Self-Guided Tour of Gyeongju
Gyeongju offers a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for anyone interested in exploring Korea's ancient heritage. Whether you're wandering through ancient tombs, marveling at the architecture of temples, or seeking an adrenaline rush with paragliding, Gyeongju has something for everyone.
The best place to start is at the Tombs If you take the bus, it's pretty much a straight shot from the bus station to the entrance of the tombs. On the North side of the street, you have the Tombs of Noseo-ri while on the South you have the Daereungwan Tomb Complex.
While it can get busy during the day, it's typically empty and quiet early in the morning or late at night. You can get some beautiful views of the burial mounds while meandering around on different paths. From here, you can wander down to the next site:
Known for the fields of pink muhly grass in the fall, you may have to fight for an empty photo, but hey! It's free so why not visit and learn a little about the history and science in this region. You can book small tours, but it's easy to walk around by yourself.
Just down from Cheomseongdae is the next stop: Wolseong Fortress.
There are a ton of walking paths that can lead you up to the top of the fortress and to Seokbinggo, a stone ice storage that was used during the Silla period.
Pro tip: go at night to see it fully illuminated, like in the picture above. While still pretty during the day, I wish we had gone later at night to get the full effect.
This is when we really just starting wandering. From the fortress, we meandered over through Gyerim Forest and found ourselves crossing the Woljeonggyo Bridge.
This reconstructed wooden bridge is a stunning example of traditional Korean architecture, originally built during the Silla Dynasty. It connects Gyerim Forest to Wolseong Fortress. The guide told us that it was burned down by the Mongols at some point in history, so what you see now is a reconstruction.
Farther down the historical sprawl is the Bell of King Seongdeok and the Gyeongju Museum.
For those interested in delving deeper into the history of Gyeongju and the Silla Dynasty, the museum offers a vast collection of artifacts, including gold crowns, pottery, and everyday items from the period. We didn't go, but we've heard good things about this museum.
A little farther out of town, but definitely worth the bus to get there is Bulguksa Temple.
Visit the Dabotap and Seokgatap pagodas, the Yeonhwa-gyo (Lotus Bridge), and experience the tranquility of the temple grounds, which are particularly beautiful in the fall with the changing leaves.
What to Eat:
The street running along the East side of the Daereungwan Tomb Complex is chalk-full of tourist shops, convenience stores, and small restaurants. It's fun to walk along and see some of the busier and more modern parts of town blended in with traditional architecture.
Hwangnam Ppang
(Or bbang). This is a traditional regional specialty. It is a small pastry with a filling of red bean paste. You can find several bakeries and shops that sell it, the original is in Hwangnam-Dong.
Barley Ppang
Another local bread, this one is red bean paste sandwiched by two small barley pancakes. This is perfect for breakfast or snacking throughout the day, so do yourself a favour and just buy the pack from the bakery.
Jeongnok Leaf Wraps and Rice (정록 쌈밥)
Along the Gyeongju Ssambap Street, you can experience ssambap: leaf wraps and rice. A dish featuring fresh vegetables accompanied by substantial side dishes like fish, meat, and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew).
Google Maps: R6Q7+GG Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
Hwangnam Milmyeon
With fresh, made-to-order, cold noodles, this place is worth a stop! I tried the classic naengmyeon noodles with a beef-bone broth and topped with a little mustard and vinegar. My friend tried the bibim naengmyeon, with a spicy and sweet sauce. Both were delicious and the perfect way to cool down on a warm Autumn day.
Google Maps: 12 Poseok-ro 1068beon-gil, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
Hwangnam Mandu
Google Maps: South Korea, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongju-si, Hwangnam-dong, 번지 1층 229-33 KR
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