City Hotel
Seoul, South Korea
8.9
The Shilla Seoul
Seoul's establishment grande dame on the wooded slopes of Namsan, pairing a sculpture-filled Korean garden with the city's most decorated Korean restaurant.
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South Korea
Seoul
Seoul moves at a pace that makes other capitals feel sedate, yet its palaces, teahouses and hanok lanes hold five centuries of Joseon composure at the city's core. This is the metropolis that exports its pop culture, cuisine and beauty rituals to the world, and experiencing them at the source carries a particular charge.
For luxury travellers, Seoul offers sleek tower hotels above the Han River, serious spa culture, and a dining scene where temple cuisine and modern Korean tasting menus share the spotlight. Shopping runs from heritage craft quarters to some of Asia's most architecturally ambitious flagships, and the city's energy is famously infectious after dark.
The best hotels in Seoul
Best areas to stay
Gangnam & Cheongdam
The polished southern district concentrates designer flagships, contemporary galleries and the city's most fashionable hotels and restaurants.
Myeongdong & City Hall
The traditional downtown base puts palaces, markets and major hotels within walking distance, ideal for first-time visitors.
Itaewon & Hannam-dong
A cosmopolitan hillside quarter of international dining, boutiques and design-led hotels near the Leeum museum.
Dining & nightlife
Seoul's table stretches from barbecue rooms and midnight noodle stalls to a fast-growing constellation of acclaimed tasting counters. Cocktail bars in Cheongdam and Euljiro rank among Asia's best, and the city's night markets keep going long after the last reservation. Book the famous counters weeks ahead.
Travelling as a family
Families fill days with palace changing-of-the-guard ceremonies, hands-on museums, N Seoul Tower's cable car and the theme parks on the city's edge. The metro is stroller-friendly and immaculate, and department-store food halls simplify mealtimes.
Travelling as a couple
Couples can walk the Seoul City Wall at sunset, share barbecue and natural wine in Hannam-dong and end high above the Han River in a skyline bar. A hanbok-clad morning at Gyeongbokgung and a traditional spa afternoon add texture to a city break.
Cultural highlights
- Gyeongbokgung Palace and the changing of the guard
- The hanok lanes of Bukchon Village
- Leeum Museum of Art's collections
- Gwangjang Market's food alleys
The Browntravels Edit
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