Best accommodation in Seoul - International Traveller

Seoul’s range of accommodation can be overwhelming, so these options narrow it down to a selection that encompass a range of budgets and travel styles.

Like any major capital city, there’s no shortage of things to do in Seoul, and an impressive range of accommodation options to choose between. Visitors can decide between budget options that start at around $40 a night and truly opulent five-star luxury stays.

Something that makes this city truly unique, however, is that it offers you the chance to stay in a hanok, which translates to Korean house and offers an interesting insight into Korean history. To make planning your South Korea trip a little bit easier, we’ve found all the best stays across several of the top neighbourhoods, so you can find one we’re confident will suit your trip.

The shortlist

Best for families wanting a luxurious stay: Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
Best for corporate travellers: Andaz Seoul Gangnam, by Hyatt
Best for travellers wanting a traditional experience: Maison Hanok

1. Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

Best for: Families wanting a luxurious stay

One of Seoul’s most luxurious hotels, the Four Seasons Seoul features 317 rooms and suites, five restaurants and three bars and lounges. It’s located in Gwanghwamun, next to Gwanghwamun Station, in the Jongno district, making it a short stroll from many popular Seoul attractions, including Deoksugung Palace and Jogyesa Temple.

One of the highlights is the in-house Korean bathhouse, available for an extra fee (separate to the pool and fitness centre, which any hotel guest can access), and the breakfast buffet in basement-level Market Kitchen, with seven interactive food stations.

Address: 97 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu

2. Andaz Seoul Gangnam, by Hyatt

Best for: Corporate travellers

Conveniently, Andaz Seoul Gangnam has direct access to Apgujeong Station, so you can easily get around the city. The hotel has 241 rooms, including 25 suites, and a multi-zone dining space housing Jogakbo Kitchen, Meat & Co. Steakhouse and Bites & Wine.

Something that stands out here is the 16-metre indoor pool, set against a massive LED screen playing scenic footage of the Korean countryside. Note that swimming caps are mandatory, though the hotel provides them free of charge.

Address: 854 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam

3. Maison Hanok

Best for: Travellers wanting a traditional experience

Staying in a hanok is a must during your time in Seoul, and this one can be booked through Airbnb. On its ground floor, you’ll find two bedrooms and a bathroom, while the lower level’s floor plan includes a third bedroom, kitchen and dining area. Tucked down a residential cobblestone alley, the hanok is just a five-minute walk from Gyeongbokgung Station in the Seochon neighbourhood. In the mornings you can lay in bed in bed, watching the sunlight filter through the wood-panelled, rice-paper windows.

Address: Near Gyeongbokgung Station, Seochon

4. Hotel The Botanik Sewoon

Best for: Families on a budget

Opened in 2024, Hotel The Botanik Sewoon in Myeongdong is a great mid-range option, offering serviced-apartment-style rooms with balconies. The hotel provides guests free parking, and breakfast’s available for an extra charge.

It sits steps away from Myeongdong’s many street food stalls, department stores and beauty shops, and is just a four-minute walk from Euljiro 3-ga Station. If you’re looking for an affordable option that still offers a 24-hour front desk, this is it.

Address: 23-1 Eulji-ro 19-gil, Jung-gu

5. Hi Stay Jongno

Best for: Solo travellers on a budget

The most affordable among my Seoul stays, Hi Stay Jongno is a self-service hotel with 10 rooms, all with air-con, free WiFI and private bathrooms. Check-in is handled via an iPad that spits out your room number and key.

Helpful to know about budget stays in Seoul: Korea’s renowned for cleanliness, so you can count on even the most affordable spots to be spotless. That said, local hotels are also known for tight layouts, and that’s certainly true here – this room has just enough space to unpack a suitcase.

Address: 17 Sami-daero 17-gil, Jongno-gu

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6. L7 Hongdae By Lotte

Best for: Travellers in their 20s and 30s

Ask any Korean local where young people hang out in Seoul and they’re likely to point you to Hongdae, thanks to the neighbourhood’s Hongik University. If you want to be walking distance from Hongdae’s countless discount shops and late-night karaoke spots, book at L7 Hongdae by Lotte. The high-rise hotel has 340 rooms, a heated rooftop pool and an Italian restaurant, The Place, on its 21st floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out at the cityscape. Hongik University Station’s a three-minute walk away.

Address: 141 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu

7. Grand Hyatt Incheon

Best for: Travellers flying early-morning or landing late-night

Located just a three-minute ride from Incheon International Airport, the Grand Hyatt Incheon is ideal if you have an early morning flight or late-night landing. This five-star property offers free shuttle service to and from Terminals 1 and 2, alongside an indoor pool, a fitness centre with a sauna and a dining venue, called Restaurant 8. If you want to head into central Seoul from the hotel using public transport, simply take the free shuttle to the airport and hop on a train. Otherwise, Ubers are relatively affordable compared to their Australian prices.

Address: 208 Yeongjonghaeannam-ro, 321 Beon-gil, Jung-gu

8. The Shilla Seoul

Best for: Honeymooners or travellers celebrating special occasions

Kim Kardashian, Tom Cruise and David Beckham are said to have stayed at the ultra-luxe The Shilla Seoul in the quiet neighbourhood of Jung-gu, next to Namsan Mountain and near Dongguk University. The hotel has 464 rooms, including 38 suites, indoor and outdoor pools, five restaurants, two lounges and bars and a pastry boutique. The hotel operates complimentary shuttles for guests heading to Myeongdong and Dongdaemun.

Address: 249 Dongho-ro, Jung-gu

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The best accommodation in Seoul: From five-star luxury, to traditional hanoks