Once the capital of a kingdom for nearly a thousand years, it is still one of the most historically rich cities in Asia. Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla Kingdom from 57 BC to 935 AD, making it the political and cultural heart of the Korean peninsula for almost a millennium.
The city today is essentially an open-air museum: royal burial mounds rise from the city centre as green hills, UNESCO-listed temple complexes sit in the surrounding mountains, and ancient relics are found in almost every direction you walk.
It is also genuinely beautiful and remarkably quiet compared to Seoul, one of those Korean cities where slowing down is the right approach.
Getting to Gyeongju
- From Seoul by KTX: Around 2 hours to Singyeongju Station (the Gyeongju KTX stop, outside the city). Then, a 20-minute local bus or taxi to the city centre.
- From Busan by train: Around 30 minutes by KTX or 1 hour by local Mugunghwa train. Both arrive at Gyeongju Station, in the city centre.
- From Daegu: Around 30 minutes by local train.
Note: Most visitors coming from Seoul use the Singyeongju Station (KTX). Most people coming from Busan use Gyeongju Station (local train). They are different stations; check which one your service uses.
What to Do in Gyeongju
Tumuli Park – Royal Burial Mounds
Gyeongju’s most iconic sight is a park in the city centre containing 23 large royal burial mounds from the Silla Dynasty, some up to 22 metres high. The mounds are covered in grass and rise from the park floor like enormous green haystacks. One mound (Cheonmachong) is open to the inside, allowing visitors to see the burial chamber and artifacts. Entry to the park costs 3,000 won.
Bulguksa Temple
One of South Korea’s most celebrated Buddhist temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the finest surviving example of Silla-era Buddhist architecture. Built in 774 AD and carefully restored, the complex climbs a granite terrace above the surrounding forest. The Cheongungyo and Baegungyo stone staircases leading to the main hall are among the most photographed architectural elements in Korea. Entry costs 6,000 won. About 30 minutes from central Gyeongju by bus.
Seokguram Grotto
A carved granite Buddha chamber cut into the granite hillside above Bulguksa, also UNESCO-listed. The seated granite Buddha inside (begun 751 AD) is considered a masterpiece of Buddhist art and one of the finest sculptures in Asia. The grotto is enclosed in glass to preserve it you view the Buddha through the glass from a short distance. Entry costs 6,000 won (separate from Bulguksa, though most visit both on the same trip).
Cheomseongdae Observatory
A cylindrical stone tower built during the reign of Queen Seondeok (632 to 647 AD) is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in East Asia. It stands 9.4 metres tall in the centre of an open field between the burial mound parks. Small but historically extraordinary. Free to view from outside.
Anapji Pond (Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond)
A restored royal garden and pond complex from the Silla Dynasty, particularly beautiful at night when the traditional pavilions are reflected in the still water, is one of the best evening experiences in Gyeongju. Entry costs 3,000 won, and the pond is open until 10 pm.
Gyeongju National Museum
Houses the finest collection of Silla Dynasty artifacts in the world, including gold crowns, bronze bells, ceramics, and jewellery excavated from the burial mounds. The Emille Bell (Divine Bell of King Seongdeok), one of the largest and finest bronze bells in Asia, is in the garden outside. Entry is free.
Where to Stay in Gyeongju
Stay in the city centre near Tumuli Park and Cheomseongdae for easy walking access to the main sights. The Bulguksa area has accommodation if you want to be closer to the temple. One to two nights is the right amount of time to explore properly.
Best Time to Visit Gyeongju
Spring (cherry blossoms in late March to early April along the banks of Bomun Lake) and autumn (October and November for foliage) are the most beautiful times. The city is much quieter than Seoul year-round. The Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival, held around the burial mound park in early April, is one of Korea’s most atmospheric spring events.
