Artravel Myeongdong
by the TopOfHotel team
Artravel is the cheapest bed on this whole list at about $28 a night, plain as a pin but planted right in the middle of Myeongdong for travelers who only come back to sleep.
Artravel is the cheapest bed on this whole list at about $28 a night, plain as a pin but planted right in the middle of Myeongdong for travelers who only come back to sleep.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
We will be honest so you can decide if this one is for you: the rooms at Artravel Myeongdong are very plain, the space is limited, and the fit-out is basic. This is not a room you will want to sit in all afternoon. It is built for one thing, sleeping after a long day on your feet. Guest scores reflect that, landing around 8.0, moderate and lower than the other stays on this list. Go in with the right expectations and the room does its job; go in expecting comfort and you will be let down.
Food and amenities
Amenities here are deliberately bare-bones to keep the price down. You get free Wi-Fi, luggage storage, guest laundry machines and vending machines, plus air-con and a non-smoking area. There is no restaurant and no real lounging space, but that barely matters in this location, you are surrounded by Myeongdong's street food, restaurants and convenience stores, with Namdaemun Market about 650 metres away for cheap eats and snacks.
Location and getting there
This is the whole reason to book. Artravel sits in central Myeongdong, 350 metres from the main shopping street, a 4-minute walk, and 380 metres from Myeongdong Station on Line 4, so you are on the subway in under 5 minutes. Euljiro 1-ga Station on Line 2 is roughly 500 metres off, Myeongdong Cathedral is about 500 metres, and N Seoul Tower sits around 2 km up Namsan, about a 22-minute walk or a short bus and cable-car combo.
Things to know before booking
Three things to weigh. First, guest scores are moderate, around 8.0, clearly below the other picks here. Second, the rooms are very plain with tight space, a bed and not much more. Third, facilities and service are basic, with no extras beyond Wi-Fi, laundry and luggage storage. If those trade-offs are deal-breakers, book higher up the list; if cheap and central is all you need, they are fair trades.
Our take
Artravel Myeongdong is for backpackers and hard-charging solo travelers who leave early, walk and shop and eat all day, and come back only to shower and sleep. We recommend it with conditions: pay the low room rate, keep most of your budget for food and shopping, and you have made a sensible call. At roughly $28 a night in the middle of Myeongdong, it is genuinely hard to find anything cheaper this central in Seoul.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The cheapest stay in this article, with rooms starting around $28 a night (about ~$29) and topping out near $48. In central Seoul that price point is genuinely rare.
- Central Myeongdong location: 350 metres to the main shopping street (a 4-minute walk) and 380 metres to Myeongdong Station on Line 4, so you are on the subway in under 5 minutes.
- A practical crash pad for travelers who are out exploring all day and only need a clean bed to come back to at night.
- Spending so little on the room frees up most of your budget for what you actually came for, the street food, the shopping and the cafes.
- Surrounded by restaurants and convenience stores, with Namdaemun Market about 650 metres away and Myeongdong Cathedral roughly 500 metres off.
- Guest scores are moderate, around 8.0 overall, noticeably lower than the other stays on this list, so manage your expectations going in.
- The rooms are very plain and the space is limited; this is a bed to sleep in, not a room to spend the afternoon in.
- Facilities and service are basic across the board, with no extras beyond Wi-Fi, laundry machines and luggage storage.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Seoul
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Seoul — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
See activities in SeoulAffiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Insider Tips
- Set expectations correctly before you book; you are paying for price and location here, not for comfort.
- If the room feels cramped, stash your large bag in a coin locker at Myeongdong Station and travel light for the day.
- Best if you plan full days out and treat the room purely as a place to sleep and shower.