UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gyeongju Tour by KTX

gyeongju trip by ktx express train from seoul

Travel to Gyeongju, one of the most traditional cities in Korea, by taking a KTX express train that goes at 300 km per hour. In two hours, you'll arrive at Gyeongju station.
From there, you will enjoy a day trip in Gyeongju, a city full of culture.
Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient Korean Kingdom of Silla (57 BCE – 935) for about a thousand years. The city is full of heritage sites and relics that show its amazing cultural history.
With the help of our guides, you will see traditional art and culture up close and experience the rich history of Korea.

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Royal Tumuli Park

This park has more than 20 large and small tombs from the Silla period, believed to be for kings and court officials.
Most tombs are earthen and mound-shaped, with some double gourd-shaped ones for the joint burial of a husband and wife.
Excavations of tombs like Cheonmachong and Hwangnamchong revealed many artifacts, including a gold crown, gold girdles, personal ornaments, horse fittings, and weapons.

Cheomseongdae

Cheomseongdae, meaning "Star Gazing Tower," was built in 634 during Queen Seonduk's reign. It is the oldest existing observatory in the Far East. The tower has 27 levels of stones in a round shape with a square top structure. The base is made of 12 stones arranged in a square, symbolizing the four seasons and twelve months. For over two thousand years, astronomers studied the stars and planets here, and court astrologers reported their findings to the King, who acted on their predictions.

Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond

It was a secondary palace site of Silla. The palace was used by the crown prince and for hosting banquets during important events. In 674, King Munmu created a large pond with three islands and a 12-peaked mountain. Beautiful flowers and rare animals were also featured. Originally called "Wolji," meaning "a pond that reflects the moon," the site later became known as "Anapji" after it fell into ruins. In the 1980s, excavations confirmed the original name, and it was officially changed back to Wolji Pond.

Bulguksa Temple

Bulguksa Temple, a UNESCO World Cultural Asset, holds many national treasures. Known as the Temple of Buddha’s Kingdom, each structure and arrangement has deep meanings. In Buddhist terms, different sections represent various realms: Daewoongjeon symbolizes the World of Enlightenment where Sakyamuni Buddha resides, Geukrakjeon represents the Land of Happiness, and Birojeon signifies the World of Lotus Sanctuary where Vairocana Buddha dwells.

Bulguksa Temple

Seokguram Grotto is a hermitage that is part of the Bulguksa temple complex. The grotto overlooks the East Sea and rests 750 meters above sea level. It holds some of the best Buddhist sculptures in the world, including the main Buddha. Construction lasted from 742 to 774.

Inside the round-shaped main hall are the Bonjon Statue, Bodhi-sattva, and his disciples. The Bonjon figure wearing a generous smile is seated on the stage engraved with a lotus flower design. As the sunrise from this spot is quite beautiful, many people climb the mountain at daybreak.