Gyeongju

UNESCO World Heritage · Seokguram and Bulguksa (1995); Gyeongju Historic Areas (2000)

Gyeongju was the capital of Silla for nearly a thousand years. Its grass-covered royal tombs rise between the streets, and the mountain temple of Bulguksa and the stone Buddha of Seokguram above it are among the finest Buddhist art in East Asia.

Spend the day on Tohamsan, at Bulguksa and Seokguram, and come down for the evening: Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond are lit from sunset and stay open until 22:00.

What to see

• Bulguksa 불국사

  09:00⁠–⁠18:00 (Daily)

  Open every day; visitors may stay until 19:00.

  Free.

• Seokguram Grotto 석굴암

  Nov⁠–⁠Jan: 09:00⁠–⁠17:00 · Feb, Oct: 09:00⁠–⁠17:30 · Mar⁠–⁠Sep: 09:00⁠–⁠18:00

  Open every day; the Buddha is seen through glass.

  Free.

• Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond 동궁과 월지

  09:00⁠–⁠22:00 (Daily)

  Lit from sunset until 22:00; tickets until 21:30.

  Adults KRW 3,000; youth KRW 2,000; children KRW 1,000.

• Cheomseongdae 첨성대

  Silla's stone observatory, free and lit at night.

A day to follow

1. 09:00
   Bulguksa

   Arrive at opening, before the coach groups.

2. 11:00
   Seokguram

   Up the mountain road to the granite Buddha.

3. 13:30
   Lunch near Bulguksa

   Then down to the city.

4. 15:30
   The tombs and Cheomseongdae

   Walk between the royal mounds to the observatory.

5. 17:30
   Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond

   Arrive before sunset and stay as the pavilions light up.

Times in this plan are a suggestion, not a measured schedule.

Getting there

KTX trains run from Seoul Station to Gyeongju Station; local buses run on to the city centre and to Bulguksa.

Korail timetables and tickets

Sources

• Gyeongju City — night views (Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, Korean)Checked 2026-⁠11-⁠10
• K-Trip Tips — Bulguksa (Korea Tourism Organization data)Checked 2026-⁠11-⁠10
• K-Trip Tips — Seokguram (Korea Tourism Organization data, Korean)Checked 2026-⁠11-⁠10