Gyeongju Five Royal Tombs (경주 오릉)

7.5 Km 27238 2022-12-27

38-9, Geumseong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-750-8614

The Five Royal Tombs (called Oreung in Korean) have been officially designated Historic Site No. 172 and are the final resting places of four kings of the Park clan—King Park Hyeokgeose (founder of the Silla Kingdom), King Namhae, King Yuri, and King Jabi—and one queen (Queen Aryeong, wife of King Park Hyeokgeose).

To the east of the royal tombs lies Sungdeokjeon Shrine, which holds the ancestral tablet of King Park Hyeokgeose. Behind the shrine is the Aryeongjeong Well, said to be the birthplace of Queen Aryeong.

Silla Arts and Science Museum (신라역사과학관)

7.6 Km 27594 2023-04-07

33, Hadonggongyechon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-745-4998

Silla Arts and Science Museum, opened in 1988, displays miniature models of scientific cultural assets in order to explore and educate how these assets are formed and preserved.

Goguryeoganeungil (고구려가는길 (낙지랑 쭈꾸미랑))

7.6 Km 4495 2017-01-12

66-6, Chunghyocheon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-777-3389, +82-54-777-5589

This restaurant boasts the typical rustic look of a hwangto building, exemplifying the beauties of the past with traditional folk dishes. At night, customers can hear the soft melodies of live music.

Gyeongju Najeong Well (경주 나정)

7.8 Km 12765 2020-04-06

Tap-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-6100

To the southeast of the royal tomb, is a small monument that has been erected among the pine trees; next to the monument is a well called Najeong. According to Samguksagi (Historical records of the Three Kingdoms) and Samgungnyusa (Memorabilia from the three dynasties), Park Hyeokgeose, the founding monarch of Silla, was born by this well. In 69 BC, Sobeolgong, the head of Goheochon Village, saw a white horse on its knees by the well. When he approached the well he found that the horse had magically disappeared and that a large egg was left in its place, from which a boy was born. When the boy turned 13 years old (57 BC), he was appointed king by the village chiefs and began to rule the area then called ‘Seorabeol’. A memorial stone (2.25 meters high, 45 centimeters long, and 21 centimeters wide) was erected in 1803 in the third year of King Sunjo's rule (Joseon dynasty) detailing the historical origins of the founding father of Silla.

Gyongju Folk Craft Village (경주민속공예촌)

7.8 Km 34877 2024-02-27

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.

Seochulji Pond in Gyeongju (Lotus Flower) (경주 서출지)

8.3 Km 16837 2020-04-04

17, Namsan 1-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-6079

Located at the foot of Namsan Mountain in Gyeongju, Seochulji Pond dates back to the Three Kingdoms Period. There are two, three-storied stone pagodas in the heart of Namsan Village and a small, elegant pond to the east. The pond is famous thanks to a Korean legend, written below:

In the 10th year of King Soji (488) of Silla, a crow and a mouse approached the king as he was on his way to Namsan Mountain. The mouse told the King to “follow after the crow” for an easy journey. So, the King and his servant (who was traveling with him) followed the crow, but became distracted and lost their way. As they were wandering about a pond (now known as Seochulji), an old man appeared from the waters’ depths and presented an envelope to the King. Based on the message in the envelope, the King instructed his servant to fire an arrow at the Geomungo (Korean musical instrument) case nearby. The shot killed the queen and a monk who had been hiding there, both of whom had been hatching a plot against the King.

The name of the pond, “Seochulji” (literally meaning “writing from the pond”) originates from this legend. It is said that a man named Imjeok built a building by the pond in the 5th year of King Hyeonjong (1664) to enjoy the scenery. The simple, yet elegant building still remains at the northwest of the pond.

Gyeongju Poseokjeong Pavilion Site (경주 포석정지)

8.5 Km 36450 2020-10-06

816, Namsansunhwan-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-745-8484

Poseokjeong Pavilion served as a separate palace where kings enjoyed banquets with nobles. The building no longer exists, but the abalone-shaped stone water canal still remains, speculated to have been built during the Unified Silla period although the exact year is unknown. The water canal has an estimated length of 10 meters, with a x_width of approximately 35 centimeters and an average depth of 26 centimeters. Based on Chinese writings from 353, it is said that drinking glasses were floated on the canal. One popular party game had guests creating poems before the glass had passed nine sections of the canel. Guests who could not do this had to drink three glasses. Modern research has shown that the site was not merely a place for fun, but also served as a meeting venue for the royal family, as well as for holding memorial services.

Huewon [Korea Quality] / 휴원 [한국관광 품질인증]

8.5 Km 10427 2019-12-05

154, Chunghyoseoak-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-10-5651-1253

Huewon (休垣) Huewon is a cozy hanok guesthouse located in Seoak-dong, Gyeongju. Since Gyeongju had been the capital of the Silla Dynasty for about a thousand years, Huewon is surrounded by various cultural heritage sites such as Tomb of King Muyeol, Tomb of King Jinji, and Seoakseowon Confucian Academy with a serene atmosphere.
Built in the 1970s and renovated later, Huewon started its accommodations service around 2011. Entering the gate, one can see a square-shaped courtyard giving a very bright and warm impression, in the middle of which is an old beautiful magnolia tree that is popular among visitors.
The garden is well-arranged with flower trees and bonsai trees and decorated with vintage items such as an old well and a water pump. Behind the house, the surroundings along with the low-altitude Seondosan Mountain make for beautiful seasonal scenery.
This cozy and pleasant hanok house has been well-maintained with the will and care of the owner, preserving the traditional hanok features including columns, beams, and rafters of the ceiling that show traces of time past.
The guestrooms are bright and clean with a delicate fragrance. Aside from red clay walls and clean beddings, however, there are no other additional facilities such as BBQ set because the guesthouse seeks to offer guests a quiet, healthy, and stable environment.
The guesthouse’s host, who has lived in Gyeongju for about 30 years and has engaged in promoting Gyeongju’s cultural heritages, willingly recommends to guests special travel destinations in Gyeongju and tells stories about Gyeongju.
In particular, the way to Dobongseodang Village School located behind Huewon is highly recommended by the host. Going up to the village school early morning, one is treated to a fantastic open view of Gyeongju in the fog. Moreover, Namsan Mountain, nicknamed Outdoor Museum since it is full of various Buddhist statues and towers here and there, is another recommended destination near the guesthouse.

Coffee Myungga Bosque (커피명가보스케)

8.6 Km 0 2024-02-23

477-57 Yongdam-ro, Hyeongok-myeon, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Located near Seogyeongju Station, Coffee Myungga Bosque is notable for its unique and beautiful exterior, which received the Gyeongsangbuk-do Architectural Culture Award in 2020. The café's signature coffee, Myunggaccino, is renowned for its rich flavor, achieved by roasting and brewing the beans in-house. Additionally, the café offers a variety of breads, including maneulppang (garlic bread) and croissants, catering to diverse tastes.

Gyeongju Tomb of King Muyeol, Stele of King Taejong Muyeol (경주 무열왕릉, 태종무열왕릉비)

8.8 Km 21355 2022-08-18

10-4, Neungnam-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-750-8614

The Tomb of King Muyeol is the tomb of Kim Chun-chu, who acsended to the throne as King Muyeol (r. 654-661), the 29th ruler of the Silla Kingdom. The tomb is located at the southwestern foot of Seondosan Mountain in Gyeongju. As king, he sought to unify the three kingdoms by allying forces with China's Tang dynasty, but passed away before he could successfully accomplish his goal. His tomb is relatively large, reaching a x_height of 8.7 meters, and having a circumference of 114 meters. Originally made with large stones, the tomb has been covered in dirt and grass with the passing of time. To the east of the grave are the remains of his stele with an inscription that reads “Taejong Muyeol Daewangjibi (Tombstone of the Great King Muyeol)," indicating the owner of this grave.

Gyeongju Five Royal Tombs (경주 오릉) - Area information - Korea travel information