Day 1 | Morning
Bulguksa
Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Fri,9:00am-5:00pm
Ticket Price: 6000 KRW
Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours
Location: 15-1 Jinhyeon-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Bulguksa Temple is the core of Silla culture, a classic of Silla Buddhist art, and a world cultural heritage. 1440 years ago, in the 22nd year of King Faheung of Silla, in order to maintain the stability of the country and the people, Bulguksa Temple was built, and it has been repaired several times since then. In Bulguksa Temple, walking up the ridge, you can see the famous Grotto Nunnery, which houses the larger Sitting Buddha statue in the east facing the East China Sea. Seven cultural relics including the Duobao Pagoda, Sakyamuni Pagoda, Blue Cloud Bridge and two golden bronze Buddhas in the temple are listed as national treasures of Korea. In 1995, Bulguksa Temple was listed as a World Heritage Site along with the Seokguram Temple to the east.
Reviews from Real Guests:
Trip.com User: It was easy to enter immediately because you could park at the ticket gate on weekdays and put the camera anywhere.
Trip.com User: I recommend my childhood memories
Day 1 | Afternoon
Having the chance to enjoy the charming Bulguksa, Seokguram Grotto next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!
Seokguram Grotto
Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Fri,9:00am-5:00pm
Ticket Price: 6000 KRW
Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours
Location: 873-243, Bulguk-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea
Seokguram is located in Tuhan Mountain, Gyeongju, and it was listed as a World Cultural Heritage in 1995 with Bulguksa Temple, which is 4 kilometers away. Seokguram is also the 24th National Treasure of Korea. Seokguram and Bulguksa Temple were founded by Jindaesong in the period of King Jingdeok of Silla. Seokguram was originally called: Stone Buddha Temple, which was built by Jin Dacheng for his parents in the previous life, while Foguo Temple was built for his parents in this life. The stone cave nunnery is not large in scale, and the stones are neatly piled up. Walking in feels like being in a cave, so it is called the cave nunnery. The nunnery is dedicated to the Buddha statue of Sakyamuni. Standing below and looking up at the tall Buddha statue, there will be an inexplicable sense of holiness in my heart. Because the orientation of the Buddha statue is facing the east, the sun will hit the Buddha statue after sunrise, so Koreans call this Buddha statue "Silla people's smile".
Day 1 | Evening
If you want to explore other popular attractions later, Cheonggong Hanokstay is a suitable place for you to stay and refresh.
Cheonggong Hanokstay
Located within 4.4 km of Seokguram and 6 km of Gyeongju World in Gyeongju, Cheonggong Hanok Stay features accommodation with free WiFi and a kitchen.All units have a private bathroom and have air conditioning, a TV and a microwave. A fridge and kettle are also provided.Guests can relax in the garden at the property.Bulguksa Temple is 2.7 km from the holiday home, while Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park is 6 km from the property. The nearest airport is Daegu International Airport, 61 km from Cheonggong Hanok Stay.
Day 2 | Morning
Shilla Millennium Park
Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Fri,10:00am-7:30pm;Open on Sat-Sun,10:00am-8:00pm
Ticket Price: 5000 KRW
Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours
Location: 55-12 Expo Road, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk
Shilla Millennium Park is a historical theme park. Not only are the houses built in the Shilla era, but even the staff wear hanbok to serve. In addition to being able to experience the feeling of traveling to the Silla era, you can also personally participate in various production experiences. There is a Luo Palace inside, which is a super hotel similar to Shilla Palace built after a lot of information, and it is quite gorgeous from the outside. In addition, there is also a shooting base for MBC's historical drama "Queen Seondeok", which was built with an investment of nearly 2 billion won. Although the TV series has been broadcast for many years, the shooting base has now developed into a tourist destination. If you like this TV series, it is recommended to come here. See where the characters in the play have been.
Reviews from Real Guests:
Callie1566: The lights are on at 6 o'clock in the evening. There are a lot of lighting and sights at night, and the children like it. The parking lot is large.
aaradhya: Admission is 7,000 won (30 percent discount for race citizens). I think the night is better than the day. Do you feel a bit dark during the day?
Day 2 | Afternoon
When time permits after visiting Shilla Millennium Park, don’t forget pay a visit to Daereungwon Ancient Tombs.
Daereungwon Ancient Tombs
Opening Hours: Open from 9:00am-10:00pm
Ticket Price: 3000 KRW
Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours
Location: 9 Gyerim-ro, Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
Ancient tomb No. 155, Cheonma Tomb, excavated in 1973, is a stone-built coffin tomb unique to the Shilla era. It is 12.7m high and 50m deep. There is a room 6.5m long, 4.2m wide and 2.1m high made of logs, with a wooden pier in the center to block the view. There are more than 11,526 cultural relics unearthed here. Among them, the Cheonma Tu is the first precious scroll found in an ancient tomb in Korea.
Reviews from Real Guests:
꼽츙: It was cloudy but a good place to walk leisurely ~~
Day 2 | Evening
For convenient access to more popular attractions, Gyeongju Finlandia Pension is the best places.
Gyeongju Finlandia Pension
Featuring free WiFi throughout the property, Finlandia Pension offers accommodation in Gyeongju, 3.4 km from Gyeongju World. Each room at this guest house is air conditioned and is fitted with a flat-screen TV. Rooms have a private bathroom fitted with a shower. Seokguram is 11 km from Finlandia Pension, while Anapji Pond is 3.8 km from the property. Daegu International Airport is 56 km away.
Day 3 | Morning
Oleung
Opening Hours: Open from 1/1-2/29(Winter),9:00am-5:00pm;Open from 3/1-10/31(Summer),9:00am-6:00pm;Open from 11/1-12/31(Winter),9:00am-6:00pm
Ticket Price: 220 KRW
Recommended Length of Stay: 1-1 Hours
Location: 67-1 Tap-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
The Five Tombs are said to be the concentration of five royal tombs of the first ancestor of the Silla Dynasty, Park Hyuk, and his concubine, as well as the kings of the second, third and fifth generations. The pine trees are dense, quiet and deep, and when viewed from different angles, the number and shape of the tombs vary.
Day 3 | Afternoon
Having the chance to enjoy the charming Oleung, Yangdong Folk Village next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!
Yangdong Folk Village
Opening Hours: Open from 1/1-3/31(Winter),9:00am-6:00pm;Open from 4/1-10/31(Summer),9:00am-7:00pm;Open from 10/1-12/31(Winter),9:00am-6:00pm
Ticket Price: 4000 KRW
Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours
Location: 134, Yangdong Village Road, Gangdong-myeon, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk
Yangdong Village is a village in Gangdong, Gyeongsang City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. Yangdong Village is surrounded by mountains and rivers. It was the place where two classes of nobles from the upper class lived in the past. Nearly 150 old houses are still preserved. There are still people living in it. The houses on the mountain are all blue-tiled houses, which are where the nobles live, and the houses at the bottom of the mountain are thatched houses, which are houses for the commoners to live in. Yangdong Village is mainly inhabited by the Sun and Li clans. At first, the Sun clan of Wolseong in the early Joseon Dynasty entered the Lijiang Li clan. After that, the two clans mixed together and lived in seclusion here for nearly five hundred years. On July 31, 2010, Hahoe Village of Andong was inscribed on the World Heritage List under the name of "Historic Village of Korea".
Day 3 | Evening
Don’t forget to book Hanok PEN Town Pension Gyeongju in advance, because all the tourists head to Yangdong Folk Village love staying at it.
Hanok PEN Town Pension Gyeongju
Close to Gyeongju Angang Pungsangkok cherry blossoms road, Yangdong Folk Village, Bomun Gwangwang Complex
Day 4 | Morning
Tomb of General Kim Yusin
Opening Hours: Open from 9:00am-10:00pm
Ticket Price: 1000 KRW
Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours
Location: 44-7, Zhongxiao 2nd Road, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk
The road leading to the tomb of General Kim Yushin after passing the Seochon Bridge next to the Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal and turning right. This road is Xingwu Road specially named for the tomb of Jin Yuxin. Every spring, the spring flowers and cherry blossoms along the road are in full bloom, making it an excellent driving tour route. The cemetery is located on the east side of Songhua Mountain, in the pine forest with a wide view. The external structure is not inferior to other royal tombs. The cemetery is circular with a diameter of 30m. There are 24 foundation stones around it, and there are twelve more Statues guard the surroundings. The twelve statues are dressed in civilian clothes and armed with weapons, but they have a gentle feel. In the cemetery, there is also a Jinshanzhai archway dedicated to the tablet of General Jin Yuxin.
Day 4 | Afternoon
Poseokjeong Pavilion nearby is the top choice before you leave Tomb of General Kim Yusin and hit the road.
Poseokjeong Pavilion
Opening Hours: Open from 9:00am-6:00pm
Ticket Price: 1000 KRW
Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours
Location: 816 Namsansunhwan-ro, Bae-dong, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
Bao Shiting (7,432㎡) is located on a rock beside a stream, and was designated as a historic site No. 1 on January 21, 1963. This was originally the site of a palace in the Silla (BC57-AD935) period, but the buildings at that time no longer exist, only the stone water channel shaped like an abalone remains. The stone trough is curved like an abalone shell, so it is named Bao Shiting. Bao Shiting is composed of about 63 pieces of stone, with a width of 35CM, an average length of 26CM, and a total length of about 10 meters. It is said that the canal that flows out of the Nanshan Valley was put into the Baoshi Pavilion and then spewed out through Ishito. But now the tortoise no longer exists. The kings of New Rhodes often lead their monarchs and nobles to visit here. It is said that they put the wine glass in the water flowing along the stone trough, sang poetry before the wine glass was moved to their side, and enjoyed the elegance of the meandering water. Next to Baoshiting is the Baoshi Valley of Nanshan Mountain, where the water is clear and the scenery is pleasant. It has been favored by people since the Silla period. Therefore, the Silla royal family chose to build a palace here. There are still hundreds of years old birch, pine and bamboo forests, and the atmosphere is very elegant. A very small park, but it is worth seeing that the park has a complete circle of water canals. This aqueduct is a place where noble nobles drink wine while talking about poetry, but they have never seen the real one. This circle of canals is high on one side and low on the other side, and the water flows down from a high place. Only by using the acceleration maneuver at the corner can the effect of "curved water" be achieved. After seeing it, I am still very sighed.
Day 4 | Evening
Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at Poseokjeong Pavilion? Silla Family Hotel is one of your top choices.
Silla Family Hotel
Silla Family Hotel is located in Gyeongju, 3.8 km from Gyeongju World and 8 km from Seokguram. Free WiFi is available throughout the property and free private parking is available on site. A flat-screen TV is offered. You will find luggage storage space at the property. Gyeongju National Museum is 3.8 km from Silla Family Hotel, while Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park is 3.9 km away. Daegu International Airport is 57 km from the property.
Day 5 | Morning
Cheomseongdae
Opening Hours: Open from 1/1-12/31(Winter),9:00am-9:00pm;Open from 1/1-12/31(Summer),9:00am-10:00pm
Ticket Price: Free
Recommended Length of Stay: 1-1 Hours
Location: 839-1 Inwang-dong, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
As the name suggests, Cheomseongdae was a place used to watch the stars in ancient times. It was built in the period of Queen Wang Sundeok, the 27th generation of Silla. During the Silla period, it was mainly used as an astronomical observatory. The entire Cheomseong Tower is built of granite, with a height of 9.17m, a diameter of 3.1m at the upper end and a diameter of 5.17m at the lower part. The length of one side of the foundation stone base is 5.35m. The double-layer foundation stone base and the altar are square, and the size is 8 times and 15 times that of the long platform stone respectively. On the stone base is a 27-story cylindrical tower. The entire Zhanxing platform is wide and narrow at the bottom and stands upright. The height of each floor of Cheomseongdae is about 30cm, and the top is a double-layered stone altar. The top is a tic-tac-toe shape, and the connecting part is a barrel-shaped round body, because it is often mistakenly called "star picking platform".
Reviews from Real Guests:
dear.may0: Beautiful Gyeongju representative tourist spot surrounded by flowers Chum Sung-tae! Beside the Chum Sung-tai, beautiful flowers spread out every season. From the sulfur cosmos to the unnamed flowers of the baron tree sunflower, the flowers with history are more attractive❕
Trip.com User: The construction is in the middle of the construction around the Chum Sung University, but the construction site is not well seen at night and the Chum Sung University was really great with lighting.
Day 5 | Afternoon
After finishing the tour at Cheomseongdae, you can head to Gyeongju National Museum, the most worth visiting place around the corner.
Gyeongju National Museum
Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Sat,10:00am-6:00pm
Ticket Price: Free
Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours
Location: 76 Inwang-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
The Gyeongju National Museum systematically houses the main cultural relics of the Silla era, where you can learn about the detailed history and culture of Silla, as well as comprehensive information about the city of Gyeongju. Since 1913, more than 79,000 pieces have been collected in the collection, but only 2,000 pieces are on display. The whole museum is divided into archaeological hall, art gallery, Yanya Pond hall and outdoor exhibition hall.
Day 5 | Evening
Don’t forget to book Lahan Select Gyeongju in advance, because all the tourists head to Gyeongju National Museum love staying at it.
Lahan Select Gyeongju
Since Lahan Select Gyeongju is primarily a lake resort, you'll have to do a bit of traveling to reach Gyeongju's top shopping spots. The city's largest traditional market, Seongdong Market, is just over 8 km away by taxi. To buy local crafts and products, head 6.9 km to the Gyeongju Folk Craft Village.
* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.