Last updated: January 2026
I remember Hongdae before it was famous.
- My Korean language school was nearby. After class, I’d wander streets filled with art students, indie musicians, and underground clubs that didn’t check IDs too carefully.
No tourists. No chain stores. Just raw creative energy.
Now Hongdae is in every guidebook. The indie clubs became mainstream. The art students got priced out. International brands replaced local shops.
But here’s the thing — Hongdae is still worth visiting. You just need to know where to look.
35 years of Hongdae. Here’s what’s still good.
Hongdae is Seoul’s beating heart.
Young, loud, creative, chaotic.
If Seoul has a neighborhood that never sleeps,
this is it.
Here’s your complete guide.
Not sure if Hongdae is right for you? Compare it with other areas in our Best Neighborhoods in Seoul guide.
What is Hongdae?
Hongdae (홍대) = area around Hongik University.
Originally an art school neighborhood,
now Seoul’s center for:
- Nightlife
- Street performances
- Indie music
- Youth culture
- Trendy cafes
The energy is unlike anywhere else in Korea.
How to Get There
Subway:
- Hongik University Station (Line 2, Airport Railroad)
- Exit 9 = main shopping street
From Incheon Airport:
- AREX train directly to Hongik University Station
- 55 minutes, 4,850원
From Seoul Station:
- Line 4 → Transfer Line 2 → Hongik University
- About 25 minutes
Best Things to Do in Hongdae
1. Street Performances (Free!)
Where: Hongdae Playground area
When: Evenings, especially weekends
You’ll see:
- Dance crews
- Buskers and singers
- K-pop cover groups
- Comedians
- Random performers
Weekend evenings = most performers.
Just walk around and watch.
2. Hongdae Free Market
When: Saturdays, 1PM – 6PM
Where: Hongdae Playground
Artists sell handmade goods:
- Jewelry
- Artwork
- Crafts
- Unique souvenirs
Great for one-of-a-kind gifts.
3. Nightlife
Hongdae has everything:
Clubs:
- NB2 (K-pop/hip-hop)
- Club Vera (EDM)
- Cocoon (chill vibes)
- FF (hip-hop)
Bars:
- Pocha (Korean tent bars)
- Craft beer bars
- Wine bars
- Cocktail bars
Club entry: Usually 10,000-20,000원 (includes 1 drink)
Bars: No cover usually
Hongdae nightlife evolution:
| Era | Scene |
|---|---|
| 1990s | Indie rock clubs, underground |
| 2000s | Hip-hop arrives, clubs expand |
| 2010s | EDM boom, tourist crowds |
| Now | Mix of everything, very commercial |
My clubbing days (yes, I’m old):
I spent way too many nights in Hongdae clubs in my 20s and 30s.
Favorites that still exist:
- DGBD (now called FF) — Live indie music since forever
- Gogos2 — Electronic/techno, serious music crowd
Favorites that closed:
- Drug (the club, not actual drugs) — Legendary indie venue
- Hodge Podge — Tiny jazz bar I loved
For visitors now:
The main club street (걷고싶은거리) is packed Thursday-Saturday. Music spills out everywhere. Street performers compete for attention.
It’s fun but overwhelming. My advice: pick ONE club, commit to it, enjoy the night. Don’t try to hit five places.
Getting old reality:
I’m too old for 2 AM clubs now. But I still go to Hongdae for live music — acoustic sets, jazz bars, indie shows. That scene is alive and well if you look beyond the EDM clubs.
4. Noraebang (Karaoke)
What: Private karaoke rooms
Cost: 15,000-25,000원/hour per room
When: Anytime, but especially late night
Hongdae has dozens of noraebangs.
Su Noraebang (수노래방) has English songs.
Many are 24 hours.
5. Trick Eye Museum
What: 3D optical illusion museum
Cost: Around 18,000원
Best For: Fun photos, rainy days
Interactive art you can pose with.
Cheesy but entertaining.
6. Yeonnam-dong (Nearby)
What: Quieter, trendier extension of Hongdae
Vibe: Instagram cafes, local restaurants
Walk 10 minutes from main Hongdae.
Beautiful Gyeongui Line Forest Park.
Perfect afternoon escape from the chaos.
7. Shopping
Hongdae shopping is unique:
- Indie fashion boutiques
- Vintage/thrift stores
- K-pop merch shops
- Streetwear stores
- Quirky accessory shops
Less mainstream than Myeongdong.
More creative, younger styles.
Best Food in Hongdae
Korean BBQ
| Restaurant | Specialty | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Baek Jeong (백정) | Pork belly | 15,000원~ |
| Hongdae Gopchang | Beef intestines | 13,000원~ |
| Various no-name spots | Samgyeopsal | 12,000원~ |
Fried Chicken
| Restaurant | Specialty | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kyochon (교촌) | Soy garlic chicken | 18,000원~ |
| BBQ Chicken | Olive chicken | 17,000원~ |
| BHC | Bburinkle (cheese dust) | 18,000원~ |
Street Food
Best street food area:
Main street from Exit 9, around playground.
Must try:
- Tornado potato (4,000원)
- Corn dogs (4,000원)
- Tteokbokki (4,000원)
- Hotteok in winter (2,000원)
- Egg bread (3,000원)
Budget Eats
| Type | What | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gimbap | Rice rolls | 3,000-5,000원 |
| Ramyeon | Instant noodles | 4,000-6,000원 |
| Jjajangmyeon | Black bean noodles | 6,000-8,000원 |
| Convenience store | Triangular kimbap | 1,200원 |
Late Night Food
Hongdae never closes.
24-hour options:
- Convenience stores (everywhere)
- 24-hour gimbap shops
- Late-night BBQ joints
- Post-club ramyeon spots
Trending Cafes
Korea takes coffee seriously. Learn why in our Korean Cafe Culture Guide.
| Cafe | Known For |
|---|---|
| Café Comma | Aesthetic, quiet |
| Zapangi | Pink vending machine entrance |
| Thanks Nature Café | Sheep café (yes, real sheep) |
| Stylenanda Pink Pool Café | Instagrammable |
| Aloha Hawaii | Poke bowls |
My Hongdae food spots:
After 30+ years, these are my regulars:
| Place | Food | Why I Love It |
|---|---|---|
| 오거리 곱창 | Gopchang (intestines) | 25+ years going here. The ajumma knows me. |
| 홍대 돈까스 | Pork cutlet | Old-school, no-frills, perfect donkatsu |
| 카페 산다 | Coffee/brunch | My weekend spot for 10 years |
| 연남 장작구이 | BBQ | Wood-fired meat, worth the wait |
Tourist trap warning:
The restaurants RIGHT on the main street? Often mediocre and overpriced.
Walk 2-3 blocks into the side alleys. That’s where locals eat. Prices drop 30%, quality goes up.
My test:
If a restaurant is full of Koreans at 7 PM on a weekday, it’s good. If it’s full of tourists with English menus outside? Be cautious.
Hongdae Nightlife Guide
Timeline of a Night Out
7-9 PM: Dinner
- Korean BBQ
- Fried chicken + beer
9-11 PM: Pre-drinks
- Soju at pocha (tent bar)
- Craft beer bars
- Rooftop bars
11 PM – 2 AM: Clubs open
- Pay cover
- Get drink ticket
- Dance
2-5 AM: Peak clubbing
- Club hopping
- Late-night street food
5-7 AM: Wind down
- 24-hour cafes
- Jimjilbang (Korean spa)
- Early breakfast
Club Tips
- Dress code: Casual is fine, no sandals
- ID: Bring passport (age check)
- Cover charge: Usually includes 1 drink
- Peak time: After midnight, especially weekends
- Music: K-pop, hip-hop, EDM depending on club
Best Nights
- Friday: Busiest, most energy
- Saturday: Slightly less packed
- Thursday: Student night (cheaper)
- Sunday-Wednesday: Quieter, some clubs closed
Safety Tips
Hongdae is generally safe, but:
- Watch your drinks
- Stay with friends
- Keep valuables secure
- Know your limits with alcohol
- Have hotel address saved
Where to Stay in Hongdae
Budget (Under 50,000원/night)
- Hostels near Exit 3
- Guesthouses in Yeonnam-dong
- Capsule hotels
Mid-Range (50,000-150,000원/night)
- Hotel The Designers
- Hotel Maui
- Nine Tree Premier Hotel
Higher End (150,000원+/night)
- L7 Hongdae by Lotte
- Ryse Hotel
- Mercure Ambassador
Where to Book
- Agoda (usually cheapest)
- Booking.com
- Hotels.com
Tip: Stay near Exit 9 for convenience,
or Exit 3 for slightly quieter area.
Day Trip Itinerary
Morning (10 AM – 12 PM)
- Start at Exit 9
- Walk main shopping street
- Coffee at trendy cafe
- Browse unique shops
Lunch (12 – 1:30 PM)
- Gimbap for quick bite
- Or Korean BBQ if hungry
Afternoon (1:30 – 5 PM)
- Walk to Yeonnam-dong
- Explore Gyeongui Line Forest Park
- Instagram cafes
- Hongdae Free Market (if Saturday)
Evening (5 – 8 PM)
- Return to main Hongdae
- Street food for dinner
- Watch street performances
Night (8 PM+)
- Fried chicken + beer
- Noraebang
- Bars and clubs (if that’s your scene)
Night Out Itinerary
7 PM – Start with Food
Korean BBQ with friends.
Order soju and beer.
9 PM – Bar Hopping
Move to a pocha (tent bar) or craft beer spot.
Socialize, drink, plan the night.
11 PM – Club Entry
Pick a club based on music preference.
Pay cover, get drink.
1 AM – Second Club
Don’t like the vibe? Club hop!
Clubs are close together.
3 AM – Late Night Food
Tteokbokki and ramyeon hit different at 3 AM.
Many spots open 24 hours.
5 AM – Options
- Keep going (clubs open until 6-8 AM)
- Jimjilbang (24-hour spa, sleep there)
- Head back to hotel
Hongdae vs Other Areas
| Aspect | Hongdae | Gangnam | Itaewon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Young, indie | Upscale, modern | International |
| Music | K-pop, indie | EDM, hip-hop | Diverse |
| Age | 18-30 | 25-40 | All ages |
| Price | Budget-mid | Mid-high | Mid-high |
| Crowd | Korean youth | Mixed | Foreigners + Koreans |
Beyond the Tourist Zone
The real magic is outside the main area.
Yeonnam-dong (연남동)
5-minute walk from Hongdae Station. Completely different vibe.
Tree-lined streets. Quiet cafes. Local restaurants. This is where Hongdae’s creative energy moved when the main area got too commercial.
My favorite: Walk along the Gyeongui Line Forest Park. It’s a converted railway track, now a beautiful walking path with cafes along the sides.
Hapjeong (합정)
One subway stop from Hongdae. More mature, less chaotic.
Better restaurants. Better cafes. Locals who outgrew Hongdae’s party scene.
I eat in Hapjeong more than Hongdae now.
Sangsu (상수)
Between Hongdae and Hapjeong. The sweet spot.
Indie bookshops. Design studios. Specialty coffee. This feels like what Hongdae USED to be.
Useful Tips
Money
- ATMs everywhere
- Most places take cards
- Bring cash for street food
- Clubs = cash preferred for cover
Language
- English limited
- Young people may speak some English
- Google Translate helps
- Point and smile works
Getting Home Late
- Subway closes ~midnight
- Night buses available
- Taxis readily available
- Kakao Taxi app recommended
Weather Considerations
- Summer: Hot, humid, crowded
- Winter: Cold but still active
- Spring/Fall: Best times to visit
- Rainy days: Indoor cafes, noraebangs
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Coming Too Early
Hongdae wakes up late.
Before 6 PM = quiet.
Real action starts after 9 PM.
Mistake 2: Missing Yeonnam-dong
Main Hongdae is chaotic.
Yeonnam-dong (10-min walk) is calmer.
Don’t skip it.
Mistake 3: Only Doing Nightlife
Hongdae has great daytime activities too.
Shopping, cafes, markets.
See it in daylight first.
Mistake 4: Overspending at Clubs
Cover charges add up.
Pick 1-2 clubs max per night.
Pre-drink at cheaper bars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hongdae safe at night?
Generally yes.
Lots of people around all night.
Use common sense.
Can I visit Hongdae during the day?
Yes! Great for shopping and cafes.
Just know it’s quieter before evening.
What age is Hongdae for?
Mostly 18-35.
Older visitors welcome, but may feel out of place at clubs.
Do I need to speak Korean?
No, but it helps.
Staff are used to tourists.
Google Translate is your friend.
How long should I spend?
- Day visit: 4-6 hours
- Night out: 6-12 hours
- Full experience: Stay overnight
Final Thoughts
I’ve watched Hongdae transform from underground art scene to international tourist destination.
Some of the magic is gone. That’s real. The indie clubs that shaped Korean rock music are mostly closed. The art students can’t afford the rent anymore.
But Hongdae still has something. The energy on a Friday night. Street performers giving everything to a crowd. Young Koreans dressed up for their big night out.
And if you venture beyond the main streets — to Yeonnam-dong, Hapjeong, Sangsu — you’ll find the creative spirit alive and well. Just moved a few blocks over.
Hongdae isn’t what it was in 1992. But after 35 years, I still go back.
That says something.
— Ted K
Hungry for street food? Our Korean Street Food Guide covers the best dishes to try.
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