Hanging out in Hongdae is a happy way to spend some time in Seoul. There are so many things to do in Hongdae both day and night, from street performers to sharp shooting, 24/7 karaoke to Korean photo booths.
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Hipster Hongdae is where all the cool kids, cafe connoisseurs and craft beer geeks hang out – there is something to suit all budgets and tastes, from thrift stores to late night theatre, K-Pop treatments to tranquil parks.
A sweet slice of Seoul life and one of South Koreaโs coolest neighbourhoods, here is our guide to the best things to do in Hongdae, Seoul. We last visited Hongdae in April 2026.
Hongdae also features in our 3 day best of Seoul itinerary >
This article was originally published on cktravels.com on 21 June 2023.
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Getting to Hongdae in Seoul by subway and bus
The best way to reach Hongdae is to take the subway line 2 (dark green) to Hongik University Station, and take exit 9. It is just a short walk to the main shopping area.
Alternatively there are several different bus routes that will take you to Hongdae โ use the Naver app to plan your journey, one our recommended South Korea travels apps.
Also make sure you have a T-Money card which can be used to pay for buses, the Metro and all Seoul public transport.
Hongdae Hotels
Highly rated hotels in Hongdae include:
Budget ($)
Twin Rabbit Guesthouse
Budget accommodation located close to the Hongik University Station. Rooms have private bathrooms, flat-screen TV and a refrigerator, plus the guesthouse offers a free washing machine and dryer. Check out prices and availability on booking.com / agoda.com / expedia.com
Mid-range ($$)
Holiday Inn Express Seoul Hongdae
Highly rated modern hotel located in a high-rise building above a shopping mall close to the subway station. Hotel facilities include a fitness centre and in-house restaurant. Check out prices and availability on booking.com / agoda.com / expedia.com
Luxury ($$$)
Mercure Ambassador Seoul Hongdae
Stylish 4-star hotel with smart TVs and bluetooth speakers within a short walking distance to the main Hongdae attractions. Facilities include a terrace, garden, fitness centre and bar. Some rooms have a balcony with river views. Check out prices and availability on booking.com / agoda.com / expedia.com
Check out our full guide to the best hotels in Hongdae >
Hongdae things to do
1. Hongdae Street and Festival Street
The heart and โSeoulโ (ahem) of Hongdae, this is the central area where many street performers, pop-up stalls and chicken and beer restaurants congregate. The busiest area in Hongdae (and possibly what youโd call tourist central), there are sights and food to enjoy 24/7 here.
In the summer, both streets are home to pop-up markets and scores of street performers and singers.
In the winter months, Hongdae Street has several Christmas light and Christmas displays (one of the many Christmas activities in Seoul).
There is also a nice selection of street art along the benches in Hongdae Street (although much of it has been vandalised or fly posted over). You can find a helpful Seoul Tourism tourist information shop here too which has maps of Hongdae in English plus many other languages.
You might like – top things to do in South Korea >
2. Watch Hongdae Street Performers
The K-Pop stars of tomorrow all have to start somewhere and Hongdae is a breeding ground for up and coming street performers.
On all of our daytime visits to Hongdae (particularly at the weekends in summer), weโve seen dozens of street performers from girl groups to accordionists, street-rappers to beatboxers.
Wannabe K-Pop girl groups in Hongdae seem particularly popular especially with young and old men who bring out their large cameras and telescopic lenses – eek!
Huge crowds gather to watch impromptu performances or join in singalong sessions; weโve even seen fans bring along K pop light sticks to support their favourite street performers.
The best places to catch street performers are along Festival Street, Red Road or Hongdae Street.
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3. Hongdae Thrift and Vintage Stores
Second hand shops in Seoul are big business and none more so than in Hongdae. Popular with students and Hongdae hipsters, thrift stores offer second hand clothing, upcycling and fine fashion wear at lower prices. Hongdae is one of the best areas in Seoul for second-hand shops.
From baseball shirts to hand-made hand-bags, tie-dye tidbits to rock band denims, get your fashion fix for a fraction of the price.
One of the best looking Hongdae thrift stores is called Back to the Vintage, overlooking Gyeongui Line Forest Park with a basement full of thrift bargains and upcycled goodies.
Other popular Hongdae thrift stores include Vintage Santa and Wow Vintage.
4. Hongdae โChicken and Beerโ Street
Hongdae has a whole host of fried chicken and beer restaurants dotted in and around the neighbourhood.
Beer and fried chicken is such a popular combo in South Korea that they even have a special term for it – โChimaekโ – combining โchikinโ (Korean fried chicken), and โmaekju’ (beer), cheers to that!
However, for the best choice of beer and chicken within a short distance and all next door to each, head to the Hongdae Chimaek central along the bright lights of Hongdae Street – labelled as Hongik-ro 6-gil on Google Maps and Naver (the local and much better version of Google maps).
There are โcluckingโ loads of beer and chicken / chimaek bars and restaurants along Hongdae Street including BHC Chicken, BBQ Chicken and Beer and Kyochon Chicken.
We stopped in at Noonaholdak Hongdae – Oven Baked Chicken and Beer mainly because it had good reviews but also because they had pictures all over the window of a recent visit by Gordon Ramsay so we were very intrigued – turns out Gordon filmed a commercial here for โCass Beerโ (โBloody Freshโ).
At Noonaholdak Hongdae (and most other fried chicken restaurants in Hongdae), you can have chicken wings or boneless chicken plus try half and half flavours if you canโt decide on what to have.
You might like these Seoul neighbourhood guides:
Dongdaemun
Euljiro
Gangnam
Hannam-dong
Hongdae
Ikseon-dongย
Insadong
Itaewon
Myeong-dong
Seongsu-dong
Sindang
Or check out our best neighbourhoods in Seoul Guide >
5. Gyeongui Line Forest Park / Yeonnam-dong
A pleasant way to start your trip to this epic Seoul neighbourhood and one of the best free things to do in Hongdae, the Gyeongui Line Forest Park is a peaceful walk that transforms an urban area into a gorgeous green space.
As well as luscious lawns and babbling streams, the Yeonnam-dong section of the Gyeongui Line Forest Park is surrounded by cute cafes, craft beer bars and all manner of boutique shops and independent stores – you can easily reach here as it is right next to Hongik University Station on the Subway (exit 3).
A former disused Seoul railway line now transformed into a verdant green walkway, the full park stretches over 6km (that said, weโd recommend exploring the first 1km Yeonnam-dong section where all the bars and cafes are).
Popular with picnickers, families and joggers, Gyeongui Line Forest Park is a gorgeous gem of a green space with ample seating areas and plenty of trees to escape the sun.
6. NANTA Show
Hongdae has a lot of night-time entertainment going on, but perhaps the most famous (and long-running) show to see is the NANTA theatre show.
This world renowned comedy cooking show has been packing in audiences worldwide since 1997. Possibly the best known Korean theatre show, NANTA Theatre has been performed over 50,000 times in over 60 countries and is a fun mix of slapstick and physical comedy.
There are very few spoken words used throughout so not understanding Korean (or English) wonโt be an issue. There is also some audience participation and several audience members get to take part โ luckily when we went, we didnโt get dragged on stage!
Book your Nanta show tickets with Klook >
You can also catch the NANTA Theatre show in Jeju or the Nanta show in Myeongdong.
7. Hongdae Korean Photo Booths
One of the most fun things to do in Hongdae (and in Seoul at night), Korean photo booths are dotted all throughout the neighbourhood (mainly to fill all the empty shops that were left after COVID).
These Korean selfie kiosks are generally brightly painted small shops where you can borrow clothes and all sorts of fun props (like big sunglasses, animal heads etc) and then pose for selfies or take photos in booths for a small fee.
Some of the most popular selfie photo booths in Hongdae are Photo Signature, Life Photo and Photoism.
One of the more unique photo booth studios in Hongdae is BYTP studio which has fun photo selfie sets like a subway carriage, an elevator and even a toilet set (no sh*t)!
Often these Korean selfie photo booths allow you to print out stickers as a lasting reminder โ popular selfie booth locations include Gangnam, Itaewon, Ikseon-Dong and Seongsu-Dong.
Read more in our guide to Korean photo booths >
A new vintage photo booth, Eternalog is currently one of Hongdaeโs most hippest places โ weโll be telling you more later on.
We also spotted a few limited edition photo booths on our last visit to Hongdae where you can pose with graphic novel or anime characters – expect a longer queue for these limited edition photo booths in Seoul.
8. Karaoke Time in Hongdae
Time to let off a little steam after traipsing around the streets of Seoul all day โ Hongdae is the go-to place in Seoul for karaoke.
With dozens of private karaoke booths in huge high-rise karaoke โtowersโ, sing to your heartโs content in Hongdae without fear of anyone hearing you (unless you want to be heard).
A lot of the karaoke rooms in Hongdae have huge glass windows meaning you can watch people sing (and dance!) from the streets – or have your very own audience if you are performing in the booth.
Private karaoke booths in Hongdae and Seoul at night are charged on an hourly rate (prices vary depending on the time of day) and they sometimes do special tourist discounts if you show your overseas ID or passport. Also daytime karaoke rates are generally cheaper than at night in Seoul.
There is usually an extensive food and drink menu (note there is a minimum spend on food and drink on top of the karaoke booth hire). English, Japanese and Korean songs are usually available as part of the karaoke song selection.
9. Zzang Games Arcade
A very โamusingโ thing to do in Hongdae, Zzang Games Arcade is a four floor palace of new and retro games, from electronic darts machines to dance mats, claw machines to driving simulators.
Seriously, Zzang Games was buZzing when we visited (and great to see the sport of darts taking โflightโ in Seoul, especially given Seoul baseball is so popular).
Open until 2am every morning (and until 3am on Friday nights), Hongdaeโs Zzang Games Arcade is located on Festival Street and offers free admission, with games charged individually.
Zzang Games is close to lots of 24 hour karaoke places and all night bars so this could make one helluva a late night combo when in Hongdae.
If ZZang Games is busy or youโve worked your way through all the arcade games (โCompleted it, mateโ), you can also try the other nearby late night arcade called Funny Games.
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10. Get a quirky caricature
Hongdae is home to several quirky cartoon caricature studios including Acorn Caricature, where street cartoonists have set up a studio and create drawings in the 4-cut.
Prices vary but starting at 5,000 Won per person based on a minimum of two people, these are really good value caricatures. Other studios are also available.
Even if you donโt want a caricature while in Hongdae, Seoul, it is quite fun to watch the cartoonists at work as the subjects awkwardly smile.
11. Eternalog Hongdae ์ดํฐ๋๋ก๊ทธ ํ๋
Hongdae goes analog – kind of! What we love about Hongdae (and Seoul in general) is that every time we wander through the side-streets, we find something rather random and cool.
On our last trip, we stumble upon a big queue of young Koreans queuing up politely to take their photos in the new (but old) Eternalog photobooth (located here). In fact, it is so popular weโve seen complaints from the local neighbors online about all the people!
Whereas most Korean photo booths offer cool backgrounds and special effects, Eternalog is more of a vintage experience, producing old style sepia and โagedโ pictures.
European in style with retro furnishings, you get four different black and white images for 6,000 Won.
12. Hongdae Street Art / Fashion Street
Like many Seoul neighbourhoods, Hongdae is awash with superb street art from small scrawls in the side-streets to colossal canvases on the sides of buildings.
We found the best areas for street art in Hongdae were the side streets especially Fashion Street.
Ironically, Fashion Street in Hongdae seems to have fallen out of fashion and is only worth a fleeting visit to see the street art – we visited Fashion Street on a Saturday afternoon and most of the shops (and bars) appeared to be closed down (possibly permanently).
Weโve also heard about โPicasso Streetโ in Hongdae (AKA Hongdae Mural Street) near the back of Hongik University although we donโt think it still exists, as we couldnโt find it โ please hit us up in the comments if we need to fix this.
13. Be a Seoul Sharp Shooter – try Hongdaeโs Shooting Galleries
After a busy day of exploring Hongdae, it might be time to relieve some stress in Seoul!
You may be surprised to hear that amongst all the karaoke bars and K Beauty stores, there are a number of popular shooting ranges in Hongdae including Airsoft Shooting Range and Hongdae Landing Operation BB Gun Shooting range.
Indoor shooting ranges where you shoot at targets using BB guns are popular with younger crowds who often hold mini competitions in groups to see who is the sharpest shooter.
Better yet, you can win prizes at Airsoft Shooting Range if you are on target plus you can either take home your hopefully โholeyโ target or decorate it and add it to the walls of the shooting club.
Hongdae shooting range prices usually start around the 10,000 Won mark for a pouch of pellets, BB Gun hire and use of the targets.
Craft Beer in Hongdae
There are many fine craft beer places and breweries in Seoul – and Hongdae is no exception. Whilst many of the bars along the famed Hongdae Street are all about main-stream south Korean beers like Cass and Terra (often served with fried chicken), look a bit further and youโll find some cracking craft beer bars.
14. Craft Hans
2026 update – we think Craft Hans Hongdae may have closed down
One of the best craft beer bars in Hongdae is Craft Hans (which has several branches in Seoul including Gangnam). However, the Hongdae Craft Hans is the best of the bunch as not only does it have a super craft beer selection on tap, but it also has a great location overlooking Gyeongui Line Forest Park.
Based over several levels, there is a small beer terrace out front (ideal for brews with views) plus a balcony on the first floor bedecked with faux greenery – a bit like the Romeo and Juliet of the craft beer scene.
You might like – the best craft beer brewery bars in Seoul >
15. Artmonster Hongdae
Hot on the heels of Artmonster Gangnam (one of the best looking craft beer bars in Seoul), Artmonster Hongdae feels quite a different set-up compared to the other Artmonster bars, located up a set of narrow stairs just off Hongdae Street, marked by a huge neon sign.
Unlike the Gangnam branch, there are no self pour craft beer taps but tablet ordering is available โ ordering craft beer in Seoul has never been so simple!
The booths on the second floor by the window also look out onto all the street performers at night – so a great place to unwind in Hongdae / Seoul at night.
Try a tasting flight of 5 x 220ml beers from their core craft beer selection (around 19,000 Won) so you can get a taste for Artmonster craft beers โ they are very good, especially the IPAs.
Pizzas, fries, tteokbokki pepperoni plates and other not so healthy food are available to enjoy with your beers.
Cafes in Hongdae
16. Coconut Box Hongdae
Hongdae is quite hipster so there arenโt so many tourist traps and museums here but Coconut Box is one of the few – an optical tricks and digital space where you can take selfies with fun backgrounds and enjoy a drink at the same time. There are themed booths to sit in too.
There used to be other attractions in the same building like a trick eye museum and love museum but these appear to be a bit depleted now and the set-up seems to change quite often.
At the time of writing, there appears to be a Bali style bakery cafe where you can enjoy sweet treats and take selfies in different sets from around the world like Mexico and Indonesia.
17. Golden Crema
On our latest 2026 Hongdae trip, we had a much needed caffeine break at Golden Creama, a four storey cafe known for its specialty coffee, bingsu (shaved ice) and great views of Hongdaeโs busiest street below.
Golden Crema has three indoor levels plus a small outdoor rooftop (mainly used by smokers) – the first two levels were quite busy but we found a nice corner spot on floor 3 and we could see shoppers and performers outside.
We had a 6,500 Won passionfruit ade and 6,000 Won iced vanilla latte – prices are reasonable, especially given the nice brews with views.
18. 943 King’s Cross
Hongdaeโs Harry Potter cafe, 943 Kings Cross brings to life the magical boy wizard and recreates a small part of Hogwarts in Hongdae, with seven floors of theming.
From the Hogโs Head Pub & Cafe to the Wizard Cafe, every inch of this hedonistic Harry Potter has been become like a scene from the movies.
The theming begins outside whereby you Kings Cross has been recreated complete with Platform 9 ยพ and the luggage trolley disappearing into the wall. Unlike the Harry Potter cafes weโve been to in Japan, this is an unofficial one (but still kinda cool).
19. Fell & Cole Ice-Cream
A n-โiceโ thing to do in Hongdae is visit the Fell & Cole ice-cream parlour, hidden away in the back-streets.
Famous for both their flavourful ice-cream and sublime sorbets, we paid a visit to Fell & Cole one sunny Saturday afternoon and tried their lemon sour ice-cream plus the more traditional stracciatella.
Prices are 6,000 Korean Won (around $4.50 USD / ยฃ3.70) for a large scoop or 11,000 Won for two scoops.
The inside of Fell & Cole is quite small, with around half a dozen tables inside so it can get quite busy in the warmer months.
Other fantastic ice-cream flavours available at Fell & Cole when we visited included cafe au lait, pink rose, perilla leaf, red bean, M&Mโs vanilla plus a vegan โraspberry roseโ sorbet.
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20. Hongdae Board Game Cafes
If you are โboredโ of hanging out in Hongdae (not possible to be fair), how about a game at one of Hongdaeโs board game cafes like the Devilโs Dice or Holmes & Lupin?
Inspired by the Sherlock Holmes novels, Holmes and Lupin is a particularly good Hongdae Board Game cafe with some cute theming like London style Baker Street signs and red brick interiors.
Most board game cafes charge by the hour (usually around 3,000 Won to 4,000 Won plus drinks) and are open until very late – Holmes & Lupin is open daily from 1pm until 1am (and opens at noon on weekends.
21. Bagel Land Hongdae
We visited this much hyped Hongdae Bagel cafe one Saturday afternoon and whilst we prefer the London Bagel Museum, this was a nice spot to grab a bite to eat after a day of hanging out in Hongdae.
Bagel Land was incredibly busy when we visited, mainly populated by young local couples and revising students. Prices arenโt that cheap but there is a huge range of bagels and spreads to choose from like the basil and ricotta bagel and the interior is kind of fun too.
We were served by a western person and ordering here is very simple – we wouldnโt say it is a must visit but if you fancy a break from bibimbap or other Korean food, Bagel Land Hongdae is OK – we still prefer London Bagel Museum.
22. Roof Cat Me Hongdae
Located in the basement of the H-CUBE building near Hongdae Shopping Street, Roof Cat Me ๋ฃจํ์บฃ๋ฏธ ๊ณ ์์ด์นดํ ํ๋์ is one of the most โpurr-fectโ things to do in Hongdae โ โfurโ real.
You might have been to other cat cafes in the past but the Hongdae Roof Cat Cafe takes it to the next kitty level especially during cat feeding time โ you need to visit right โMiaowโ.
There are two main sections to explore – a lounge area where you can read and play games with the kitties upstairs, before making your way down to the huge themed fairy-tale cat city and square down below. Seriously, we have never seen a cat cafe quite like it before.
There are around 50 named cats of various breeds and from what we can see, all seemed well looked after with some spaces for the cats to laze in if they didnโt want to play – there was also a constant presence of staff to keep an eye on the cats (and humans).
Whilst playing with cats, you can also enjoy drinks or read some comics and anime novels from the library. For us, feeding time at Hongdae Roof Cat me was the highlight – every cat just ran in and sat in the feline hotel whilst munching away.
Admission to Roof Cat Me Hongdae ๋ฃจํ์บฃ๋ฏธ ๊ณ ์์ด์นดํ ํ๋์ is 20,000 Won* for 3 hours including one self-serve drink and locker access – cat treats cost extra but the staff ensured everyone. Please note children under 12 years old are not admitted.
*We booked our discounted Roof Cat Me Hongdae tickets (17,500 Won) in advance with Trazy >
Shopping in Hongdae, Seoul
There are several outstanding and unique stores and shopping centers in Hongdae including:
23. Customize and create your own NIKE gear
NIKE HONGDAE – ๋์ดํค ํ๋ is one of the most popular stores in the area and attracts shoppers from all over Seoul.
It is one of a growing number of Nike stores in South Korea that allow you to customise and create your own Nike clothing, unique to you and personal tastes.
Once in store at Hongdae Nike, pick your own Nike transfers and graphics from thousands on display and create your very own Nike range!
To customise your own Nike merch, you are best to head to Myeongdong in the morning and grab a โNike Make Your Ownโ ticket as they usually run out by lunch time.
24. Object Hongdae Main Store
Now Object Hongdae ์ค๋ธ์ ํธ ์๊ต์ might be our new favourite stationery store in Seoul – super cute with colourful creations, pop-up activations and works by local independent designers, we could easily spend a fortune here.
Featuring four floors of fun stickers, stationery and geek chic collectibles, you can also design / DIY your own items on the top floor like tote bags and card holders (for an extra fee).
Close to Hongik subway exit 7, Object Hongdae also has upcycled goods, temporary exhibitions and pop-ups plus has several selfie spots.
25. Wappen House Hongdae
There are many souvenir shops in Seoul, but for a more unique gift or keepsake, head to one of the many customizable DIY gift shops.
Perhaps the biggest Seoul customizable gift shops is Wappen House ์ํํ์ฐ์ค, which has sprung up recently in key Seoul neighborhoods like Hongdae.
The customizable gift shops in Korea are usually easy to spot (especially Wappen House) โ they have very colourful rainbow exteriors, neon lights and windows full of the types of gifts you can make. It is also a great Seoul activity with kids especially when it is raining.
From prices to locations, read our guide to Wappen House ์ํํ์ฐ์ค and how to customise bags, keyrings, pencil-cases and more.
26. Kakao Friends flagship store
As well as the previously mentioned Line Friends flagship store, Hongdae is also home to a Flagship Kakao Friends store, with three floors of furry fun and cute characters galore – one of the cutest places to visit in Seoul with kids.
From Ryan the Lion to Choonsik the Cat, Con the Crocodile to Frodo the Dog, youโll find all the Kakao Friends here, both in terms of huge cartoon models or rows upon rows of branded products – everything from phone chargers to kids clothes and even super cute humidifiers.
On the 3rd floor of Kakao Friends flagship store Hongdae, there is also a rather swish eating place called Cafe Gongmihak Pub which features no Kakao Friends (boooo!) but some of the best looking desserts and sweet treats youโll ever see (or eat) in Hongdae. Read more about Choonsik the cat in our guide >
You can find a variety of Kakao Friends merchandise (including lots of Choonsik) on Amazon >
27. NyuNyu Hongdae
Join the bargain hunters at wholesale fashion and jewellery stores Mimiline and Nyunyu โ these are popular chain shops with branches all over Seoul usually in high footfall areas like Hongdae and Gangnam.
Here you can buy everything from embroidery patches to LEGO keyrings, tote bags to miniature charms and mobile cases.
Often you get a discount if you buy more than one of something and both stores have several storeys of souvenirs, clothes and keepsakes โ we found them REALLY busy at the weekends so if you donโt like queuing, go on a weekday.
28. Line Friends Square
Line Friends characters are ever so popular in South Korea and in most parts of Asia (these are cutesy cartoon characters that help promote the Line messaging service).
Located in Hongdaeโs L7 building, the Line Friends Square Hongdae Store is one of the best Line Friends stores to visit in Seoul, as it is split over two levels and even has a cute little BT21 Cafe.
As well as being able to buy Line Friends merchandise by the bucketload, there are several huge Line Friends characters you can pose with like a BIG Brown the Bear right by the front entrance (so fluffy!) and lots of K-Pop merch too.
Line Friends Flagship Store is open daily from 11am to 10pm.
29. Olive Young / Menโs Specialty Store
K-beauty for men! Perhaps the most famous Korean beauty brand, CJ Olive Young has over 1,400 stores across South Koreaโฆbut did you know Hongdae is home to Olive Youngโs first ever special Men’s Edit / Lifestyle store? It also sells all the usual K-beauty products too but has a large focus on menโs products.
A lot of the Olive Young stores are HEAVING but we went to this quiet, 3 storey Hongdae Playground branch of Olive Young on our last trip to stock up on a few things.
Don’t forget to take your passport to get an instant tax refund on purchases over 15,000 Won.
30. Berry New Pharmacy Hongdae
One chain that has been opening more stores in Korea this year is Berry New ๋ฒ ๋ฆฌ๋ด์ฝ๊ตญ. They are tourist-friendly pharmacies that specialise in K-beauty, OTC medications, dermatological skincare and health supplements.
The stores clearly display their top-selling products and have English language laminated sheets with product recommendations.Popular items include PDRN creams, scar treatment products and sunscreens.
Berry New Pharmacy prices are not always cheapest though โ we were going to buy the Dr Melaxin Eyephalt eye cream from Berry New, but we checked the price in Olive Young and it was much cheaper there, so do compare prices in both the pharmacies and Olive Young.
31. Gentle Monster Hongdae Flagship Store
Hongdae never fails to surprise us in terms of how extravagant and epic some of the fashion stores are โ this is proven none more so than at the Gentle Monster Hongdae Flagship Store which is part art gallery, part glasses and optical wear shop.
Most of the Gentle Monster Hongdae shop interior is white and grey in colour and each floor has a centrepiece installation where the eye is drawn โ in one instance, it is literally a huge eye-ball (very meta!).
Gentle Monster is one of the best known Korean optical brands famed for its oversized glasses with low bridge noses which help create a smaller face effect. Gentle Monster glasses are often worn by K Pop artists and Korean celebrities – it is definitely not your typical eyewear store!
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32. KT&G Sangsangmadang Design Square
We discovered KT&G Sangsangmadang Design Square in Hongdae, totally by chance after wandering over to Festival Street to watch some Hongdae street performers.
This is a super cool, multi-story shop chock full of nicely designed character goods and nifty homeware items – there is none of your standard tourist tat or shocking souvenirs here.
From spring onion phone cases to lobster ceramic wear, this is Hongdaeโs home of nice things – inside there is a cultural centre too where various activities, classes and exhibitions take place. A cute cafe can also be found on the upper levels.
KT&G Sangsangmadang Design Square is free to visit and open seven days a week excluding some public holidays.
33. AK Plaza
One of the biggest malls in Hongdae with five floors of restaurants, coffee shops and cool stores like brands like CGV cinema, WithMuu K-Pop, Books Libro – along with Seongsu-dong it is also one of the best places for pop-up stores and experiences.
On our last visit to AK Plaza, one of the most popular places was the Cinnamoroll Sweets Cafe, with super cute sweet treats and themed drinks and food. There was a One Piece pop-up cafe too.
AZ Plaza is known to be one of the best malls in Seoul for young people – it has fashion boutiques, blind box shops, collectible toys plus children’s clothes stores like Spa.
It is easy to visit and a great rainy day in Seoul activity at us located directly above Hongik University Station.
Anime, cute character brands and K Pop shops at AK Plaza include withmuu, Animate (from Japan) and Artbox.
34. WithMuu Hongdae
One of the best known K-pop shops in Hongdae is WithMuu located on the second floor of AK Plaza.
From The Boyzs to Zero Base One, WithMuu has a big range of K-Pop souvenirs including dozens of band glow sticks / torches, stickers and vinyl selections.
This is one of the smaller WithMuu branches in Seoul, but boy, do they pack a lot in this store!
Check out the range of K-Pop light sticks on Amazon >
35. Pop Mart Flagship Store (Hongdae)
Pop Mart Hongdaeโs two storey flagship store is now open and full of collectibles, blind boxes and the occasional super-size statue.
If you didnโt know already, Pop Mart is a Chinese collectible toy company that is famous for its blind boxes and colourful cartoon characters – there are now over 400 stores worldwide and Korea has new Pop Marts opening all the time.
Pop Mart has thousands of collectibles including popular series like Molly, Skull Panda, Dimoo and Hirono, plus tie-ins with big companies and character franchises like Disney and Harry Potter.
Check out the Pop Mart store on Amazon >
36. M Playground Hongdae
One of the best looking and most colourful fashion shops to be found in Hongdae is M Playground. There are several branches across Seoul but their flagship Hongdae M Playground branch has a container park exterior (not real) with several floors of affordable fashion.
The rooftop also has some cool views of Hongdae and there are often mid-season sales.
37. Hongdae 7 Storey Daiso
Regular readers will know we are big fans of Daiso in Korea, especially the 12 storey Daiso in Myeongdong.
From BTS to badminton rackets, K Beauty to inexpensive bling, Daiso stores are superb for all your Seoul shopping needs.
One of the biggest Daiso stores in Seoul is Daiso Hongik University 2 ๋ค์ด์ ํ๋2ํธ์ (map) and many of our South Korea Travel Tips and Planning Facebook group rate this store at the best โ they prefer the layout to the 12 storey one as it is easier to find things.
We went to Daiso Hongik University 2 and stocked up on 1,000 Won Vaseline K-beauty facemasks and 5,000 Won USB fans (great Seoul souvenirs).
Be sure to take an empty suitcase to Seoul so you can stock it up โ or just buy a cheap suitcase here at Daiso!
Hongdae Markets
Seoul is famous for its markets from Gwangjang Market to Myeongdong Night Market. Hongdae also has several smaller scale markets:
38. Hongdae Free Market / Art Free Market
We include the Hongdae Free Market reluctantly in this โthings to do in Hongdaeโ guide as what we saw when we arrived a few months ago was VERY different from how it had been described previously online.
We presume Hongdae Free Market has got a lot smaller since COVID and is hopefully on the road to recovery. It now also appears to be called the Art Free Market.
Hongdae Free Market / Hongdae Art Free Market is open every Saturday afternoon from 1pm to 6pm (donโt believe some of the travel articles or Google reviews that say it is a night market) – it is located in a quiet and shaded park called Hongdae Childrenโs Park.
Based on our experience of the Hongdae Art Free Market, we found around 10 or so flea market stalls selling traditional goods, hand-made items and an artisan array of small jewellery items.
Whilst a pretty setting and with nice looking stalls, the Hongdae Free Market / Art Free Market isnโt really worth a special trip to Hongdae for.
You might like – a guide to Gwangjang Market in Seoul >
39. Dongjin Market
Another Hongdae market, Dongjin Market is located in a quiet side-street of Yeonnam-dong, where local artists and students sell their artworks and handmade goods.
Youโll also find food stalls here and cartoon caricature artists – note this is one market on our Hongdae things to do guide we didnโt get to visit ourselves (but we intend to when we return later in the year).
Dongjin Market is open Friday 5pm to 9pm and weekends noon to 7pm.
You might like – Hairstyling Experience at OLRANG in Hongdae >
40. Gyeongui Line Book Street
Calling all culture vultures – this is one โnovelโ thing to do in Hongdae that you donโt need to โbookโ in advanceโฆsorry not sorry.
A long line of book shops and open air libraries located along a disused stretch of railway, this Gyeongui Line Book Street consists of around 10 different book shops and kiosks located in a quiet park area close to all the bars and restaurants Hongdae Street.
This also means it is a nice place to escape the hustle and bustle if you are in need of some respite.
Whilst is a nice, calm place to browse some small book stores, personally we donโt think Gyeongui Line Book Street is really worth a visit in itself but OK as part of a day out in Hongdae.
You might like – Guide to K-Pop Stores in Myeongdong, Seoul >
41. Go to a K-League Soccer Game
The perfect way to โkick-offโ your trip to South Korea, K League football (or soccer) is a popular sport (up there with South Korea baseball). The World Cup Stadium is just two stops away from Hongdae central on the Metro.
So if you are visiting Hongdae during the K-League football season, make sure you catch a soccer game / football game at the Seoul World Cup stadium.
South Korea K League game tickets are easy to purchase (and very cheap) plus the World Cup Stadium in Seoul has good transport links and is a 5 minute subway ride from Hongdae.
From purchasing KL League tickets for FC Seoul through to what types of food, drink and entertainment you can expect at the stadium, here is our guide to all things K League South Korea and the Seoul World Cup Stadium >
42. Other things to do in Hongdae, Seoul
- Get a K-Pop idol level of nail art and hairstyling treatment at at OLRANG, Hongdae
- A Beer-tiful experience – go on a Seoul pub crawl experience in Hongdae every Thursday and Saturday. And remember, drink responsibly!
- A private tour of Hongdae with a local
- Book a traditional Korean bookbinding experience in Hongdae on Klook
- Enjoy a Korean night culture tour of Hongdae
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When would be the best day to visit/ experience Hongdae? We will be in Seoul Monday Mar 16 -Thursday Mar 19.