South Korea has a truly rich history. While its tourism epicenter of Seoul boasts many significant monuments such as the Royal Palaces, the whole country has a wealth of historic villages, temples, and national treasures to discover. One of the greatest cities outside of Seoul for diving into Korean history is Gyeongju which sits near the Southeastern corner of the country. Gyeongju’s remarkable concentration of historic sites and ancient monuments has given the city the nickname of: the museum without walls.
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Getting to Gyeongju
The train to Gyeongju from Seoul was about 2 hours. I chose to visit the city within a daytrip so I only had about 10 hours to see all that I wanted! I found it pretty easy to get around Gyeongju by bus but just keep in mind that public transportation outside of Seoul can be much less frequent and regular.
Hwangnyongwon
One of Gyeongju’s most iconic buildings is the gorgeous Hwangnyongwon. This stunning gold trimmed pagoda is a reconstruction of an ancient temple: Hwangnyongsa.
It is a favorite of photographers to capture amongst picturesque cherry blossoms in the Spring or golden leaves in Autumn. I found that a wonderful vantage point to sit and enjoy this unique building is along the nearby stream.
Bulguksa Temple
South Korea has many incredible Buddhist temples to visit and one of its most impressive is Bulguksa. I could tell this is certainly one of the most popular attractions in Gyeongju as there was a sizable crowd even on the weekday early afternoon that I visited.
Unlike some other culture’s houses of worship, Korean temples are typically spread out complexes of many buildings. It was a delight wandering the trails and old stone steps around the various prayer halls. Be respectful and remember to remove your shoes and refrain from talking or taking photos if entering a prayer hall.
Bulguksa dates back to the 8th century. Like many structures in South Korea, Bulguksa has been subject to numerous damages and subsequent reconstructions due to many wars as well as oppressive Japanese colonization. Incredibly, you can still find surviving structures dating back to Bulguksa’s origins such as two stone pagodas named Dabotap and Seokgatap.
Something not often mentioned; I found the neighborhood around Bulguksa quite unique and charming. Seemingly to celebrate the historic draw of Gyeongju, this area is has been built up with cafes and youth hostels in white hanok-style buildings (Hanok simply refers to traditional Korean homes). Korea has many famous hanok villages where one will see the architecture is typically natural wood colors. Seeing such a large collection of these stark white hanoks was quite fascinating!
Cheomseongdae
Near the center of town there is a large grassy area plentiful with wide fields, beautiful flowers and what appear to be large mounds which are actually royal graves. One could easily spend an hour or two enjoying this area and the nearby cafes and restaurants. Within this park is an unassuming small stone tower that is one of Korea’s oldest National Treasures: Cheomseongdae is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia and was constructed in the 7th century (some believe it may be the oldest in the world). Cheomseongdae is a beloved piece of Korea’s history that can be seen on many souvenirs.
Gyeongju National Museum
Gyeongju’s National Museum holds many treasures from the past and insight into the city’s significance. Gyeongju was once the capital of the Silla kingdom, one of several ancient kingdoms the Korean peninsula was originally composed of.
Among the museum’s thousands of artifacts are many more designated National Treasures such as the Bell of King Seongdeok: one of the oldest and largest of these types of Korean ceremonial bells.
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Woljeonggyo Bridge
One of the best things to see in Gyeongju has to be Woljeonggyo Bridge. This reconstruction of the original bridge built during the Silla period is particularly beautiful lit up at night. At 387 meters long, Woljeonggyo is the longest wooden bridge in South Korea. It’s reflection on the water at night is quite breathtaking.
The dramatic colors and details of this bridge are stunning up close and from afar. Woljeonggyo has even been a filming location for Korean dramas such as The King: Eternal Monarch.
More to See in Gyeongju
While Gyeongju made for an amazing daytrip from Seoul, I naturally didn’t have time to see every single attraction in the city. I would recommend staying for 2 – 3 days if you want to savor all that Gyeongju has to offer at a more leisurely pace. Some of Gyeongju’s other major attractions include Seokguram Grotto, Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park, Donggung Palace, and Yangdong Folk Village. This really is a place with an astounding density of beautiful things to experience!
Gyeongju, the museum without walls, was truly an unforgettable experience and still one of my favorite days I’ve ever spent in Korea. For history buffs and just lovers of picturesque sites, I highly recommend visiting this amazing city! You can check out my South Korea packing list for the best travel essentials to explore this dynamic country!
