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 2022.
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.
Grand Hyatt Seoul offers incredibly stylish accommodation in Itaewon, just 10 minutes on public transport from the tourist-friendly gay area of Homo Hill. The gay-friendly hotel boasts awesome features, including an outdoor swimming pool, an ice skating rink, and a shopping arcade, not to mention a dozen high-end bars and a state-of-the-art spa. Rooms are decorated in an elegant blend of contemporary aesthetics with traditional Korean style, and all have huge floor-to-ceiling windows that show off Seoul’s incredible skyline.
This tiny guesthouse only has three rooms, which can accommodate a maximum of 12 people. It has a very homey vibe, which means that it doesn’t feel much like a hotel at all. The decor is a bit makeshift, but the rooms are comfortable enough. The owner is super friendly and attentive, and takes good care of every guest. Both Itaewon subway station and the Homo Hill gayborhood are a short walk away.
This is a friendly, laid-back guesthouse with dorms and privates. The dorm rooms come in 4 or 6-bed and are divided by gender, while the privates range from a very basic double to a fun quadruple with bunk beds for groups of friends. The beds are comfy, everything is kept very clean, and the staff are lovely. There’s a nice communal area for mingling, and guests have access to a washing machine and a small terrace. The guesthouse is about 10 minutes from the gay nightlife.
This cool gay-friendly hotel in Itaewon has a gritty industrial style, but that doesn’t get in the way of comfort. There are both dorms and private rooms available, all featuring a kitchenette, private bathroom, Korean Ondol underfloor heating, and comfy beds. A simple but tasty breakfast is included in your rate. There are plenty of friendly areas to socialise, including a rooftop, and the gay nightife in Itaewon is less than a 5-minute walk away.
GV Residence offers a range of rooms, suites, and apartments, all with a simple and homey Korean style. All the suites have kitchenettes, which include a washing machine. The Duplex Suite, with its panoramic curved window, is a particularly lovely choice for a couple. Meanwhile, the apartment sleeps up to four people and has a fully-equipped kitchen and living area, making it a great choice for a group of friends. The hotel is located about a 10-minute walk from the gay nightlife in Itaewon.
Itaewon A One Hotel is located less than 10 minutes walk from the Itaewon gay nightlife, making it a good budget option for gay travelers. It’s a small hotel with only 21 rooms, each decorated in a simple but often colorful style. The Deluxe Triple room is a particularly good choice, as it includes a roomy living area for friends to hang out. Facilities are limited, but staff are lovely and helpful and rates are usually good value.
The rooms at this Itaewon hotel are simply decorated, but always clean and well-maintained. Three and four-person rooms are available, and everyone has basic amenities and both a bath and a shower. The hotel staff is extremely friendly and helpful, and overall the place offers good value for money in a highly desirable location. The Homo Hill nightlife is about 15 minutes away.
This practical gay-friendly hotel in Seoul has recently been renovated and brought up to date. Rooms are simply furnished, clean, and comfortable, with all the standard amenities. The hotel boasts a large and very well-equipped gym, a big outdoor pool, and an indoor golf driving range. There are several restaurants on-site, including an authentic Korean BBQ place and Chinese, Western, and Indian options. Itaewon subway station is a stone’s throw away, and it’s just a couple of minutes to the Homo Hill gay nightlife on foot.
Possibly the most popular gay-friendly hotel in Seoul, Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel is located a 5-minute walk away from the gay nightlife of Homo Hill in Itaewon. The rooms feature distinctive room designs, with an all-white color scheme offset by colorful pieces of graphic wall art. Meanwhile, the more upscale suites each have their own theme and vibe – the great-looking Duplex Party Suite is great for groups. There’s a casual on-site restaurant specializing in rice and noodle dishes and a small gym.
The Gay Passport is your complete Gay Travel Guide. Looking to Drink, Play or Sleep we have reviews to help. Award-winning & Updated 2022.