Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Namdaemun

Here are 10 things to know about the Courtyard Namdaemun: 1. Previous reviews have touted the Courtyard Namdaemun as the best in the system. Is it that hyperbole? Yes. Is it significantly better than the average Courtyard? Absolutely. The most visible difference is the buffet breakfast included for elite members. The buffet is seemingly endless, with myriad Western and Korean staples. It’s a meal and a half (maybe two). 2. The rooms look and feel like the U.S. blueprint with three positive exceptions. One cool feature is that the shower has a temperature gauge, so you know the water temperature before conducting a hand test. It’s a brilliant idea, and something I wish other hotels would embrace. Another great feature is that the lights are labeled with buttons, providing easy and varied illumination. The third notable enhancement is a water filter to fill your reusable or plastic bottles. The hotel provides you with plastic water bottles, but the filter makes it easy to refill a reusable one. 3. Rooms are equipped with U.S. and Korean plugs. My room did not have a desk, per se, but a table next to the window. That worked out splendidly, as I typed emails while enjoying the view. The shower glass faces the bedroom, but a curtain drops the full length to ensure privacy. 4. Room temperature was reasonably cool, dropping to the lowest-possible 18.5 degrees on the Celsius scale. I was in Seoul for the suffocating summer heat and sun, and I do not have any complaints about the room temperature. The hallways, on the other hand, tend to run on the balmy side. 5. A laundry room is on the basement floor and managed electronically. All you need are your dirty clothes and a credit card. Detergent is included in the washing price (7,000 Korean Won or $5 USD in July 2025) and dispensed automatically. The laundry room has two washing machines and two dryers. 6. The fitness center is also in the basement and appropriately-sized for the hotel. Quick tip: runners or walkers should check out the river path, a 10-minute walk from the hotel. 7. I spent weeks weighing the pros and cons of the Myeongdong Marriott properties. The Courtyard is walkable from Seoul Station (more on this in #8 ) and a 15-minute walk to the heart of Myeongdong shopping. The ALoft, Moxy, and LeMeridian are much closer to the shopping extravaganza (literally outside the hotel doors) but further from the train station. The latter three areas are also busier due to the location. The Courtyard is also slightly closer to City Hall and two palaces, so it’s essentially in the center of most tourist-related activities. Street noise did not ascend to my high-floor room. I was very satisfied with this location for two nights (one full day) of visiting Seoul. 8. Seoul Station is a 15-minute walk with an important caveat. I took the AREX to Seoul Station and decided to walk by exiting Gate 3. With a large suitcase and carry-on in tow, it was a decision I regret to this day. Navigating Seoul Station felt like I was in the Philip Zimbardo Stanford prison experiment – no escape. It’s a labyrinth of escalators, stairs, and tunnels. Plus, if you do not exit the AREX gate, you need to buy a one-time metro card to leave the station at Gate 3 (it's a process flaw that should be remedied). Once I exited Gate 3, it was a super-easy walk on a very warm Seoul evening. Pro tip: do not attempt this entire walk with a lot of luggage. I took an Uber Taxi on the return, and it was so much easier. Make sure they drop you off on the west side at the AREX Travel Center to avoid the endless maze that is Seoul Station. Total time from landing to stepping into the hotel was about 2 hours and 30 minutes. On the return side, from hotel doorstep to Terminal 1 check-in (Uber taxi included) was just under 2 hours. 9. The hotel’s location – sandwiched in between other imposing structures – limits the view. You won’t get any dramatic Seoul views, but a few rooms overlook the Sungnyemun Gate (Namdaemun). 10. As many reviews have noted, the hotel discontinued its executive lounge in 2024. The hotel reminds you of this (unfortunate) fact when booking. However, as mentioned above, the breakfast buffet is an embarrassment of riches. Overall, I would select this Courtyard again because of its central location and excellent breakfast.