Gyeongju
Once the ancient capital of the Silla Dynasty, which ruled much of southern Korea for close to a thousand years, the southeastern city of Gyeongju is one of South Korea's lesser-known attractions. Under Silla, Gyeongju became a cosmopolitan, prosperous enclave of almost one million. While Gyeongju later fell from prominence, the city continued to remain regionally significant - particularly for its rich repository of relics, a testament to the deep, nuanced past of South Korea.
Today, Gyeongju is rich with history, and offers well-preserved examples of Silla-era architecture, as well as the site of fierce battles and resistance to Imperial Japanese forces in the early twentieth century. Highlights include the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Seokguram grotto and the historic Bulguksa Temple, as well as Anapji, a Silla-era pleasure garden that is a treasure trove of archaeological artifacts.
Experiences
A handpicked selection of experiences endorsed by our experts. If you can’t see what you’re looking for, let us know, as our extensive network of local contacts can open many doors.
Anapji
Visit Anapji, site of a pleasure garden and lotus pond built in 674 AD, where thousands of Silla Dynasty artifacts have been recovered.
Ancient Royal Tombs
Gyeongju is sometimes called "the museum without walls" because of the many hundreds of ancient tombs of Silla Empire royalty and aristocracy located all over town. The tombs are large dome-shaped mounds of earth covered with grass. Only a few have been excavated, and inside are treasures buried with the bodies.
Andong Hahoe Folk Village
Explore the Andong Hahoe Folk Village, a living community of more than 100 traditional country houses of thatched roofs, mud walls and centuries of history, which your expert guide will relate. This can be slightly touristy but is an interesting experience for young people.
Buddhist Temples
Explore two of Gyeongju’s most renowned sites: Bulguksa Temple and nearby Seokguram, a Buddhist grotto with terrific views from its cliffside position. Bulguksa dates to 528 AD, when Gyeongju was capital of the nearly 1,000-year-long Silla Dynasty, and both sites are among the city’s UNESCO World Heritage properties.
Haeinsa Temple
Visit Haeinsa Temple in Daegu (approximately 90-minute drive), a famous 9th-century Buddhist temple best known for housing the Tripitaka Koreana, a collection of more than 80,000 woodblock carvings of the complete Buddhist scriptures.
Namsan Park
Hike the gorgeous mountain trails of Namsan Park, whose terrain has regularly yielded Silla-era treasures.
National Museum
Have a privately guided tour of the adjacent National Museum, where artifacts recovered from nearby Anapji are now on display. The National Museum also features fun activities for children, such as 3D puzzles and interactive exhibits.
Tae Kwon Do Lesson
Have a martial arts lesson in tae kwon do and meet black belts in the official sport of South Korea.
South Korea Regions
Explore in-depth information, experiences and highlights by navigating to specific regions using the links below on the right.
Multi-Country Specialists
South Korea Goes Well With
Why Remote Lands?
Exclusively Asia
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
Travelogues
An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.
Gyeongju: A Walk Through the Silla Kingdom in Korea’s Cultural Heart
- Author
- Ronan O'Connell
Seoul and Busan may have the luxury hotels, but it’s Gyeongju that has the history. Travelers walk through centuries in this historic UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Remote Lands’ Dozen Dream Destinations 2017
- Author
- Travelogues
Well, it’s that time of year once again. We’re back with some of Asia’s most exciting destinations for the coming 12 months, places that are guaranteed to awaken your adventurous spirit and leave you mesmerized by the planet’s beauty, diversity and fascination. We’ve rounded up some of the most interesting, undiscovered and jaw-dropping locations from …
LGBT Travel in South Korea
- Author
- Remote Lands
A fascinating land of ancient traditions, cutting-edge modernity and a chequered past, South Korea boasts a rich tapestry of culture and its LGBT history is no less interesting.
What Others Say
Here is a small selection of the kind words our clients have said about us recently.
Friends from Washington DC and New York
The guides they selected were very good and, in three cases (Seoul, Hoi An/Hue, and Angkor Wat) simply outstanding.
Family from Australia
Thank you for putting together such an inspiring trip through Indonesia. We used two different charter boats and, for one leg of the journey, a private charter flight and all were of extremely high quality.
