Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The Shilla Seoul represents the best hotel in Korea, with contemporary design blending well with traditional patterns and style used back in the Shilla Dynasty. Next to the main building stands the former guesthouse that was once used to welcome special guests from around the world. The main building is replete with restaurants offering outstanding international cuisine, a shopping arcade featuring global brand goods, a pool, and a luxurious spa while in a separate building within the property lies a grand duty-free shop.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Park View
Languages Spoken
English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean
Location
249, Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04605 South Korea
Name/address in local language
The Shilla Seoul
4.5 reviews
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
As a gift for my husband's birthday, I went on a staycation at the Shilla Hotel Executive, which he wanted to visit.
Executives check in on the 23rd floor. Since it was my birthday, I received a Shilla Hotel mascot bear keyring and a card :)
I also requested an air purifier and pillow from Nordic Sleep, which had good reviews.
The hearing aid comes to Balmuda.
I have used the Four Seasons and IntiContinental as an executive. I was very excited because Silla had good reviews.
The room was assigned a Grand Deluxe with guesthouse view. For an old hotel, the room was clean and didn't feel old.
The bedding is very nice and the TV shows Netflix well, but why are there so many advertisements?;;; I think the advertisement on the hotel TV is a bit odd.
The bathroom was large and had a separate shower, bathtub and toilet, and the Dyson hair dryer was nice.
I thought it would be busy because it was Saturday, but it was quiet.
The executive's afternoon tea was so-so, and the happy hour and breakfast were great. Happy hour had a variety of alcoholic beverages, I think there were about 5 wines, and beers included Tsingtao, Guinness, Hoegaarden, and Cass.
There were plenty of spirits, but unfortunately there were no cocktails. At Four Seasons, the staff made their own cocktails, but there weren't any here.
Lamb and steak jmt served during happy hour! I liked that the breakfast was better than I expected! The food was well-filled in real time and the meat was excellent, but what was disappointing was the fruit... There were some things that weren't that good, but the watermelon was delicious.
What I liked about Shilla Hotel Executive
- Staff service was friendly and good - Fast feedback -The bedding was so soft and nice. - Molton Brown body lotion... there was at least one amenity, two soaps... (the remaining amenities cost 30,000 won) - The food was delicious and of good quality, and there were many types of alcohol. ㄴ It was good because it was longer than other places at 4 hours. ㄴ Instead, during busy times, it is divided into Part 1 and Part 2. - Give a gift on your birthday (bear keyring) ㄴ Instead, please bring the date of birth and the ID card of the person concerned.
What was disappointing
- The 3 indoor swimming pool rails... are too narrow... ㅠㅠ - expensive price - It's on a hill so it's hard to go up unless you take a loop car. - No cocktail service during happy hour. - The wine shop on the first floor is very expensive, so if you want to drink it, you must buy it.
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:이그제큐티브 창문 자리 앉으려면 20분전에 가있기.
해피아워는 30분전 필수
베개랑 공청기는 일찍 수량이 떨어지니 빨리 요청하기
레이트체크아웃은 오전9시에 프론트로...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
So glad that we chose this hotel for our short Seoul trip. The property exudes luxury the moment you step in. Even the guest house (Yeong Bin Gwan) is a very beautiful structure.
The room is clean, and beddings are comfortable. They even provide "Tech Kit" which consists of different cables for all your charging needs. You do not need to bring a travel adapter. Special shoutout to Madam YS Ji for keeping our room spick and span.
Check-in and check-out processes are fast and seamless. Every single staff is assigned to specific duties, and they made sure that they do it well. For instance, I was asked if I needed a transfer to hotel while I was queueing to check-out. The whole check-out process was merely few minutes and when I turned around, the taxi is already waiting to send us to airport.
The hotel provides shuttle services to Dongguk University metro station and Myeongdong. The timing is very punctual. Shilla Duty Free is within walking distance but one can also take the shuttle, which runs every 10 minutes.
Another thing I like about the hotel is the location. The property is located slightly uphill and not surrounded by hustle and bustle. At the same time, it is not too far away (albeit by taxi) to popular places like Myeongdong and Itaewon. There are no convenience stores within short walking distance but that did not bother us.
The pastries sold at the Pastry Boutique (level 1) deserved a mention too. Hotel guests get 10 percent off retail price. I bought a slice of green tea chocolate cake and it tasted so good. It also came in a very beautiful and delicate packaging.
As we only stayed 2 nights, we did not manage to explore the pool or the gym. We did pop by to see the kids' playroom at level 5 and it looks clean and cosy.
We had a really memorable stay at The SHILLA Seoul. Thank you to the management and team for making our stay so special.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from 호텔 신라, 마케팅 at The Shilla Seoul
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Chankwc, Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful and detailed review of your stay at The Shilla Seoul. We are truly delighted to hear your short trip to Seoul was made even more special by your experience at our hotel. It is wonderful to know that you appreciated our hotel's ambiance, comfortable accommodations, and attentive service. We are especially grateful for your kind words regarding the efficiency and attentiveness of our team. Your compliments regarding our shuttle bus, hotel location, and the pastry selection at Pastry Boutique are also sincerely appreciated. Though your stay was brief, we are honored to have left a positive impression, and we truly hope to welcome you back in the future for an even more complete experience, perhaps including our pool, gym, and other facilities. Once again, thank you for choosing The Shilla Seoul. It was our pleasure to host you, and we look foward to your next visit. Thank you.
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I recently stayed at The Shilla Hotel for two nights. As many recent reviews suggest, the service was exceptionally friendly, and the breakfast was truly outstanding—almost breathtaking. However, the experience was somewhat diminished over the weekend due to multiple events, which filled the lobby with non-hotel guests. This made it less comfortable for actual guests.
The location is excellent, but the rooms feel a bit outdated, and the nearby walking trails are not well connected, which was disappointing. Additionally, the hotel’s automated and impersonal responses to guest reviews are underwhelming. It makes me question whether this hotel truly deserves its place as one of Korea’s only two 5-star hotels in 2025.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from 호텔 신라, 마케팅 at The Shilla Seoul
Responded 1 week ago
Dear stb0007, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at The Shilla Seoul. We are delighted that you enjoyed our friendly service and breakfast. Your kind words mean a lot to us. Please accept our sincere apology for the disappointment you experienced during your stay. We regret that certain aspects of your stay did not meet your expectations. We also value your thoughts on guest engagement and are committed to providing more personalized interactions. Your feedback is always important to us, and we are committed to ensuring that every guest feels heard and valued. We truly appreciate your honest insights and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back to The Shilla Seoul. Thank you.
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This is an excellent hotel. However, the price of things is higher than what the experience delivers. I stayed for 3 nights on a business trip. The room, a double deluxe, was large and comfortable. The bed was great, bathroom excellent. However, there were a few issues I experienced.
Firstly, the hotel could not provide me with an iron. On the first night I rang and requested an iron but was told that they were all being used. This was extremely surprising. This is a hotel that is $700+ per night and they do not have an iron in every room. They have a TV that probably costs around $2000 and electronic scales in every room but not a $50 iron? At around 6pm, the staff told me that I was on the top of the waitlist for an iron when it was returned. However, when I left the hotel the next morning, at 8am, the iron still had not been delivered. It was there when I returned to my room that evening, 24 hours after I requested it. That's not good enough. In most countries, every room has an iron.
Next I had some issues with the food. Firstly, the buffet is outstanding. However, it is way over the top. The breakfast buffet is KRW90,000. There is so much choice but I would argue too much. There is no way anyone can eat enough food at breakfast to justify KRW90,000. The dinner buffet, which I did not try, is KRW190,000. Again, I don't think it can possibly be worth that much. I know that the Shilla positions their buffet as a premium experience but I think this is too extravagant.
I did eat a la carte in the Parkview restaurant and was very disappointed. The Japanese chicken curry (KRW40,000) was very average. It only had tiny strands of shredded chicken in it and the bulk of the curry was mushrooms.
This is supposed to be Korea's finest hotel but I think they should spend some money on some of the basics instead of offering extravagance.
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Date of stay: November 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled on business
Room Tip:If you need an iron, ask early, they have very few. The restaurants are extremely expensive.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from 호텔 신라, 마케팅 at The Shilla Seoul
Responded Nov 13, 2024
Dear drScottWatkins, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences regarding your recent stay with us. Please accept our sincere apology for disappointment you experienced during your stay. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will take your comments into consideration so we can provide you with better service in the future. Thank you.
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The hotel does not deserve 5*. The room is poorly arranged (no socket near the bed for the telephone, difficulty getting in and out of the shower, the door of which opens towards the shower, to close the curtain you have to go behind the sofa), no additional attention for customers compared to other hotels of this level, no place at the Korean restaurant by reserving in the morning, the only coffee offered is not even instant coffee, but a kind of tea bag filled with coffee. The only advantage is the setting, on a hill, but which distances the hotel from transport, and serves the hotel to facilitate access to a small duty free. In the end, stays in Shilla Stays are more profitable, but for a 5*, it is better to look elsewhere.
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
"Stunning Namsan Views and Outstanding Service" My stay at The Shilla was truly exceptional. The hotel offers breathtaking views of Namsan Mountain, creating a serene and picturesque atmosphere. The staff were incredibly professional and attentive, making every moment of my stay enjoyable. A special thank you to Ji,S.M. for their outstanding assistance at the gym—it made my fitness routine seamless and pleasant. The breakfast was a standout highlight, with an extensive array of fresh, high-quality options catering to all tastes. Walking around the hotel was a delightful experience, with beautifully maintained pathways that perfectly complement the surroundings. The service car added a touch of luxury and convenience, ensuring smooth transport during my stay. Overall, The Shilla exceeded expectations, combining scenic beauty with world-class hospitality. I highly recommend it for anyone seeking a luxurious and relaxing escape.
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from 호텔 신라, 마케팅 at The Shilla Seoul
Responded Nov 28, 2024
Dear Chunsun L, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences regarding your recent stay with us. We are very pleased to hear that you were satisfied with our attentive service. Your kind comments shared in this review are greatly appreciated. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back at The Shilla Seoul. Thank you.
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I stayed for two nights using Leading Hotel points. The location is away from the downtown area, but I mainly used taxis to get around, and taxis are cheap in Korea, so it wasn't a problem. There was nothing particularly special about the room, but it was in good condition and easy to use. I gave it five stars because the breakfast buffet was delicious. There was a wide variety of options, and I thought it would be hard to find a breakfast of this level even in Japan.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stayed 5 nights from 17th Feb to 22nd Feb, room no. 1520. The pros are location, near the subway station and the hotel has a shuttle bus to get you there. The view from the room is good, facing the Nan Shan. The service from the front door and facilities are good especially the front door staff called "Dustin Lee", he behaved professionally and friendly which made me feel I really was a guest in your hotel.
The Cons: The room was a bit shabby and outdated, also the closet couldn't close properly. The hotel lobby will always be crowded as different kinds of people get there, which annoys me.
Also, I had a worse experience at my check-out, the receptionist asked me if it was okay with my stay, I said the lobby was crowded and chaotic which made me feel uncomfortable, but she said she didn't know what was "chaotic", I don't know what that means and I spelt to her, she behaved a bit cool and unfriendly, and the concierge staff next to her told her what is "chaotic", I think she is unprofessional and a bit rude.
Apart from that, last Saturday morning(22nd Feb), a couple took some wedding photos in the hotel lobby, and all the guests couldn't cross the lobby to the front door, I understand that it was the most memorable day for them, but the lobby is for all hotel guests, which may be made all hotel guests feel uncomfortable and inconvenient, I think the management should have done some arrangement for that to minimize the situation like that.
Overall my stayed was just so-so.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:The outside jacuzzi is fantastic.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from 호텔 신라, 마케팅 at The Shilla Seoul
Responded 1 week ago
Dear FHY1227, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences regarding your recent stay with us. We sincerely appreciate your kind words about our location, shuttle service, and the beautiful view from your room. It is also wonderful to hear that Dustin Lee provided you with professional and freindly service. However, we are truly sorry to hear that certain aspects of your stay did not meet your expectations. We also sincerely apologize if our staff's response made you feel uncomfortable. Their response was not intentional, and we truly hope there was no misunderstanding abour their intentions. We will make every effort to ensure a more seamless guest experience. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will take your comments into consideration so we can provide you with better service in the future. Thank you.
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I was at this location for 4 nights, it was impossible to get reservations- they recommended a month's notice, due to timing that was not possible. Based on the hotel's geographic location there aren't any options other than room service and a lunch lounge, both with very limited options. Most of my meals were spent in my hotel room with overpriced room service. I expressed my discomfort with the concierge service but they only offered an apology and expressed they could not offer other help. I checked out earlier than expected due to this experience. I did not receive much assistance even though I expressed the challenges with my disability.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from 호텔 신라, 마케팅 at The Shilla Seoul
Responded Feb 23, 2023
Dear taewoo1, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences regarding your recent stay with us. Please accept our sincere apology for the disappointment you experienced in our service during your stay. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and will take your comments into consideration so we could provide you better service in the future. Thank you.
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The Shilla is a local institution. It is perched on the top of a hill surrounded by gardens, traditional Korean architecture and a duty free shopping centre. The grounds are lovely. It is in central (but not downtown) Seoul. It's location is both a blessing and a curse. As a tourist, it is conveniently located for most places you want to go being a short walk from Dongguk University subway station. That short walk however is up a steep hill to get to the hotel. If you had mobility problems you would need to take a taxi to and from the hotel or take the hotel shuttle bus (which I saw many of but did not use).
The hotel is large but it is almost exclusively Korean guests which I thought was odd. There were so few foreigners yet everything was exclusively in English. The lobby was always busy with many people coming and going - far more than could every be staying there. Many of them were having their photos taken under the distinctive chandelier in front of the check in desks.The Shilla is clearly a destination in its own right for locals for reasons not clear to me.
Once you got to the hotel and through the lobby it was lovely. The style was very elegant. We booked through American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) and were given a room upgrade to an Executive Room which was large and well appointed. The bed was super comfortable, the bathroom large and had great toiletries. Being on the hill, the view from the room was very nice across Seoul.
Breakfast was included in our room rate through the FHR program which was lucky. It was an exceptional breakfast buffet. And it would want to be for 70,000 KRW (US$58). In fact, it was the only meal we ate at the hotel as all of the restaurants were so overpriced. The dinner buffet was US$155 each (plus drinks) and the other three restaurants only had set menus which were US$200-US$300 per person. There is so much fabulous food in Seoul so there is simply no reason to eat at the hotel and be ripped off.
The gym was very good. It is a full fitness club that offered public memberships but was not too crowded, even at peak time of day. We did not use the pool as it was winter but apparently it required a separate charge which I thought was a bit odd.
The staff and service at the Shilla was consistently exceptional. All spoke great English and we were consistently treated very courteously.
I really enjoyed my stay at the Shilla and would recommend it.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from 호텔 신라, 마케팅 at The Shilla Seoul
Responded Jan 5, 2023
Dear hotsyd22, Thank you for choosing to stay at the The Shilla on your recent visit to Seoul. We truly appreciate the time you took to write and share your recent experience with us. We are very pleased to hear that you were satisfied with The Parkview buffet restaurant, the gym and our attentive service. Your kind comments shared in this review are greatly appreciated. All of us at The Shilla hope that we will have the pleasure of welcoming you back again soon. We wish you safe travels until we meet again. Thank you.
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There are more places to choose from in the Seoul area.
PRICE RANGE
$246 - $392 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the shilla seoul hotel seoul, shilla hotel seoul, the shilla hotel seoul
LOCATION
South KoreaSeoulJung-gu / Dasan-dong
NUMBER OF ROOMS
464
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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