Bulguksa, Gyeongju

Getting to the start

KTX from Seoul to Singyeongju, then a city bus to the temple; buses also run from central Gyeongju. The grounds climb the slope of Tohamsan in steps, so allow time.

The route

1. 1

   Bulguksa Temple

   Gyeongju · 1h 30m

   An eighth-century Silla temple and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wooden halls sit on stone terraces built up the slope, and two very different stone pagodas stand side by side in the main courtyard. It is partway up Tohamsan, so the grounds climb in steps.

   Official site →
2. Shuttle25m

   Take the Seokguram shuttle from the Bulguksa car park. It winds up Tohamsan, so sit near the front if you are prone to motion sickness. Services are infrequent — check the time of the last bus down as you board. From the Seokguram car park it is another ten minutes on foot to the entrance.

   2

   Seokguram Grotto

   Tohamsan, Gyeongju · 1h

   A man-made grotto of stacked granite on the flank of Tohamsan, inscribed by UNESCO together with Bulguksa. It is about ten minutes on a mountain path from the car park to the entrance. The seated Buddha is viewed through a glass wall and photography inside is not allowed. The chamber faces east: it was built so that the light of sunrise would reach in.

   

   Official site →

Map

• Bulguksa Temple →
• Seokguram Grotto →

Also close by

Other places close to this route's stops — useful if you have time left or want to swap something out.

• CheomseongdaeHeritage · 30m11.3km
• Daereungwon TombsHeritage · 1h 10m12.0km

Good to do next

• Daereungwon and CheomseongdaeGyeongju · Half day

  Twenty-three royal tombs sit like grass hills in the middle of town, with a seventh-century observatory a few minutes' walk away. Best near sunset.