For Seoul Winter Festa, base yourself in central Seoul, close to the festival areas around Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Plaza, DDP and Bosingak. Couples and first-time visitors who want to stay near the lantern displays should start with Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Myeondong 2, Koreana Hotel or Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Insadong. If guest feedback or a lower spot in the price order matters more than location, Roynet Hotel Seoul Mapo and Dormy Inn SEOUL Gangnam are worth the transit ride.

Who this list is for

This shortlist of Seoul Winter Festa hotels is for two people traveling together, whether a couple or friends, planning a two-night weekend around the lantern displays, the light shows and the year-end bell-ringing at Bosingak. It assumes you want a 3-star or higher hotel with breakfast and Wi-Fi. It also assumes you would rather get back to your room quickly after an evening outdoors than cross the whole city. If you are comparing Seoul Winter Festa Seoul hotels for a family, check room size and bed setup more carefully.

How we picked

We used Agoda partner search data pulled on October 25, 2026, for two adults on a two-night stay. The stay checks in on the Friday and out on the Sunday of the festival’s tentative opening weekend. From the eight hotels returned, we weighed distance from the city center, guest review strength at lookup time and each hotel’s place in the search’s price order. We also looked at practical details such as check-out times and listed services. Every hotel came back with breakfast included and free Wi-Fi on the rates we saw, though inclusions can change from rate to rate.

The same search also returned GLAD MAPO and L7 HONGDAE by LOTTE HOTELS. Both are reasonable alternatives, but they were at the top of the price order, so we left them off this shortlist. Live prices are in the table on this page.

Why rooms sell out during Seoul Winter Festa

Seoul Winter Festa is the city’s year-end festival. It links Gwanghwamun, Cheonggyecheon, DDP and Bosingak, and it combines the Seoul Lantern Festival, light shows and the Bosingak bell-ringing into one program. Festival visitors, including anyone looking for Seoul Lantern Festival hotels, compete with regular year-end travelers for the same central rooms. Weekend nights usually fill first. Hotels a short walk from the festival areas also tend to sell out before those that need a subway or taxi ride. If the bell-ringing is the reason for your trip, expect central rooms that night to be the hardest to find.

Which area suits the festival

Stay as close as you can to the festival areas: Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Plaza, DDP and Bosingak. Four of our six picks have addresses in Jung-gu or Jongno-gu and sit within 2.2 km of the city center, which keeps evening trips short. If you want hotels near Gwanghwamun Square or DDP specifically, check each hotel’s walking route on a map before you book.

Mapo and Gangnam mean a longer trip each evening. Roynet Hotel Seoul Mapo is 3.8 km from the city center and Dormy Inn SEOUL Gangnam is 7 km away. Plan for a transit ride each evening and know your route back before you head out.

Hotel notes

Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Myeondong 2

Why: this hotel on Mareunnae-ro in Jung-gu is 0.8 km from the city center, the closest to the center in our search. At lookup time it was a 4-star hotel with a review score of 8.8 from 25,698 reviews. It opened in 2017, has 408 rooms, and lists a laundromat, dry cleaning, luggage storage and daily housekeeping.

Suits: travelers who want to keep trips to and from the festival short each evening.

Caveats: it was in the upper half of the price order. Our search did not include room type details, so confirm the bed setup.

Koreana Hotel

Why: Koreana Hotel is on Sejong-daero in Jung-gu, 1.4 km from the city center. That makes it the second-closest hotel to the center in our search. At lookup time it was a 4-star hotel with a review score of 8.7, and it sat in the middle of the price order. The listing shows an opening year of 1972 and a renovation year of 2026. It also lists room service, concierge, a laundromat and luggage storage.

Suits: first-time visitors and couples who want a central address with room service.

Caveats: because the hotel opened in 1972, ask which room categories reflect the renovation. Its review score at lookup time was also tied for the lowest among our six picks.

Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Insadong

Why: this hotel on Insadong-gil in Jongno-gu is 1.8 km from the city center. It was second in the search’s price order, behind only Dormy Inn SEOUL Gangnam. At lookup time it was a 4-star hotel with a review score of 8.9. It opened in 2019, has 301 rooms, and lists concierge service, luggage storage, a laundromat and daily housekeeping.

Suits: value-minded couples who still want a central base.

Caveats: its listed address also mentions Myeongdong, so match the full hotel name when booking. This is the hotel we would book first if a refundable rate is available.

Hotel Skypark Kingstown Dongdaemun

Why: this 406-room hotel on Jangchungdan-ro in Jung-gu is 2.2 km from the city center and was third in the price order. At lookup time it was a 4-star hotel with a review score of 8.7 from 29,007 reviews. The listing includes complimentary parking, a laundromat, concierge and luggage storage.

Suits: drivers and travelers who want a central option lower in the price order. If you plan to spend more time around DDP, check the walking route on a map first.

Caveats: its review score at lookup time was tied for the lowest among our six picks. The listing gives no opening or renovation year, so read recent guest comments for the room type you choose.

Roynet Hotel Seoul Mapo

Why: at lookup time this 3-star hotel had a review score of 9.0 from 30,949 reviews. That put it first by review score in our search, with the largest number of reviews. It is 3.8 km from the city center and sat in the middle of the price order.

Suits: travelers who care more about consistent guest feedback than walking distance and do not mind a transit ride to the festival.

Caveats: our search data had few details on its address, check-in times or facilities. Confirm the exact location, check-out time and room layout before booking.

Dormy Inn SEOUL Gangnam

Why: Dormy Inn SEOUL Gangnam was first in the price order of our search, making it the lowest-priced of the eight hotels we checked. At lookup time it was a 3-star hotel with a review score of 9.0 from 23,029 reviews. It opened in 2016 on Bongeunsa-ro in Gangnam-gu and has 220 rooms. It lists a laundromat, parking, luggage storage and a ticket and tour service.

Suits: travelers splitting the weekend between the festival and Gangnam, or anyone who cares more about value than location.

Caveats: at 7 km from the city center, it is the farthest hotel from the center in our search. Check-out is also earlier, at 11:00 AM.

When to book

Book as soon as your trip is firm, and even earlier if you want a central hotel on a weekend or on the bell-ringing night. The festival schedule is tentative and not yet final, so choose a rate with free cancellation now and follow the official Seoul Winter Festa announcement. Check the price table on this page again as your trip gets closer, because live rates and availability change often.

How to choose

  • Short trips to the festival: start with Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Myeondong 2, then Koreana Hotel and Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Insadong.
  • A central base lower in the price order: compare Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Insadong with Hotel Skypark Kingstown Dongdaemun.
  • Guest feedback first: Roynet Hotel Seoul Mapo, if a nightly transit ride is acceptable.
  • Value plus Gangnam plans: Dormy Inn SEOUL Gangnam.
  • Driving into the city: Hotel Skypark Kingstown Dongdaemun lists complimentary parking, while Dormy Inn SEOUL Gangnam and Koreana Hotel list parking.

Booking checklist for Seoul Winter Festa

  • Free cancellation: pick a refundable rate and note the deadline. Confirm the festival dates on the official announcement before you book anything non-refundable.
  • Taxes and fees: check whether the total includes taxes and service charges before you pay. Compare final totals, not headline rates.
  • Room type: our search did not specify room types, so confirm a double or twin setup for two adults and check the room size.
  • Breakfast and Wi-Fi: both came back included in our search, but confirm them on the exact rate you select.
  • Check-in and check-out: check-in is 3:00 PM at the hotels that list it. Check-out is 11:00 AM at Dormy Inn SEOUL Gangnam and 12:00 PM at Koreana Hotel, Hotel Skypark Kingstown Dongdaemun and both Nine Tree properties.
  • Last day: most of these hotels list luggage storage, which helps if you want one more festival walk after check-out.