Hamilton Hotel

Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in Seoul South Korea (2024 Updated)

There are a lot of things to do in Seoul and the city it’s well know for being one of the most gay friendly cities in Asia. There are plenty of gay friendly hotel Seoul.

During your stay in the South Korean capital you can do a tons of things as watching  the Changing of the Guard at Changdeokgung and Gyeongbokgung Palaces. Get Lost (and then to be found) in a Maze of Traditional Houses at Bukchon Hanok Village. Lock your Love and Climb to the Top of N Seoul Tower for the romantics one’s.

Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is a huge metropolis where modern skyscrapers, high-tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist temples, palaces and street markets. Notable attractions include futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a convention hall with curving architecture and a rooftop park; Gyeongbokgung Palace, which once had more than 7,000 rooms; and Jogyesa Temple, site of ancient locust and pine trees

Yongsan-gu district is the main area for the gay friendly hotels in Seoul and our hotels recommendation are mainly located in that district of Seoul.

Top attractions to visit in Seoul

Seoul is a very safe city to visit. Its crime rates are much lower than in the US cities and on par with most European ones. This mostly means that, for tourists and anyone else, it is perfectly safe to walk around at night. Violent crime is also rare.

Day Tours Seoul

 

1. Grand Hyatt Seoul – Gay Friendly Hotel Seoul

Gay Friendly Hotel Seoul
Gay Friendly Hotel Seoul

Surrounding the 5-star Grand Hyatt Seoul is the nature preserve of Mount Namsan. Featuring a free schedule shuttle bus around the city, the luxurious hotel has its own shopping arcade, outdoor and indoor pools and ice skating rink.

Air-conditioned with heating, the carpeted rooms provide large windows offering views of the city or Mount Namsan. Amenities include a flat-screen satellite/cable TV, DVD player and Wi-Fi.

This hotel is located at the top hill of NamSan, little away from the downtown area, but the rooms with the river views give pretty good scenery. There is also Gyongridan gil nearby with different restaurants and cafes.

Hotel is located on Namsan hill with expansive 270 degrees view over the city. Large well manicured gardens with waterfalls. A 10 minute walk down and you are in the Itaewon area with restaurants & nightlife & an hourly shuttle bus to the Myeondong area gets you close to shopping, palaces and more restaurants

The room is a bit on the smaller size. The work desk was glass and faced the window. The chair was fairly standard and not ergonomic. Therefore, as a work station, this was not conducive to long stretches of work.

There was a small couch in the room with a very odd side table. This with the small size of the room made it very cluttered. The bed itself was fairly comfortable and the controls for the lights etc were easy to use. The TV set was very oddly placed.

The bathroom was correspondingly small and had an washout toilet seat. The shower was decent and the water pressure and temperature were acceptable.

The hotel takes full advantage of its setting, with beautiful views of the city, an Olympic-size outdoor pool, lovely grounds and a peaceful vibe throughout the hotel. Even though the city is a quick ride away, the hotel feels like a quiet retreat. You pretty much have to take a taxi or the hotel shuttle to go anywhere, but it’s a quick ride to the city center and taxis are inexpensive (under $10 for most locations), plentiful and clean.

The breakfast is  great with plenty of choices. The evening cocktail hour had such a large selection that it could easily replace dinner.

The hotel has many restaurant choices and a great lobby lounge with live music.

Grand Hyatt Seoul
Grand Hyatt Seoul

How much does a room costs at Grand Hyatt Seoul?

Prices start 275$/night for the 1 King Bed Mountain View. The Grand Suite King is 420$/night.

Grand Suite King Room is 53 to 60 m² and offers plush extra large double bed, a seating area and a working area. En suite bathroom includes a walk-in shower and a dark green marble bath. Enjoy panoramic city and river views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Grand benefits include complimentary breakfast, canapés and cocktail.

Where to book Grand Hyatt Seoul – Seoul LGBT Hotels – you can find the best hotels deals in Seoul on Booking.com and Trip.com.

 

2. Philstay Itaewon Hotel Seoul – Gay Friendly Hotels Seoul 

Our second recommendation for a gay hotel in Seoul is a 2* hotel with good amenities.

This property offers non-smoking rooms. Located 1.7 km from National Museum of Korea, Philstay Itaewon is situated in the Yongsan-Gu district of Seoul. 2.5 km from I’Park Mall, the property is also 2.6 km away from Seven Luck Casino Millennium Seoul Hilton Branch. Guests can make use of a shared lounge.

It is conveniently placed amongst all the restaurants and bars. Close to the railway station. Very near Itaewon station and Itaewons nightlife just one street away.

Location is also very good if you like to party or just want to stay in a lively area. Bars, cafes and restaurants are abundant in the area. You will never be short of places to hang out.

Rooms are clean and have modern comforts such as A/C, TV and a mini fridge. For breakfast, guests are welcome to cook their own food. Eggs, bread, coffee and cereals were free.

Philstay Itaewon features air-conditioned rooms with cable TV in the Yongsan-Gu district of Seoul. The property is around 3.9 km from Namdaemun Market, 4.4 km from The National Museum of Korea and 4.4 km from Myeongdong Cathedral.
Philstay Itaewon
Philstay Itaewon

Full kitchen and decently sized table for eating

Rooftop is a great area to go hangout with friends (keep in mind the rooftop is off limits after 11pm, too much noise has the neighbour’s complaining) but it has the best views (especially at night).

Free WiFi is accessible to all guests, while some rooms also offer a terrace.

The rooms are secure, equipped with an electronic keypad and locked windows.

The staff were extremely sweet and accommodating. They provided their favorite, local recommendations and offered to print out directions. Our room was secure, equipped with an electronic keypad and locked windows. The appliances were new and the beds were sufficient.

room was clean and had modern comforts such as A/C, TV and a mini fridge. For breakfast, guests were welcome to cook their own food. Eggs, bread, coffee and cereals were free. Staff were not always at the hostel but when they were there, they were friendly and very helpful. Be warned though that the bathroom is very, very small. At least for our room. However, it’s clean and the amenities are modern. So once you get used to the tiny space, it’s all good. Better to bring your own bath towel too as their towels are also small – the size of a hand towel.

Location is also very good if you like to party or just want to stay in a lively area. Bars, cafes and restos are abundant in the area. You will never be short of places to hang out. Overall, we had a very pleasant stay and would recommend this place to friends.

Tip: from airport, it’s best to take the airport bus. Get off at the Hamilton Hotel. Philstay is a short walk from there. Be prepared to lug your bags a bit uphill.

Philstay Itaewon
Philstay Itaewon

How much does a room costs at Philstay Itaewon Hotel Seoul?

Prices start 55$/night for the Double Room.

This double room features a minibar and air conditioning

Where to book online –  Philstay Itaewon Hotel Seoul – Gay Hotels Seoul – you can find the best hotels deals in Seoul on Booking.com and Trip.com.

 

3. Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Namsan – Gay Friendly Hotels Seoul

Offering a restaurant and a fitness centre, Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Namsan is directly connected to Seoul Station via an underground passage. The hotel offers free WiFi in all areas as well as free on-site parking.

Each room here has air conditioning, a work desk, a safety deposit box and ironing facilities. Private bathroom is fitted with a walk-in shower and comes with bathrobes and slippers. Free bath amenities are provided.

Ideally situated in the Seoul’s central, is only 10 minutes walking distance from Seoul Station which serves Airport Express train within 60 minutes from ICN. The hotel is on the upper floors that views business and finance buildings and local markets. It also offers convenient access to Myeongdong area and main districts by subway and KTX.

Convenient location with underpass linking to the station that is a warm passageway for freezing winter temperature. There are quite many eateries around the hotel and convenient stalls too. There is a direct airport bus connecting from Incheon Airport to the hotel.

Getting here from the airport could not be easier:
– Take the Arex express train to Seoul Station.
– Follow signs for Exit 12
– Follow signs for Four Points. The walk from train station took about 15min total because you have to all the up from B7 level where the train drops you off, but it’s very easy.

The hotel location is convenient to reach line 4(6 min walking) and line 1 needs extra 6-8 min walking. There is a shuttle service but with limited time offerings and only runs Monday to Saturday.

The corner rooms and have a lot of glass and sunlight offering spectacular views of the city. The room is modern and immaculate and well maintained. The room itself was very clean and well designed although a little small.

Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Namsan
Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Namsan

The bathroom is  nice and water pressure was great the views from the room weren’t bad either.

Breakfast buffet has a lot of variety but is still pretty much the same food every day. Having a varied international clientele the food choices were all over the place but there was plenty of good food.

Breakfast in the buffet is outstanding; F&B staff always approaching you to check if you need any assistance.

Located in vibrant Yongsan Gu, Four Points by Sheraton Seoul, it is just 10 mins walk from Seoul Station that is connected from the underground to the Hotel Property. We took the Limousine Bus 6001 from Incheon International airport and it takes about 1 hour to arrive right in front of the Hotel Property Bus Stop.

The room is about 30sq2m in size with a nice comfortable King Size bed. The Working desk is facing another part of Seoul and it comes with a 32inch LCD flat screen TV that was sufficient for us to watch from our bed.

The toilet comes with a Shower Area, a Toilet bowl and a vanity Sink area. It has a Body Wash and Shampoo Dispenser separately. The water pressure from the shower is also strong despite staying on the 23rd floor.

Overall, the Superior Room is Adequately good in Size although it had a hard time putting our large luggages. Next time will book a Deluxe room where it is larger for sure.

Services and Amenities

Gym: The hotel’s Gym is located on the 20th Floor where the other Guest Rooms are located at. Sadly it doesn’t have any windows to give you a good view of Seoul when doing your workout. The Gym room is really small and it only has the Dumbbell weights with Cardio equipments. But its a hotel gym so can’t comment much.

Service: Overall service from the Hotel staff is really very good. They were helpful, attentive and always with a smile.

Gay Friendly Hotels Seoul
Gay Friendly Hotels Seoul

How much does a room costs at Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Namsan?

Prices start 150$/night for the Superior Double Room with breakfast included. The Deluxe King Room is 190$/night.

Featuring city views through floor-to-ceiling windows, this deluxe room comes with a seating area with chairs and a coffee table. The room is also equipped with a safety deposit box and a flat-screen TV. Private bathroom includes both a bath and a shower. Bathrobes, slippers and free toiletries are provided

Where to book online –  Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Namsan – Gay Friendly Hotel Seoul – you can find the best hotels deals in Seoul on Booking.com and Trip.com.

 

4. Hamilton Hotel Seoul – Gay Friendly Hotel Seoul

Hamilton Hotel Seoul
Hamilton Hotel Seoul

Just in front of Itaewon Subway Station (Line 6), Hamilton Hotel offers modern rooms with free internet in Seoul’s Itaewon District. It has a seasonal rooftop pool and a large sauna.

The air-conditioned rooms are simply furnished, each equipped with a cable/satellite TV and minibar. Ironing facilities and en suite bathrooms with hot shower facilities are also included.

Welcome to Hamilton Hotel Seoul, your Seoul “home away from home.” Hamilton Hotel Seoul aims to make your visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible, which is why so many guests continue to come back year after year.

While staying at Hamilton Hotel Seoul, visitors can check out Garosu-gil (1.9 mi) and Myeongdong Shopping Street (2.0 mi), some of Seoul’s top attractions.

Guest rooms offer amenities such as a flat screen TV, and guests can go online with free wifi offered by the hotel.

Hamilton Hotel Seoul features a concierge and room service, to help make your stay more enjoyable. The property also boasts a pool and an on-site restaurant. If you are driving to Hamilton Hotel Seoul, free parking is available.

While in Seoul, you may want to check out some of the restaurants that are a short walk away from Hamilton Hotel Seoul, including Maple Tree House Itaewon (0.0 mi), EID – Halal Korean Food (0.3 mi), and Makan Halal Korean Restaurant (0.3 mi).

Seoul is also known for some great architectural buildings, including Changdeokgung Palace, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), and Deoksugung, which are not too far from Hamilton Hotel Seoul.

Hamilton Hotel Seoul puts the best of Seoul at your fingertips, making your stay both relaxing and enjoyable.

Location is perfect for subway and other transport connections. The hotel itself is located in the middle of all the nightlife with lots of restaurants in the streets behind and close by.

The location is excellent, being in the heart of the buzzing Itaewon-ro. There are bars and restaurants galore on the doorstep.

The room itself is fairly large and comfortable as is the bathroom that has a very complicated (and typically Korean) toilet.

The room has a good size, the bed is comfortable, and the bathroom clean, with a decent sized bath and a clever toilet. The free wifi worked fine, and there was a kettle in the room.

The buffet breakfast is very good with lot of choices, but they only served western food not local food.

A good location to explore Itaewon and the rest of Seoul. Right by the subway station and all the bars and restaurants in Itaewon. Beds are very comfy and the room is cleaned daily. Towels and toiletries are included in the price, as well as complimentary water and teas/coffee/ice. Very clean and modern. Room has a safe and a TV. Fitness centre and sauna available for guests to use free of charge.

From Incheon Airport: I took the Limousine Bus 6030 outside the air terminal which dropped me off across the hotel. Cost is 15,000 won one-way. I took the same bus back to Incheon airport for my departure flight.

Location: It’s central, it’s right across from the Itaewon Subway station. There is plenty of shopping and restaurants within walking distance. It’s best that you download any of the Metro/Subway app, it’s very helpful!

Hotel Room: After reading the reviews, I asked for the highest floor if possible to avoid the noise from the bars in the back laneway. I got the penthouse floor facing the front. The room was quiet, no problem getting my sleep. There was a queen bed and a full bed in the room. It was clean and I liked the modern decor.

Hamilton Hotel
Hamilton Hotel

How much does a room costs at Hamilton Hotel Seoul ?

Prices start 80$/night for the Standard Double Room. The Suite 170$/night.

The suite has a spacious living room with a sofa, a coffee table and a work desk. There also are a minibar, a flat-screen TV and an electric kettle. Private bathroom is fitted with both a bath and a shower.

Where to book Hamilton Hotel Seoul  – Gay Friendly Hotel Seoul – you can find the best hotels deals in Seoul on Booking.com and Trip.com.

5. Hotel Manu Seoul – Gay Friendly Hotel Seoul

Hotel Manu Seoul
Hotel Manu Seoul

Our last suggestion for a gay hotel in Seoul is a excellent 3* hotels both in amenities and location.

Hotel Manu Seoul is connected to the newly constructed 7017 Park, and is a 10-minute walk from Hoehyeon (Line 4) and Seoul (Line 1) subway stations. The hotel houses a massage parlour, 24-hour rooftop garden and free-use fitness centre.

Welcome to Hotel Manu, your Seoul “home away from home.” Hotel Manu aims to make your visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible, which is why so many guests continue to come back year after year.

Close to some of Seoul’s most popular landmarks, such as Cheonggyecheon Stream (1.0 mi) and Insadong (1.3 mi), Hotel Manu is a great destination for tourists.

Rooms at Hotel Manu provide a flat screen TV, air conditioning, and a refrigerator, and getting online is easy, with free wifi available.

In addition, Hotel Manu offers a lounge, which will help make your Seoul trip additionally gratifying.

If you’re looking for a seafood restaurant, consider a visit to Todai Myeongdong, Jinmi Sikdang, or Ahyeondong Ganjang Gejang, which are all conveniently located a short distance from Hotel Manu.

There is no shortage of things to do in the area: explore popular history museums such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, National Museum of Korea, and Seoul Museum of History.

Hotel Manu puts the best of Seoul at your fingertips, making your stay both relaxing and enjoyable.

Well-designed and clean, all guest rooms come with a flat-screen TV, minibar and desk. En suite bathrooms are equipped with a shower and bidet.

Very convenient location and it is entirely possible to drag your luggage from Seoul Station all the way to the hotel as the hotel’s lobby is connected to Seoul. After exiting from Seoul station to ground level, take an elevator/lift up to Seoul and head in the direction of Hoehyeon station. Hotel Manu will be on your left after a 5 – 7 minute walk. You should not need to carry your luggage across many stairs.

Room is clean and spacious enough, with a modern decoration. The bathroom is super cool, with a nice Italian shower and futuristic toilets with bidet function. Beds were comfortable and not too hard. Completely soundproof and relaxing place.

The rooms are clean and housekeeping are very efficient and hard working. The rooms air conditioning is superb. It was hot weather when i went so keeping the AC on during those hot days was quite relaxing. There are shampoo conditioner and body gel fully stocked and the shower has a door which was a nice touch. The water pressure is amazing. Its strong and water gets very hot. They have those high tech toilets. Heated seat, bidet and automatic flushing.

The hotel serves breakfast at the Lobby cafe (2nd storey) but is definitely not worth the price – 6$/person.

How much does a room costs at Hotel Manu Seoul?

Prices start 120$/night for the Standard Double Room. The Superior Double room is 150$/night.

Modern air-conditioned corner suite for 3 guests with a flat-screen TV and minibar. En suite bathroom has a shower

Where to book online –  Hotel Manu Seoul – Gay Friendly Hotels Seoul – you can find the best hotels deals in Seoul on Booking.com and Trip.com.

 

For Day Tours in Seoul check the available tours here.

by Sorin

Sorin is a freelance travel writer. He is an experienced travel writer and traveller. Since 2012 he explored more than 60 countries on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Currently is based in Romania after spending the last 7 years in Myanmar.