The 14 Best Korean Saunas in Seoul

Massage and body scrub packages draw most visitors to Insadong Spa & Sauna, a bathhouse in the basement of an officetel on Yulgok-ro. Saunas and baths come with the visit, prices stay affordable, and the staff are friendly and the facility is kept clean.

Women-only Spa Lei has English spoken at reception, which helps first-time visitors. Guests get locker rooms, hot baths, an outdoor bath and a sauna with a timetable of activities, and there is a cafe on site. Body scrubs and aroma massages are available for extra fees, and winter is a good time to visit.

On Nonhyeon-ro in Gangnam District, Cheonjiyeon offers a traditional sauna with clean, well-maintained facilities that regulars appreciate. Toilets are available, and the sauna experience is the main draw.

Samho Gungjeon works well for a first jjimjilbang visit. Staff are helpful and used to foreign guests, the facilities are clean, and the layout is easy to follow, with separate bathing areas for men and women and a range of saunas in the shared area. Massage is good and body scrubs are available around the clock.

Under the Lotte Castle Venezia Mall in Hwanghak-dong, Golden Spa packs hydrogen, oxygen, cool, red clay and salt rooms and an Egyptian-themed room into one spacious site. Oil massages, full-body scrubs and pools at different temperatures round out the visit, and dining options in the common areas make it easy to stay longer.

Baths and saunas are the focus at Junggok-dong Siloam Sauna in Gwangjin District, which has good facilities and friendly staff. There is currently no jjimjilbang area, so it suits a bath and sauna visit rather than a full jjimjilbang day. A wheelchair-accessible car park is available.

A local favorite in Dongdaemun District, Hwigyeong Ginseng Sauna offers several types of baths along with dry and wet saunas. The restaurant serves food that regulars enjoy, and the facilities are clean and well kept, which makes it a good choice for seeing how locals bathe.

Korea 24-Hour Jjimjilbang on Gangnam-daero in Seocho District stays open around the clock, which suits late arrivals and overnight stays. Private lockers and comfortable sleeping rooms are provided, prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is quiet and clean.

Supsok Hanbang Land keeps the old-school bathhouse feel, with traditional saunas heated by open charcoal fires, steam rooms and pools at different temperatures. Guests can cook sweet potatoes and rice cakes on site, take a personal scrub and rest in sleeping areas. There are indoor and outdoor spaces, and parking and entrances are wheelchair accessible.

Small but clean, Jongro Sauna has three bathtubs, two saunas and a chill-out area, with separate sections for men and women. A weight room and a sleeping room add practical extras, and massage is available. The scale makes it an easy, no-frills stop in Jongno District.

Hot rooms, pools at different temperatures and a real ice room sit alongside a large communal area with plenty of space to rest. This Gangnam jjimjilbang also offers massage and an on-site Korean restaurant serving snacks such as bingsu and sikhye, so a full day here is practical.

Open 24 hours at an affordable price, Byeokgyesu Spa in Gasan-dong offers a clean, modern jjimjilbang. Several saunas and cold baths sit alongside a well-equipped amenities area. The bathing and sauna rooms are stronger than the sleeping and relaxation areas, so it suits a quick rest more than a long stay.

Known for its 24-hour opening, Riverside Spa Land adds a game arcade, activities for kids and a snack kiosk to its baths. The traditional jjimjilbang setting lets visitors feel like locals at a reasonable price, with a range of sauna rooms and sleeping options.

Open 24 hours a day, World Cup Spa Land 24 offers various baths, sauna rooms and a swimming pool divided into sections that suit families. Parking, entrances and toilets are wheelchair accessible, and the facilities are clean and well organized. Extended family groups find it comfortable.