Gwanghwamun Seoul, South Korea
Opened
2015
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Luxe Wellness SocialOutside the door
The house
Four SeasonsContemporary palace citadel
Conceived as a modern Korean palace, the 29-story glass tower anchors Gwanghwamun with bronze map fireplaces and contemporary Korean art installations.
“Fu says his intention was to create a ‘poetic journey’ through the 5,800 square meter space.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Three wellness levels center on a traditional gender-segregated Korean sauna and lap pool.
Remarkable
Subterranean cocktail den Charles H. joins an eight-seat tasting counter and wine bar.
What they say
Two Michelin Keys
Michelin
Forbes Five-Star
Forbes Travel Guide
2026
Also in Condé Nast Traveler, The 50 Discovery, Wallpaper* and AFAR.
Its ivory-colored guestrooms are an elegant blend of modern and traditional décor complete with top-of-the-line mattresses and beds to ensure a good night’s sleep.
“The atmosphere upon arrival is consistently the same—classy and calm—and the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul is no exception.”
“The Four Seasons earns its five stars for everything from its location—smack in the middle of Seoul’s most-visited palaces and landmarks—to its detailed amenities, such as customizable mattresses.”
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Set in Gwanghwamun, the hotel puts Gyeongbokgung Palace gates, Cheonggyecheon Stream, and downtown contemporary art galleries within an easy ten-minute stroll.
The rooms
Floor-to-ceiling windows look onto Gyeongbokgung Palace, while white Italian marble bathrooms frame deep soaking tubs angled toward the Seoul skyline.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Three 25-meter lap lanes run beneath geometric ceiling lights, set beside a vitality plunge pool and mountain stone relief.
The spa and sauna
Cold, warm, and hot marble plunge pools fill the ninth-floor bathhouse, beside traditional scrub rooms and private treatment suites.
Dogs stay too.
At the table
Michelin-starred Yu Yuan roasts Peking duck in a 1920s Shanghai setting, and Charles H. pours subterranean cocktails.
The 29-story, glass-and-steel Four Seasons Hotel Seoul… is meant to look like an ancient Korean palace of old, but stylized and brought into the 21st century.
How it began
During construction, excavators unearthed 600-year-old Joseon-dynasty neighborhood ruins, now preserved under glass flooring beneath the hotel's lower-level dining room.
“The Four Seasons' first hotel in Korea blends sleek contemporary style with elements of traditional Korean design.”
Good to know
Stay here
Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.