Hotels in Seoul, South Korea

Seoul Hotels

Surf a wave of technological innovation, as you take a trip to high-tech Seoul, and experience a disorientating flash into the future. Glittering skyscrapers light the night’s sky like neon glow sticks, while extraordinary shrines and temples offer the 10 million residents connection to their roots. While undeniably massive, Seoul’s expansion, and boom - which has seen the population quadruple over the last 30 years - has been carefully managed and meticulously planned, helping the city to earn recognition as a UNESCO City of Design. Slick, hassle-free transport links make it easy to get around this global giant of finance, business and technology, and explore every inch of this creative hub.

Things to see

Get your bearings by rising to the top of N-Seoul Tower, which offers eagle-eye views from its observation deck. Try and time your visit to the space-rocket shaped building to coincide with one of the tower’s hypnotic LED light shows, which pour swirling patterns of color into the darkness. While the showy skyscrapers highlight Seoul’s status as a world power, the city’s cultural assets are best represented by Gyeongbokgung Palace, which comes to life at 10am, when the largest changing of the guard’s ceremony rattles the walls with pounding drums, and stamping boots. Don’t be surprised if you prefer the slightly smaller, more serene, Deoksugung Palace, however, where walks between auburn-leafed trees, and decorated, canoe-shaped roofs await. The silence hanging over the demilitarized zone couldn’t be a greater contrast to the tranquil spirituality of the temples - and with North and South Korea still technically at war, the tension hanging in the air is palpable. Explore the secret invasion tunnels - burrowed by the North through solid granite – as you learn about the horrifying scale of the Korean War, which ended millions of lives. Tours run from Seoul to the 2.4-mile wide buffer zone on a regular basis, or you can stay in the city to explore the War Memorial of Korea, which is bedecked with poignant sculptures and interactive displays.

Hotels in Seoul

There’s no escaping it, Seoul’s an expensive city - but when it comes to hotels, you definitely get what you pay for. Five-star options are achingly luxurious, giving you the space to recline in piping hot baths, looking out over the city’s sprawl through floor-to-ceiling windows. Mid-range hotels don’t skimp on the luxuries, either, offering peace and quiet in hidden courtyards – perfect for escaping the honking horns and hassle, and unwinding with a soundtrack of trickling water and chattering birds. With the world’s best fiber-optic internet network, it’s fair to say that watching videos, or sending emails isn’t a problem, while most hotels in Seoul also offer paper-thin televisions, and tea and coffee making facilities.

Where to stay

With such a comprehensive public transport system, where you stay is almost irrelevant. The Jongno District is the city’s heart, and it’s peppered with decedent palaces and towering temples. You know the dance, now stay in the neighborhood that inspired it. Gangnam is far more than just the inspiration for a catchy tune, and this affluent area throbs with a youthful vibrancy, as wavy skyscrapers shake to parties, and clink with the cutlery of fine dining restaurants.

How to get to Seoul

If only all airports were like Incheon International, where officials pride themselves on getting visitors in and out in record time. The airport is one of the world’s best, and Incheon International Airport Railroad makes reaching the city, and the domestic Gimpo Airport, simple. Busses are always on hand to shuttle arrivals across the city, while an incredibly slick subway fans out right across the city. High speed trains also connect you with the country’s other major cities.