The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in South Korea

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to South Korea

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple and the Haeundae Sea in Busan, South Korea. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple and the Haeundae Sea in Busan, South Korea.

If it's your first trip to South Korea for the activities and sightseeing, then you're in for a treat. But the biggest question is often where to stay for a first time visitor to South Korea. With so many amazing hotels to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision to make the most of your first trip here. That's where we come in! In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you find the best hotels for first-timers in South Korea. After analyzing all of the hotels based on price, location, amenities, ratings, and more, we have come up with our list of the best hotels in South Korea for first time visitors. We'll cover everything you need to know about these hotels, including the amenities, location, prices and ratings. So, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as a couple on a romantic getaway, you'll find the perfect hotel if you've never visited South Korea beofre. So check out these terrific hotels, many of which have sparkling swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and top-notch amenities, along with the perfect balance of comfort, location, and affordability. So, let's get to it and discover the best hotels in South Korea for your first trip!

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Hotel Naru Seoul - MGallery Collection

Seoul, South Korea
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $229 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 8 Mapodaero Mapogu, Hotel Naru Seoul - MGallery Collection has great rooms from $229 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 9.20 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only a short distance from the city center, first time visitors will especially love parking, laundry services, city views, an indoor pool, and laundry facilities at this relaxing hotel. The indoor pool here is terrific, and makes for a great place to relax and have fun no matter what the weather is like.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Infinity pool


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Lotte Hotel Busan

Busan, South Korea
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $127 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to South Korea
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Lotte Hotel Busan which has nice rooms starting at $127. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a casino, and a restaurant, it also has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 772, Gaya-Daero, Busanjin-gu. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a fitness center, a bar, laundry services, golf, and city views which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. Being able to relax at the pool bar is a great way to spend your time here.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Goldone Hotel & Suites

Seogwipo, South Korea
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $104 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

We found Goldone Hotel & Suites to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $104. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 1032, Ieodo-ro. You'll also find snorkeling, a bar, hiking, laundry services, and a hot tub which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Private pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Jeju Doldam B&b

Seogwipo, South Korea
Guest house with prices starting at $51 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

With terrific rooms from $51, Jeju Doldam B&b, at 46, Daepyeong-ro, Andeok-Myeon provides a restaurant, a bar, laundry services, free parking, and laundry facilities. Its terrific guest rating is 9.70 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers bicycle rental, family rooms, a tour desk, air-conditioning, and a 24-hour desk. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


The Shilla Seoul

Seoul, South Korea
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $363 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to South Korea
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

The Shilla Seoul has a great guest rating of 9.30 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. The great rooms here start at $363 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 249, Dongho-ro, Jung-gu. Furthermore, it also offers a bar, laundry services, golf, city views, and a hot tub, which is nice for first time visitors. Just a short drive from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Make sure to set aside some time for swimming in the pool, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Paradise Hotel Busan

Busan, South Korea
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $166 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

The great guest rating of Paradise Hotel Busan is 9.30 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a casino, and a restaurant. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $166, and it's located at 296, Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, Haeundae-gu. We also love the a fitness center, a bar, laundry services, city views, and a hot tub which are great for visitors. And since it's just a quick trip from the center of the town, the location is great, too. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club


New Donghae Hotel

Donghae, South Korea
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $44 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in South Korea
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is New Donghae Hotel because it has great rooms that start at $44. It has a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, laundry services, and golf, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.20 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 1, Pyeongneung-gil. Only a short distance from the city center, travelers will especially love city views, a hot tub, a game room, free parking, and laundry facilities at this convenient hotel. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator


Forest of Color Pension

Hongcheon, South Korea
2-star Hotel with prices starting at $52 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Forest of Color Pension offers an outdoor pool, skiing, hiking, rooms with kitchens, and golf which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $52 (before taxes). It's located at 767, Palbongsan-ro and has earned a guest rating of 9.20/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a game room, free parking, bicycle rental, family rooms, and a private pool which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. Having a kitchen in the room is a great way to make meals and save money, too. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Kitchen
More Great Amenities
  • Hiking
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Kids' club


Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju

Seogwipo, South Korea
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $164 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to South Korea
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Located at 537, Minsokhaean-ro, Pyoseon-Myeon, Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju has great rooms from $164 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 9.10 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find laundry services, a hot tub, a game room, a spa, and a child pool which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. We love the convenience of room service, and it's really nice here.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Private pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Kids' club


Lotte Hotel Seoul

Seoul, South Korea
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $281 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Lotte Hotel Seoul which has nice rooms starting at $281. Offering room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and laundry services, it also has a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 30, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers golf, city views, an indoor pool, free parking, and laundry facilities. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


For more terrific hotel ideas in South Korea, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in South Korea, Best Luxury Hotels in South Korea, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in South Korea, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in South Korea, Best Hotels for One Week in South Korea, Best Hotels for One Night in South Korea, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in South Korea, Best Adults Only Hotels in South Korea, Best Party Hotels in South Korea, Best Hotels for Skiing in South Korea, or Best Business Hotels in South Korea.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in South Korea?

South Korea Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$83

After analyzing 803 first time trip hotels in South Korea, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $83. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic first time trip accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in South Korea.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $192
  • 4-star hotels: $88
  • 3-star hotels: $63
  • 2-star hotels: $47


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