Gyeongju Historic Area [UNESCO World Heritage] (경주역사유적지구 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

14.3Km 2025-03-24

757 Taejong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

The Gyeongju Historic Area, registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage on November 2000, is an area that embodies the time-honored history and culture of Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-AD 935).

The Gyeongju Historic Area can be divided into 5 major sections. The first section is the Namsan Area, a treasure trove of Buddhist art masterpieces dating back to the Silla Kingdom. Gyeongju Namsan Mountain (often referred to as an ‘outdoor museum’) is home to many historical heritage sites from the Silla Kingdom. Major attractions include: Poseokjeong Pavilion Site (Historic Site), Rock-carved Buddhas in Tapgok Valley (Treasure), Three-story Stone Pagoda in Cheollyongsa Temple Site (Treasure), Rock-carved Buddhas at Chilburam Hermitage (Treasure), Rock-carved Seated Buddha in Bulgok Valley (Treasure), and 37 other Buddhist relics

The second section is the Wolseong Area, one of the former palace sites of the Silla Kingdom. The area consists of Gyerim Forest (Historic Site); Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (Historic Site), a Silla Royal Palace site; and Cheomseongdae Observatory (National Treasure), the oldest observatory in Asia.

Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex, the third area, features a cluster of the royal graves of the kings and queens of Silla. Also in the same area are Ancient Tombs in Nodong-ri (Historic Site), Ancient Tombs in Noseo-ri (Historic Site), Ancient Tombs in Hwangnam-ri (Historic Site), and Five Royal Tombs (Historic Site), among others. Archaeologists have discovered a number of invaluable relics and historic items in this area such as Geumgwan (golden crown), Cheonmado (a painting of flying horses), and numerous pottery pieces. These finds are perhaps the greatest clues into the life of the people of the Silla dynasty.

Area number four, the Hwangnyongsa Temple Site, is where the former site of the Hwangnyongsa Temple (Historic Site) and Bunhwangsa Stone Pagoda are located. Last is the Sanseong Area, housing remnants of the major defense system for the capital city. The site consists of Myeonghwalsanseong Fortress (Historic Site) which is estimated to be around 400 years old.

The Gyeongju Historic Area has a total of 52 designated cultural assets that are registered as World Cultural Heritages.

Cheonmachong Tomb (Daereungwon Ancient Tombs) (천마총(대릉원))

14.3Km 2025-05-21

9 Gyerim-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-743-1925

Daereungwon Ancient Tombs are one of the most well-known sights in Gyeongju, a history park home to 23 small and large ancient tombs. The area is dotted with tranquil trails among the tombs like the largest tomb in Hwangnam-dong, Hwangnamdaechong Tomb; Cheonmachong Tomb, the place where Cheonmado, a saddle flap painting, was excavated from; and the tomb of King Michu, nicknamed the “Tomb of the Bamboo Warrior.”
Cheonmachong Tomb, excavated in 1973, has a x_height of 12.7 meters and a diameter of 50 meters. Its excavation unearthed many artifacts, such as the famous Gold Crown from Cheonmachong Tomb. Its name comes from Cheonmado, a mudguard saddle flap with a painting of a heavenly horse. Cheonmachong Tomb is the only tomb in the Daereungwon Ancient Tombs to be opened to the public.
The tomb is thought to have been constructed between the late 5th century and early 6th century. Artifacts excavated from the tomb include a gold crown, gold cap, gold waist belt, gold diadem, and gilt-bronze shoes worn by the buried. The gold crown, in particular, is known as the largest and the most elaborate of all gold crowns unearthed in Korea. The artifacts themselves can be found in Gyeongju National Museum, so don’t miss the chance to see them in person.
Another must-visit site is the Daereungwon Magnolia Photo Area, a lone magnolia tree standing between the beautiful curves of ancient tombs.

Gyeongju Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex (경주 대릉원 일원)

14.4Km 2024-10-31

9 Gyerim-ro, Gyeonju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-750-8650

Gyeongju Daereungwon Tomb Complex consists of five tombs, Ancient Tombs of Gyeongju Nodong-ri, Noseo-ri, Hwangnam-ri, Hwango-ri, and Inwang-ri. The tombs are distributed in Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju-si, and are located in the Daereungwon area. Within Daereungwon Tomb Complex is Cheonmachong Tomb, which was excavated in 1973. Furthermore, Hwangnamdaechong Tomb was excavated between 1973 and 1975, and is a set of twin tombs belonging to a presumed married couple.

Gyeongju Ssambap Street (경주 쌈밥거리)

14.4Km 2025-06-13

9 Gyerim-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Gyeongju Ssambap Street, developed around the Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex in Gyeongju, offers a diverse culinary experience. A highlight is ssambap (leaf wraps and rice), a dish featuring fresh vegetables accompanied by substantial side dishes like fish, meat, and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste jjigae) made from homemade soybean paste. Additionally, this street presents a variety of snacks, including Hwangnam ppang (Hwangnam bread) prepared with red beans and flour, and jjondeugi, a traditional chewy snack made from cornmeal and sugar. Nearby attractions include the Cheomseongdae Observatory, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, Woljeonggyo Bridge, and the Gyeongju National Museum.

Daldongnae of Olden Times (추억의 달동네)

14.4Km 2025-05-23

216-8 Bobul-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

The Daldongnae of Olden Times is a modern history theme park that recreates everyday life in Korea during the 1970s-80s, through a variety of vintage products. Visitors can get a glimpse into Korean retro culture as they explore old radios, vintage-style electronic shops and alley shops, and classrooms from that era. The museum also offers retro school uniform rentals and a dalgona experience, allowing visitors to step back into the past.

Gyongju Folk Craft Village (경주민속공예촌)

14.4Km 2025-06-12

230 Bobul-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Gyeongju Folk Craft Village, nestled at the foot of Tohamsan Mountain in Gyeongju, is a traditional folk craft village consisting of around fourty Korean traditional houses including thatched-roof and tiled-roof houses. Skilled artisans proficient in traditional arts and crafts gather here to produce and sell ceramics, woodcrafts, jewelry, hanbok, stone crafts, and more. Visitors can also participate in hands-on crafting experiences. The village's Silla Art and Science Museum showcases artifacts from the Silla dynasty, while nearby attractions include the Bomun Tourist Complex, Bulguksa Temple, and Seokguram Grotto.

REVERTAIN HOTEL GYEONGJU[Korea Quality] / 리버틴호텔 경주[한국관광 품질인증]

14.5Km 2020-12-12

23, Taejong-ro 685 beon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-620-8988

Rivertain Hotel Gyeongju is a business hotel that is distinguished by its convenient access and practical facilities, as it is located only 5 min away from Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal and 10 min away by foot to Hwanglidangil Street and Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex, Cheomseongdae Observatory, Donggung Palace, and Wolji Pond. Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park is also just a 20 min drive away. There are various room types offered, ranging from Standard to Twin, Triple, Suite, Suite Terrace, and Barrier-free. All rooms are furnished with a gray and brown-toned interior for comfort and equipped with premium mattresses, plush handmade goose down bedding, and stylers. In addition to work desks, the rooms are also furnished with a tea table and sofa for conventional tourists as well as business clients. Moreover, Rivertain Hotel Gyeongju is notable for having a full Barrier-free room for unobstructed travel. On-site facilities include a restaurant and a café, where guests can enjoy a 30% discount on coffee. The breakfast table is the hotel’s other source of pride, put together with care and mastery. It is a Korean buffet spread full of delectable dishes, as well as bread, yogurt, fruits, and breakfast cereal.

Gyeongju Hwangnyongsa Temple Site (경주 황룡사지)

14.5Km 2021-01-29

64-19, Imhae-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-6100

Hwangnyongsa Temple Site is located in front of Bunhwangsa Temple in Guhang-dong, Gyeongju. During the Silla Era, the Hwangnyongsa Temple was the nation’s largest temple and housed the bulk of the country’s major Buddhist treasures.

Construction of the temple began in 553 on a field east of the royal compound under the commission of King Jinheung. The king originally planned to build a palace, but decided to build a temple instead, after receiving reports that a yellow dragon had been spotted on the building site. The temple was thus named Hwangnyongsa (Temple of Yellow Dragon) and was completed in 569, seventeen years after construction began. The temple murals featured an old pine tree drawn by Artist Solgeo. During the Silla Era, the temple was the center of state-sanctioned Buddhism.

Later, when monk Jajang was studying in China during the Tang dynasty, he came across a god as he was passing by Taihe Pond. The god said to him, “The yellow dragon, which is my eldest son, is guarding Hwangnyongsa Temple upon orders of Brahma, the Creator. If you build a nine-story pagoda upon your return to Silla, the neighboring states will surrender and pay tribute, and the royal cause will be stronger. Once the construction of the pagoda is complete, prepare a memorial service for the local gods and pardon any of the country's criminals. If you follow all I have told you, no other state will dare invade Silla.”

After this encounter, Jajang returned to Silla and convinced Queen Seondeok to build the nine-story pagoda. Master architect Abiji of the neighboring state Baekje designed the pagoda and the project was built by Yongchun and 200 men using wood and stone. The night before the columns were to be erected, Architect Abiji of Baekje dreamed of the fall of Baekje and refused to complete the project. With a peal of thunder, an old monk and a man of great strength suddenly appeared from the temple's main hall, erected the columns, and magically disappeared. Abiji was so shocked at the sight that he accepted his country’s future demise as the fate of the gods and once again restarted work on the temple. (From Samgungnyusa, the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms)

In the twenty-three years following the completion of the pagoda, Queen Seondeok unified the Three Kingdoms; later, numerous scholars pointed to the pagoda as a contributing factor in the unification. Of the three treasures of Silla, two were located at Hwangnyongsa Temple. The largest bell of Silla was also in the temple, but was taken away during the Mongol invasion. The highest monks of Silla preached at the temple, and many kings came to listen to the Buddhist teachings.

During excavation work in July 1969, the massive foundation stones of the sermon hall, auditorium, and pagoda were found. Eight years of archaeological excavations and studies revealed the unique layout of the temple grounds, which consisted of one pagoda and three halls; also found were 40,000 or so ancient artifacts. Though foundation stones and other structures from the bottom of the temple were identified through excavation, there are no historical clues about the temple’s upper design, making the restoration of the temple in its entirety practically impossible. The size of the temple, based on archeological findings, was about 70 acres, roughly eight times larger than that of Bulguksa Temple.

Maison Mini Hotel [Korea Quality]메종미니호텔[한국관광 품질인증]

14.5Km 2023-05-23

24 , Taejong-ro 699beon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-745-3232, +82-10-3517-6319

The Maison Mini Hotel in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is 10 minutes’ walk from both Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal and the famous Hwangnidan Street. Rooms are comfortable and clean - they’re inspected by a room manager before each booking - and bedding is changed every day. There is a luggage storage room and a shared kitchen on the first floor.

Casa Mini Hotel [Korea Quality]까사미니호텔[한국관광 품질인증]

14.6Km 2023-05-23

28, Geumseong-ro 259beon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-777-3355

Casa Mini Hotel in downtown Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is a recently-renovated, clean and tidy hotel that’s well positioned for visits to Gyeongju’s historic sites and tourist attractions. Cheomseongdae Observatory, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, Woljeonggyo Bridge and Gyeongju National Museum are all within walking distance. Transport links are good too: Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal is a 3-minute walk away.

Gyeongju Historic Area [UNESCO World Heritage] (경주역사유적지구 [유네스코 세계문화유산]) - Area information - Korea travel information