Gyeongju

Gyeongju was the original capital of ancient Korea. The city is built around old palaces, temples and burial mounds. Gyeongju is one of the most important historical areas in South Korea and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage district.

Walking around the small city of Gyeongju is often compared to walking through an open-air museum. For visitors interested in the rich and fascinating history of Korea, spending a few days in the city is one of the most popular things to do in South Korea.

The best time to visit Gyeongju is during spring or autumn. In spring, many of the cherry trees planted throughout the town are in bloom which makes for an exceptionally scenic and beautiful tour of the area.

Visitors to the Gyeongju National Museum can find out more about the city and the historical sights scattered throughout the area. From there, visitors should head to any one of Gyeongju's many attractions in the centre of town, such as the spectacular Cheonmachong Tombs and burial mounds in Tumuli Park.

Further afield you will find Bulguksa Temple, the ancient Seokguram Grotto, and Yangdon Village. Toham Mountain is home to the Grotto, which contains arguably some of the finest Buddhist sculptures in the world. Both Seokguram and Bulguksa are UNESCO-listed sites, while the tranquil Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond are perfect to relax after a day spent exploring.

Getting to Gyeongju is relatively easy as the city is an hour away from the city of Daegu on the KTX express train route. Buses to Seoul and Busan depart from Gyeongju fairly regularly throughout the day. Getting around Gyeongju is also a breeze: visitors can hire a moped or a bicycle, or make use of the sightseeing busses which make regular trips between all of Gyeongju's principal attractions.