The Suites Hotel Gyeongju (경주스위트호텔)

9.0 Km 10684 2017-07-29

280-12, Bomun-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-778-5300

The Suites Hotel Gyeongju is a high-end recreational resort located in Gyeongju, a city with over a thousand years of history. Located in the midst of natural beauty, the resort offers all the modern necessities with minimal disruption to the gentle curves of the surrounding hillsides.

The hotel offers cozy guestrooms with soft colored walls, up-to-date business facilities, a golf course, and a staff dedicated to quality customer service. For the ultimate experience in lavish living, trying the Royal Suite, decorated in an elegant emerald color scheme reminiscent of the Mediterranean Sea.

Facilities at the hotel include ‘Suite Hall,’ equipped with the latest facilities for banquets, business meetings, or seminars, and ‘La Terrace,’ a restaurant offering seasonal foods and window views complemented by soft music. For more active entertainment, check out the ‘Park Lounge’ or the golf course where you can enjoy the breeze coming off Bomunho Lake as you putt a few holes with the family. After you’re done, cool off with a dip in the outdoor pool or relax on the wood deck by the garden.

Seokbinggo (Stone Ice Storage) (경주 석빙고)

9.0 Km 24923 2020-04-06

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

Seokbinggo means a freezer made of rocks. It is an ancient refrigerator only in Korea. It is located in Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Era (BC57-AD935). The appearance of this wonderful vestige is humble and simple. But you will not be disappointed at the entrance of the freezer. You can feel the cold from inside the structure. Half of Seokbinggo is underground while the other half is above ground, signifying the scientific propensity of Korea. The floor, walls, and ceiling are made of granite and have an airway. The walls are covered with limestone to keep off moisture and water. The floor is slanted to allow melted ice to funnel out. Frozen ice was popular for the upper class. From historical annals, it is assumed that Seokbinggo was made at least 1,500 years ago. Seokbbingo has been designated as National Treasure No. 66.

Gyeongju Hwangnyongsa Temple Site (경주 황룡사지)

9.0 Km 21171 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.

Maetdol sundubu (맷돌순두부)

9.0 Km 35612 2024-02-23

7 Bukgun-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
054-745-2791

Maetdol sundubu, located at the entrance of the Bomun Tourist Complex in Gyeongju, is renowned for its homemade dubu (bean curd) dishes, crafted using domestic soybeans. The highlight of its menu is the maetdol sundubu jjigae (stone-ground soft bean curd jjigae), a savory concoction featuring sundubu (soft bean curd), shrimp, and clams. The dish is typically served in a ttukbaegi (hot pot), and customers have the option to add a raw egg to the boiling mixture. This sundubu restaurant is popular for its delicately flavored dishes.

Silla Sori Festival - Emille (신라소리축제 에밀레전)

9.1 Km 5047 2021-01-08

274, Gyo-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-53-427-5114

Silla Sori Festival mainly focuses on the King Seongdeok Divine Bell (Emille Bell), established during the Unified Silla period, and takes place in Gyeongju, embracing its thousand-year-old heritage. The festival has been held to acknowledge the value and legacy of this traditional Korean bell dating back to the Silla period.

Woljeonggyo Bridge (월정교)

9.1 Km 2725 2023-01-03

31, Gyochonan-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-6100

Woljeonggyo Bridge located in Gyo-dong, Gyeongju was built during the Unified Silla period (AD 676-935), but was burnt down during the Joseon dynasty. Through historical research, the bridge was rebuilt in April 2018 to become the largest wooden bridge in Korea. According to Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), the bridge was built during the 19th year of King Gyeongdeok’s reign (AD 760), connecting Wolseong and Namsan together. The historical research to rebuild the bridge lasted from November 26, 1984 to September 8, 1986, finding that the bridge was made with wood for the first time. The first rebuilding of the bridge was from 2008 to 2013 and the finishing touches were added from April 2016 to April 2018. Through this research and rebuilding process, future restoration of historical buildings have a better reference to use.

Bunhwangsa Temple (분황사)

9.1 Km 31442 2024-02-29

94-11 Bunhwang-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Bunhwangsa Temple, located next to the ruins of Hwangnyongsa Temple in Gyeongju, was established in 634 during the Silla dynasty. Visitors can see cultural assets such as the Stone Brick Pagoda designated as a national treasure, and the Pedestal for the Stele of State Preceptor Hwajaeng registered as a Historic Site. Despite being a significant and ancient temple, much of it was lost during wars such as the Mongolia invasions and the Japanese invasions of Korea, leaving only a few buildings and temple grounds like Bogwangjeon Hall. Nearby, there is the Hwangnyongsa Museum.

Tobaki (토박이)

9.1 Km 10375 2017-01-03

21, Bukgun-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-748-7025

"Tobaki" serves exquisite Galchi-jjigae, Galchi-gui, and Dolsotbap, and has designated as a signature restaurant in the Gyeongju region. The restaurant welcomes many regulars due to its high standards in service and inexpensive menus.

Silla Cultural Festival (신라문화제)

9.1 Km 7295 2023-09-14

Gyo-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-777-5953~4

Silla Cultural Festival is held to promote the excellence of Silla history and culture and to give pride to Gyeongju residents. The festival features a combination of traditional and modern aspects.

Gyeongjuhanok 1st [Korea Quality] / 경주한옥1번가 [한국관광 품질인증]

9.1 Km 949 2023-10-25

20 , Cheonwon 1-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-10-9505-5367

Standing at the entrance of Cheonwon Village in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongju Hanok First is a hanok stay combining the beauty of tradition with modern convenience. All rooms are Korean-style with comfortable bedding on the floor, and all have a toilet and bathroom. One guestroom has its own kitchen, while the others have basic cooking facilities in a shared kitchen. The spacious yard is decorated with figurines in traditional clothes. Nearby tourist attractions include Anapji Pond, Cheomseongdae Observatory, and Gyeongju Museum.

The Suites Hotel Gyeongju (경주스위트호텔) - Area information - Korea travel information