Seoul hotels

Set within lush greenery overlooking Namsan Mountain, the Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul is one of the best hotels in Seoul for a serene retreat. All guestrooms come with mountain and city views, but I suggest going for a Pool Deluxe Room, where you can soak in your own private relaxation pool.

If your room doesn’t have its own pool, don’t panic – the hotel has several to choose from, including an indoor pool, the main outdoor pool and mini-pool-style hot tubs.

I particularly love the hotel’s wellness amenities, which include an indoor golf range, an outdoor basketball court, tennis courts and a fitness center with a rock-climbing wall. In the winter, you can even skate at the on-site ice rink.

Just down the street from Gyeongbokgung Palace and the National Folk Museum of Korea, this is one of the best hotels in Seoul if you want to be in the heart of the action. It’s also a great spot for families – I was thrilled with the glamping setup the hotel staff organized in my room for my toddler, complete with a mini tent, balloons, sweet treats and a mini robe.

Adults won’t be glamping at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul though. This luxury property’s guestrooms blend modern comforts with local design features, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, traditional Korean textiles and mini iPads to access the hotel’s services.

The hotel also features three indoor pools (including a children’s pool), a Korean sauna and a kids’ club that opens on the weekends.

One of the best hotels in Seoul for those looking to stay in the luxury shopping neighborhood of Gangnam, the Andaz Seoul Gangnam is attached to the Apgujeong metro for ease. The guestrooms are bright and contemporary, with light wood and bold pops of yellow. Although they were designed by the Dutch-based Studio Piet Boon, rooms incorporate the textile bojagi, an artistic wrapping cloth used in Korean folk art.

All the guestrooms are beautiful, but if you want a special stay, I recommend booking the Gangnam Penthouse, which has a gorgeous outdoor garden terrace. Ideal for couples seeking a relaxing vacation, the Andaz Seoul’s Summer House is home to the Ocelas Spa, with a sauna, treatment rooms, a large indoor pool and several hot tubs.

Set just across the Han River from the Gangnam district, the Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery Ambassador is one of the best hotels in Seoul for more artistic-minded travelers. The entire property is full of original artworks, starting with a floating, geometric art installation in the lobby by Haegye Yang, a local Korean artist.

I appreciate how the hotel rooms inspire tranquility using biophilic design, complete with rounded corners and shapes and large windows that allow the light to flood in. During my stay, I kept catching pleasant wafts of red cedar and sandalwood, later realizing it was the hotel’s signature scent.

Don’t miss going for a dip in the 20th-floor outdoor infinity pool, which overlooks the expansive Han River. And I highly recommend dining at the French Restaurant Voison, a 22nd-floor eatery that serves up dry-aged grills alongside dazzling skyline and river views.

Stay at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul for one of the most interesting views in the city. The property overlooks the Heunginjimun Gate, which dates back to the Joseon Dynasty and is close to shopping and dining hotspots and cultural landmarks like the Seoul City Wall Museum and the Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

Although all the guestrooms are comfortable, I recommend upgrading to a room that has a view of the Gate – I was amazed by the stunning vistas from the Executive Sky View Rooms. These offer access to the executive lounge and have skylight windows that overlook the Gate and beyond.

Don’t worry if your room doesn’t have a view – you can still catch those mesmerizing vistas at Korean buffet Tavolo 24 or the top-floor rooftop Griffin Bar, which also hosts live jazz sessions.

Located next to Yeouido Park and the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMa), this is one of the best hotels in Seoul for business travelers. That’s largely thanks to the Conrad Seoul’s intuitive and practical amenities like in-room espresso makers, automatic curtains and ergonomic desk chairs.

Still, it’s not all work and no play here, as the guestrooms offer river or skyline views and all feel exceptionally spacious. With six restaurants at the hotel, you won’t have to go far if you’re feeling peckish.

My favorite is 37 Grill and Bar, named for its 37th-floor location perched high above Seoul’s sparkling city lights – I usually go for the grilled Korean sirloin. The hotel also has Pulse 8, a dedicated fitness center that offers daily classes and has a weight and cardio area, steam room, indoor swimming pool and sauna.

One of the best hotels in Seoul on Yeouido Island across the river, the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul has spacious guestrooms with marble bathrooms and Le Labo bath products.

You’re spoilt for amenities here – at Fairmount Fit you’ll find an indoor pool for getting your laps in, a sauna, and a fitness area. There’s also the ESPA spa, which offers signature facial and body rituals.

Dining is where this hotel shines though, from artisanal coffee in the airy Atrium Lounge to the international buffet at Spectrum. But my favorite place to hang out is Mariposa on the 29th floor of the hotel.

An elegant restaurant with varied European cuisine, Mariposa serves delicious food. But it’s the skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows – which open to 360-degree views of the Yeouido skyline’s glittering lights – that make this space so special.

The Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas is located in the upscale Gangnam neighborhood, not far from the Jamsil Baseball Stadium and Sports Complex. One of the best hotels in Seoul for a truly luxurious stay, even the lowest category guestrooms here come with city views and espresso machines.

The hotel has just two room categories but seven different suite categories on offer. Choose from the Grand Suite, which has a massive wall of windows overlooking Seoul, to the 3,200-square-foot Presidential Suite, where you’ll find an inviting soaking tub with skyline views and a marble bar next to the dining room.

The hotel also has an enormous indoor pool, a golf range, and a fitness center. But my favorite space has to be the Pilates room – I’ve never seen a hotel that has its own reformer machines on-site, a major bonus for Pilates lovers like me.

If you’re excited to sample all sorts of Korean food during your time in the city, this is the best hotel for you. The Mondrian Seoul Itaewon is set in Itaewon, a buzzy neighborhood where you’ll find all sorts of dining options.

But from the Rumpus Room’s book-lined shelves and live jazz music to the Mediterranean plates at Cleo and cakes from the Mondrian Deli, there are plenty of places to drink and dine without ever leaving the hotel. My preferred spot is the outdoor rooftop Privilege Bar, where you can see all the way to the N Seoul Tower.

This is also one of the best hotels in Seoul for design lovers. Guestrooms and suites are decorated in the contemporary Mondrian style, mixing textiles and muted tones with bold touches, while the lobby has a verdant Forest Zone which brings in natural elements.

An urban sanctuary set against a backdrop of skyscrapers and verdant foliage, The Shilla Seoul is one of the best hotels in Seoul for travelers who want all the amenities. My entire family loves what this hotel calls its “Urban Island”, a large wellness area with heated pools, cabanas, sun loungers, hot tubs, and even a small pool waterfall. There’s also an indoor golf range and a shopping arcade on site.

Guestrooms and suites offer city views or vistas of Mount Namsan and come with cozy soaking tubs. Don’t miss the chance to take a break at the Guerlain Spa, where you can book treatments and aromatherapy sessions.

As for dining, you can choose from high-end traditional Korean dishes at La Yeon, sophisticated French dining and fine wines at Continental and traditional Japanese cuisine at Ariake, among others.