Travel Guide

Gyeongju was the capital of the Shilla Kingdom for over 1,000 years, which ruled most of Korea in the 7th to the 9th century. Thousands of historic buildings and objects have been maintained well throughout the city, truly making it the "museum without walls." It holds a rich heritage of sights and remains of that period. The city undertakes a lot of effort to preserve that heritage.

<< Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju

Today's Gyeongju has a population of around 260,000, but retains a small-city feel and is fairly easy to get around. Many sites are within easy walking distance from each other, making visiting the city very convenient. The Eastern Historic Zone contains someof the city's most famous sites.

Although many of the historic sites can be viewed for free, the most popular ones have steep admission prices. If you are a Kyongju resident, however, you can get into most places for free. Not many foreigners make it here, so tourists should expect some attention from the locals, but if you approach them openly you will be rewarded with lots of interesting and positive interaction.

Gyeongju Historic Areas

The Gyeongju Historic Areas contain a remarkable concentration of outstanding examples of Korean Buddhist art, in the form of sculptures, reliefs, pagodas, and the remains of temples and palaces from the flowering, in particular between the 7th and 10th centuries, of this form of unique artistic expression.