The Best Autumn In Gyeongju Korea Itinerary

There’s nothing more breathing taking than autumn in Gyeongju Korea. Located in the Southeast corner of the peninsula, Gyeongju was once the hub of political and cultural life during the Silla Dynasty. In this Gyeongju itinerary, you’ll get a feel of what to see, eat, and do in Korea’s gorgeous cultural hub during autumn.

If you enjoy traditional Korean culture and history, then you can’t miss Gyeongju in Autumn. The old capitol was once the biggest city in South Korea. If you like to hit up all the traditional hubs like I do, this is how you can spend the perfect autumn day with this awesome Gyeongju Itinerary. The blog post is dedicated to bringing you the best things to do in Gyeongju, what to eat in Gyeongju, and where to stay in Gyeongju.

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How To Get to Gyeongju

If you’d like to wing your trip there are plenty of ways to do so. One way to get to Gyeongju is by renting a car in Seoul.

Seoul to Gyeongju Train

Gyeongju is a great day trip from Seoul. To get to Gyeongju from Seoul, take the KTX to Singyeongju Station 신경주 역. Go out exit 1 and take bus 700 to get to all of Gyeongju’s main attractions.

Seoul to Gyeongju Bus Terminal

The bus leaves from the Seoul Express Bus Terminal and arrives at the Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal. They depart about every 40 minutes.

How To Get Around Gyeongju

When you tour around Gyeongju, rent a bike or an electric scooter. I suggest using the rental shop Tago Nolja 타고놀자. It costs about 45,000 won to rent the scooter for 4-5 hours. You can park it anywhere and you won’t be dead tired after sightseeing.

Or if you’re not comfortable biking or driving an electric scooter around Korea, you can also

Address: 경상북도 경주시 황남동 151-4 (151-4 Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Hours: 9am – 10pm
Phone: 054-749-2444

Book A Gyeongju Tour

One the best ways to see Gyeongju is to book a tour here. This tour will take you to the most prominent sites such as Bulguksa Temple, Daereungwon (royal tombs), Hwangridan-gil, Donggung Palace (where Anapji Pond is located), and Woljeonggyo Bridge. Gyeongju City is huge so this done for you tour is pretty awesome to go on.

Where To Stay in Gyeongju

If you’re thinking of making a fun weekend out of Gyeongju, then you’re definitely in the right mindset. There’s so much to do an enjoy in this gorgeous and traditional city, you might feel overwhelmed trying to do it in a day.

Luxury Hotel in Gyeongju

• The K Hotel Gyeongju – Featuring a sauna, hot spring bath, barbecue facilities and restaurant, The-K Hotel Gyeongju is within a 5-minute drive from Shilla Millennium Park, Skyworld and Gyeongju World. Free WiFi is available in all rooms and free private parking is available on site.
• The Suites Hotel Gyeongju – Gyeongju Suites Hotel is located next to Bomun Lake in Gyeongju. Each room at The Suites Hotel is equipped with air-conditioner and heating facilities. All rooms have flat-screen TV, in-room safe and coffee/tea maker.

Mid-Range Accommodations in Gyeongju

• Kolon Hotel – Kolon Hotel provides large rooms, an outdoor swimming pool and a spacious lawn in Gyeongju’s country side. It is close to Bulguksa Temple.
• Trip to Gyeongju – Trip to Gyeongju is located a 10-minute walk from Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal and Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal. The guesthouse has a garden with outdoor furniture and free WiFi. Daereungwon, the royal tomb complex of Silla dynasty, and Cheomseongdae Observatory are both within a 10-minute walk. The scenic Anapji pond is 2.2 km away.

Budget Hotels in Gyeongju

• Blue Boat Hostel Gyeongju – Blueboat Hostel Gyeongju provides rooms with heating and air conditioning. The property also has a shared bathroom. Tourist destinations such as Poseokjeong and Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park are about 5-10km away.
• Doobaki Guest House – At Doobaki Hostel, guests can use personal lockers and request free luggage storage. The staff here offers ticket service and tour suggestions around the historical city of Gyeongju. Daily breakfast is available between 08:00 and 10:00.

Gyeongju Map

What To Do in Gyeongju

There are so many historical things to do in Gyeongju. Below are my picks and the highlights of Gyeongju. You can do as you please, but this is what I recommend you not skip out on.

1. Bulguksa Temple

Built in 528 of the Silla Kingdom, this relic of Gyeongju was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Bulguksa is one of the most famous Gyeongju temples.

It is home to important cultural artifacts and treasures such as the Dabotop Pagoda,  Yeonhwa-gyo Bridge and the Seokguram Grotto. The gardens around the temple were also beautiful.

Since the temple is so old, a lot of the paint is peeling, but the red colors of the foliage make this place light up with beauty.

2. Eat Gyeongju Ssambap

When in Gyeongju eat their famous dishes. One of the coolest things about Korea is every place you visit has specialty regional food. This meal is served with loads of delicious side dishes and a small plate of beef or pork bulgogi.

3. Anapji Pond 

The pond is now called Wolji after pottery was found with that name. The meaning is the pond reflecting the moon. Anapji is most beautiful at night when the flood lights come on, but it’s just as stunning during the day and even more so during the Autumn.

4. Cheomseongdae Observatory 

For lovers and chasers of the stars, Cheomseongdae is the oldest astronomical observatory in Asia. It was used to forecast the weather and constructed during the reign of Queen Seon-deok. Click here for your done for you Gyeongju South Korea autumn itinerary.

5. Hwangridan Road

Hwangridan Road is a street that has been around since the 60s and perfectly preserved for generations to come. There are a bunch of cute cafes, shops, bike rental stores, and hanbok rental shops located on this street. It’s really fun to walk around there and you can find street art in some of the alleys. I highly recommend checking it for a break.

6. Daereungwon Royal Tomb in Gyeongju

The Gyeongju tombs look like giant hills in the middle of a field. It’s truly an interesting sight to behold. Fun fact: King Naemul was the second king of the Kim family name. For those of you who don’t get the joke, most people in Korea have the common family name of Kim, Park, or Lee. He was an influential king who brought the technology of China to the Korean people. After his reign the throne passed down to his descendants.

7. Seokbbingo

Seokbbingo is near a Gyeongju tomb, but its not what it seems. In fact, Koreans knew what’s up because around 1,500 years ago, this was used a freezer for the upper class. Once you descend the stairs, you can feel the cold and witness the scientific power the ancient Koreans had by giving the place a drainage system and coating the walls with limestone to prevent moisture from seeping in.

8. Wear Hanbok

Hanbok is such a beautiful part of Korean culture and Koreans are proud of who they are. They love to take photos at traditional places in their cultural clothes. Since most of the cultural places are located at the Wolseong Palace park, it’s also a popular place to fly a kite since the wind flows so easily through.

9. Gyochon Traditional Village

This famous landmark is awesome because in my opinion, there’s nothing cooler than a traditional Korean village. This place gives onlookers the opportunity to see how members of the Choi clan lived. While there, try some Gyodong Beopju Liquor or a glass making class.

10. Woljeonggyo Bridge

Woljeonggyo Bridge was built during the Silla period, 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. It also makes for amazing fall photos in Gyeongju.

I don’t know about you, but I have some serious YOLO and Gyeongju Autumn vibes after remembering all the cool things I’ve done here. Once the cultural and political hub of Korea, this amazing place has so much to offer and do. Gyeongju South Korea should be on your bucket list as one of the best places to travel in Korea during autumn.

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