Five-star Gwangjin, eastern Seoul, Seoul
Grand Walkerhill Seoul
A resort hotel of 1963 on a wooded hill at the eastern edge of Seoul, with the Han River below and the Acha mountain fortress behind.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.
- Opened
- 1963
- Grounds
- About 139 acres of woodland
- Views
- The Han River or Achasan
- From the airport
- About an hour from Gimpo, our estimate
The hotel
Walker's Hill, since 1963.
Walkerhill opened in 1963, ten years after the Korean War, built to earn foreign currency from UN troops and visitors. It was then the largest modern resort hotel in Asia, and its name honours General Walton H. Walker, who commanded in that war. Louis Armstrong played for two weeks at the opening. The grounds cover about 139 acres of woodland on the site of the old Acha fortress.
The Sunkyong group, today's SK, took it over in the 1970s and joined Sheraton in 1978. In 2017 the Sheraton name was dropped and the site split into three hotels: Grand Walkerhill, Vista Walkerhill and Douglas House. Separated Korean families were reunited here in 1985, the Walkerhill Show ran on its stage for 48 years, and a kimchi research institute opened on site in 1989.
- Pizza Hill Kim Swoo-geun designed it in concrete as the Hill Top Bar, a lookout for about sixty people. Since 1988 it has served pizza, the first hotel pizzeria in Korea.
- Myeongwolgwan A Korean restaurant in its own tiled-roof building since 1964, known today for barbecue.
- Woods and water Jogging trails through the trees, tennis courts, and an indoor and an outdoor pool.
Dining
Barbecue, pizza and a buffet.
Restaurants as listed by the hotel and booking sites. Shown for information.
- Myeongwolgwan Korean barbecue In its own building since 1964
- Pizza Hill Pizza A hilltop lookout by Kim Swoo-geun
- Geumryong Chinese In the hotel
- The Buffet International buffet All day
Good to know
Before you go.
- Arrival Check-in from 3 pm, check-out by 11 am, as listed by booking sites; we confirm with the hotel.
- Pools An indoor pool for all guests; the outdoor pool is included with certain room types.
- On the hill Vista Walkerhill Seoul and Douglas House share the grounds, and there is a casino on the site.
Getting there
Flying to Seoul.
Long-haul flights land at Incheon International, about 80 minutes away by car, our estimate. Private jets use the business aviation centre at Gimpo, about an hour across the city by our estimate.
- Shanghai 1 h 30
- Tokyo 1 h 55
- Hong Kong 3 h 05
- Singapore 6 h 25 long-range jet
- London 12 h 05 long-range jet
Questions
What guests ask first.
- Why is it called Walkerhill?
- It is named after General Walton H. Walker, who commanded troops in the Korean War. The name means Walker's Hill.
- Is Grand Walkerhill the same hotel as Vista Walkerhill?
- No. They share the hillside, but since 2017 they have been separate hotels, along with Douglas House.
- Which airport suits a private jet?
- Gimpo, which has a business aviation centre with its own customs and immigration. It is about an hour from the hotel by our estimate.
- Can SkyCourtage arrange the flight to Seoul?
- Yes. We arrange Business and First Class seats on scheduled airlines and private jet charter to Seoul, with one final price, our margin included. The hotel is booked with the hotel or through our booking partner.
Also in Seoul
Other hotels worth the trip.
- Four Seasons Hotel Seoul Rooms that look straight onto the palace grounds, Yu Yuan with one star, and two Keys since 2026.
- SIGNIEL Seoul High in the 101-storey Lotte World Tower, with Bicena and its star on the 81st floor.
- The Shilla Seoul On the slopes of Namsan among gardens, with La Yeon and its two stars on the 23rd floor.
- Fairmont Ambassador Seoul A marble staircase in the lobby, the Han River and The Hyundai Seoul close by.
- Josun Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Seoul Gangnam Art Deco lines south of the river, and Eatanic Garden with one star in the building.
- Park Hyatt Seoul Ten rooms to a floor across 24 storeys opposite COEX, with the lobby at the very top.
- Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul Rooms and suites on the side of Namsan, most of them with their own relaxation pool.
- Conrad Seoul Opened in 2012 inside the IFC complex, with 434 rooms and a 25-metre indoor pool.
- Grand Hyatt Seoul Below Namsan since 1978, with 615 rooms, an ice rink and JJ Mahoney's, a club since 1988.
- The Grand Lotte Seoul The former Lotte Hotel Seoul took this name in August 2026 after a refit of its main tower; Pierre Gagnaire cooks on the 35th floor of the Executive Tower.
- The Westin Josun Seoul Opened in 1914 as the Chosen Hotel on the site of the Hwangudan altar and rebuilt in 1970, it is the oldest hotel still trading in Korea.
- Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Linked to Samseong station and COEX since 1988, with its rooms refitted in 2020.
- Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel & Serviced Residences Built in 2021 by Seokchon Lake, where some rooms look across the water to the Lotte World Tower.
- JW Marriott Hotel Seoul Above the Express Bus Terminal since 2000; the sauna runs on hot spring water found during the building works.
- Andaz Seoul Gangnam Hyatt's first Andaz in Korea, 241 rooms on the site of an old KT telecom office, open since 2019.
- Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery Korea's first MGallery, opened in 2022 with 196 rooms looking over the Han River to Bamseom, and an infinity pool facing the water.
- Vista Walkerhill Seoul Built in 2004 as Asia's first W hotel and renamed in 2017, it has an indoor pool above the Han River and an 800-year-old olive tree in the lobby.
- Mondrian Seoul Itaewon The Capital Hotel of 1988 became the first Mondrian in Asia in 2020; 295 rooms, and a pool and lounge on the fifth floor.
- The Westin Seoul Parnas Opened in 1999 as the InterContinental Seoul COEX and reopened under the Westin name in September 2025, with 564 rooms by Bongeunsa temple.
Staying at Grand Walkerhill Seoul?
Book the room, then the flight.
Rates and availability come from the hotel itself. For the journey to Seoul, a Business or First Class seat or an aircraft of your own: tell us the date and we come back with one final price, our margin included.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.