Hotel The Shilla, Seoul
The Shilla Seoul is an iconic luxury hotel owned by the Samsung Group. Opened in 1979 by Samsung’s founder, Byung Chul Lee, it takes its name from the ancient Shilla Dynasty. Despite being Seoul’s oldest luxury hotel, it remains a modern treasure, blending classic Korean heritage with contemporary comfort.
The sleek interiors are primarily the work of renowned designer Peter Remedios, who brought a timeless, urban sophistication to the property. A major highlight is the Yeong Bin Gwan, a stunning traditional Korean-style banquet annex that resembles a 14th-century palace, often used for celebrity weddings.
The property features incredible amenities, including a serene 10-acre outdoor sculpture garden and a high-end shopping arcade. During warmer months, the third floor transforms into “Urban Island,” an exclusive outdoor pool retreat. Naturally, as a Samsung property, rooms boast the latest top-tier technology.
Food lovers are spoiled for choice here. The hotel houses several world-class dining options, notably the Michelin-starred La Yeon, which serves elevated, exquisite traditional Korean cuisine.
Located beside the lush Namsan Mountain, the hotel offers a peaceful escape while keeping you close to the action. You can easily stroll to Jangchungdan Park or take the complimentary shuttle to the bustling shops of Myeong-dong and the futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Expert reviews
“One of the fanciest, if not the fanciest hotel in South Korea, The Shilla has the prices and luxurious details to prove it. The luxury hotel is now one of the few in Seoul that actually houses a high-end Korean restaurant, La Yeon.”
“For 1,000 years, “Shilla” referred to an ancient kingdom that dominated the southeast of the Korean peninsula, but now The Shilla Seoul is harnessing the power of its namesake to dominate the luxury market.”
What guests liked
- Excellent service
- Friendly staff
- Breakfast buffet
- Great location
- Comfortable beds
Location
Recent guest reviews
27 January 2026
Overall I loved it and it was very memorable
Nice and modern. Clean and the view was amazing
That it was on a hill.
26 January 2026
It’s great!
The services from the staffs. The food, the bed, the pillows
No direct airport limousine bus from the hotel entrance.
12 January 2026
Absolutely loved everything about this hotel. Won’t stay anywhere else!
Excellent and highly professional staff. The facilities offer a top level of comfort and luxury, and the service is truly outstanding. Compared to other five-star hotels in Seoul, this was the best stay I’ve experienced.
None
10 January 2026
Exceptional from start to finish
Exceptional. Staff were friendly and helpful. The whole hotel from the entrance to the restaurants and the rooms was just stunning. Food was good for the breakfast and even the in room dining was delightful. Location was great, seems long getting to and from the subway but there are shuttle busses all day to the station and also into Myeongdong. It’s a nice walk also up to N Tower which I done daily.
Nothing :)
4 January 2026
Amazing customer service and delicious buffet breafast.
The staff and their customer service exceeded my expectations. The breakfast and the room were outstanding as well.
Unfortunately, despite turning on the air condition, the room was still really hot. Thankfully we requested a portable fan, which helped.
3 December 2025
It was perfect. I needed rest and was very well looked after. It's my favourite hotel
It was delicious
Nothing
22 November 2025
Will come back one day hopefully with the rest of my family
Loved it. All of it. Specially the staff very kind and helpful
8 November 2025
Luxurious, comfortable, clean, and would stay again.
We came to celebrate mom’s 70th birthday and ambience was perfect. It was clean and comfortable, staff were above and beyond, and the amenities (gym and pool) were top notch.
Considering the price of stay it was disappointing to not be able to use all facilities (needed membership) which was a little discouraging.
3 November 2025
The Shilla is a really fantastic hotel and I would gladly return.
Everything about the property was fantastic. The facilities are very good and well maintained, the rooms felt modern (I can’t understand the ‘dated’ comments from other reviewers) and all the staff were incredibly helpful. We had a great time.
3 November 2025
Brilliant authentic sanctuary with sense of a lifestyle
The breakfast was absolutelly amazing and pastry shop - I haven't tried such a lovely pastry even in France! Amazing territory, outstanding gym facilities, traditional sauna-spa! I loved the room, the lobby area, located close to the park with wonderful views.
The breakfast was amazing - but staff harried us up with our food due to breakfast hours - that is not very pleasant and polite in our culture.
31 October 2025
Great location. Great hotel. Even better staff! Thank you all
The customer service was exceptional. We were made to feel very well cared for.
24 October 2025
A luxurious stay with world-class hospitality, superb dining, and excellent facilities — just wish the rooms were better
I really enjoyed the facilities especially the sauna and indoor swimming pool (3 lanes, though one is reserved for members). They opens early from 5:30am to 10pm. The outdoor pool requires an additional fee, also I didn’t have the chance to use the gym. The front desk service was friendly and caring, particularly a lovely lady named Merry Lim who made our stay warm and welcoming. The buffet breakfast is a must-try!, a huge range of high-quality dishes from different cuisines, available from 6am to 10am. The location is excellent with easy access to the Shilla Duty Free and complimentary shuttle buses to Myeongdong and shopping area like Young Plaza. I also tried the Japanese (mostly Korean ingredients) and Chinese restaurants, both are amazing. Hotel guests enjoy 10% off dining and the ₩100,000 voucher offers great value for a premium meal if you are lucky. The 23rd-floor restaurants, Continental French and Michelin-star Korean fine dining, are highly recommended, but book early! Overall, it’s the best hospitality experience I’ve had in South Korea 2025.
The hotel room shows signs of age, scratches and wear on the timber floors, bed frames, walls, and cupboards. For a luxury hotel, I expected better room conditions. Also, there are a lot of staff everywhere, which sometimes makes the lobby and common areas feel crowded.
22 October 2025
Exceptional stay that felt like a real treat. The view was incredible.
Extremely comfortable and luxurious, staff was very helpful assisting with anything
Wish the location was more central / I had been able to explore something by walking
21 October 2025
Enjoyed the stay very much
Beautiful hotel , fantastic amenities and very good location
Staff very polite and helpful
12 October 2025
Beautiful views and exceptional staff make this hotel a sanctuary in the heart of Seoul
The hotel and property is stunning. The staff are exceptional and go above and beyond to make your stay comfortable. Breakfast was out of this world. You must spend a few hours in the sauna!
The hotel is a little far from the nearest train and we probably should have taken advantage of the shuttle bus service BUT after a long flight and jet lag there’s no where else I’d rather stay. It’s very comfortable. The lobby can get very very busy with weddings and celebrations but once you get through it and up to your room, you look out over the mountain and it is a sanctuary.
9 October 2025
Expensive but worth it!!!
Facilities and staff are excellent
Location is not perfect for vacation
28 September 2025
Wonderful stay in the heart of Seoul
The location, facilities and the very welcoming and professional service. The hotel runs a shuttle of two main courses around Seoul which you can hop on / off. Makes the whole vacation easy and simple.
Absolutely nothing
26 September 2025
Luxurious, helpful & comfortable but expensive and busy
The Shilla is extremely opulent and a beautiful space. The breakfasts were superb, and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. The location is convenient, although be prepared to walk up and down a relatively steep hill to get to the nearest station - it took us around 10 minutes each way. There are shuttle buses available if you don't mind waiting for transport but we preferred to walk. During our visit the staff put on free cultural events for visitors which we found delightful.
The Shilla isn't a particularly restful space - we found it to be constantly busy with events and visitors, and we struggled to find places we could just relax. It is also pricey compared to similarly luxurious hotels.
11 September 2025
Luxurious stay in the heart of Seoul
The Shilla is an institution in Seoul. The hotel is set in a beautiful park inside the city. Hotel is centrally located, however you always need a taxi to get to the city centre. Hotel pool and facilities are very well appointed. Room was spacious and very clean. Service and attention to details was always top notch. Breakfast spread was one of the best we have experienced. Hotel is excellent for Families.
The property is very popular with local families. It does get rather busy over the weekends. There are very few restaurants and convenience stores close by. Taxis are however cheap and readily available.
5 August 2025
Ideal hotel for exploring Seoul.
Location, attentive & friendly staff and spacious, well-designed bedrooms.
Lounge bar was a bit too pricey.
30 July 2025
perfect , 100 out of 100 as always
the room service is amazing , shilla always treat every guest the best , love the service , love the environment , everything are perfect !
24 July 2025
Excellent experience. My favourite thing about Seoul
Everything was perfection. The staff went above and beyond to ensure I was comfortable. I fell ill while staying there and they sorted a doctors appointment for me. It was pure ease and luxury.
Thank you so much.
Nothing
23 July 2025
Above and beyond! I’ll be back
No words to say how everything is beyond expectations. Every member of the staff takes pride and deliver excellent services. From front desk to housekeeper, all the way to pool staffs and restaurant. I can only highly recommend, you will have the time of your life.
Isolated it is a bit hard to move around without using taxis. Free shuttles are provided to the station by the hotel but if you are looking to party at night, prepare to leave early as it’s hard to get a taxi.
30 June 2025
As always, very warm and comfortable hotel that I can always rely on to have a memorable stay!
As usual, the quality and variety of breakfast are fantastic. The room is always quiet and very comfortable!
27 June 2025
Excellent facilities and extremely accommodating, kind, helpful staff!
Loved the facilities of the entire hotel: lobby, pool, spa, room. Everything was beautiful and clean. The staff was wonderful, from the moment I arrived in my taxi. Worth the value of stay, very happy with the hotel and the excellent staff.
Prices of beverages at The Library (lounge) and pool were quite egregious, but to be expected at a 5-star hotel. $20 coffee/americano with no other options for a quick coffee was a little much. Quality was good nonetheless.
26 June 2025
A perfect welcome to Seoul!
We definitely understand why it is a 5-star hotel! The service was excellent - staff was very helpful and anticipates our needs. The room was spacious and comfortable with a perfect view of Namsan Tower. The free shuttle pick up and drop off was good and useful, can be asked for anytime at our convenience. Breakfast buffet is one of the best I've tried! Our stay was so relaxing and we barely lifted a finger!
There's extra payment to for use of sauna and outdoor pool, which was also quite pricey.
18 June 2025
All in one comfort
The comfort..
The fact that the out door pool is payable.. It should be free at least for guest staying over for long periods
17 June 2025
Nice hotel but not so nice room.
The shuttle was a good idea. The view from the room. The library bar.
The lack of a sofa in the room. The room was small for the price. No walk-in closet. No nespresso.
12 June 2025
Great place if somewhat expensive
Classy and comfortable. The bed linens were so soft!!
Not much
2 June 2025
A seamless and luxurious stay with excellent service
The service at this hotel is exceptional!
Everything was so well taken care of and communicated clearly. The hotel also offers plenty of things to do, which I, unfortunately, couldn’t fully enjoy due to my packed itinerary, but I’ll definitely come back to experience it all. I also loved the duty-free shopping mall within the hotel and even managed to score a great item there!
As a content creator, I would have loved brighter lighting in the bathrooms, the lighting was quite dim, which made it a bit challenging to create content.
18 May 2025
Best hotel I’ve ever stayed at period
Breakfast and location are outstanding. Service is second to none
Nothing
17 May 2025
Pefect stay and lovely memories; we would like to return to stay at The Shilla again
Absolutely everything about the room and the facilities was perfect. There is nothing I can think of that was missing. The level of service and the staff are absolutely amazing as can be expected of a hotel of this reputation.
Nothing.
17 May 2025
Just what you will expect from a 5-star hotel!
Room size, aesthetics, amenities and view was excellent. Staff service was excellent too - they help you with the luggage and send you up right to the doorstep of your room. In fact I lost an eco bag (which was a gift) at the lift lobby of my room floor but they managed to find it for me and returned it to me. I am very grateful for that!
A bit of a walk from the nearest subway station but there is a shuttle if you would like and the view while walking is nice too.
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Breakfast in the room
- - Snack bar
- - Special diet menus (on request)
- - Kids' meals (additional charge)
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Fruits (additional charge)
- - Coffee house on site
General
- - Room service
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Barber/beauty shop
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Soundproof rooms
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Designated smoking area
- - Shuttle service (free)
- - Adults only
Business facilities
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
- - Business centre (additional charge)
- - Fax/photocopying (additional charge)
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Express check-in/check-out
- - Currency exchange
- - Tour desk
- - Luggage storage
- - ATM/cash machine on site
- - Concierge service
- - Private check-in/check-out
- - Invoice provided
Activities
- - Sauna (additional charge)
- - Fitness centre
- - Hot tub/Jacuzzi
- - Indoor pool
- - Indoor pool (all year)
- - Public bath (additional charge)
- - Beauty services
- - Facial treatments
- - Make-up services
- - Hair treatments
- - Manicure
- - Pedicure
- - Haircut
- - Hair colouring
- - Hair styling
- - Body treatments
- - Body scrub
- - Fitness
- - Fitness/spa locker rooms
- - Live music/performance
Outdoors
- - Garden
- - Outdoor pool (additional charge)
- - Outdoor pool (seasonal) (additional charge)
Cleaning services
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
- - Ironing service (additional charge)
- - Trouser press (additional charge)
- - Daily housekeeping
Parking
- - Accessible parking
Pool and wellness
- - Pool with view
- - Heated pool
- - Pool bar
- - Pool cover
- - Sun loungers or beach chairs (additional charge)
- - Sun umbrellas
- - Swimming pool
Entertainment & family services
- - Strollers
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key card access
- - Security alarm
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers

More photos

20 February 2026
I would definitely come again!