Picolo recommends · Hotel in Seoul, South Korea
Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
Step out of the lobby and the gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace are a short walk up the boulevard, with the mountains rising behind them.
Gwanghwamun is the ceremonial heart of Seoul, a wide avenue that runs up to the main palace gate. The Four Seasons stands on it, so the royal palaces and the old hanok lanes are within walking distance from your door.
Inside, the rooms are generous by city standards and there is an indoor pool for jet-lagged mornings. Downstairs, an unmarked door leads to one of the best-known cocktail bars in town.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
We chose it for first-time visitors who want the historic Seoul on foot. Palace mornings, tea in Bukchon and a proper drink at night, all without crossing the river.
This is an office district, and it empties after dark. If you want street food and late nights outside the hotel, you will be taking taxis to Jongno or Ikseon-dong most evenings.
What you get
- Steps from Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Indoor pool
- Large rooms
- Cocktail bar behind a hidden door
- Several restaurants in the hotel
A day at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
- Morning
- Through the palace gates as they open, before the groups arrive.
- Midday
- Tea in a hanok house in Bukchon, the old courtyard quarter.
- Afternoon
- A swim in the indoor pool to beat the afternoon slump.
- Evening
- Downstairs to the hidden bar for a late cocktail.
Location
Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Open in MapsQuestions about Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
Can you walk to Gyeongbokgung from Four Seasons Hotel Seoul?
Yes. The hotel is on the Gwanghwamun avenue, and the main palace gate is a few minutes away on foot, as are the hanok lanes of Bukchon.
Is Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in a lively area?
Not really after office hours. The streets around it are busy by day and calm at night, so dinner usually means a short taxi to Jongno or Ikseon-dong.
Does Four Seasons Hotel Seoul have a pool?
Yes, there is an indoor pool, which is useful in Seoul's cold winters and humid summers alike.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
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