozy and convenient place to relax and recharge at the end of the day. This time, our room came with a beautiful view of Namsan and N Seoul Tower, which was such a nice surprise!
Location
Location was really where this hotel stood out for us. We could easily walk to Namdaemun Market and Myeongdong, and getting to Cheonggyecheon Stream, and other parts of central Seoul was easy. We especially loved being able to head out in the evening without having much of a plan—there was always somewhere nearby to walk, shop, or grab something to eat. For our family, it was a great location for exploring this side of Seoul.
Although we didn't get to experience all of the hotel's amenities during our short stay, we did get to enjoy The 22 Namdaemun Bakery & Bar inside the hotel. The bakery has an incredible view of Namsan and N Seoul Tower, which made it such a nice spot to visit. And of course, the pastries and treats were delicious—we definitely recommend trying a few!
Would We Stay Here Again?
Yes! If sightseeing and being closer to central Seoul are priorities, the Courtyard is a very convenient place to stay. We especially liked having so many attractions, shops, restaurants, and transportation options nearby.
Which Hotel Did We Prefer?
Honestly, I'm glad we stayed at both because they served different purposes during our trip.
Conrad Seoul gave us a more relaxing start to our vacation, with a spacious room and easy access to IFC Mall and The Hyundai Seoul. Courtyard by Marriott put us closer to the action and made exploring central Seoul much more convenient.
If I were choosing between them, I would think about what kind of Seoul trip you're planning. If you prefer a quieter area, a more upscale hotel experience, and easy access to shopping, Conrad Seoul may suit you better. If location and sightseeing are your priorities, Courtyard by Marriott puts you closer to many of Seoul's popular areas.
Final Thoughts
Splitting our stay wasn't something we necessarily had to do, but I'm glad we did. It gave us the opportunity to experience two completely different sides of Seoul and made it easier to explore different parts of the city during our week-long trip.
Both hotels worked well for our family, and I would happily stay at either one again. Hopefully, our experience helps if you're deciding where to stay for your own trip to Seoul!
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