There’s no better landmark of luxury than The Shilla Seoul. Having opened its doors over 40 years ago, with luxe renovations since then, it sets the standard for five-star living and time-honoured hospitality. Standing proudly on Namsan Mountain and surrounded by cascading traditional Korean buildings, the statuesque hotel sits among 23 acres of private wooded parkland and looks over Seoul’s commercial district. A must-visit property, The Shilla Seoul maintains a unique position as the first South Korean five-star hotel on the annual Forbes Travel Guide from 2019 through 2022.
While it may be the oldest luxury accommodation in the sprawling city, The Shilla Seoul is still as fresh as its younger counterparts, with world-class rooms and facilities. Spend your days rubbing shoulders with Seoul’s elite on the third-floor Urban Island, where heated pools, jacuzzis, cabanas and heated sunbeds sit among a rooftop garden. Should the weather turn, visit Arcade, a 20-shop luxury mall with the likes of Hermès and Issey Miyake. However you spend your day, it should end at one of the hotel’s five restaurants. The top-floor La Yeon is the first Korean restaurant to earn two Michelin stars, while Palsun’s high-end Chinese has captured the hearts of locals, making it one of the most popular regional spots in the city.
