Summer Palace Hotel: Compare Prices, Reviews & Options

Searching for “Summer Palace Hotel” uncovers a surprisingly varied set of properties—from a five-star Beijing hotel steps from a UNESCO World Heritage site to a budget two-star in Yangon, a mid-range Philippine beach resort, and a Greek all-inclusive. This guide separates the four distinct hotels from confusion with Beijing’s historic Summer Palace park, comparing verified review data, pricing, and amenities to help you decide which one fits your trip.

Last checked: 2026-06-10

Property name: Summer Palace Hotel (Cape Coast) · Location: Cape Coast, Ghana · Type: Hotel · Notable feature: 2.5 mi from Cape Coast Castle, garden on site · Property name: Summer Palace Guest House (Cape Coast) · Location: Cape Coast, Ghana

Is Summer Palace a Michelin-star restaurant?

No—the “Summer Palace” name is shared by a Michelin-starred restaurant at the Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong, not by any of the hotels or the Beijing historic site. The Summer Palace restaurant at Island Shangri-La holds Michelin stars and is a fine-dining Cantonese venue entirely separate from the hotels described in this guide (Island Shangri-La). The historic Summer Palace in Beijing is not a restaurant, nor do any hotels bearing that name operate Michelin-starred dining on-site—though Aman at Summer Palace maintains three restaurants within its grounds, according to independent luxury travel blog Annees de Pèlerinage.

“It is a full-fledged 6-star luxury retreat right in the middle of the historic Summer Palace – scenic, outstanding, quiet and perfect in more than one way.”

— Annees de Pèlerinage travel writer, reviewing Aman at Summer Palace (source)

The bottom line: If you’re looking for a Michelin-starred meal called Summer Palace, head to Hong Kong. If you’re researching hotels, the name alone doesn’t signal fine dining.

What is the historic Summer Palace famous for?

The Summer Palace in Beijing is China’s largest royal park—a UNESCO World Heritage site spanning 290 hectares in Haidian District (AFAR). Opened to the public in 1924, it is famous for its Long Corridor (a covered walkway with more than 14,000 painted panels), Kunming Lake (covering roughly three-quarters of the site), the Marble Boat, and the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity. The park attracts millions of visitors annually, many of whom seek nearby accommodation—directly benefiting the Beijing Summer Palace Hotel and the ultra-luxury Aman at Summer Palace, both located within walking distance or directly on the grounds.

Imperial garden in Beijing

Built in 1750 during the Qing dynasty, the Summer Palace was designed as a summer retreat for the imperial court. Its layout centres on Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, with pavilions, halls, and gardens arranged according to traditional Chinese landscape design principles (AFAR).

UNESCO World Heritage site

UNESCO inscribed the Summer Palace on its World Heritage list in 1998, citing it as “a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design.” The site integrates natural scenery with man-made structures, including bridges, temples, and the famous Long Corridor—the longest covered walkway in the world at 728 metres.

The implication: Proximity to this landmark drives the premium pricing at Beijing’s Summer Palace hotels. If you visit the park, staying within walking distance saves significant travel time.

Is the Summer Palace in Beijing worth visiting?

Yes—the Summer Palace is one of Beijing’s top three attractions alongside the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Visitors typically spend three to five hours exploring the grounds. Highlights include boat rides on Kunming Lake, walking the Long Corridor, and visiting the Marble Boat (a lakeside pavilion built in the shape of a paddle steamer). Admission costs around CNY 30 (off-peak) for the park and an additional CNY 20 for the internal exhibition halls (AFAR).

Nearby accommodation options

The Beijing Summer Palace Hotel, located at No. 1 Yiheyuan Gongmenqian Street, is less than a five-minute walk from the park’s East Gate. Aman at Summer Palace sits directly inside the grounds, offering guests private access to the park before public opening hours. Neither property offers discounted park entry—standard admission applies to all guests.

The pattern: Both high-end Beijing hotels monetise their location. If you want proximity to the UNESCO site, the Beijing Summer Palace Hotel (Trip.com guest rating 9.5/10, from 641 reviews) is the more accessible option given its lower price point compared to Aman.

What is inside the Summer Palace park?

Beyond the Long Corridor and Kunming Lake, the Summer Palace contains several distinct zones. The Hall of Benevolence and Longevity served as the imperial audience hall. The Garden of Virtue and Harmony houses a three-storey theatre, one of the best-preserved Qing-era performance venues. The Suzhou Street area recreates a Ming-dynasty canal-side market town, complete with shops and bridges (AFAR).

Major halls and gardens

The central axis runs from the East Gate up Longevity Hill, passing through the Hall of Dispelling Clouds and reaching the Temple of the Sea of Wisdom at the summit. Side gardens include the Garden of Harmonious Interests, a smaller enclosed space designed for quiet contemplation.

The Long Corridor and Marble Boat

The Long Corridor stretches 728 metres from the Hall of Dispelling Clouds to the Stone Gate, featuring 273 sections with painted scenes from Chinese mythology, literature, and landscape (AFAR). The Marble Boat, a 36-metre-long stone structure at the western edge of Kunming Lake, was originally built in 1755 and rebuilt after being damaged during the Second Opium War.

What to watch: Plan at least two hours for the Long Corridor alone—the painted scenes are dense, and crowds can be heavy between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Summer Palace Hotel comparison table

Pros and cons of each property

Beijing Summer Palace Hotel

• Pros: 9.5/10 guest rating on Trip.com; 51 rooms with family suites; immediate proximity to UNESCO site; quiet environment per reviews (Trip.com).
• Cons: Starting rates ~US$639/night; requires CNY 2,000/night refundable deposit; limited on-site dining compared to Aman.

Boracay Summer Palace Hotel

• Pros: Beachside location in Station 2; pool and free Wi-Fi; mid-range pricing (PHP 4,036/night); TripAdvisor guests praise cleanliness and spacious bathrooms (TripAdvisor).
• Cons: Check-in at 2:00 PM (later than some competitors); no all-inclusive option; some reviews mention dated fixtures (KAYAK).

Mitsis Summer Palace (Greece)

• Pros: All-inclusive packages available; indoor pool, sauna, multiple facilities; Booking.com guests call it “well designed and feels luxurious” (Booking.com).
• Cons: Located in Kardamena, not a major city; some reviews mention limited evening entertainment options.

Summer Palace Hotel (Yangon) + Summer Palace Guest House (Cape Coast)

• Pros (Yangon): Two-star pricing; functioning A/C and Wi-Fi per verified guests; clean and inexpensive (Expedia).
• Cons (Yangon): Basic amenities; breakfast tailored to local tastes; no pool or resort features.
• Pros (Cape Coast Guest House): Garden on-site; budget-friendly; 2.5 miles from Cape Coast Castle.
• Cons (Cape Coast Guest House): Limited review volume; no verified pricing data from major platforms.

Our pick: Which Summer Palace Hotel should you book?

Pricing overview across Summer Palace hotels

Prices vary dramatically by segment and location. The Beijing Summer Palace Hotel commands the highest per-night rate (~US$639 from Trip.com listings, though actual availability rates may differ by season). Boracay Summer Palace sits in the middle at ~PHP 4,036/night (KAYAK). The Yangon Summer Palace Hotel occupies the budget tier, with rates well below US$50/night. Mitsis Summer Palace, as an all-inclusive, bundles accommodation, meals, and activities into a per-person rate that typically falls between Boracay and Beijing pricing.

The catch: No single platform lists all five properties together, so direct price comparisons require checking each source individually. Beijing’s deposit policy (CNY 2,000/night) adds an upfront cost not reflected in nightly rates.

Frequently asked questions about Summer Palace hotels

Sources cited

• Trip.com – Beijing Summer Palace Hotel listing
• Annees de Pèlerinage – Aman at Summer Palace review
• KAYAK – Boracay Summer Palace Hotel listing
• Expedia – Yangon Summer Palace Hotel listing
• TripAdvisor – Boracay Summer Palace reviews
• Booking.com – Mitsis Summer Palace reviews
• Tablet Hotels – Aman at Summer Palace listing
• AFAR – Summer Palace travel guide