Here’s What to Do in Gyeongju, South Korea, Gyeongju, South Korea

Look for places to visit in South Korea and you’ll quickly see Gyeongju rise to the top of the list. Gyeongju isn’t a big city, many in Korea are much larger, but it’s big on appeal. With many things to do in Gyeongju and the gorgeous backdrop of mountains and Gyeongju National Park, it’s hard to find reasons not to visit.

My original interest in visiting Gyeongju was in its history, as it has strong ties to one of the most important kingdoms in Korea’s history. And while many Gyeongju attractions do focus on this history, I learned that there’s much more to this relaxed, green city than I knew. Discover why Gyeongju is worth visiting and what you can do there with this guide to the city.

Gyeongju is sometimes described as the “museum without walls”, as the city is loaded with culturally important historical landmarks. Most of the city’s important sites relate to the Silla kingdom, which ruled Korea’s east for centuries in the 1st millennium.

Of the various Gyeongju attractions, many are ancient Silla tombs where members of the royal family were buried. You can see some tombs in Seoul (Seolleung and Jeongneung in Gangnam), but it’s very different in Gyeongju as you’ll see. Travellers interested in history will find a lot to like about visiting Gyeongju, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).