Staying at the right hotels during your travels can make or break the experience, wouldn’t you agree? Take it from someone who’s stayed in all kinds of accommodation, from sustainable hotels in Mauritius to camping tents in Botswana to a local cabin in remote Iceland.
Finding the rest place to stay in Seoul is no different. Exploring such a quirky and culturally interesting city needs to be paired with interesting accommodations, but with a conscious impact, of course. Here are the top 5 unique hotels in Seoul for a sustainable trip in South Korea’s capital city.
Often featured in major travel publications, The Shilla is not only a unique and elegant hotel, but it’s also one of the best eco hotels in Seoul. Set next to Namsan Mountain, it has indoor and outdoor pools, a private park, and a sculpture garden, making it feel like a serene retreat in the city. (Discover the top things to do around Namsan).
But what makes The Shilla Seoul truly unique is its fusion of modern and traditional elements, with the Yeong Bin Gwan guest house traditionally designed to resemble a Korean palace, inspired by the Shilla (Silla) Dynasty.
The Shilla hotels are pursuing the Green Key certificate, establishing initiatives like recycling, reducing energy and water use, and investing in more sustainable operational practices.
Check The Shilla Seoul’s rates.
Located in Seoul’s dynamic and posh area in Gangnam, Hotel Capuccino is a unique hotel that merges social impact with a lifestyle hotel, turning eco-friendly initiatives into a fun mission. Upon check-in, each guest has a list of impactful tasks to complete, which can be exchanged for hotel experiences or donated to charity. How fun is that?
Hotel Capuccino’s eco efforts include cutting down on single-use plastic, using eco-friendly and cruelty-free products, recycling, clothes donation, repurposing materials for interior design, and a rooftop bar that helps to fund community aid programs.
Check Hotel Capuccino’s rates.
If you love to stay at heritage hotels in traditional locations, Bukchon Binkwan by Rakkojae is one of the best hotels in Seoul for this experience. Its location is also ideal, in Bukchon Hanok Village, the famous traditional village where you can wander (quietly and respectfully) through small streets lined by historic Korean houses called hanok.
What makes Bukchon Binkwan special is that you can actually stay in a real hanok that has been carefully restored and preserved to genuinely reflect South Korea’s architecture and craft. You can also experience a tea ceremony, wear a hanbok (traditional Korean outfit), learn to make kimchi, and enjoy Korean breakfasts.
Bukchon Binkwan is one of the most traditional hotels in Seoul, but aside from its cultural experiences, the hotel also uses natural materials in every room, which are heated in the ancient method called jade ondol, a technique that keeps the floor warm in winter and cool in summer.
Check Bukchon Binkwan by Rakkojae’s rates.
Grand Walkerhill Seoul is a luxury hotel situated near Achasan Mountain, offering a panoramic view of the Han River. With Seoul’s city centre just 10 minutes away by car, the hotel provides a serene retreat, with trails, forests, and riverside paths ideal for scenic walks and runs. There are also plenty of other calming activities like yoga, art class, and candle making, and there’s a beautiful library on site.
The hotel focuses on upcycling, locally-sourced ingredients, using biodegradable and recycled materials, and saves tons of water annually thanks to their water reuse system.
Check Grand Walkerhill Seoul’s rates.
Where you should stay in Seoul depends on your interests. If you want to experience traditional life in Seoul, stay at Bukchon Binkwan by Rakkojae in Bukchon Hanok Village, but if you want a bit of glamour and a dynamic experience, head to Hotel Capuccino for a unique experience with social impact. If you’re looking for a tranquil retreat surrounded by nature, but still be able to reach Seoul in a few minutes, look no further than The Shilla Seoul or Grand Walkerhill Seoul.
Bukchon Hanok Village is a lovely place to stay in Seoul, as it’s one of the few remaining traditional areas of the city, but with plenty of amenities like cute cafes and restaurants within walking distance. Just bear in mind that it’s also a popular tourist spot, though there are restricted hours for visitors to enter the village (due to previous disrespectful behaviour).
