10 Best Hotels in Seoul

The perfect spot for recharging after exploring the city, this spa resort nestled in the verdant hills of Mount Namsam is a calm oasis in the middle of bustling Seoul. The historic tower built in 1967 by renowned architect Kim Swoo Geun (known for designing the Seoul Olympic Stadium), houses sleek wood-panelled rooms with huge jacuzzi-style bathtubs, vast windows with panoramic views over the city, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts and golf facilities. But, most importantly, it has one of the best spas in the city offering traditional Asian treatments for some intense pampering. 

Culture vultures will feel at home surrounded by the edgy feel of Seoul’s vibrant Hongdae district in this fashionable spot. Filled with eye-popping colour (the Instagrammable baby pink floor in the lobby is a highlight), Ryse is one for the cool kids. When you’re not lounging in the cosy rooms, there’s a shop on the ground floor selling sportswear, vinyl and magazines, local art to peruse on the walls and the Side Note Club where the hip hop is heavy, the views from the rooftop bar extensive and the cocktails expertly mixed. 

The Shilla is a hot address in the Korean capital, and for good reason. You get the best of both worlds here with glittering views of the city skyline from the sumptuous rooms and the feeling of being in a rural idyl in the enclosed outdoor pool surrounded by rolling green hills. The vibe? Ultimate luxury with a comprehensive spa, sculpture garden, fitness centre, golf range, and no less than six restaurants including a Michelin-starred Korean dining room.  

For those who plan to spend their time in Seoul out and about exploring, the centrally located L7 Hongdae provides a perfect base. The rooms are simple but elegant with bold colours and practical comforts, plus there’s a fortifying breakfast menu to get you set for a day of sightseeing. Need some time to recoup? Hit up the swanky bar with views across the city or lounge by the seasonal rooftop pool. 

Maximalism is the name of the game at this hotel in the heart of Seoul’s historic center. Looking straight out of the Moulin Rouge, the rooms are done up in an opulent Belle Époque style with lush red velvet furnishings, vintage print wallpaper, monochrome tiles and rolltop baths. Style is central to place, it even has a signature scent created by parfumier Alienor Massenet and dramatic floral displays by London-based flower and art director Tony Marklew. 

Eco-conscious travellers should make a beeline for this sustainable paradise just off the verdant banks of the Hangang River. Follow a winding path through dense tropical foliage to find the place, which peeks out through the tree tops like the lair of a James Bond villain, to find vegan suits kitted out with plant-based leather and fairtrade furnishings. Perfect for backpackers, visitors can also take advantage of the shared kitchen and indoor pool or curl up in a hammock with a book from the library. 

With double rooms complete with four-poster dog beds and futuristic-looking bunk rooms that sleep up to four, this industrial-chic hotel in the heart of Gangnam is perfect for all types of travellers. Sitting somewhere between an upmarket hostel and a boutique hotel, you’ll find sleek practical rooms as well as a laundry room, gym, bar, and restaurant.

Bukchon Hanok Village in the north of Seoul is famed for its 14th-century Hanok architecture with curved ornate wooden roofs and landscaped courtyards. Hidden the way in the middle of this ancient quarter is Rakkojae hotel – the first luxury traditional hanok hotel located inside the village. Pretend you’ve travelled back to another age in rooms reminiscent of an aristocratic house of the Chosun Dynasty with traditional details like calligraphy wall hangings and zen rock gardens. Don’t miss a dip in the yellow-mud sauna, heated by a kiln, or join a tea ceremony or kimchi-making class. 

Fancy a taste of the high life? You can’t do much better than Signiel Seoul, which sits pretty between floors 76 and 101 of Lotte World Tower – the sixth tallest skyscraper in the world. When you’re not being dazzled by the stinking views over the city, you’ll no doubt be hunkering down in the lavish rooms, getting pampered in the Evian spa, sitting down to a Michelin-starred dinner at on-site restaurant Bicena, or sipping some fizz in the glamorous Bar 81 cocktail lounge.  

Seoul’s Hongdae neighborhood, right next to Hongik University, is well-known for vibrant nightlife (you’ll find K-pop clubs aplenty) and quirky art scene. Slap bang in the middle of it all is the Amanti, which pays homage to its surroundings with well-thought-out design features and luxe, but cool vibe. Be sure to hit up the rooftop pool and garden, which glow pink and are filled with guests with cocktails in hand enjoying the nighttime panorama in the evenings.