Holiday Inn Express Seoul Hongdae Review After a Few Days
I had passed by Holiday Inn Express Seoul Hongdae so many times around Hongdae Station that I eventually ended up staying there myself for a few days.
When searching for hotels in Hongdae, it usually feels like you have to choose between “great location but noisy” or “quiet but inconvenient.” This place felt somewhere in the middle. It didn’t feel like a flashy luxury hotel, but more like a clean and practical 4-star business hotel that’s set up well for travelers. And probably the biggest advantage was that breakfast was included for free, which honestly made the stay feel even more convenient.
After actually staying there, I could understand why there were so many foreign guests. Airport access, shopping, cafes, restaurants, and even late-night walks around Hongdae all felt naturally connected to the hotel location.
In particular, the hotel is located in the same building as AK Plaza Hongdae, which makes it very convenient to access shopping, restaurants, and cafés all in one place. Being able to handle most things without even leaving the building was definitely a big advantage.
Less Than a Minute From Hongdae Station
The first thing I noticed was honestly the location.
If you take the AREX from Incheon Airport or Gimpo Airport and get off at Hongdae Entrance Station, the hotel is basically right there. It’s less than a one-minute walk from the station, which makes a surprisingly big difference when you’re dragging a suitcase around Seoul.
Especially during humid summer weather or rainy days, not having to walk far with luggage felt way more convenient than I expected.
The hotel is easy to spot once you come out near Exit 4 or 5, and even late at night it was simple to find my way back after wandering around Hongdae or Yeonnam-dong.
It is also directly connected to AK Plaza Hongdae, which makes it very easy to find.
Surprisingly Quiet for a Hotel Next to the Station
Since it’s located right in front of the station, I was honestly expecting noise issues.
But once inside the room, it was actually pretty quiet. I barely heard any noise from neighboring rooms either, so sleeping wasn’t really a problem during my stay.
Considering how busy Hongdae stays until late at night, that part honestly surprised me a little.
Walking back from the main Hongdae streets late at night also felt comfortable. The hotel was close enough to enjoy the busy atmosphere, but not so close that it felt chaotic inside.
A Simple but Comfortable Room
The room itself felt very typical in a good way.
Nothing overly fancy, but clean and organized without unnecessary decoration. The bedding felt comfortable, and overall it was just easy to settle into after spending all day outside.
One thing I liked more than expected was the view. From the higher floors, you can see parts of Yeonnam-dong and Donggyo-dong, with all the low-rise Seoul buildings stretching out into the distance.
Around sunset, I found myself sitting near the window longer than expected just watching the city slowly change as the lights came on.
Small Facilities That Ended Up Being Useful
One thing I ended up using more than expected was the laundry room.
After a few days of walking around Seoul in summer weather, having washers and dryers inside the hotel became really useful. There were also ironing boards and irons nearby, which seemed helpful for longer trips.
I kept noticing other travelers using the laundry area too, so it definitely seemed like something people appreciated.
The gym wasn’t huge, but it had the basic cardio machines like treadmills and bikes. Nothing special, but enough if you want to move around a bit before starting the day.
The Lobby Was Designed Well for Travelers
The lobby area also felt practical rather than luxurious.
There was a currency exchange kiosk near the check-in desk, which looked especially useful for foreign travelers arriving late at night. You could also recharge transportation cards there, and the machines supported multiple languages including English, Japanese, and Chinese.
One small thing that stood out was the luggage scale in the lobby. At first it felt unnecessary, but after shopping around Seoul, I realized it’s actually pretty helpful before heading back to the airport.
Nice to Come Back and Rest at Night
The room TV also allowed Netflix login, which ended up being one of those small details I appreciated more than expected.
After walking around all day, coming back to the room, turning on the air conditioning, and watching a movie before sleeping felt surprisingly relaxing.
Sometimes those quiet moments during a trip end up being more memorable than expected.
Breakfast Was Better Than I Expected
One thing I remember quite clearly was the breakfast.
At check-in, they give you a purple breakfast coupon, and honestly it was convenient not having to search for food outside first thing in the morning after staying out late around Hongdae.
The breakfast itself wasn’t a huge luxury buffet, but more of a comfortable and practical setup for travelers. There were simple options like bread and cereal, along with eggs, sausages, salads, and other easy breakfast foods.
It also felt nice sitting with a coffee in the morning before heading back out into the city again.
I took quite a few photos of the breakfast area and food, so I’ll probably make a separate post about that later.
Everything Around the Hotel Felt Convenient
One thing I liked about this hotel was that most things were already nearby.
Olive Young and Daiso were both within walking distance, so it was easy to buy small things I forgot to pack. The AK Plaza area nearby also had stores like MUJI, SPAO, and Artbox, which were nice to casually browse.
At night, the energy around Hongdae really comes alive with street performances and crowds still walking around late into the evening.
But when I got tired, being able to quickly walk back into the hotel without needing transportation again was honestly one of the best parts.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Holiday Inn Express Seoul Hongdae felt less like a luxury experience and more like a really convenient base for exploring Seoul.
I think it works especially well for travelers who want easy airport access, plan to spend a lot of time around Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong, or just want a practical hotel in a lively area without dealing with too much noise.
After staying there myself, I could naturally understand why so many international travelers seem to book this place.
Also, luggage storage is available even after checkout, which was very convenient. When you have some time left before your flight, it’s great to leave your suitcase there and take a light stroll around Hongdae or Yeonnam-dong until departure.
How to Get to Holiday Inn Express Seoul Hongdae
Located less than a minute from Hongdae Station with direct AREX access from Incheon and Gimpo Airport.
Previous Post in Seoul
Before visiting Holiday inn, I stopped by Malic Coffee, a quiet café in Hongdae known for its cozy atmosphere and homemade cherry pie.
If you want to check out another relaxing café in Seoul, take a look at the post below.
Next Post in Seoul
Breakfast at Holiday Inn Express Seoul Hongdae | Simple & Satisfying Morning Buffet
For the next post, I’ll be sharing a closer look at the breakfast at Holiday Inn Express Seoul Hongdae — a simple but satisfying buffet with both Korean and Western options, perfect for a quick and comfortable start to the day.