Top 10 Hotels in Seoul

Top 10 Hotels in Seoul

Seoul's best hotels split cleanly into two personalities: century-old grandes dames like The Shilla and Westin Josun that trade on heritage and hosting presidents, and design-driven newcomers in Hongdae and Mapo that draw a younger, trendier crowd. Both camps deliver serious luxury, but the neighborhood you pick changes the whole trip — Myeongdong and Jung-gu put you inside walking distance of palaces and shopping streets, while Gangnam and Mapo trade some of that centrality for nightlife, design, and better subway connections to the rest of the city.

We've selected ten hotels that cover this full range, from Four Seasons Seoul's palace-adjacent five-star polish to RYSE's Michelin-designer industrial-chic in Hongdae. Every listing links directly to that hotel's page on four major booking platforms so you can compare live rates before deciding.

1. Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

Four Seasons Seoul sits in Gwanghwamun, a six-minute walk from Gyeongbokgung Palace and close enough to City Hall Station to make the whole downtown core walkable. It's the kind of central address that would normally mean compromising on quiet, but the hotel's indoor pool, sauna, and full-service spa keep the experience calm despite the location, and the golf lessons and simulator are an unusual amenity for a hotel this central.

Dining spans acclaimed Cantonese, Italian, Japanese, and a market-style buffet, and reviewers consistently mention how well-suited the property is for families — the kids' club and kids' pool get called out often, alongside genuinely helpful, friendly staff. It's a hotel built for guests who want five-star global consistency with Seoul's best palace views right outside. You can check availability at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul on Booking.com.

2. The Shilla Seoul

Samsung-owned and Forbes-recognized six years running (2019-2024), The Shilla is Seoul's oldest luxury hotel and still one of its most requested — a property that's genuinely hosted celebrities and presidents without losing the housekeeping standard that keeps it there. It sits near Namsan Mountain, a quieter setting than most competitors on this list while staying close enough to Myeongdong and Dongdaemun for easy day trips.

La Yeon, the hotel's Korean fine-dining restaurant, holds three Michelin stars, and the Urban Island outdoor pool with cabanas is one of the better summer amenities among Seoul's five-star hotels. The Arcade's basement-and-first-floor shopping (Hermès, Graff, Moynat) adds another layer most hotels don't bother with. Reviewers repeatedly praise the housekeeping and overall service consistency. Check The Shilla Seoul's current rates on Agoda for exact pricing.

3. Westin Josun Seoul Hotel

Operating continuously since 1914, Westin Josun Seoul has more institutional history behind it than almost any hotel in the city, and its 2025 Forbes Travel Guide four-star recognition confirms it's kept pace rather than coasting on that legacy. Its Sogong-dong location is about as central as Seoul gets — a five-minute walk from Myeongdong Street and Namdaemun Market, with City Hall Station five minutes away on foot.

462 rooms, including 36 one-bedroom suites and two two-bedroom suites, sit above the recently refurbished City Athletic Club, which pairs an 82-foot pool with a spa offering Korean-style baths and saunas — a genuinely local touch most international chains skip. Sushi Cho's seasonal omakase menu draws diners who aren't even staying at the hotel. Guests consistently mention the location and service as the two strongest points. See Westin Josun Seoul's rates on Expedia for current pricing.

4. The Ambassador Seoul - A Pullman Hotel

Korea's first privately owned hotel has been operating since 1955, and a full property-wide renovation — exterior, rooms, restaurants, and bars — has kept it feeling current rather than dated. Its 269 rooms plus 49 serviced residences sit in Seoul's Chungmuro district, close to Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Gwangjang Market, with a genuinely unusual amenity in its transparent-glass outdoor pool that's become a minor social-media landmark in its own right.

The hotel scores among the highest guest ratings on this entire list, and reviewers specifically call out the friendly, attentive reception and concierge team. Indoor and outdoor pools, a convention center, and conference rooms round out a property built as much for business travelers as leisure guests. Check The Ambassador Seoul's rates on Booking.com.

5. L'Escape, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Seoul Myeongdong

L'Escape brings a genuinely French sensibility to Myeongdong — Parisian mansion-inspired interiors, a seventh-floor check-in that greets guests with a distinct sense of arrival, and daily touches like complimentary water bottles and next-day weather forecast cards that most hotels wouldn't bother with. It sits directly at Hoehyeon Station on subway line 4, across from Shinsegae Department Store and a ten-minute walk from central Myeongdong.

The 204 rooms lean boutique rather than sprawling, with Michelin-quality Korean, French, and Chinese dining on site and two bars. Guest reviews consistently mention the stylish, spacious rooms and exceptionally comfortable beds, with couples in particular rating the property highly for two-person trips. It doesn't include toothbrushes or slippers as standard, a small detail worth knowing before you pack. Compare L'Escape Seoul Myeongdong's rates on Agoda.

6. L7 MYEONGDONG by LOTTE HOTELS

Lotte's L7 brand launched its very first property here in Myeongdong back in 2016, and the location still does the heavy lifting: the hotel sits a minute's walk from Myeongdong Subway Station (Line 4), with the airport bus stopping directly outside and Myeongdong's night market and shopping streets on the doorstep. A rooftop foot spa is a distinctly Korean touch that guests specifically call out in reviews.

Rooms run on the smaller side for the price point — a trade-off for the location that most reviewers accept without complaint, though a few mention the light switches take some getting used to. The 250 rooms are clean and well-kept, and the buffet restaurant and airport-adjacent convenience make it a strong pick for travelers prioritizing location and value over space. See L7 Myeongdong's photos and rates on Trip.com.

7. RYSE, Autograph Collection

RYSE channels Hongdae's youthful, art-school energy into a design that Michelin-starred designer Michaelis Boyd built around concrete, brass, and bright pink flooring — a lobby that photographs as well as it functions. It sits a few hundred meters from Hongik University Station (Line 2), putting Seoul's most concentrated live-music and indie-fashion district right outside.

The rooms carry the same maximalist approach with custom artwork, velvet curtains, and hand-woven Kenyan rugs, and the on-site Blue Bottle cafe in the lobby has become as much a draw as the rooms themselves. Side Note Club runs weekend live DJ sets, and MONOPLEX @ RYSE — a private screening room with seat-side food and drink — is one of the more unusual hotel amenities in the city. Reviewers highlight the design, the English-fluent staff, and the overall energy of the property. Check RYSE Autograph Collection's rates on Booking.com.

8. GLAD Mapo

GLAD Mapo posts one of the highest guest review scores of any hotel in Seoul, and it does it without five-star pricing — the hotel sits directly above Gongdeok Station, a single interchange that connects to the AREX airport express line along with several subway lines, making it one of the most transit-convenient hotels in the city. A 7-Eleven right off the lobby and the nearby Gongdeok Market pig's-trotter street add a distinctly local, unpretentious character.

Rooms run unusually spacious for downtown Seoul, with floor-to-ceiling windows delivering genuine high-rise night views, smart lighting controls, and USB charging built into the nightstands. Reviewers repeatedly describe it as clean, quiet, and excellent value, with particularly strong soundproofing for a hotel this close to a major transit hub. It's proof that Seoul's best-reviewed stay doesn't have to be its most expensive. You can check GLAD Mapo's rates on Expedia.

9. Four Points by Sheraton Josun, Seoul Myeongdong

Opened just before the pandemic, this Four Points is one of the newer builds on this list, and its entrance sits right at Exit 12 of Euljiro 3-ga Station — a genuinely easy walk to Myeongdong's shopping streets and a six-minute walk from Myeongdong Cathedral. Note there are two Four Points Sheraton Josun properties in Seoul (this one and a separate Seoul Station location), so double-check the address when booking.

All 375 rooms include laptop-friendly workspaces, separate sitting areas, and bathrobes — details that go beyond most hotels at this price tier. Reviewers consistently mention how quiet the rooms stay even facing the busy main street, alongside comfortable beds and pillows and genuinely polite staff. It's a dependable, well-located four-star pick for travelers who want Myeongdong's location without five-star pricing. Check Four Points by Sheraton Josun Myeongdong's rates on Agoda.

10. L7 GANGNAM by LOTTE HOTELS

L7 Gangnam puts you a short stroll from Seolleung Station and within a 10-minute walk of COEX Mall, Tehran Boulevard, and the COEX Convention Center — Gangnam's commercial and shopping core in one direction, and Seonjeongneung's royal tombs and green space in the other. It's the only entry on this list dedicated to the Gangnam side of the river, useful for travelers whose itinerary skews toward that district's nightlife and shopping.

330 rooms come with a dedicated foot spa and fitness center, and Floating Dining and Floating Bar handle food and drink on site with an international and Italian-leaning menu. Reviewers praise the rooftop bar's city views and describe the property overall as clean, comfortable, and well-suited to both business and leisure stays, with well-equipped kitchenette options for longer visits. Compare L7 Gangnam by Lotte's rates on Booking.com.

Rates and availability change constantly — the links above take you straight to each hotel's live booking page so you can check current prices for your exact travel dates.

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