11 Best Things to Do in Gyeongju (+ Tips to Make it Worth it)
Gyeongju has become one of my favorite cities I’ve visited in South Korea so far.
I visited again last November and it was still as great visiting as the first time.
BUT I do highly recommend staying overnight, and you’ll see why.
Here’s my travel guide to Gyeongju: best things to do in Gyeongju, where to stay, sample Gyeongju itineraries, and what I recommend.
➡️ New to South Korea? Check out my South Korea travel guide for first-time visitors.
What Makes Gyeongju Special?
Gyeongju is located in southeastern Korea, just an hour north of Busan and is famously known as the “Museum without Walls.”
Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom, which ruled over much of the Korean Peninsula from the 7th to 9th centuries.
It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site with numerous archaeological sites, royal tombs, ancient temples, and observatories.
Many of the shops, convenience stores, and even gas stations are hanok-style, or traditional Korean homes.
11 Best Things to Do in Gyeongju
Gyeongju is nicknamed the museum without walls because most of the Gyeongju attractions are located outside.
You’ll likely be outside for most of your trip in Gyeongju. (So dress accordingly to the weather!)
Here are the main 11 things to do in Gyeongju.
1. Hwangnidan Street
Hwangnidan Street is the main popular street downtown.
The cafes, restaurants, and shops are all in renovated or newly-built traditional hanok-style buildings.
The views here at night are especially nice and lively, though most shops close around 9pm.
There are lots of stationary and souvenir shops and photo booths.
Definitely add to your list of things to do in Gyeongju.
2. Daereungwon Tomb Complex (Royal Tombs)
One of the main things to do in Gyeongju is see the big green mounds you’ll see everywhere.
They are ancient royal tombs and burial sites of kings, queens & nobles from the ancient Silla Kingdom.
There’s 23 royal tombs just in the city center and the whole historic area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Entrance to the Daereungwon Tomb Complex is free, but if you want to visit the museum, it is 3,000 won ($2 USD).
3. Cheomseongdae Observatory
Right nearby is Cheomseongdae, an astronomical observatory from the 7th century. The observatory lights up at night. There is no entrance fee.
In the same area is a large flower park and the flowers you’ll see will depend on the season.
The first time I went was in early summer and it looked like this:
When I went back in late November, the night views were still very colorful:
The next two sites need to be seen at night. They’re great during the day but 100% better at night.
That’s why I recommend staying at least one night or taking the late night bus back.
Visiting these were some of my favorite things to do in Gyeongju.
4. Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond
Donggung Palace is walkable from the Cheomseongdae Observatory.
The palace, built during the Silla Dynasty, once served as a secondary palace complex for the crown prince.
In the same area is the Wolji Pond, an artificial pond surrounded by pavilions and gardens.
Wolji pond was built in 679 and has 3 small islands.
It cost 3,000 won to enter, or around $2 USD.
You can walk around the whole pond and all the trees are lit up. It’s really beautiful, but especially at night.
5. Woljeonggyo Bridge
Woljeonggyo Bridge is another Gyeongju attraction that needs to be seen at night.
It is the largest wooden bridge in Korea. The name itself means Shadow of the Moon.
It is around a 20-minute walk from the Gyeongju bus terminal area.
Woljeonggyo Bridge served as a crossing over the Hyeongsan River during the Silla Dynasty.
You can sit by the water and walk through the bridge.
6. Gyochon Traditional Village
Located right next to Woljeonggyo Bridge is the Gyochon Traditional Village.
Gyochon Traditional Village is a village and living museum showcasing traditional Korean architecture, culture, and customs during the Joseon Dynasty.
All of the shops, restaurants, and homes are traditional hanok-style. It felt like I was on a filming set for a kdrama!
There’s lots of craft shops, teahouses, restaurants, cultural exhibits and workshops, and museums, though most are not open late evening.
7. Hwangseong Park
Located more northwestern Gyeongju and where you’ll need to take a short bus ride is Hwangseong Park.
I went specifically to see some autumn foliage but there should be other seasonal flowers as well.
You can do a small hike to the top for views.
8. Bitnuri Garden
A few blocks walkable from Hwangseong Park is Bitnuri Garden.
This is worth visiting mostly during the evening.
I did originally visited because it was one of the many Gyeongju filming locations for the kdrama Family by Choice. 😜
These next things to do in Gyeongju are if you’re staying more than one night. These are located in the northeastern part of the city.
9. Bulguksa Temple
Bulguksa Temple is another UNESCO Heritage site in Gyeongju.
The temple is located on Mount Toham in Gyeongju. Bulguksa means “Temple of the Buddha Land,” and was built during the Silla Dynasty.
The temple complex consists of traditional halls, pagodas, bridges, and stone staircases.
It takes one hour to get to Bulguksa Temple by bus from downtown Gyeongju.
You can also book a Gyeongju tour like this one that provides transportation.
Entrance to the palace is free.
If you have more time, you can also go to Seokguram Grotto nearby by bus to see the large Buddha statue.
10. Bomun Tourist Complex
A 20-minute bus ride north of the Bulguksa Temple takes you to a more commercial area called the Bomun Tourist Complex with a large lake and nearby resorts and businesses.
Here’s what to see in the area:
Gyeongju Tower is located inside the Gyeongju Culture Expo. Entrance cost will vary by the exhibit.
Right across is the Hwangnyongwon / Joongdo Tower, which is a actually corporate event hall (photo above).
A walk down the road is Gyeongju World Theme Park. I didn’t go in, but you can spend the day there. Entrance is around $40.
11. Bomun Lake and Pavilion
Another walk down from the Gyeongju World Theme Park is Bomun Lake and Pavilion. There’s beautiful and peaceful walking paths around the area.
Visiting Bomun Lake is one of the most popular things to do in Gyeongju during cherry blossom season.
I took a bus to get back to downtown Gyeongju.
Day Trip to Gyeongju? Example Itineraries
Here are things to do in Gyeongju depending on how long you stay.
One day trip to Gyeongju visit:
- Hwangnidan Street
- Daereungwon Tomb Complex (Royal Tombs)
- Woljeonggyo Bridge
- Gyochon Traditional Village
- Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond
2 days in Gyeongju:
Day 1: All of the above, but save the Wolji Pond and bridge for nighttime views for either day 1 or day 2.
Day 2:
- Bulguksa Temple
- Bomun Tourist Complex
- Bomun Lake and Pavilion
- Optional: Gyeongju World Theme Park, Culture Expo
If you have more time, here’s more things to do in Gyeongju:
- Hwangseong Park
- Bitnuri Garden
- Gyeongju National Museum
- Jungang Market
- East Palace Garden
- World Car Museum
Gyeongju Tours
If you prefer guided or organized tours, here are a few:
1. Gyeongju 1-day tour by City Tour Bus
How to Get to Gyeongju
If you’re coming from Seoul, you can either take the high-speed train or express bus from the Seoul Express Bus Terminal.
From Seoul, it takes 2.5 hours by train, or 3.5 hours by bus.
I wrote a Gyeongju blog post detailing how to get from Seoul to Gyeongju and my recommended route (spoiler: bus).
Where to Stay in Gyeongju
The main area of Gyeongju is the city center or “downtown” where most of the historical sites and things to do in Gyeongju are located. It’s walkable from the bus terminals.
Here are hanoks and hotels in downtown Gyeongju to look at for your trip:
Traveler Type | Neighborhood |
---|---|
Best Night Views | Gyeongju Wadamjung Hanok Pension |
Best Hanok Stay | Hwangnamkwan Hanok Guesthouse |
Bomun Lake Area | Sono Belle Gyeongju Hotel |
Downtown | Hotel Palace Gyeongju |
🏨 Read my full post to find out where you should stay in Gyeongju
How to Get Around Gyeongju
In case you don’t know, there is no subway system in Gyeongju.
I mostly walked around the main area since the main attractions are close to one another.
When I did take the bus, it was similar to the bus systems in Seoul and Busan.
The only times I took a longer bus ride was for a day trip to Pohang, and to go to the Bulguksa Temple and Bomun Tourist Complex listed below.
If you choose to only stay in the downtown and city center, walking will suffice.
Is Gyeongju Worth Visiting?
Gyeongju lives up to its nickname as the “Museum without Walls.”
A trip to Gyeongju is like taking a trip back to the Joseon Dynasty with beautiful outdoor architectural, cultural and nature sites.
Plus there’s lots of things to do in Gyeongju.
While even a day trip to Gyeongju will still be great, I 100% recommend either staying overnight in Gyeongju or leaving in the evening to see the best of Gyeongju.
🏨 Read my guide on where to stay in Gyeongju.
If you have more time, Busan & Pohang is an only hour bus ride away from Gyeongju.
Have a nice time and hope you found some fun things to do in Gyeongju!
🎥 Watch my Gyeongju Vlog for more tips: