Gyeongju is a small city located in the Eastern part of South Korea. Out of all the places I visited during my 1-month trip to South Korea, Gyeongju is probably one of my favourites.
Gyeongju is still somewhat of a hidden gem for international tourists, even though it really has a lot to offer. Whether you are looking for traditional temples, curated parks, a fascinating history or cute shops, Gyeongju seems to have it all.
There are plenty of things to see and do in Gyeongju itself, and also around Gyeongju, so I wanted to share the best things that I found to truly make the most of your stay in the beautiful city.
So let’s dive into it! For more practical information on how to get to Gyeongju, and how many days to stay there, check out the info at the end!
A short history of Gyeongju
Gyeongju is called the “museum without walls” because of its long and rich history that you can still see everywhere around the city: from ancient tombs and beautiful temples to countless hanoks, the Korean traditional houses. Now, Gyeongju is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The historical relevance of Gyeongju is linked to the fact that it was the capital of the Silla Kingom, which ruled the Korean peninsula, from the 1st century BCE to the 10th century.
This is also what makes Gyeongju truly unique, with its typical landscape of “tumuli”. This is because traditionally, tombs during the Silla dynasty were made of wooden chambers covered with stones and a mound of earth.
This long and rich history makes it so that Gyeongju is a must-visit, with plenty of things to see and do.
The best things to see and do in Gyeongju
Explore the Daereungwon Tomb Complex / Tumuli Park
This is Gyeongju’s main attraction, and it just requires walking around a park, where you’ll encounter the tombs built during the Silla period – which basically look like hills.
You can walk around them and also now visit some of them to see what they found inside those tombs and how they were really built.
They also look much more impressive in person than on the pictures!
Go to Cheomseongdae Observatory
This observatory was built in the 7th century and it is the oldest observatory in South Korea. It stands a bit further South of the Daereungwon tomb complex, in a large park. It also lights up at night.
See the pink muhly grass or flower fields
If you visit Gyeongju in autumn, the area next to Cheomseongdae observatory will be filled with fluffy and pink muhly grass.
In other seasons, you’ll probably have a lot of other flowers in the same area, so I recommend to just explore the park around the observatory!
Try traditonal Gyeongju bread
Eating all the local specialties is a must-do, especially in South Korea.
If you are in Gyeongju, make sure to try the typical pastry from Gyeongju called hwangnam-ppang. It is a fluffy egg pastry filled with red bean paste, in the shape of a flower.
In Gyeongju, you should also take advantage of all the cute tea houses and coffee shops!
My favourite areas for that is Hwangnidan-gil!
Go to Gyochon Hanok Village
In the Southern part of Gyeongju, this traditional village showcases the layout and architecture of traditional villages with hanoks (the traditional Korean houses). Some people still live there but you’ll also find lots of beautiful restaurants and cafes.
Walking around in the streets of Gyochon Hanok Village is really a must-do in Gyeongju, and you’ll feel transported in the past! Some people also rent a hanbok (the traditional Korean dresses) to romanticise it even more.
Cross Woljeonggyo Bridge
Woljeonggyo Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks in Gyeongju, and definitely one of the best thing to visit in Gyeongju. The bridge in itself is a reconstruction of an old covered bridge that was destroyed multiple times in history, but the view it offers is simply stunning!
I highly recommend going there in the evening to see it light up! If you walk a bit further down its banks you’ll also have cute stepping stones that allow you to cross the stream.
Visit Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond
Donggung Palace served as one of the royal palace complexes during the Silla dynasty and the adjacent pond is surrounded by beautiful gardens and pavilions.
You have to pay to visit this area (although it is pretty cheap), and I highly recommend visiting it a night when all the buildings are lit up for truly magical views!
Explore Hwangnidan-gil
This neighbourhood made of renovated and new hanoks is Gyeongju’s lively and cool area, with plenty of trendy shops, cute cafés and beautiful restaurants. You can shop for original souvenirs, skincare and clothes, or just take the time to enjoy a delicious tea or coffee at one of the coffee shops or tea houses.
After spending some time visiting history in Gyeongju, this is the perfect place to walk around and munch on delicious street food!
Visit the city at night
Gyeongju is beautiful during the day, but it truly becomes magical at night. All the stunning historical landmarks light up, and the careful planning of the city makes it very safe and enjoyable to walk around at night.
For a night walk, I especially recommend visiting Donggung Palace and Wolji pond, and seeing Woljeonggyo bridge!
The best things to see and do around Gyeongju
Visit Bulguksa Temple
Bulguksa is a huge Buddhist temple complex conceived by Silla rulers and is now a UNESCO Heritage site in Gyeongju. After crossing a beautiful and peaceful garden, you’ll reach the imposing main temple, standing tall and wide. Then, you can freely explore the many terraces, halls and smaller temples adorned with colourful flowers and lanterns.
Visiting Bulguksa Temple is free and it is really a stunning (and famous) place, so you might encounter a bit more tourists than in other areas.
A visit to Bulguksa temple takes a couple of hours. When you are done, I highly recommend stopping for a coffee at Cafe Old City. This place had the most peaceful vibe with cute cats all around!
How to get to Bulguksa Temple from Gyeongju
The easiest way to get to Bulguksa is by taking the bus from Gyeongju. You can take the buses 10, 11 or 100 from the bus stop across Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal. You can pay by cash to the bus driver or with your T-Money card.
Once you get off the bus, you’ll have to walk uphill for around 5 minutes. Don’t worry about missing your stop, it will be clearly announced!
After a visit to Bulguksa, while you are in the area I’d highly recommend checking out Seokguram Grotto.
Visit Seokguram Grotto
Seokguram Grotto is a Buddhist cave temple and another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Gyeongju. In the artificial grotto, a statue of a 3 meters tall Buddha stands tall, surrounded by small sculptures and niches.
To protect the sculpture you now can only stand in a small area of the cave and have to look at the Buddha through a glass. Taking pictures is also not allowed. There is also no entrance fee.
📌 How to reach Seokguram Grotto from Bulguksa Temple
To reach Seokguram Grotto from Bulguksa, you can take the bus 12 (the journey takes 15 minutes), walk for around 30 minutes through a hiking path, or take a taxi.
Visit Yangdong Folk Village
Yangdong Folk Village is the largest traditional village in Korea, and people still live there to this day. The village was founded more than 500 years ago and still has the same structure and houses. I highly recommend a visit!
You’ll be able to explore the village and learn about how the villages were organised in the past, with the rich families at the top and the poorest ones in a lower position. When you arrive, pass by the information center to get a leaflet with different itineraries. I highly recommend taking the longer one (2 hours) that takes you to all the most beautiful houses.
📌 How to get to Yangdong Folk Village from Gyeongju
You can go to Yangdong Village from Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal and take the bus 203 or 204 (check the departure times before!). The journey takes about an hour and there is an entrance fee of around 4 000 won (2.6 euros).
If you visit Yangdong Folk Village, please be respectful towards the people living there. Try to be silent, don’t take pictures of their houses and don’t litter!
Visiting Gyeongju – Useful info
How long should you stay in Gyeongju?
The best way to make the most of your stay in beautiful Gyeongju is to take your time to explore things slowly. Take in the peaceful atmosphere of the city, take your time to drink a nice tea or coffee in a coffee house and to just wander about in the many parks.
The perfect amount of time to stay in Gyeongju to make the most of the city and see around it is 3 days, but you could also make it work in only 2 days if you really don’t have more time.
Here is how I would spend 3 days in Gyeongju:
Day 1: walk around the Tumuli park, see the observatory and Woljeonggyo bridge. Walk around Gyochon hanok village.
Day 3: Go to Bulguksa temple and Seokguram grotto during the day and explore Gyeongju at night.
Day 2: go to Yangdong folk village in the morning and go back to Gyeongju to shop in Hwangnidan-gil.
If you only have 2 days, you can visit Gyeongju on your first day and explore the area around it on the second day.
Is Gyeongju worth it?
Gyeongju is absolutely worth a visit! Out of all the places I visited, Gyeongju was really one of my favourites. It is a nice break from the busy cities like Busan and Seoul, and has a calm laid-back vibe.
Its sights are really unique and diverse, and it is also not that famous (yet!) for international tourists, so you won’t have to fight the crowds.
How to reach Gyeongju?
During my 1-month trip to South Korea, I went to Gyeongju from Sokcho, taking a bus from Sokcho to Pohang, then from Pohang to Gyeongju.
If you are going to Gyeongju from Seoul, you can take the high speed KTX train (2.5 hours) or take the express bus (3.5 hours). I recommend taking the bus because it is half the price and the station is closer to the center of Gyeongju.
Where to stay in Gyeongju?
In Gyeongju, I recommend staying in the city centre, where you’ll be within walking distance of pretty much every main sights in the city while being close to the station to visit around.
We stayed in Gyeongju BonghwangMansion and loved it! Its location is absolutely perfect for exploring Gyeongju and it is within walking distance to pretty much everything. The rooms are cleanand very comfortable, and the breakfast they provide is simple but very good.
How to get around Gyeongju?
The best and easiest way to get around Gyeongju is simply walking. Everything is pretty close, and you’ll walk a lot, but in pretty places.
If you can’t walk a lot, the bus network in the city is also very functional. To get around the parks and see the main sights, you can also rent scooters, bikes or small ATVs. This might be useful if you cannot walk for a long time or if you have children.
Since the city is quite small, taking a taxi – for example to carry your suitcases – is not very expensive either.If you are planning a trip to South Korea, I really hope this made you consider adding Gyeongju to your itinerary!
