Built during the fifth to sixth centuries during the Silla dynasty, it is one of the most iconic ancient tomb sights in Korea, featuring the tombs of the royal family. There are still sites being excavated to this day. Within the complex, you will have the opportunity to view and enter the tombs that have been made accessible to the public.

Hwangridan-gil is a relatively new street in Gyeongju with over 700 shops, cafés, bakeries, restaurants, and accommodations. Though other Korean cities are known for their skyscrapers and buildings, Gyeongju, as a heritage site, has restrictions on buildings. As such, most of the buildings on this street only have one or two floors, and many of them are built in the form of a hanok (traditional Korean building), creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for visitors.

Cheomsongdae, Korea’s 31st national treasure, is an astronomical observatory built in the year 633. It is known to be the oldest surviving observatory in the world.

The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is recognized as Historic and Scenic Site No. 1 by the Korean government, housing six national treasures. It was first built as a small temple in the year 528 but grew in size over time as Buddhism spread across Korea. Unfortunately, because of wars throughout history, the wooden buildings were burnt down and reconstructed in 1604.

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, this sculpture of Buddha sitting on a lotus is built in an artificial grotto. Within the grotto, you will experience a feeling of grandeur as well as a sense of peace and tranquility from the look on the sculpture’s face. It is a great representation of Buddhist art during the Silla Dynasty.

Wolji, a separate palace for the princes during the Silla Dynasty, is a pond that was built in 674. Donggung, which means “palace on the east,” was created after Silla’s unification of the Three Kingdoms. It is known for its beautiful scenery, particularly during sunset and at night, when the reflections from the pond make it even more beautiful.

Built in 682, it was home to the first national university in Silla, known by the name “gukhak” and later called “hyanghak” or “hyanggyo” during the Joseon dynasty. It is also home to the Gyeongju Choi clan, a prominent Korean family that established a village. The area is full of hanoks that you can visit to experience traditional Korean life.

Not far from Gyochon Village is Waljeonggyo, a wooden bridge over the river. Originally, it was recorded to have been built in 760 and lasted for over 520 years. However, historical records indicate that it was burned down during a war, and all that was left of the bridge were its stone piers. Korea decided to reconstruct the bridge in 2004, and it was reopened in 2018.

Gyeongju National Museum encapsulates over 1,000 years of Silla in one place. It is a place where you can view the cultural heritages and artifacts that have been discovered and preserved. The main artifacts are the royal family’s crowns and jewelry, which you can compare to artifacts from your home country.

Surrounded by the Nakdonggang River, it is predominantly home to the Pungsan Ryu (Korean family name) clan, who have lived in this area for nearly 600 years. The traditional village became a UNESCO Heritage site in 2010. It has a rich history and houses several cultural treasures and heritages like Hahoe masks, which prompted Queen Elizabeth’s visit to the village in 1999.

Constructed in 418 during the Silla Era, this temple stands as one of the oldest temples in Korea, reflecting Buddhism’s 1700-year history in the country. Similar to several other temples in Korea, it is built deep in the mountains, blending harmoniously with the surrounding pine tree forest.

The Tripitaka Koreana is a Korean collection of Buddhist scriptures that were carved onto 81,258 wooden printing blocks in the 13th century. It was designated as a UNESCO Memory of the World in 2007, and in recognition of its importance, Korea built this theme park dedicated to emphasizing its cultural significance to civilization. It is a well-organized park that will provide you with the necessary information prior to seeing the actual Tripitaka at Haeinsa Temple.

Constructed in 802, it was also a part of the Silla dynasty, though it was built later than the other temples on the tour. However, it holds significance in that it displays the Tripitaka Koreana, also known as the Palman Daejanggyeong (Eighty-Thousand Tripitaka). Because of this, Haeinsa is known as one of the Three Jewel temples, representing the dharma (order and custom) in Korea. It is located in Gaya Mountain National Park and is surrounded by lush foliage.