Signiel Hotel: The Tallest Hotel In Seoul With The Best Views Of The City

SIGNIEL Seoul is one of the best luxury hotels in Seoul, Korea. It is in the tallest building in Korea and that should tell you that it most definitely features the best views of the city. You will literally be seated above airplanes and helicopters.

I looked out the window after a massage to see helicopters flying at least five floors lower than where we sat. That is just amazing and I could have easily spent my entire stay just gazing out the window watching the tiny ants below and the lights flicker on in the evening.

SIGNIEL Seoul is not only amazingly high, but it is gorgeous and the staff is hospitable and helpful. I was asked to go out to write a piece for Forbes Travel Guide but I liked it so much I’ve been there two more times since. SIGNIEL Seoul is definitely one of those hotels that is perfect for the traveler that wants luxury but also for the local that wants an extra special staycation in Seoul.

Here’s what you can find in this post:

• What To Do To Prepare For Your Trip To Seoul
• How To Get To SIGNIEL Seoul
• The Rooms
• The Swimming Pool
• The Evian Spa
• The Food & Drinks
• What To See Nearby

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)

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What To Do To Prepare For Your Trip To Seoul

Are you traveling to Seoul soon? Here are some things to help you prepare for the trip:

Buy Your Plane Ticket: You can get some great deals on flights to Seoul, Korea. If you haven’t tried, check Skyscanner.com for the best rates.

Get a Visa: Many people can come in easily and get a tourist visa but be sure to check that you have what you need from your home country to come in to Korea and get a visa.

Travel Insurance:  World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. 

Pack The Right Clothes: Seoul has four distinct seasons. The summer is hot hot hot and the winter is cold cold cold! Be prepared. Check out this post for what to pack when you come to Korea.

Study Korean: 90 Day Languages has a great course on Korean and offers a lot of help if you’re interested in preparing before you come. A little goes a long way here.

Plan Your Airport Transfer: There are numerous ways to transfer from Incheon International Airport outside of the city into the city of Seoul from the subway/train and bus to taxis. To be honest, we almost always opt for the private transfer. It’s fast and easy and we don’t have to worry about dragging our bags this way and that and up and down escalators. TaDa is a great company that provides transfers as well as rides within the city. Book your transfer in advance to make the trip smooth and easy.

Get Good Hard Case Luggage: Packing all of the essentials is good only if they get to the other side with you. Make sure to have good luggage to get you and your belongings all the way. Roam Luggage has awesome customizable bags that will go the distance and look super cool on the way.

International Driver’s License: To be honest, I wouldn’t recommend driving in Seoul if it’s your first time to this massive city. BUT, if you plan to and will rent a car while you’re here, then remember to bring your International Driver’s License. I highly recommend renting a car if you’ll be headed to Jeju Island or anywhere aside from Seoul and Busan because it’s much easier to get around that way in those cases.

T-Money Card/Discover Seoul Pass: To get around using the subways or buses or other public transportation options, you’ll need to get a T-Money card. This card allows you to put money on it and scan it at the turnstiles in subways and when you’re getting on and off buses and even works in taxis. HOWEVER, if you’ll be doing a lot of touristy things and visiting the touristy sites, then you might be better off getting the Discover Seoul Pass. This pass comes with a variety of perks like access to Hanbok rentals, palaces, view points and other major attractions AND it also works as a T-Money card. SO, if you’ll be touristy, grab the Discover Seoul Pass to get out and about. But do know how to use it. Here is a guide and itineraries for using the Discover Seoul Pass to the max.

Korea Rail Pass: If you want to get out of Seoul and plan to use the train more than twice, then the Korea Rail Pass is the economical/budget choice you want to have on hand. You can get back and forth between the popular Nami Island nearby the city or go as far as Andong or even Busan. The train line is the limits. Grab the card here and just head to the station with your confirmation and it’s as easy as that.

Wifi Eggs/Sim Cards: While there is great WiFi in many places around Seoul and Korea, nothing beats having your own Wifi Egg so there’s no lag in connection. Pre-reserve Sim Cards via Klook so they’re ready and waiting for you when you fly into either Incheon International Airport or into Busan International Airport. Or, get a Korean eSIM that you can get before you go. Here’s a complete guide to the best Korean SIM cards for your trip to Korea.

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How To Get To SIGNIEL Seoul

Address: Lotte World Tower, 76F-101F 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu Seoul (서울특별시 송파구 올림픽로 300 롯데월드타워 76-101층)

By Private Transfer: To be honest, we almost always opt for the private transfer. It’s fast and easy and we don’t have to worry about dragging our bags this way and that and up and down escalators. TaDa is a great company that provides transfers as well as rides within the city. Book your transfer in advance to make the trip smooth and easy.

Signie’s VIP Car Service: After booking your stay, get in touch with Signiel and see if their VIP car service is available. A Rolls Royce can pick you up right at the airport or anywhere in the city and take you to the hotel.

By Subway: If you’re already in the city and just want to hop on public transportation, you can find the hotel easily by heading to Jamsil Subway Station and going out of exit 1 or 2. You can’t miss the tower as soon as you exit!

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The Rooms

From the first floor, you’ll be whisked up in an elevator, your ears will pop, and you’ll come out on the 76th floor to find the lobby. Check in and be taken to your room and if you’re like us, your little person will then proceed to jump up and down on every possible bouncy surface.

One of the highlights of check-in for me was receiving an O’Sulloc tea blend that can only be had at this luxury hotel. The blend, made as a collaboration between the renowned chef Yannick Alleno and O’Sulloc, one of Korea’s premier tea producers is given to visitors as soon as they are led to their room.

Grab the tea, take a sip and then just sit back and enjoy the gorgeous views from 76 floors up. If you have a room on the west side, you’ll be able to get a gorgeous view of Seoul’s iconic Han River down below. You can actually get from the hotel over to Jamsil Han River Park easily if you want to visit the parks at some point during your stay too.

But, stay on the east side and you can wake up with the sunrise, which is great if you’ve got jetlag and like to watch the city wake up. There is really no bad view though. Every room in the hotel and from restaurant to lobby features huge gorgeous windows that just let all of the light and views in. (The rooms also feature dark curtains that you can open and close with a push of a button so don’t worry if you need to get some sleep and don’t want all of that light.)

Whether or not you visit the on site Evian Spa, you’ll certainly feel like you have your own spa experience since every room is complete with a beautiful marble clad bathroom and bathtubs placed near floor to ceiling windows. Sink into that warm water, add the bath salts, and soak it up. The rooms are spacious but the bathrooms are even more spacious than most in Seoul.

The bathroom amenities also feature toiletries from luxe French brand Diptyque. I basically could have spent the entire time just in our hotel room but I wanted to see what else there was to do in the the hotel and in Sky Tower. Sky Tower is also home to the tallest observatory in Korea, Seoul Sky, which you should absolutely visit while you’re in the tower.

Book your stay at Signiel Hotel on Booking.com here.

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The Swimming Pool

Stop into the 85th floor to find the sauna and swimming pool. Children under 13 aren’t permitted to enter on their own and children under 18 aren’t allowed into the sauna but there is a smaller changing/shower room if you have little ones like us. The sauna features dry and wet spaces to increase blood circulation and metabolism.

Step into the Ice Fountain to lower your elevated body temperature after using the wet sauna. Improve your blood circulation, immune system, and even your skin’s appearance if you visit. It’s a look into Korean bath house culture. We opted to spend all of our time in the pool area but mostly because we had a little person with us. It was great though as the pool was large and there was also a warmer soaking pool with jets we could sit in to warm up too.

We can’t go to a hotel that DOESN’T have pool. It’s the first thing Ava looks for when we arrive, so we found this one pretty quickly and were very happy with the watery fun to be had. She clearly knows how to enjoy herself when she hits that H2O.

• Pool & Sauna Hours: 6:00am ~ 10:00pm

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The Evian Spa

If you want to really relax in luxury though, make sure to visit the Evian Spa. Found on the 86th floor, this is a unique hydration focused treatment facility. The multi-sensory wellness spa experience starts or ends with a visit to the Evian Aquabar.

The treatment options explore the states of water to stimulate the senses. Choose Celestial, Mineral, Precious, or Vitalizing. I had a massage and then went up to the Aquabar a very relaxing space to lounge and escape the sounds and pollution from the outdoors.

You will be given tea to sip after a massage, and you can also sit in some loungers and be surrounded by a floor to ceiling screen that has various hydrating scenes playing.

• Hours: 10:00am ~ 10:00pm

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The Food & Drinks

STAY

STAY, on the 81st floor of the hotel, is a fine French restaurant on the 81st floor with an amazing menu prepared by 3-star Michelin chef Yannick Alleno. Chef Alleno was chosen as the Best Chef in 2015 by the Gault & Millau guide. He has prepared a unique menu of fine French fare that features Korean ingredients and staff can go into all kinds of detail on the cuisine and dishes if you’d like more information.

The interior is a chic yellow, black and white and makes a bold statement as soon as you enter. Guests will find a great breakfast buffet here in the morning but you can also head here for lunch and dinner for the choice between three amazing course meals.

You should definitely dine here whether or not you’re a guest and want to experience something really unique and delicious. I took along a French friend knowing she’d really enjoy the cuisine and we both enjoyed every course and of course shared so we got to experience two courses at the same time.

After you finish, you can also visit a dessert bar to try various pastries, cookies, and treats that are made in house as well. STAY isn’t the only restaurant option in the hotel, but it was definitely what we opted to experience…twice. There’s also a very elegant Korean restaurant called Bicena on the same floor under the helm of Chef Jun Kwangsik.

The restaurant specializes in contemporary Korean fine dining and if you don’t have little ones, or can get a sitter for the night, you can also visit Bar 81. This gorgeous lounge bar features the largest collection of champagne in Korea and has an installation that hangs from the ceiling that twinkles in the light and depicts champagne bubbles rising up. It’s a gorgeous space and has seen like the likes of some very chic brands for parties.

• Hours: Breakfast served from 6;30am ~ 10:00am; Lunch served from 11:30am ~ 2:30pm; Dinner served from 6:00pm ~ 10:00pm

The Lounge

Another eating space we tried was The Lounge on If you’ve not tried an French afternoon tea, then definitely visit The Lounge on the 79th floor. Unlike the standard English afternoon tea, this set is a bit more sweet and exquisitely plated. This Parisian tea time, or “Gouter”, showcases some very indulgent recipes by Chef Yannick Alleno.

Start with two glasses of sparkling wine and the chicken liver and foie gras parfait and sourdough bread. Try the mushroom marshmallow with mushroom extraction and rocket leaves and then the baked squash with comte cheese royale. After that it’s sweet goodness including autumn leaf cake, chestnut pound cake, gateau battu with fig jam and apple tatin.

• Afternoon Tea Set: W150,000 for two people
• Hours: 12:00pm ~ 6:00pm

Bar 81

Bar 81 is the chic upscale champagne bar in SIGNIEL Seoul that features the largest champagne collection in Asia. With stunning views and a menu also prepared by the amazing Chef Yannick Alleno, this is where you’ll want to enjoy the evening. You don’t need to leave the hotel at all with this fabulous bar in house. Find out more information about this amazing bar in SIGNIEL Seoul.

• Hours: 6:00pm ~ 10:00pm (Current hours due to Covid restrictions.)

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What To See Nearby

Lotte World Aquarium

The Lotte World Aquarium is home to the largest ocean ecology tank in the world and has 650 species and 55,000 creatures. There are 13 themed displays with fresh water and sea water. There are also fourteen experience and educational programs with audio guides in multiple languages.

If you want something fun to do indoors on a rainy day, or you just love aquariums and want something easy to get to in the building, then definitely check out the massive Lotte World Aquarium. You can get tickets online for a discount here.

Seokchon Lake

Take a walk around nearby Seokchon Lake and see the various art installations and exhibitions going on. There’s always something happening. If you’re lucky, you’ll also be there in the spring when the entire lake is surrounded by cherry blossoms. It’s one of the prettiest places in Korea to see cherry blossoms so they say.

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Final Thoughts

While I generally suggest hotels that are in a more central location for tourists that are visiting Seoul, I have to say that this is an absolutely stunning and spectacular experience. If you’re looking for luxury hotels in Seoul either while traveling or for an extra special staycation, this is definitely the spot that you’ll want.

If you’re an architecture lover and are looking to visit some of the architectural highlights of Seoul and actually stay in one, you’ll love this hotel. The food is amazing, the rooms spacious and inviting, and the views are just jaw dropping. Book a stay and just take it all in.

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