Conrad Hotel: Where To Stay On Yeouido In Seoul
Yeouido Island sitting in the Han River that cuts through Seoul, Korea is the main financial district in the capital and is also home to various governmental departments as well. Being centrally located in the city and providing gorgeous views of the Han River, one would think more travelers would be staying there.
While many business travelers know the island well, it doesn’t yet seem to garner attention from the tourists and family travelers… but it should be. Not only are the rooms spacious and the views gorgeous, but the food options are delectable.
Opened in 2013, Conrad Seoul (콘래드 서울 호텔) is a Hilton Hotel named after the founder Conrad Hilton. It is a five-star luxury hotel that has some of the best restaurant options in a hotel I’ve found here in Seoul. And, something for the K-drama fans, the hotel was also a filming location for the hit K-drama “That Winter, The Wind Blows” starring actors Song Hye-gyo and Jo In-seong.
Get ready to stay at Conrad Hotel in Seoul:
- How To Get To Conrad Hotel In Seoul
- Where Is Conrad Hotel?
- Good Things To Know About Conrad
- What To Do To Prepare For Your Trip To Seoul
- The Rooms
- The Restaurants
- What To Do In The Hotel
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How To Get To Conrad Hotel In Seoul
Address: 10 Gukjegeumyung-ro (Yeouido), Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (서울 영등포구 국제금융로 10 서울 국제금융 센터)
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.
By Bus: From Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport, you can take bus #6030 on the first floor. The bus takes about 55 minutes and drops off right at Conrad Hotel. But there are quite a few options for getting from Incheon International Airport to Seoul, check here for more of them.
Where Is Conrad Hotel?
As I mentioned, Conrad Hotel is located on Yeouido Island in central Seoul but I wanted to bring more attention to its location and the amenities afforded due to its location. The spring is one of the best times to stay here so you can enjoy the gorgeous street lined with cherry blossoms, the most popular spot in the city to see them. (Here are some more cherry blossoms spots around Korea if you want to travel though.)
After talking with friends that have also stayed here, it seems you either love or hate the location. I personally think it’s perfect for the traveler that wants amenities like a massive park nearby and will be trying to get all around the city. It isn’t for the traveler that is looking to just see Bukchon Hanok Village, Gwangjang Market, and the other more traditional/cultural spots north of the river. But here is what you CAN do near and from the hotel.
Conrad Hotel is located just steps from Yeouido Park which is connected to the beautiful Han River Park. The Yeouido Han River Park also features access to the ELand Han River Cruises which are a great way to experience the Han River while staying in the city.
The hotel is also connected to the IFC Mall which has all of the shopping, restaurants, and even some fun spots inside too. You can also easily get to Yeouido Subway Station which is connected to both the purple line which will take tourists looking for more traditional culture straight up to Gwanghwamun Station which is just in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace in 25 minutes or more off the beaten path spots like Gongdeok.
Yeouido Subway Station is also on the light brown line which offers adventures east and west. To the west, you can find the gorgeous Seoul Botanic Park or the hidden Seonyudo Island. Or head east on that same line to get to Noryangjin Fish Market or even over into the popular Gangnam district of the city. Basically, the hotel is a great central location to stay if you want to try to get all over the city. All of these spots can easily be found using the Seoul subway lines and the system is easy to use and understand. Just make sure to get a T-Money card and top it off so you can go go go!
PS, the yearly Seoul Fireworks Festival which takes place on Yeouido Island in October makes this one of the best seats in the house as well. Either stay at the hotel, or make a reservation to have dinner at one of the restaurants with a gorgeous window view. Be sure to make reservations early though as this is one weekend of the year, the hotel is sure to sell out.
Good Things To Know About Conrad
- The staff here speaks impeccable English. Not just at the front desk, but everyone we encountered easily switched between multiple languages. As the hotel caters to numerous international business conferences throughout the year, the staff doesn’t miss a beat with its international clientele.
- The spiral staircase that can be seen in the lobby and on up is the longest in Korea.
- The Executive Lounge is on the 37th floor and provides a breakfast buffet as well as snacks and refreshments all day long.
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. You can 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. Here’s a complete guide to the best Korean SIM cards for your trip to Korea.
The Rooms
The rooms are spacious with the ‘smallest’ ones starting at 48 square meters. The hotel boasts of having the largest rooms in the city and features one king bed or two queen beds. After seeing the rooms, I can confirm they are indeed the largest… that I’ve seen anyway. Most of the rooms provide views out over the Han River. The earth tones and wood along with the calming lighting make for a perfectly relaxing atmosphere.
There is a room controller near the bed which does everything from put the shades down on the numerous windows to turn off the lights, set the temperature and more and it features multiple language options including English, Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean.
The bathroom amenities are from the Hong Kong luxury brand Shanghai Tang and if you have a little one you may also find a pink rubbery ducky and kid friendly shampoo and wash too. Marble abounds in the bathroom and a the bathtub provides a view out over the city. The mirror even features a built in TV so if you want to watch the news.. or the toons, while you get ready, you can!
Soak in the deep tub or take a shower. The shower in our room was in a corridor on the side of the bathroom which I quite appreciated. It felt a bit like a cave and you could see out the windows as well as into the room (should you have a toddler to keep an eye on).
There is a substantial mini bar in the room. The photo is just the bit outside, the fridge was also stocked with numerous options. It isn’t free, but there are a ton of choices should you want something in the room. Book a stay here now.
The Restaurants
37 Grill & Bar
The signature restaurant of the hotel is located on the 37th floor. We headed up for dinner and were seated in a cozy private seating area near the window with gorgeous views. The restaurant specializes in prime cuts of beef and poultry and has an impressive see through wine cellar in the dining area. If you have kids, they also have plastic dishes and cutlery for the little ones so no need to worry about a possible accident at the table.
This is also where you can find an amazing tea time set. Having filled on the immense meat heavy meal the night before, I ended up going back for the tea time some days later. The central table setting changes from season to season and features cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, foliage, and more. Plan your visit and see what you get. It was quite a substantial tea set and really enjoyable. Don’t forget to eat the treats that are hanging from the tree.
- Grill Hours: Lunch: 11:30am ~ 2:30pm; Dinner: 6:00pm ~ 10:30pm
- Bar Hours: Sunday – Wednesday: 11:30am ~ 12:00am; Thursday – Saturday: 11:30am ~ 1:00am
VVertigo
This is a gorgeous sky lounge on the ninth floor that features both indoor and outdoor seating. The decor is very Instagrammable and the food is chic and healthy. Try one of their signature cocktails/mocktails and if you get one that features mint, know that it is grown right in their rooftop garden. We really enjoyed our meal here.
Not only was the setting beautiful, but the sets were very tasty. The meals were either two courses for W39,000 or three courses for W47,000. We had the smoked salmon and roe salad with the ginger-miso Spanish mackerel with the citrus sundae for one set and the Vietnamese broth, shrimp ball soup with the soy glazed roasted chicken and the cheese mousse lemon confit for the other set. I would definitely go back just to eat at this spot. Everything was delightful.
- Hours: Monday – Wednesday: 11:30am ~ 12:00am; Thursday – Friday: 11:30am ~ 1:00am; Saturday: 11:00am ~ 1:00am; Sunday: 11:00am ~ 12:00am
- Notes: Children are only allowed entrance for brunch and lunch hours. Young adults under 19 are not allowed after 7:00pm.
Zest
Zest is a buffet that has service throughout the day but is also where the breakfast takes place. We stopped in for breakfast and found one of the best mixes of options with numerous western choices as well as Korean choices. My husband commented that it was one of the best Korean breakfast buffets we have found. Many hotels that offer both options, do one Korean soup and a variety of side dishes to make room for the numerous western choices, but Conrad had three soup options and a kimchi bar. For the western choices there was an omelet station, a huge bread area, salad bar, juice bar, and plenty go go around. We took advantage and filled up.
- Hours: Breakfast: 6:30am ~ 10:30am; Lunch: 11:30am ~ 2:30pm; Dinner: Tuesday – Friday & Sunday: 5:30pm ~ 7:30pm, Saturday & Monday: 5:30pm ~ 7:30pm & 8:00pm ~ 10:00pm
Atrio
Atrio is a beautiful Italian restaurant with an impressive 28 meter high ceiling. The spacious restaurant is elegant and serves fresh pasta, pizza, and very good eats according to an Italian that has eaten there plenty. Similar to the other restaurants, this serves authentic cuisine that is surely a treat.
- Hours: Lunch: 11:30am ~ 2:00pm; Dinner: 6:00pm ~ 10:30pm
The Noodle Bar
Located just outside of Zest and on the second floor, this is a high quality Asian noodle bar that serves up a quick bite to eat. Choose to sit at the bar or the numerous tables nearby. This is a popular option for the business people in the nearby offices. You can even watch them make your noodles in the glass enclosed kitchen. It’s a great option if you want to have a quick delicious bite before you head out. The signature menu item is the Tonkotsu ramen made with pork broth that has been simmered for 24 hours.
- Hours: Sunday – Monday: 11:00am ~ 9:00pm; Saturday: 11:00am ~ 3:00pm
What To Do In The Hotel
The Pool
No hotel is complete without a pool in my opinion. I’m pretty sure my daughter is of the same opinion as well as her first question upon arrival at hotels is now, “when can we go swimming?” The Conrad Hotel pool is beautiful featuring glass windows all around as well as a beautiful skylight. The pool, as well as the exercise facility, also caters to the locals and business people nearby as it provides them with an option to have a membership which means in the early morning and evening, it can be quite busy with members exercising and doing laps.
During the day though, there isn’t much worry of that. There are two lanes set up for people exercising should they come any time and a lane for those taking a private swimming lesson as well.
The Gym
Though I didn’t make use of the gym, I did pop my head in to check it out and it is huge. It’s definitely one of the biggest hotel gyms I’ve seen and has a ton of equipment to use. Like I mentioned above though, this gym also has memberships for locals so it would probably be busy at peak times for workers. Just remember that if you want to head there during your stay. Luckily, it’s open 24/7 so you can really go whenever the mood strikes… or when the jetlag won’t let up.
The Conrad Hotel is really a great spot to stay in central Seoul with all of the amenities, connected to public transportation and comfort to mention numerous restaurants to choose from.
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