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Gyeongju

Known as ‘the museum without walls’, Gyeongju (경주) has more tombs, temples, rock carvings, pagodas, Buddhist statuary and palace ruins than any other place in South Korea. It's a lovely city, stuffed to the gills with history.

Most visitors touring the city center are taken aback by the distinctive, low-lying urban centre sculpted by astonishing and substantial round grassy tombs – called tumuli – as well as traditional architecture, with colorful hip roofs set against a canvas of green rolling mountains.

Two of Gyeongju’s not-to-be-missed sites – Bulguk-sa and Seokguram – are in the outlying districts, within reach of public transport. Gyeongju and its surrounding districts covers a vast area – some 511 sq mi (1323 sq km) – so you should plan on several days' stay if you want to visit some of the lesser-known places.

Explore Gyeongju

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Gyeongju.

  • Tomb

    Tumuli-gongwon

    The huge, walled park has 23 tombs of Silla monarchs and family members. From the outside, they resemble substantial grassy hillocks that echo the…

  • Tomb

    Noseo-dong Tombs

    Near the main shopping area is the Noseo-dong district, where you'll find Silla tombs. Seobongchong and Geumgwanchong are adjacent tombs built between the…

  • Tomb

    Bonghwangdae

    Sprouting huge trees of vast girth, this is the largest extant Silla tomb – 22m high, with a 250m circumference. It's quite a picture at any time put…

  • Temple

    Bulguk-sa

    On a series of stone terraces about 16km southeast of Gyeongju, set among gnarled pines and iris gardens, this historic temple is the crowning glory of…

  • Buddhist Site

    Bokdu-am Hermitage

    Close to the summit of the thickly forested Obong-san (640m), Bokdu-am features a huge rock face out of which 19 niches have been carved. The three…

  • Buddhist Site

    Seokguram

    In the mountains above Bulguk-sa is this world-famous Unesco-listed Buddhist grotto, a magical place when rain and mists envelop the mountaintops and…

  • Museum

    Gyeongju National Museum

    Arguably the best history museum in Korea, the Gyeongju National Museum is where you can appreciate the significance of this ancient city in one fell…

  • Pond

    Anapji Pond

    This is a very popular spot for couples to take pre-wedding photos, especially from June to early August when magnificent lotus blossoms seem to fill the…

  • Buddhist Temple

    Golgul-sa

    Finally, a temple where you can do more than just look around. The Buddha carved out of solid rock by Indian monks in the 6th century is fairly…

  • Observatory

    Cheomseongdae

    Southeast of Tumuli-gongwon in the attractive sprawl of Wolseong-gongwon is the Far East’s oldest astrological observatory, constructed between AD 632 and…

  • Ruins

    Hwangnyong-sa Site

    The ruins of this simply vast 6th century temple are a sad and desolate spectacle: once the nation's largest Buddhist temple, its standout feature was a…

  • Pagoda

    Bunhwang-sa

    This large pagoda was built in the mid-7th century during Queen Seondeok’s reign, making it the oldest datable pagoda in Korea. It’s a rare example of one…

  • Ruins

    Banwol-seong

    A few minutes’ walk south through the trees from Cheomseongdae, Banwol-seong is the site of a once-fabled fortress. Now it’s attractive parkland, where…

  • Tomb

    Underwater Tomb of King Munmu

    This small rocky island offshore is the legendary tomb of King Munmu (661-681), Silla king and unifier of the three kingdoms, who demanded he be laid to…

  • Natural Feature

    Yangnam Jusangjeolli Rock Forms

    These rare and intriguing rock forms in the sea on the coast east of Gyeongju are composed by an array of columnar rock joints (jusangjeolli: literally …

  • Tomb

    Seobongchong

    At Noseo-dong Tombs, the tomb of Seobongchong was erected between the 4th and 5th centuries. Excavation of the mound yielded a gold crown of Silla origin…

  • Temple

    Sinseon-sa

    This temple in Songseon-ri near the top of Danseok-san (827m) was used as a base by General Kim Yu-shin in the 7th century. The temple is home to the…

  • Tomb

    Cheonmachong

    This is the only tomb at Tumuli-gongwon that is open to visitors. At the time of writing the tomb was shut for a grand restoration, scheduled to reopen by…

  • Tomb

    Geumgwanchong

    At Noseo-dong Tombs, Geumgwanchong was built between the 4th and 5th centuries.

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Gyeongju.

  • Activities