Hongdae, Seoul: Things To Do, See & Eat

TravelSouth Korea
Written By Nina Hoeberichts

Hongdae is one of those Seoul neighbourhoods that just buzzes with energy. It’s artsy, chaotic in a fun way, full of street performers, cafés, indie boutiques, and nightlife that spills onto every corner. Hongdae is known to be a student hotspot, as one of the main universities of Seoul is located here.

I stayed in Hongdae on my last trip and loved how convenient it was — the airport train drops you pretty much at your doorstep, the food is amazing, and there is always something happening. It’s a neighbourhood that is youthful without feeling overwhelming… well, unless you venture out on a Saturday night 😉

Quick links to fun tours and activities in Hongdae

Things To Do & See

Wander the Streets of Hongdae

People walking on the streets of Hongdae

Honestly, the most fun thing to do is just walk around the neighbourhood. Hongdae is full of alleys with cute shops, themed cafés, vintage stores, art galleries, photo booths everywhere, and random buskers singing surprisingly well.

In the evenings, there are often live performances around Hongdae Walking Street — think K-pop dancers, indie bands, and even magicians.

Go Shopping

Streets of Hongdae, Seoul with shops

Hongdae is a paradise for affordable, hipster & trendy shopping. Here are a few stops I recommend:

Gentle Monster - The go-to place for trendy Korean sunglasses.

Object - A cute design store full of stationery, accessories and small lifestyle items.

Hongdae M Playground - A huge multi-floor store packed with indie brands, Korean-style street fashion and accessories.

Kakao Friends Hongdae Flagship Store - You’ll find your favourite cute Kakao friends characters here!

Perfume Stores - There are quite a few, so if you don’t want to commit to a pricey perfume, a perfume-making workshop is a cute alternative (Check it out on Klook).

Visit Haneul Park

This park is popular for its amazing views on Hongdae and the rest of the city. Haneul park is most beautiful during autumn, when the trees show off their kaleidoscope of autumn colours.

Check out the Hongdae Murals & Street art

If you love street art, you can find all sorts of cool murals in the little side streets from the main Hongdae Shopping Street. You’ll see colourful murals, quirky art installations, and little outdoor galleries. It’s a great spot for photos, and the cafés around here are super cute too.

Try all the Instagram-worthy Specialty Coffee spots

Interior of a coffee shop in Hongdae, with a barista behind the coffee machine

All though you can find amazing (specialty) coffee places all over Seoul, Hongdae has it’s fair share of instagrammable coffee spots as well. If you love cafe-hopping, Check out my list below for some inspiration!

Take a walk on the Gyeongui Forest Line park

A walking path with trees on the side in Hongdae, Seoul

One of my favourite things to do in Hongdae was taking a stroll in the Gyeongui Forest Line park, which is a long, green walking path that runs through Hongdae and all the way to Gongdeok Metro station. It used to be a train line that has now been converted to this cool park.

Other fun activities to do in Hongdae

If you’re looking for some other, fun activities to do in Hongdae, here are a few ideas:

Where to Eat & Drink Coffee

Specialty Coffee & Breakfast

A coffee shop interior with seats and people drinking coffee

  • Analog Garden, Brunch & Coffee - For delicious brunch and coffee, head to this cute cafe right in the middle of Hongdae

  • Anthracite Coffee Seogyo, Specialty Coffee - A famous coffee place that is located in a very aesthetic building.

  • Kalas Coffee, Specialty Coffee - Another amazing specialty coffee place in Hongdae

  • 내면의발견(for inside), Specialty Coffee - Perhaps the most instagrammable cafe I found in Hongdae, they also serve exceptional coffee and very beautiful looking desserts

  • 앤드앤드 Andand, Specialty Coffee - Kind of an unassuming, but super cute cafe in the middle of a residential neighbourhood

  • THANKS, OAT Yeonnam, Granola bowls - Found this cute Yoghurt place at the end of my stay and had an amazing granola bowl here.

  • Belief Coffee Roasters, Specialty Coffee & bakery - Great coffee spot that also serves amazing pastries - so an ideal place for breakfast.

  • dopy, Brunch - Cute restaurant with excellent, Italian-inspired brunch dishes and decent coffee too!

Restaurants

A bowl of bibimbap with rice on the side

  • Hansang - Cute little restaurant that serves Bibimbap dishes.

  • OU Korean Cuisine Yeonnam - Modern Korean restaurant serving a variety of local dishes. I found this by accident one day and had a great dinner there with my friend!

  • Dakjangsu Gimbap (Hongdae) - Korean diner that serves Gimbap and fried chicken. Go here for an easy and delicious dinner (or lunch!).

  • Hongdae Dakgalbi - Famous for spicy stir-fried chicken. You cook it at your table with cheese, rice cakes, and veggies — super satisfying.

  • Osteria Ora - If you’re craving something different than Korean food, try this cute little Italian place that serves excellent Italian food.

Try Street Food

If you walk along the Hongdae walking street, you’ll find the following popular Korean snacks:

  • tteokbokki

  • hotteok

  • tornado potatoes

  • skewers

Where To Stay

Hongdae is one of the best areas to stay in Seoul, especially for first-time visitors and digital nomads. It’s directly on the Airport Express line and packed with food spots & cafés.

Here are a few hotel suggestions for your stay:

How To Get There

From Incheon Airport

Hongdae is probably the easiest neighbourhood to reach in all of Seoul because it’s right on the AREX airport express line, which is the best option to get into Seoul from Incheon airport. Hongdae is located at the Hongik University Station stop.

➡ Book an AREX ticket via Klook

Airport Transfer

If you're traveling with heavy luggage, with a few more people or arriving late, a private transfer is often easier:
➡ Book a private transfer (Klook)

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Nina Hoeberichts
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