Fortune Hostel Jongno

The place was clean and conveniently located for me, with towels, shower gel, and shampoo and conditioner supplied. I skipped breakfast, though it was available, and the dining space looked clean and welcoming. I’d come back for a quick weekend. One snag: nobody was at reception when I arrived, which made me late for my next stop. I was annoyed at first, but got over it.

The guy at the hostel was genuinely happy to see us each time and was really helpful. He’ll even do your laundry. It’s a great base for Seoul’s palaces, tower, village, and shopping areas, most of which are walkable or just 5-10 minutes by taxi. Our compact room didn’t feel cramped, and it was clean and comfortable. Hot water worked the whole time.

Insadong street market and the railway are only a few blocks away, and there’s a CU convenience store right opposite. The location is really convenient. The place was clean, breakfast was free, and the hostel boss and front desk attendant were friendly and nice.

The spot was the best part for us. Jongno 3-ga station, with three metro lines, is about 300m away, and there are bus stops nearby. You can walk roughly 900m to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung Palace, or Insa-dong in about 20 minutes. Across the road, a convenience store sells snacks and lets you top up a T-money card. Nearby there are restaurants of all sorts, plus an alley about three minutes away packed with local meat grilling spots at night. There’s a currency exchange with competitive rates, and taxis are easy to get. We stayed in October 2018. It’s a good budget place if you mainly need somewhere to leave your things and sleep. The setup is simple, with beds, a fridge, shower, hairdryer, hangers, and a small cabinet. Breakfast is basic and the same each day, so I’d try local food instead. Coffee and tea are free all day. Check-in and checkout were smooth, and they kindly held our bags for free when we arrived early. We were very satisfied and plan to stay here again if we return to Korea.