Must-see hotels in Seoul

  • Itaewon G Guest House

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Run by the welcoming and convivial Shrek Lee, this hostel is easily the best budget digs in Itaewon. Fourteen dorms and four twins are stacked in a…

  • Grand Hyatt Seoul

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    Making the most of its hilltop aspect, the Grand Hyatt is lord of all it surveys. On a clear day, the views from the lobby lounge, through a soaring wall…

  • Splaisir

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    This hotel has rooms dedicated to Line Friends – cartoon characters from popular Japanese-Korean social-media app Line – so fans of cuteness overload and…

  • Wowfactor Stay

    Seoul

    The husband-and-wife team who converted this house have keen design sensibilities. K-Pop-fanatic Jacqueline chooses photogenic, homey decor and cooks…

  • Urbanwood Guesthouse

    Seoul

    Creatively decorated in bright colours and modern furnishings, this cosy guesthouse feels more like a cool arty apartment. Martin, the convivial English…

  • Kpopstay

    Seoul

    There is a stream of K-Pop on the TVs at this memorabilia-adorned hostel in the heart of Hongdae's bar area next to Hongik University. But even if you…

  • Tria Hotel

    Gangnam & Southern Seoul

    An excellent-value, midrange option that's very affordable for this end of town, the 50-room boutiquey Tria has lots going for it. Opt for any room above…

  • Metro Hotel

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    An excellent midrange choice, this small professionally run hotel has boutique aspirations. Splashes of style abound, from the flashy, metallic lobby to…

  • Lee Kang Ga

    Seoul

    Near the War & Women's Human Rights Museum, this appealing guesthouse is worth the trek from Hongdae. Rooms are attractively decorated with hanji …

  • Park Hyatt Seoul

    Gangnam & Southern Seoul

    A discreet entrance – look for the rock sticking out of the wall – sets the Zen-minimalist tone for this gorgeous property. Each floor only has 10 rooms…

  • Plaza

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    You can't get more central than the Plaza, opposite the striking rising glass edifice of City Hall. Rooms sport a smart design with giant angle-poise…

  • Banyan Tree Club & Spa

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    Billing itself a ‘sanctuary for the senses’, the Banyan Tree occupies a hilltop tower designed by feted local architect Kim Swoon Guen, and offers just…

  • Hotel 28

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    Opened in 2016, this boutique hotel was founded by veteran actor Shin Young-kyun and takes on a Korean cinema theme. Each room has stills of films that…

  • Zaza Backpackers

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    In the guesthouse enclave that's sprung up along the hill to Namsan, Zaza is one of the best with its contemporary building full of design touches and…

  • Imperial Palace Hotel

    Gangnam & Southern Seoul

    A name like this raises expectations, and they are all met at Seoul’s most luxurious hotel. The antiques and wood panelling create a stately, genuinely…

  • Marigold Hotel

    Seoul

    Part of the reliable business-hotel chain Benikea, the Marigold's rooms are spacious and aim for contemporary chic with amber onyx tiles and fake animal…

  • Seoul Olympic Parktel

    Gangnam & Southern Seoul

    If you’re a youth-hostel member you can stay in this functional business hotel in the 'bunk room' at a youth-hostel rate. Inside Olympic Park, it’s a long…

  • Nine Tree Hotel Myeong-dong

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    There's plenty to like about this snazzy hotel well placed in the heart of Myeong-dong's shopping district. The smart boutique-y rooms have city views, a…

  • Namsan Guesthouse

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    Taking over the neighbourhood on the slopes of Namsan, this long-running backpackers' favourite now has three locations in the immediate area. Each varies…

  • La Casa Garosugil

    Gangnam & Southern Seoul

    The first venture into the hospitality business by classy Korean furniture and interior-design store Casamia packs plenty of chic style. The rooms are…

  • Oriens Hotel & Residences

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    A great location, friendly and professional service and reasonable rates make this one of the best serviced-apartment options for short or long stays…

  • Kimchee Gangnam Guesthouse

    Gangnam & Southern Seoul

    A rare budget choice for ritzy Gangnam, this friendly guesthouse is set in a posh-looking old apartment building in a residential street. The mixed dorms…

  • Hotel 8 Hours

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    This hotel is the perfect option for travellers looking for a clean, budget space right in downtown. The rooms are quite small, ranging from 13 to 20 sq…

  • H Avenue Hotel

    Gangnam & Southern Seoul

    Fantastic value, this love motel is most notable for its roof-terrace rooms which come with their own roof-deck swimming pools and views over Namsan and…

  • Crib49

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    Up the hill near Namsan's cable car, the ondol rooms at this smart guesthouse have mattresses on the floor, and minimalist decor with Scandanavian-style…

  • Marriott Executive Apartments

    Seoul

    If you’re going to stay on Yeouido then these top-grade, beautifully decorated serviced apartments are one way to go. The complex, which faces onto a park…

  • Come Inn

    Seoul

    Bang in the centre of Hongdae is this compact, 3rd-floor guesthouse offering private rooms and female-only dorms, all of which share common bathrooms…

  • Roi House

    Seoul

    Modern, with larger rooms than most guesthouses and a quiet location on a tree-lined street in Yeonnam-dong, this is a very pleasant place to stay that's…

  • Conrad Seoul

    Seoul

    Superior service, luxe rooms decorated in natural tones, and sweeping views of the Han River and city are what you'd expect here – and it absolutely…

  • Lotte Hotel Seoul

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    The natural extension to its Myeong-dong shopping empire, this twin-towered hotel with over 1000 rooms has a marble-lined lobby long enough for Usain Bolt…

  • Westin Chosun Seoul

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    Dating from the late 1970s, this is not Seoul's most spectacular hotel, but the relaxing atmosphere and the conscientious staff keep it a cut above the…

  • 24 Guesthouse Gangnam Center

    Gangnam & Southern Seoul

    Hidden away in a residential backstreet of Gangnam, this double-storey guesthouse has an appealing location that's close enough to the action, yet far…

  • SP@Itaewon Guesthouse

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    This friendly hostel has boxy dorms with cramped bathrooms but a prime location up the hill from Itaewon's main drag. As at most budget lodgings in the …

  • Mercure Seoul Ambassador Gangnam Sodowe

    Gangnam & Southern Seoul

    Well located, this business-smart hotel is decorated in candy colours and arty flourishes. Rooms with city views cost extra, as does the sauna (₩5000) and…

  • Itaewon Hostel & Inn

    Itaewon & Yongsan-gu

    A short stumble down the hill from the bars, this well-run hostel offers a mix of dorms and private rooms (including affordable en suite singles with TVs…

  • OK Guesthouse

    Seoul

    When in Hongdae, live the Korean student experience. These miniscule goshiwon capsule rooms squeeze in their own private bathroom, just. A futon room…

  • Le Méridien Seoul

    Gangnam & Southern Seoul

    Recently renovated with impeccable taste, Le Méridien has attentive warm service, plenty of facilities and a European atmosphere stretching from the…

  • Pacific Hotel

    Myeong-dong & Jung-gu

    Bellboys in caps greet you at this old-fashioned hotel, where light neutral colours, greenery and a natural-wood effect are the design style. Bathrooms…

  • Lotte Hotel World

    Gangnam & Southern Seoul

    One purely for those with kids in tow, this luxury hotel has rooms that, incredibly, open directly to the theme park that will fulfil every child's…

  • Haemil

    Seoul

    Among the guesthouses in hip Yeonnam-dong, the Haemil stands out for its rustic Korean design touches, such as the use of natural wooden furniture and…

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