Referred to as “the museum without walls”, the southeastern coastal city of Gyeongju is famed for its many historical monuments and fascinating attractions. The once capital of an ancient Korean dynasty is home to many lovely sights and outdoor adventures that will fill your weekend itinerary to the brim.
Unlike other major cities in South Korea, Gyeongju has very few, if any, highrise buildings. Within the downtown area, you’ll discover ancient palaces, mouth watering street food, and a sea of traditional Korean houses among the walkable streets. Soon the crowded streets disperse, replaced by a grassland of mountainous tombs containing revered royalty of the ancient Silla kingdom (57 BCE – 935 CE).
Planning a trip to Gyeongju? Our weekend in Gyeongju itinerary will help get the most out of your exploration!
One of Gyeongju’s many beautiful views! Sanga/Adobe Stock
Where to Stay in Gyeongju
The allure of Gyeongju is its cultural significance and traditional architecture, and this is reflected in the city’s activities and accommodations. I would be remiss to recommend anything but a Hanok (Korean traditional house) stay.
Gyeongju boasts a hanok village with lodging specifically for tourists, so reserving a hanok for a weekend is easily accessible. Check out this house, a tourist favorite, that provides both the traditional feel of an antique hanok with the comforts of a luxury bed and bath. There are a ton more; just search up “Gyeongju hanok” and you will have a plethora of homes to choose from!
The majority of Gyeongju’s attractions that aren’t palaces, historical sites, or parks are found on Hwangnidan Street. This is the most popular area to stay in while in town. Getting a hanok nearby or in Gyochon Village will allow easy access to this vibrant neighborhood, along with traditional activities and good dining.
My actual Airbnb hanok during my stay in Gyeongju! I went in November, one of the best months to visit.
Wondering how to travel to Gyeongju from Seoul? The easiest and most common way would be taking an express bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal to Gyeongju Bus Terminal. You can typically find tickets from $20 – $30, and the trip is around 3 hours. Get bus tickets here!
If you’re visiting from Busan, you’re in luck! There are special deals for day tours of Gyeongju that pick you up in Busan. Tickets are around $50 for both the bus ride and a day tour, which is an amazing deal. I highly recommend this bus and tour bundle, as the tour covers many of the attractions in this itinerary!
The Best Time of Year to Visit Gyeongju
Gyeongju is a thriving tourist destination for South Koreans, with over 5 million native Koreans visiting the city yearly. The most popular time to visit the historical city is in October, and for good reason. With cooler temperatures, clear skies, and a beautiful display of orange, yellow and red leaves, Gyeongju is a great city to explore in order to experience what autumn in South Korea really has to offer.
Spring can also offer comfortable temperatures, perfect for sightseeing during cherry blossom season. The summer heat tends to be stifling and, as with anywhere else in Korea, the monsoon season from July to early September can make it difficult to appreciate the outdoor activities.
An aerial view of wonderful Gyeongju, an oasis away from bustling Seoul. dudlajzov/Adobe Stock
Day One: Ancient Tombs and Views
Begin your weekend in Gyeongju, South Korea by checking into your hanok stay and exploring the Gyochon Traditional Village. The village itself was owned by the Gyeongju Choi Clan, a powerful family known to have maintained their wealth for over 12 generations, with ancestry tracing back to a Confucian scholar and government official from the 7th century!
Gyochon Village enjoys many hanoks, cultural festivities, and traditional Korean foods like wine and candies. Be sure to try tteok (rice cake), patbingsu (shaved ice), or yumilgwa (Korean confection) at one of Gyochon’s vendors.
It’s well-worth finding accommodations near Gyochon Village. photo_HYANG/Adobe Stock
Next up, the Daereungwon Ancient Tombs and Cheomseongdae Observatory.
As you leave Gyochon Village and make your way to the city’s center, you will pass the Daereungwon Tomb Complex. The Daereungwon Tombs are where large, ancient tombs of kings and nobles of the Silla kingdom can be seen. They look like grassy, man-made hills! There are twenty-three large tombs located at the complex; the most famous being Cheonmachong.
Cheonmachong Tomb, one of the many found in the complex. Keitma/Adobe Stock
Although you can’t get too close to some of the tombs’ chambers, you can still wander through the complex’s walkable trail; it’s a beautiful park! For any history buffs out there, make sure to get a guided tour for more details about the Silla dynasty and the late kings and queens residing there.
If you follow the main path from the tomb complex, you will find an open space where many families fly kites and stroll around. Here, you will find the famous Cheomseongdae Observatory – a must see in Gyeongju!
I had to get a picture with the Cheomseongdae Observatory! South Koreans are very proud of this long-standing structure.
Constructed in the 7th century, Cheomseongdae Observatory is the oldest remaining astronomical observatory in Asia, and possibly the world! It is one of Gyeongju’s many UNESCO World Heritage sites, and is extremely well preserved for a structure created in the 600’s.
The park surrounding the ancient tombs is such a peaceful space. dudlajzov/Adobe Stock
As you head into the late afternoon, make your way to Hwangnidan Street, where you will find a vibrant, bustling street filled with food and shopping. Shop around for traditional Korean souvenirs, take pictures in an aesthetic photo booth studio, and eat some ‘10 won bread’ – a popular street food made with dough and mozzarella with Gyeongju origins.
Hwangnidan Street harbors trendy restaurants, Silla-style cafes and merchant boutiques selling local stationary and your next cherished trinket. This street has been increasingly rising in popularity among young Korean tourists, so if you stop by, you will be experiencing Gyeongju just like a native!
There are so many cute restaurants and boutiques to discover on Hwangnidan Street! Keitma/Adobe Stock
Once you have your street food and shopping fix, celebrate a great first day in Gyeongju with dinner and makkoli (traditional Korean rice wine) at one of Hwangnidan Street’s many restaurants. I ordered dubu-kimchi (tofu with stir fried kimchi and pork) at one of the local restaurants and fell in love with the taste!
After the sun sets and as you trek back to your hanok stay, you absolutely must stop by the Woljeonggyo Bridge. It’s a beautiful wooden bridge originally built in the Silla period and is illuminated with lights during the evening hours.
Overlooking a stream, the Woljeonggyo Bridge is a photo favorite and one of the most stunning views in Gyeongju. At the bridge overlook, enjoy the clear night sky on the horizon and the vibrant colors reflecting off of the bridge and body of water below.
The view of Woljeonggyo Bridge at night is nothing short of breathtaking. Phuaorneer/Adobe Stock
Day Two: Palaces and Pastries
Your second day in Gyeongju begins with taking a stroll to a local bakery to try Gyeongju’s famous Hwangnam bread (also called Gyeongju bread). A local specialty, Hwangnam bread are small, dense pastries filled with red bean paste. They are sold all over Gyeongju; you can’t miss them!
Hwangnam bread is a must-try while in Gyeongju. Be warned: they are super dense with red bean paste filling! MartinZizlavsky/Adobe Stock
After enjoying your sweet treat, it’s time to make your way to your next destination: Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond.
Donggung Palace was used in the Silla dynasty as the prince’s corner, but also served as a banquet hall to welcome important guests. To commemorate the unification of the ancient Three Kingdoms, the Silla King Munmu dug a large pond on the palace’s grounds, leaving three islands in the center of the pond to represent the union.
Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond are one of Gyeongju’s many treasures, and the view of the pond amongst the palace buildings is simply wonderful. Do take time to stroll around the palace grounds and take in the scenery.
Walking around Donggung Palace and Wolji Park made me feel like Silla royalty. SiHo/Adobe Stock
Next on your itinerary is none other than one of Korea’s most famous Buddhist temples, the Bulguksa Temple.
The entry gate to Bulguksa Temple. Keitma/Adobe Stock
Although further away from Gyeongju’s city center than the other attractions on this itinerary, I really believe Bulguksa Temple is a must-see. The temple is classified as one of the most important historic sites by the South Korean government and is considered a masterpiece of Buddhist art.
Ancient pagodas and colorful lanterns on the Bulguksa Temple grounds. Inhye Seo/Adobe Stock
The Temple has a combined 13 National and Korean Treasures, including the famous Seokgatap and Dabotap pagodas and Cheongungyo and Baegungyo bridges. When you’re there, you feel a sense of tranquility as you make your way through the compound and gaze at the ponds, bridges, gates, and pagodas.
Bulguksa is a highly revered and important Buddhist temple in both South Korea and the world. For more information on the construction of the temple, as well as its massive cultural, historical, and religious significance, check out this detailed temple guide.
The Hwangnidan area in the early morning. Austin Curtis/Unsplash
To finish up your Gyeongju experience, treat yourself to some more great food back at Hwangnidan Street. One of my favorite desserts was a black grain ice cream made of sesame and misugaru from a street vendor.
Some good eats I had on Hwangnidan Street! 10 won bread, black sesame ice cream.
Catch your returning express bus at the Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal and unwind on the road. You’ve successfully completed your action-packed Gyeongju weekend!
Saying one last goodbye to my hanok stay in Gyochon Village!
Final Thoughts
With street food and merchant boutiques, and a myriad of cultural festivities and sights, you will have an amazing experience during your weekend in Gyeongju. Beyond all the tourist vendors, the city has deep connections to Korean heritage.
The city is full of historic attractions, plus the sheer amount of authentic, traditional Korean culture. Surrounded by mountains, Gyeongju also maintains a small-town feel compared to Korea’s larger cities and is a wonderful place to explore on foot. The city is beautiful, abundant with natural landscape, and preserves Silla temples and palaces with a lot of pride.
However you choose to explore Gyeongju, keep a hold of this itinerary to help you explore the top landmarks and discover why this is one of Korea’s best weekend getaways.
NOTE: THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS THROUGH WHICH I EARN A COMMISSION AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU. ALL VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, ALWAYS. SUPPORT A WOMAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS (LIKE MINE!) TODAY!
