11 Best Things to do in Gyeongju: Itinerary (2024)

Looking for the best things to do in Gyeongju? Here’s our travel guide and Gyeongju itinerary so you can spend the best weekend or 2 days in Gyeongju – the beautiful cultural city in South Korea. Let’s explore what to do in Gyeongju!

Gyeongju is located in the south eastern corner of South Korea very close to the coastal city of Busan. It absolutely deserves a spot on your South Korea itinerary because of the culture and history you can learn inside the city.

Gyeongju is known as a museum with no walls and it was the residence of Silla rulers for over 1000 years! There’s so many archaeological sites in the city from around this time frame and many tombs and remains to discover.

The city itself is very laid back with lots of parks, villages and cafes to relax in. The main list of things to do in Gyeongju is easily walkable which makes it a perfect destination for any traveller. It’s very popular for people to visit on the weekends from Seoul or Busan, so some of the spots can get very busy but it makes a great atmosphere too.

It’s a perfect opportunity to breathe after visiting Seoul, and if you’re lucky enough to visit in Spring you can admire the cherry blossoms all around Gyeongju whilst learning about the strong history.

In this list of 11 best things to do in Gyeongju, we’ll also share a 2 day Gyeongju itinerary so you can plan your trip! It’s possible to see the main highlights in a day. However, with an extra day in this beautiful city, you can explore a little more!

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11 Best Things to do in Gyeongju

We’ll start off with the 11 best things to do in Gyeongju, followed by a 2 day Gyeongju itinerary and how to get to Gyeongju, where to stay and any tips!

Where to stay in Gyeongju: Doobaki Guesthouse – Find here on Booking.com!

1 – Admire Woljeonggyo Bridge

One of the best things to do in Gyeongju is to visit this beautiful bridge at sunset. It was our favourite spot in Gyeongju to relax and admire the architecture of the bridge.

In the daytime you can appreciate the bridge in red and at night it lights up gold and becomes a whole new magical place to visit. The bridge is right next to some stepping stones on the water, which is where many people will take their photos!

Woljeonggyo Bridge was built during the Unified Silla period (AD 676-935) and after being burned down, it was rebuilt in April 2018 to become the biggest wooden bridge in South Korea.

Price: Free!

Find the location here – Woljeonggyo Bridge Location

2 – Discover Gyeongju National Museum

The Gyeongju National Museum allows visitors to learn about the cultural heritage of Silla (One of the three kingdoms of ancient Korea). There are five permanent exhibitions featuring national treasures and art galleries. Sometimes there are even special exhibitions! It’s a great stop on your Gyeongju itinerary if you have a spare hour or two!

Price: Free!

Find the location here – Gyeongju National Museum Location

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3 – Visit the Daereungwon Tomb Complex

One of the best things to do in Gyeongju is to explore the tombs at the Daereungwon Tomb Complex and better understand the kingdom of Silla.

Daereungwon Tomb Complex is the burial site and home to 23 ancient tombs. The most notable of them all would be Cheonmachong Tomb, which you can actually walk inside! Cheonmachong has interactive information screens in multiple languages available, so everyone can learn the history.

This specific tomb was excavated in 1973, the resting place of an unknown king leaving behind more than 11,000 artefacts to be discovered.

Lastly, before leaving this beautiful complex you should snap the very popular photo underneath the magnolia tree between the tomb mounds! You won’t miss it because there will likely be a line of people. Don’t forget to pack a tripod for your phone or camera!

Price: 3,000 won

Find the location here – Daereungwon Tomb Complex Location

4 – Visit Golgulsa Temple (and even stay the night!)

Have you heard of the Templestay programme in South Korea? You can spend the day or night at temples all around Korea and there is one just next to Gyeongju – Golgulsa Temple!

We’ve shared a dedicated guide to this where we share how to book your Templestay and the activities you can do whilst staying in a beautiful temple. Check it out here – Golgulsa Templestay Experience!

Head over to the Korea Templestay website to browse more options and find out more information about this unique experience! – Templestay Website.

Price: Free to visit the temple (60,000 won to stay one night)

Find the location here – Golgulsa Temple Location

5 – Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park

Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park will easily fill half a day of exploring, so keep this in mind when planning your Gyeongju Itinerary. With 20 points of interest, no one will be lost of things to do here. Keep reading on to find out what to do in Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park.

Gyeongju Tower – On the grounds of this fantastic expo park, you find one of the most interesting buildings you’ve ever seen. Standing at 82m tall, Gyeongju Tower can’t be missed! The tower was built with the shape of a nine-story wooden pagoda removed from its centre.

This is the shape of Hwangnyongsa Temple, which during the reign of Queen Seondeok was the world’s tallest wooden structure. At the top of Gyeongju Tower, you can experience an interactive exhibit that will take you back to 1300 years ago.

Timeless Media Art inside the Cheonma Palace – Watch the cultural heritage of Gyeongju burst alive in this immersive audio-visual experience, set inside Cheonma Palace. Healing Trail Luminar Night Walk – As the sunlight fades, the Healing Trail comes to life with mythical night lights!

Price: Adult – 12,000 KRW

Find the location here – Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park Location

6 – Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond

Another great spot to visit on your things to do in Gyeongju itinerary is Donggung Palace! Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond was a secondary palace and banquet hall for important guests and events used during the kingdom of Silla. Constructed in 674, and abandoned when the Silla Dynasty ended in 935, this wonderful park was listed as a historical site in 1963. It underwent a long renovation to bring it to the golden glory we see today.

During its renovation, many artefacts and relics were recovered from the pond, including a vase with the word “Wolji” imprinted on the front. The term translates to “A pond that reflects the moon“, until then the name of the pond was unknown and was finally revealed after hundreds of years!

Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before sunset to get the best experience. Be prepared for other tourists, local and international, it’s a popular spot to witness its golden-like reflection on the waters of the pond. (Under construction in June 2022)

Price: Free *whilst under construction* Usual Price: 3,000 KRW

Find the location here – Donggung Palace Location

7 – Have fun at Gyeongju World

If you have some spare time on your Gyeongju two day itinerary, head over to Gyeongju World for a fun-filled theme park day! What’s even better is that the theme park can be reached from Gyeongju by public bus in a little over 30 minutes.

Gyeongju World has something for everyone, rollercoasters, bumper cars, water rides and sudden drops. Whoever comes along, you’re sure to be in for a fun day! If you visit in summer, you even have the whole of California Beach Water Park included too! Head over to their website to find out more!

Price: All-day = 48,000 KRW (All-inclusive of rides and entry fees)

Half-day (From 3pm onwards = 34,000 KRW (All-inclusive of rides and entry fees)

Find the location here – Gyeongju World Location

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8 – Take a look at Cheomseongdae

Cheomseongdae is very important in Gyeongju and one of the best places to visit. The park itself is so peaceful and you can really feel the atmosphere of the locals that live here.

This ancient astronomical observatory is the oldest of its kind in Asia, and even possibly the world! Constructed in the 7th century in the kingdom of Silla, astronomers would observe the sky 24/7, 365 days a year to collect data and attempt to predict the likes of eclipses and comet showers. In short, it was used for astrological predictions!

Don’t forget to check out Gyerim Forest which is very close to Cheomseongdae, you can admire the monument from the hills. It’s also an amazing spot for sunset!

Price: Free!

Find the location here – Cheomseongdae Location

9 – Browse Hwangnidan-Gil

Still wondering what to do in Gyeongju? Hwangnidan-Gil is one of the coolest areas to visit on your 2 day Gyeongju itinerary! This is where you’ll find all the hip shops, teahouses, cafes, Instagram-worthy food and sometimes live music! It’s an absolute must-visit whilst you’re in Gyeongju even if you’re not after anything particular, it’s a lively street to browse.

Price: Free!

Find the location here – Hwangnidan-Gil Location

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10 – Find Bulguksa Temple

On your Gyeongju 2 day itinerary, another great place to visit is Bulguksa Temple. A beautiful Buddhist temple with lots to learn about Buddhist history. Bulguksa Temple is a very peaceful cultural heritage site with many towers and buildings that were built during the Unified Silla Period.

You can visit here all year round however in Spring the cherry blossoms give you a whole other reason to visit! Bulguksa Temple is worth a visit on your Gyeongju itinerary if you have two days as it’s located out of the city centre of Gyeongju.

Price: 6,000 won (1,000 won for parking)

Find the location here – Bulguksa Temple Location

11 – Explore Gyochon Traditional Village

The Gyochon Traditional Village is the perfect place to visit before or after seeing the Woljeonggyo bridge. This village has been around since the Silla dynasty (57 BCE – 935 CE) and you can find handicraft stores, cute tea houses and the Historic House of the Rich Man Choi. It’s also possible to rent a hanbok here to walk around the village.

Not forgetting, if you’re after lunch or dinner, there are many traditional Korean restaurants around inside the village for you to choose from!

Price: Free!

Find the location here – Gyochon Traditional Village Location

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2 Day Gyeongju Itinerary

Day 1 – Daereungwon Tomb Complex, Hwangnidan-Gil, Lunch, Cheomseongdae, Gyochon Traditional Village, Woljeonggyo Bridge, Dinner, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond at night

Day 2 (Plan 1) – Gyeongju National Museum, Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park

Day 2 (Plan 2) – Gyeongju World or Golgulsa Templestay

Here’s our 3 day Busan Itinerary: What to do in Busan (2024) for the next part of your South Kore trip!

Portable Wifi – The perfect option if you want to connect more than just your phone! Find a portable Wifi on Klook here! (£2 a day) Pick up from Seoul or Busan airport.

Best Gyeongju Tour from Busan – Gyeongju The Old Capital of Korea One Day Tour from Busan – Find more details here!

Transport – Get a T Money Card to use on public transport for your 3 days in Busan. Look into a Korea Rail Pass if you’re travelling around the rest of the country.

How to get to Gyeongju

Gyeongju is really easy to reach by car, bus or train from anywhere in South Korea. It’s best to book your train and bus tickets in advance in case they sell out nearer to your Gyeongju travel trip.

Train: The KTX will take around 2 hours to get from Seoul to Gyeongju or 30 minutes from Busan. However, you’ll arrive at Singyeongju Station and have to catch a 20-minute public bus to get you into the city centre. Get your Korail tickets online here and Korea Rail Pass here!

Bus: The bus will take 3.5 hours from Seoul and 1 hour from Busan. Both bus stations are in the city centre (Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal – Location and the Intercity Bus Terminal – Location) You can check the times & spots available here – (Kobus tickets)

How to get around Gyeongju

Gyeongju is a well-connected city and you can get around easily by public bus! Make sure to buy a T-Money Card as soon as you arrive in South Korea. These cards will make travelling by bus so much easier as you won’t have to worry about getting the exact change.

Using NaverMaps check where you need to go and it will tell you the directions, most likely by bus or walking. Gyeongju is a very walkable city, but the buses are there for further destinations. In this Gyeongju two day itinerary we have included mostly walking and public buses.

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Where to stay in Gyeongju

Hwangnam-dong and Noseo-dong are great areas to stay in Gyeongju. The accommodation in these areas are close to many things to do in Gyeongju and there will be some great budget options! If you want to visit Gyeongju World we recommend staying in the Bomun Tourist Complex area.

Doobaki Guesthouse – Dorms & Private Rooms in the best location in Gyeongju! It’s also a great place to meet other travellers! – Find here on Booking.com!

Dorandoran Guesthouse – Another great location in Gyeongju also includes free breakfast and a cosy room to stay in! – Find here on Booking.com!

We also recommend checking out Agoda for great hotel options in the Gyeongju area!

Best Time to Visit Gyeongju

South Korea experiences all 4 seasons which means that Gyeongju is a great year-round destination to visit. We recommend visiting in the Spring (March-June) or Fall (September-November) when the seasons change and the colours of the leaves will either be pink or orange!

How many days in Gyeongju?

We recommend spending at least 1 day in Gyeongju! If you arrive late on the first day, make sure to spend 2 nights so you’ll have time to see Donggung Palace at night. We also highly recommend doing a Golgulsa Templestay whilst you’re near Gyeongju. This could be your second night out of your 2 days in Gyeongju.

Is Gyeongju worth visiting?

Yes! This cultural city is 100% worth a visit on your South Korea trip. Gyeongju makes the perfect weekend trip from Seoul or Busan and you can even visit as a day trip. If you’re travelling more of South Korea, it’s definitely a great stop for a day or two to see the best things to do in Gyeongju!

What to pack for a Gyeongju Itinerary

If it’s winter in South Korea – bring thermals, gloves, a hat and cold-weather clothes. If it’s summer you may want to bring a raincoat, umbrella and sun cream! As many of the things to do in Gyeongju are outside, definitely dress for the weather! Here are a few travel essentials we love:

• Stainless Steel Water Bottle – Our metal water bottles have been our side throughout it all! They are easy to clean and are better than plastic! Bring one along for your Gyeongju two day itinerary.
• Anker Power Bank – A portable charger is always useful for those journeys around South Korea!
• Joby GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit – GorillaPods are a great little tripod to carry on a South Korea trip, they’re lightweight and can fit in a carry-on bag. They capture some of the best photos when there’s no one around to take a photo of you. We love our Joby GorillaPod and use it for our Sony A600. There’s also a version for a phone – Joby Phone Tripod.
• Amazon Basics Packing Cubes – We always travel with packing cubes and even use them at home!
• Rain Mac in a Bag – A lightweight raincoat to help with tropical rain or light spring rain, we also have a backpack cover to stop our clothes from getting wet in our backpacks.

What to do after Gyeongju in South Korea

Golgulsa Templestay – It’s included in our best things to do in Gyeongju, so if you want to stay here after your Gyeongju trip, it’s the perfect time to do so. Check out the Templestay here!
Busan – Busan is a short bus or train ride away from Gyeongju. There are many things to do here! You can spend around 3 to 5 days exploring the big coastal city. Check out Busan here!
Seoul – You may have arrived from Seoul already, but if not, then your next stop should be here! The capital city of South Korea is filled with markets, trendy shops and more! Check out our Seoul itinerary!

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• 10 Best South Korea Budget Tips + Travel Costs (2024)
• 3 day Busan Itinerary: What to do in Busan (2024)
• Ultimate 2 week South Korea Itinerary: Best Places (2024)
• 25+ Best South Korea Travel Tips: What to Know
• Ultimate South Korea Bucket List: 20 Best Things To Do
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That’s the end of our 11 Best Things to do in Gyeongju: Itinerary (2024)! Have a great trip to the cultural city of Gyeongju and if you need any more help planning – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!

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