Overview
Take a trip to Gyeongju on your South Korea Vacation
On Korean vacations, you will want to vist Gyeongju which was the capital city of the ancient kingdom of Silla (57 BC – 935 AD), which ruled about two-thirds of the Korean Peninsula between the 7th and 9th centuries.
Located 370 km (230 miles) southeast of Seoul in the Gyeongsang Province, Gyeongju is a coastal city with numerous low mountains surrounding the area, while the Sea of Japan lies to its east.
Often referred to as ‘the museum without walls’, Gyeongju features many historic treasures and archaeological sites from the Silla period, including various temples, tombs, shrines, palaces, gardens, and castles., all to be enjoyed on South Korean vacations
Tumuli Park is a huge walled area featuring 20 royal tombs, while a few hundred metres away sits the Cheomseongdae observatory, one of the oldest in East Asia. The crowning glory of Silla temple architecture, Bulguksa Temple was built on a series of stone terraces and is considered a masterpiece of Buddhist art. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as is Seokguram Grotto, from which a seated Buddha gazes over Gyeongju.
United with the nearby rural Gyeongju County in 1995, Gyeongju is now an urban and rural complex and is connected with nationwide rail and highway networks. Featuring a large manufacturing sector, thanks to nearby industrial cities, Gyeongju is slowly developing into a modern metropolis to be experienced on Korean tours.
However, Gyeongju will still be best known for its tourism, offering visitors a true taste of ancient Korean heritage.
United with the nearby rural Gyeongju County in 1995, Gyeongju is now an urban and rural complex and is connected with nationwide rail and highway networks. Featuring a large manufacturing sector, thanks to nearby industrial cities, Gyeongju is slowly developing into a modern metropolis to be experienced on Korean tours.
However, Gyeongju will still be best known for its tourism, offering visitors a true taste of ancient Korean heritage.
At a Glance
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South Korean Won (KRW)What do the experts say?
Try to stay at a traditional hanok accommodation (similar to a ryokan) with hanok dinner, which involves enjoying Korean cuisine, aka jeongsik (course meals) with banchan (side dishes). It's a rustic, traditional experience that all globetrotters will love.
Umbrellas are common; you can pick them up everywhere as well, but you'll find on sunny days as well as rainy ones that locals are using umbrellas and without one, you'll get a poke in the head now and again as you're walking on busy sidewalks.
Avoid July/August, as they are the rainiest months, with heavy flooding even in the cities, and temple walks become difficult. I also recommend avoiding Chuseok in September, a six-day holiday where everything is closed.
Visit during Spring to see the Cherry Blossoms! A great alternative to Japan's Cherry Blossoms.
Anapji Pond
Bulguksa temple bell pavilion is a popular site...
Bulguksa temple bell pavilion
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