Overview
For much of the first millennium Gyeongju was the seat of the Silla kingdom that first united the peninsula, and the relics of that age are spread across the city and the hills around it. Grass-covered royal tombs rise among the streets, and the great Buddhist monuments of Bulguksa and Seokguram sit on the mountain nearby, all World Heritage sites. A calm, low-rise city, it is an easy trip from Busan and a highlight of any route through the south.
Highlights
The tomb mounds of the Daereungwon park and the Cheomseongdae observatory stand in the centre, with the reflected pavilions of the Donggung palace and Wolji pond lit at night. On the mountain, the temple of Bulguksa and the Seokguram grotto with its stone Buddha are masterpieces of Silla art. The national museum gathers the gold crowns and treasures of the kingdom.