How do I get to Gyeongju?

About 2h KTX to Singyeongju from Seoul.

What is Gyeongju known for?

Silla Dynasty capital, an open-air museum. Bulguksa Temple, UNESCO World Heritage, completed 774; Seokguram Grotto, UNESCO World Heritage stone Buddha sanctuary; Daereungwon Tumuli Park, 23 Silla royal burial mounds.

Region guide

Gyeongju

Silla Dynasty capital, an open-air museum

28° / 17°· Jun2 routes4 reel routes1 guides12 places

About Gyeongju

Silla Dynasty capital, an open-air museum

The 992-year capital of the Silla kingdom. Royal tumuli sit between cafes, Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto anchor the UNESCO-inscribed historic area.

·Bulguksa Temple, UNESCO World Heritage, completed 774
·Seokguram Grotto, UNESCO World Heritage stone Buddha sanctuary
·Daereungwon Tumuli Park, 23 Silla royal burial mounds
·Cheomseongdae, East Asia's oldest surviving astronomical observatory, 7th century
·Donggung and Wolji (Anapji), Silla royal garden pond, illuminated at night
·Gyeongju National Museum, Silla gold crowns and the Emille Bell of 771

From Seoul: About 2h KTX to Singyeongju

2 routes 12 places 4 reel routes

Cheomseongdae Observatory

Ancient royal burial mounds at Gyeongju Oreung surrounded by pine trees

Gyeongju Oreung (Five Royal Tombs)

Bomun Tourist Complex

Hwangnyongwon (Jungdo Tower)

Curated routes

Routes in Gyeongju

All routes

Bulguksa Temple's majestic stone staircase and main hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Gyeongju

HistoryGyeongjuYear-round

3stopseasy

Gyeongju Day Trip: Bomun Lake, Bulguksa & Seokguram

A full-day Gyeongju route from Singyeongju Station: walk Bomun Lake past the nine-story Hwangnyongwon tower, then visit two UNESCO temples — Bulguksa and Seokguram.

gyeongju day tripbulguksa seokguram itinerarygyeongju unesco templesbomun lake walkinghwangnyongwon nine story towerkorea buddhist heritage toursilla dynasty sites

Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond at twilight, illuminated pavilions reflected in the Silla-era pond, Gyeongju

HistoryGyeongjuYear-round

6stopseasy

Gyeongju Downtown Walk: Hwangnidan to Wolji Pond

Walk Gyeongju's historic downtown — from Hwangnidan-gil's hanok cafes through Daereungwon, Cheomseongdae, Gyerim, Woljeonggyo to Wolji Pond's iconic night view.

gyeongju downtown walking tourhwangnidan-gil itinerarydaereungwon tomb complex visitcheomseongdae observatorywoljeonggyo bridge gyeongjudonggung palace wolji pond night viewsilla heritage walking routegyeongju day trip on foot

On screen

Gyeongju on film

K-drama, K-pop MV, and KTO campaigns filmed here.

All reel routes

GRAY x Woo Won-jae

Feel the Rhythm of Korea: Gyeongju & Andong

Released in September 2021, this episode pairs two of Korea's deepest heritage cities. Rapper Woo Won-jae and producer GRAY reinterpret the folk song Ganggangsullae over scenes of Silla-era tombs, UNESCO temples, and Confucian villages. In Gyeongju the camera sweeps past Cheomseongdae, the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in East Asia, and the lantern-lit Wolji Pond at dusk. In Andong the lens shifts to Hahoe Village's 600-year-old thatched roofs and the masked dancers of the Hahoe Byeolsin-gut tradition, blending ancient ritual with hip-hop beats.

Traditional Sword Dance

Echoes of Korea: Gyeongsang

Part of the 'Echoes of Korea' series by the Korea Tourism Organization, this video features the geommu (sword dance), a Korean Intangible Cultural Heritage that originated in the Silla dynasty. Dancers in flowing hanbok wield twin swords across Gyeongsang Province's ancient capital of Gyeongju, performing amidst UNESCO World Heritage temples, royal pleasure gardens, and the rolling burial mounds of Silla kings. The choreography mirrors the precision of the 1,300-year-old art form, while the cinematography highlights Gyeongju's reputation as 'the museum without walls.'

AI x 11 World-Famous Painters

What If World-Famous Artists Visited Korea?

Released in October 2023 as part of KTO's global tourism campaign, this video reimagines 11 Korean landmarks through the eyes of history's greatest painters, rendered entirely by generative AI. Each scene pairs a destination with an artist whose visual signature mirrors the location's character: Van Gogh's swirling energy for Seoul's neon skyline, Monet's dissolving light for Bulguksa's forest canopy, Klimt's gilded geometry for Cheomseongdae's ancient stones. Trained on over 1,100 original artworks (80,000 iterations each) blended with 1,600+ Korean photographs, the video reached 59 million views within its first month, making it the most-watched of the five-part campaign that collectively surpassed 220 million views in 30 days.

G-Dragon, Jang Wonyoung, Park Chan-wook, Park Ji-sung, Peggy Gou, Anh Sung-jae & President Lee Jae-myung

Welcome to APEC 2025 KOREA

Released October 2, 2025 by the APEC 2025 Korea Preparatory Office, this 74-second promotional film opens at a hanok-fronted fusion Korean restaurant where representatives from APEC member nations gather. Pilot G-Dragon walks in to find filmmaker Park Chan-wook and football legend Park Ji-sung at table, while IVE's Jang Wonyoung in hanbok works the cashier with the line 'please clear the way for 2025.' Chef Anh Sung-jae presents a dish sculpted in the silhouette of Cheomseongdae Observatory, and DJ Peggy Gou closes the room. President Lee Jae-myung makes a surprise appearance in aircraft marshaller uniform, guiding G-Dragon's plane in. All seven participants appeared without performance fees. The video crossed 19 million views within weeks.

Good to know

Guides mentioning Gyeongju

Hwangridan-gil street in Gyeongju with cafes and shops

food

Gyeongju Food Tour: What to Eat in Korea's Ancient Capital

Gyeongju has its own food identity beyond Seoul. Ssambap alleys, Gyeongju bread, tofu village, and temple food — a food map for the city where history meets flavor.

Places

12 places in Gyeongju

Loading places…