Itinerary · South Korea

Gyeongju in 2 days by KTX: a Silla history trip

Gyeongju, the Silla capital, is about 2 hr 10 min from Seoul by KTX. Day 1: walk Daereungwon, Cheomseongdae and Donggung Palace. Day 2: bus 11 to Bulguksa.

Grass-covered Silla tumuli and trees under a colourful sunset sky at Daereungwon Tomb Complex in Gyeongju.
Daereungwon Tomb Complex · Photo: Basile Morin / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Two days in Gyeongju: city-centre sites first, then Bulguksa

Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla kingdom from 57 BC to AD 935. It is home to UNESCO-listed Bulguksa and Seokguram, the Gyeongju Historic Areas and Yangdong Village. It is about 2 hr 10 min from Seoul by KTX, so the train is an easy way in.

Gyeongju City says a day trip is possible, but allow 2 days for a relaxed pace. On Day 1, walk Daereungwon, Cheomseongdae and Donggung Palace, which sit close together in the centre; on Day 2, take a city bus out to Bulguksa.

Getting to Gyeongju: book the KTX to 'Gyeongju'

KTX and SRT trains stop at Gyeongju Station in Geoncheon-eup. The station was renamed from Singyeongju to Gyeongju on 28 December 2023, so book tickets to 'Gyeongju'. It is about 2 hr 10 min from Seoul, about 20 min from Dongdaegu and about 30 min from Busan, and Gyeongju City says KTX trains from Seoul Station run about hourly. Check timetables and fares on Korail (letskorail.com).

Buses arrive at Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal. From Seoul it is about 3 hr 30 min by express bus or about 4 hr by intercity bus; from Daegu or Busan, about 50 min–1 hr 10 min by intercity bus. If you fly in, Gyeongju City's transport page lists a Gimhae Airport–Gyeongju shuttle bus (runs 07:30–21:40, about KRW 9,000). Times and fares can change, so check before you travel.

Several city bus routes stop at Gyeongju Station. Route numbers and times can change, so check the Gyeongju traffic information centre (its.gyeongju.go.kr) or the station's tourist information centre (054-771-1336).

Day 1 daytime: Daereungwon, Cheomseongdae, Gyochon and Woljeonggyo

The city-centre sites are close together, so walk between them. From the Wolseong-dong Community Centre stop on bus 10 it is a 5–7 minute walk to Cheomseongdae and Daereungwon and 8–10 minutes to Donggung Palace. City buses have a flat fare of KRW 1,300 for regular buses, KRW 50 off with a transit card.

Daereungwon holds the tombs of Silla kings, queens and nobles and is part of the UNESCO-listed Gyeongju Historic Areas. Cheonmachong is the only tomb with its interior open to visitors. Daereungwon is free; Cheonmachong costs KRW 3,000 for adults.

Cheomseongdae is an observatory about 9 m tall from the reign of Queen Seondeok, said to be built of 365 stones. Next, Gyochon Village is a hanok village with the house of the Gyeongju Choi clan, who kept their wealth for 12 generations. Right next to it, Woljeonggyo recreates the bridge that linked Wolseong and Namsan and is Korea's largest wooden bridge.

Day 1 evening: Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond at night

In the evening, go to Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. It was a secondary palace where the crown prince lived and banquets were held, and King Munmu dug the pond with three islands in 674. It is rated Gyeongju's top night-view spot.

It is open 09:00–22:00 with last entry at 21:30, and adults pay KRW 3,000. It gets busy with night-view visitors, and arriving close to last entry may mean you can't get in, so go early.

For a place to stay, choose the city centre for walking the heritage sites or Bomun Lake Resort, where hotels and condos sit around Bomun Lake. Bus 10 stops at most of the Bomun hotels. To see Bulguksa and Seokguram early, the area around Bulguksa also works.

Illuminated Donggung Palace pavilions reflected in Wolji Pond at night.
Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond · Photo: Kouz14 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Day 2: Gyeongju National Museum, bus 11 to Bulguksa, Seokguram

Start the morning with Silla artefacts at Gyeongju National Museum. It has the Silla History Gallery and the Silla Art Gallery and is free except for paid special exhibitions. Open weekdays 10:00–18:00 and weekends and holidays 10:00–19:00; closed on 1 January, Seollal and Chuseok days, and the first Monday of March and November.

From the museum, take bus 11 to Bulguksa. Bus 10 runs from the terminal via Cheomseongdae, Bunhwangsa and Bomun Lake Resort to Bulguksa, then back via Tongiljeon, Gyeongju National Museum and Donggung Palace; bus 11 runs the same loop the other way. First bus 06:00, last 21:40 (from the terminal), about every 20 minutes. Bus 10-1 does not reach Bulguksa.

Bulguksa is the great temple of Silla Buddhist culture, rebuilt on a large scale by Kim Dae-seong in 751. It holds seven national treasures, and Korea Tourism Organization lists admission as free. Seokguram is a man-made grotto whose main Buddha faces the East Sea, about 3 km from Bulguksa by hiking trail or about 9 km by road.

With time left, visit UNESCO-listed Yangdong Village. Of its about 160 old houses, 54 are over 200 years old. Check official information for how to get there. On the way back, pick up Gyeongju bread and head to Gyeongju Station.

The Cheongungyo and Baegungyo stone stairways and halls of Bulguksa Temple behind a flower bed under a blue sky.
Bulguksa Temple · Photo: Basile Morin / CC BY-SA 4.0

What to eat in Gyeongju, and the budget

Gyeongju's signature snack is Gyeongju bread, soft bread filled with not-too-sweet red bean paste. Chewy chalbori-ppang, made with local glutinous barley, is also a popular gift. For meals, try hanwoo beef from Gyeongju, described as Korea's largest hanwoo producing area; the clean-tasting yukgaejang of Gyeongju's local food brand 'Byeolchaeban'; and gondalbi bibimbap, mixed with a doenjang and anchovy sauce instead of chilli paste.

Cheomseongdae, Daereungwon, Gyochon Village, Woljeonggyo, the National Museum, Bulguksa and Seokguram are free. Paid sites are Cheonmachong and Donggung Palace (adults KRW 3,000 each) and Yangdong Village (KRW 4,000). Check Korail for KTX fares; hotel and food costs vary by date, so check booking sites. Accommodation is most of the budget.

Checklist before you go

Book trains to 'Gyeongju'. City bus transfers work by transit card once a day, to a different route within 30 minutes of getting off, with KRW 400 extra from a regular to a seat bus. Staying on bus 10 doesn't count as a transfer. The '전국스마트버스' (national smart bus) app shows real-time arrivals.

The tourist helpline is 1330, and the KTX Gyeongju Station tourist information centre is 054-771-1336. Entry rules for Korea depend on your nationality, so check official Korean government information. Temple and museum fees and hours can change, so check official information before you go.

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FAQ

How long does it take from Seoul to Gyeongju?

About 2 hr 10 min by KTX. By express bus it is about 3 hr 30 min, and about 4 hr by intercity bus. Check fares with Korail and the bus booking sites.

Can I do Gyeongju as a day trip?

Gyeongju City says a day trip is possible. To see the city-centre sites and Bulguksa and Seokguram at a relaxed pace, allow 2 days.

How do I get from KTX Gyeongju Station into town?

Several city bus routes stop at Gyeongju Station. Route numbers and times can change, so check the Gyeongju traffic information centre or the station's tourist information centre (054-771-1336).

Which bus goes to Bulguksa?

Buses 10 and 11 both go to Bulguksa. Bus 11 runs the same loop as bus 10 the other way; bus 10-1 does not reach Bulguksa.

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