12 of the best stays in South Korea

Not one for those with vertigo, the ultra-modern Signiel Seoul occupies the 76th to 101st floors of the Lotte World Tower, Korea’s tallest building (and sixth-tallest in the world). It shares the skyscraper with the Lotte Museum of Art, so you can touch base with Korean high culture without ever setting foot outside. But when you do venture out, hotel services can arrange such perks as tickets to the Seoul Metropolitan Opera or Rolls Royce transfers, so you can experience the capital in style. Or if you’d rather stay in, the hotel’s Stay (French) and Michelin-starred Bicena (Korean) restaurants have impressive reputations, while the heated pool offers sweeping city views from up on the 85th floor.

More information: Doubles from £386 per night, room only; lottehotel.com

Blending the furnishings of a stately manor with the ambitious geometry of a modern high-rise, the Four Seasons Seoul strikes a chic pose even for the Korean capital. It has all the hallmarks of a major hotel in a big city, including a collection of restaurants to rival anywhere in town, encompassing Japanese fusion (Akira Back), Italian (Boccalino) and Cantonese (Yu Yuan) cuisine. The Charles H also regularly ranks among Asia’s best bars, and its gilded speakeasy-style decor makes for an elegant setting to devour some glorious cocktails. But the hotel’s true blessing is its location, with some of Seoul’s top historical sites right on your doorstep – the Palace View Executive rooms even directly overlook Gyeongbokgung Palace.

More information: Doubles from £374 per night, room only; fourseasons.com

To stand out amid Jeju Island’s many resorts takes some doing. At Lotte Resort Jeju Artvillas, each of its flagship villas were designed by a different luminary from the architecture world, including Japanese luminary Kengo Kuma (V&A Dundee) and France’s Dominique Perrault (French National Library). Each draws on the island’s landscape for inspiration, which is apt given that it’s possible to decamp on a day hike up the shield volcano of Hallasan from the resort. For those looking to slow things down, order up gourmet Korean cuisine at the hotel’s sea-view restaurant, Art Cordelia, or soak in the setting with an outdoor
barbecue.

More information: B&B villas from £587 per night; lotteresort.com

Like something out of a magical realism novel, Sun Cruise Resort looks and feels like a giant luxury cruise ship, except for the fact that it sits beached atop a cliff, high above the East Sea (Sea of Japan). Much of the interior is a warren of suites (some with balconies), while the ship’s bridge hosts its own rotating bar. A second, similarly shaped wing of the hotel, known as Beach Cruise, sits lower down the cliff, offering upmarket villa-style rooms with private pools. There’s easy access to the beach from both and you can even stroll through the on-site sculpture park, which includes a giant set of hands bursting through the ground, to keep the surrealism flowing.

More information: Doubles from £305 per night, room only; esuncruise.com

In the mountains east of Gyeongju, one of Korea’s oldest Buddhist monasteries has opened its doors to guests. Golgulsa Temple encourages visitors to ditch technology and join in with the everyday activities of the monks who reside here; this could mean prostrations practice or classes in the traditional Korean Buddhist martial art of sunmudo. Accommodation is in simple, gender-segregated dorms with ondol underfloor heating and floor mats for sleeping on. Experiential temple stay programmes generally last a couple of days and can involve visits to cultural sites, forest walks, tea ceremonies and archery.

More information: Dorms from £40 per person, per night (full board); golgulsa.com

What better way to take in Jeju Island’s sandy Jungmun Saekdal beach than from the longest infinity pool in South Korea, which wraps its way for 110m around Parnas Hotel Jeju. For those looking for a bit more action, there is also direct access to the long-distance Jeju Olle hiking trail (437km), making this a great base for those after an outdoors fix. Rooms range around the lofty central lobby, with each offering a different take on the island’s volcanic landscape. Fans of K-dramas might also recognise its interior, which was used as a filming location for the King of the Land TV series.

More information: Doubles from £249 per night, room only; parnashoteljeju.com

With a grandeur and style befitting Seoul’s stylish Gangnam neighbourhood, Josun Palace makes its point in stately marble and attention to detail. It opened in 2021 on the site of the city’s original Western-style luxury hotel, and it’s a worthy successor. Common areas dressed in cream, bronze and charcoal are overlooked by fine art and statuary by the likes of Daniel Arsham. Contemporary Korean cuisine is explored at Eatanic Garden, where tasting menus feature local ingredients and are served in an Art Deco setting, while the rooftop pool offers impressive views over the skyline.

More information: Doubles from £348 per night, room only; jpg.josunhotel.com

With the 7.4km-long Gwangan Bridge on one side and the golden sands of Haeundae Beach on the other, the Park Hyatt Busan’s floor-to-ceiling windows elegantly frame South Korea’s second city. Inside, some 200 rooms and 69 suites (some with spa bathtubs) put the onus on comfort. Take a dip in the granite indoor swimming pool at sunset or unwind with a treatment at Ocelas Spa. Best of all, the hotel’s waterfront location puts the city’s finest features on your doorstep, with the natural forest of Dongbaek Park and the beach only a few minutes away.

More information: Doubles from £187 per night, room only; hyatt.com

The best wellness retreats offer complete isolation from the trappings of modern life. Park Roche, set in the remote east and overlooked by gentle hills, ticks those boxes and more. Rest, introspection and reconnection with one’s mind and body in a natural setting is its raison d’etre, with a daily wellness schedule that includes morning yoga, sound therapy and breathing meditation. Its spa even spills into the outdoors, offering views of the Gariwangsan mountain (1,560m) as you relax in the water. The hotel also runs its own farm, where you can help to harvest vegetables and feed the animals, followed by a cooking class recreating some Gangwon-do favourites.

More information: B&B doubles from £218 per night; some classes are extra; park-roche.com

On the shores of the Bomun Lake tourist complex lies Lahan Select Gyeongju. There’s plenty to do here, with restaurants, galleries and a drive-in theatre on your doorstep, though it’s worth timing a visit for cherry blossom season (late March), when strolls in the extensive lakeside parklands are at their most enchanting. The activity-focused vibe extends to the hotel itself, which includes a five-lane bowling alley and indoor golf range, though the lake views and waterfront greenery offer plenty of peace and quiet, if that’s what you want. It’s almost enough to make you forget that the UNESCO-listed tumuli and temples of ancient Gyeongju lie just a few kilometres away. Well, almost…

More information: Doubles from £93 per night, room only; lahanhotels.com

This Jeju Island clifftop escape blends neatly into its surroundings, having been built using the same volcanic basalt rock as the ground it sits on. Indeed, nods to the island’s landscape and heritage are woven throughout its design, particularly in the lobby’s traditional hanok-style construction, while nature walks offer a great way to explore the grounds and beyond. Be sure to save some energy for the infinity pool and the activity programme, which includes morning yoga sessions overlooking the sea. The half-board rate also covers afternoon tea and an indulgent French caviar brunch, as well as free tickets to the island’s Arario contemporary art museum.

More information: King rooms from £630 per night, half board; marriott.com

Looking not dissimilar to a Joseon-era village, the Gyeongwonjae Ambassador’s traditional hanok-style buildings double as luxury accommodation. Yet the design is more than just historical cosplay, with classical flora- and fauna-themed art, often with a mother-of-pearl inlay, adorning every inch of the common area, while restaurant Sura offers a cultured take on Korean royal cuisine. It is set in lush Songdo Central Park after all, which is better known as Incheon’s foodie and tech district. The 30 wood-beamed rooms are likewise designed and appointed with an eye on history, though include plenty of modern comforts too, including wooden soaking tubs and espresso machines.

More information: Doubles from £161 per night, room only; all.accor.com