Just a few journeys to South Korea in the past, I discovered myself in a pickle. I’d been to the nation a number of instances, however had by no means made it out of Seoul or Busan. On one hand, there have been loads of locations I may go subsequent—too many to decide on. Alternatively, none of them appeared like an apparent complement to the huge cities that had outlined Korea for me as much as that time, at the least not initially. The excellent news? As soon as I began researching issues to do in Gyeongju, I bought a very good feeling concerning the place. The higher information? Actuality confirmed my hunch virtually as quickly as I bought there.
How one can Get to Gyeongju
Gyeongju is straightforward to achieve from main cities in Korea, although there you’re coming from will affect the way you get there. For instance, whereas it’s greatest to take one of many frequent intercity buses from Busan to Gyeongju, the KTX from Seoul will take you virtually on to the city heart in round two hours—a shuttle bus will take you the final quarter-hour.
When you arrive to Gyeongju’s city heart, you’ll have to take an area bus to the historic and pure points of interest of Gyeongju Nationwide Park, that are between 30-60 minutes away. There are additionally taxis in Gyeongju, however you shouldn’t have to make use of these until you’re visiting throughout a traffic-stopping marathon like I occurred to do. For those who stroll, then again, I like to recommend spritzing on one of many high attractive fragrance for ladies (or males) to counteract any sweat you may work up.
My Favourite Issues to Do in Gyeongju
Chart your course
Considered one of my most vital miscalculations about Gyeongju was assuming the city heart can be outdated. Actually, nearly all of Gyeongju historic areas are positioned effectively outdoors of city, though lots of the fried hen and churro outlets being constructed are constructed to look conventional. There are a few notable exceptions to this rule, after all, which I’ll get to shortly.
See Bulguksa, skip Seokguram
Whether or not you are taking a Gyeongju tour or execute a self-guided Gyeongju itinerary, the Buddhist temple at Bulguksa is certainly definitely worth the hour on a bus it takes you to get there. The “grotto” at Seokguram, which is simply an unremarkable Buddha statue to date behind glass you possibly can barely see it? Not a lot, particularly since buses again from it are so rare.
Rise above the crowds—actually
One of many strangest locations I visited in Gyeongju was Cheonmachong, a set of “burial mounds” presumably for the kings of the traditional Silla Dynasty, however the place younger Korean {couples} had been having picnics and taking cheery selfies. Actually, the very best vantage level of those admittedly scenic monuments was simply to the south of them, one the wooded ridge that conceals the ruins of Naemurwangneung fortress.
Keep on with avenue meals
Whether or not or not you discover a Gyeongju temple that impresses you, scrumptious Korean meals is as ubiquitous as it’s in Seoul or Busan. Nonetheless, I don’t advocate sitting right down to eat in a restaurant—in doing so, I virtually bought scammed into paying 17,000 gained for a plate of fried hen. As an alternative, reap the benefits of Gyeongju’s avenue meals scene, which sees Korean and Western specialties serve from American-style meals vans.
The place to Keep in Gyeongju
Since Gyeongju is ostensibly a historic metropolis, it is smart to remain in a conventional hanok visitor home like I did. I particularly stayed in Hanok Sodamjeong, which is about quarter-hour by foot from the intercity bus station, and feels comparatively genuine, though it’s fairly clearly a latest reconstruction. As is the case with lodging in Korea usually, this place was comparatively overpriced, although the host was good sufficient to wave the penalty cost once I halved my deliberate two-night keep to at least one.
I say “ostensibly,” as a result of as you’re about to metropolis, loads of Gyeongju’s seeming historic attraction is put-on, at greatest. To make certain, springing for Gyeongju accommodations similar to Gyeongju GG Vacationer Lodge or the Suites Lodge Gyeongju, thereby rejecting this pretense from the get-go, is perhaps a great way to keep away from a number of the disappointment I ended up feeling.
Gyeongju is fairly distant from different main locations in Korea—I don’t sometimes advocate coming just for the day. If that is your solely possibility, nevertheless, concentrate on the “crimson meat.” Spend the morning and afternoon on the town, strolling amid the burial mounds and consuming your weight on the street meals. Keep till sundown, in case you can, and watch it shade the glassy floor of Wolji Pond. I’d advocate spending at the least one evening in Gyeongju. It isn’t big—you don’t want greater than a full day to discover all it has to supply—nevertheless it’s far sufficient off the overwhelmed path that it’s not possible to do it in a day journey, within the majority of instances.
Robert Schrader is a journey author and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications similar to “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” alongside the best way. His weblog, Depart Your Each day Hell, offers a mixture of journey recommendation, vacation spot guides and private essays masking the extra esoteric elements of life as a traveler.
