The Ultimate Gay Travel Guide
The Gay Passport is your complete Gay Travel Guide. Looking to Drink, Play or Sleep we have reviews to help. Award-winning & Updated 2023.
South Korea is known as a design-forward nation, so it’s no wonder that so many of its hotels look like they belong in a glossy interior design magazine. Most hotels feature a stylish blend of modern and traditional Korean elements, and many make use of large windows to show off Seoul’s gorgeous mountainside location. The best gay-friendly luxury hotels are spread out across the city, but few are particularly close to the gay nightlife in Itaewon.
Gay visitors to Seoul are unlikely to experience any problems checking into hotels or any discrimination while visiting Seoul. Seoul is an international city with hotels and their employees used to and accepting of gay guests.
It’s worth noting, there are no anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBT+ citizens in South Korea however new anti-discrimination legislation is being discussed as of Sep 2021.
Many gay travelers who want to party choose to stay in Itaewon, the center of gay Seoul.
Seoul’s main gay party area, affectionately known as Homo Hill, is located in Itaewon. While there are other gayborhoods in the city, this is by far the most popular with tourists and foreigners. Itaewon is an unpretentious, fun part of town, so budget accommodations abound here. Lovers of good design will be delighted with some of the boutique hotels in the area, while travelers seeking a homey, laid-back vibe will love Itaewon’s many gay-friendly guesthouses.
With the subway closing around midnight and taxis, while reliable available are relatively expensive, this area offers a great level of convenience. Itaewon is also well connected with easy MRT access, a very central location, and many great options for eating both high-end and budget food.
This friendly hotel has cute, colorful branding and basic decor. There are private rooms and dorms available, including male-only dorms. Every room has a kettle and minifridge, but there is also a full-sized communal kitchen you can use. Guest House DODAMi is less than 10 minutes from the Itaewon gayborhood.
Located a super-short walk from Garosu-gil, an iconic shopping haven at the heart of Gangnam, this hotel is perfect for those who want to make the most of Seoul as a global fashion capital. Rooms are decorated in rich, deep tones, with wooden paneling and Korean motifs, with comfy furnishings and good amenities. The restaurant buffet serves a dizzying variety of dishes, all of them delicious, and there are even free ramen noodles every evening. The hotel is also home to an excellent and expansive sauna.
This hotel is part of Seoul Dragon City, a complex made up of four Accor hotels that together add up to over 1700 rooms. Grand Mercure Ambassador is the most upscale option in the complex, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and huge, modern rooms. The swanky Premier Suite sleeps up to 6, making it a perfect choice for a group of friends in town to party. The hotel boasts a stylish French restaurant, a large pool, an excellent gym, a spa, a yoga studio, and an indoor golf range.
A sleek and stylish hotel in Seoul’s financial district of Yeouido, Glad Hotel incorporates a minimalist and efficient approach to design. Rooms are in a monochrome palette and feature practical layouts. We recommend the Glad House for longer stays, as it comes with a kitchenette and dining area, and the Heritage Ondol room with traditional Korean design is a gem. Plus, there’s a cool and cozy restaurant-cafe that serves an excellent breakfast buffet in the mornings.
This multi-awarded hotel sits by the Han river on Yeouido Island, Seoul’s main finance and business district. Despite this, the hotel feels anything but corporate and impersonal, with warm and luxe decor and ultra-comfortable rooms and suites. Every one of these comes with a heavenly bed, a Nespresso machine, a deep free-standing tub, and a relaxing rain shower. There are excellent fitness facilities. including a 25m pool, a large gym, golf driving ranges (including a virtual “screen golf” area), classes, and a sauna.
This cool hotel is located a couple of steps from Myeongdong Subway Station. It features a fun design aesthetic which blends minimalist, Korean-style furnishings with bright yellow accents. Book one of the artsy suites for added space and comfort and, in the case of the Loasis Suite, a chilled-out private garden terrace. L7 Myeongdong boasts a laid-back rooftop bar as well as a champagne lounge-slash-cafe and a healthy European restaurant. Another nifty addition is the foot spa, which gives guests the opportunity to unwind in front of a panoramic view of Namsan mountain.
The Shilla is a sleek and contemporary 5-star hotel, located in the central Seoul area of Jung-Gu. Rooms feature warm, plush interiors. There are a number of beautiful and unique suites available, such as the Korean suite, with traditional Korean design. The on-site restaurants are all extremely highly-rated, with the breakfast buffet being a guest favorite. The hotel also boasts two large pools (one indoor and one outdoor), a gym, a spa, an indoor golf range, a jogging track, a shopping arcade, and a sculpture garden.
This hotel has a more old-school feel than many others in Seoul, with its classic wooden furnishings and cream-colored walls, but high maintenance standards keep it from feeling dated. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, with everything you need for a good stay. There is a tasty Korean buffet with a range of national dishes, as well as an Italian restaurant and a cafe. One of the highlights of Sejong Hotel is its Sky Garden, a lovely green space on the rooftop for when you want to get away from the bustling city.
One of the most luxurious hotels in Seoul, Banyan Tree Club offers a range of gorgeous contemporary rooms and suites. Most of them feature panoramic views of the city and Namsan mountain, as well as private indoor plunge pools. The luxury spa offers a range of holistic treatments and state-of-the-art facilities, and you will also find an outdoor pool, a gym, an ice rink, a golf driving range, and tennis courts on-site. As can be expected, the gay-friendly hotel also features a selection of excellent bars and restaurants, with European and Korean options available.
With interior design by a London studio, this luxury gay-frinedly hotel features European-style decor, combining dark wood with soothing pastel tones. Original art can be found throughout the hotel, which also houses a gallery. Several rooms have roomy balconies with city views, and if you need to get work done during your stay, several suites come with a stylish workspace. On-site restaurants range from fresh grills to Mediterranean buffet, American brunch, and gourmet Chinese. A pleasant gym is available for guests, as well as an indoor pool and a sauna.
The Gay Passport is your complete Gay Travel Guide. Looking to Drink, Play or Sleep we have reviews to help. Award-winning & Updated 2023.