Gyeongju-si Special Tourist Zone (경주시 관광특구)

5.0 Km 12803 2023-01-03

614, Gyeonggam-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-6084

Gyeongju was the capital city of the ancient kingdom of Silla. The city is often referred to as a “museum without walls” because of the many cultural relics scattered throughout the city. Almost everything in this city, from the streets to the mountains, is rich in history. Gyeongju has roughly 300 sites that have been designated as a cultural heritage, with some of them being UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Sites.

The Gyeongju Special Tourist Zone includes the districts of Namsan, Wolseong, Daereungwon, Hwangryongsa, and Sanseong. This area has a total of 52 cultural assets registered on the World Heritage list. Many of the hills are actually royal tombs and fields of grass used to be sites of ancient temples.

The entire Namsan Mountain can almost be considered a cultural asset because of the many stone pagodas and Buddha statues that can be found here. The Bulguk district is home to many of Gyeongju’s most well-known attractions such as Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, Gyeongju Folk Village, Silla Arts and Science Museum, and Goereung.

In the Bomun district, there are plenty of recreation facilities surrounding Bomunho Lake. Other attractions in the area include Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park, Gyeongju World, and Silla Millennium Park.

[Gyeongju Special Tourist Zone]
Areas included: Downtown area, Bomun Lake Resort, and Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
Area size: 32,650,000㎡
Tourist Attractions: Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, Daereungwon Tomb Complex, Namsan Mountain, Bomunho Lake, Shilla Millennium Park, Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park, etc.

Hotel Valentine [Korea Quality] / 발렌타인 [한국관광 품질인증]

5.1 Km 172 2020-12-10

465-28, Bomun-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-748-3232, +82-10-7556-2831

Hotel Valentine is located within Bomun Tourist Complex of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Thanks to its location, it is a great place for both tourism and leisure activities: guests can reach the Gyeongju World Amusement Park, Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park, and Bomun Lake in 10 to 15 minutes by foot, and other sights in downtown Gyeongju like Cheomseongdae Observatory, Daereungwon Ancient Tombs, and Hwangnidangil Road in 10 minutes by car, making the hotel an ideal base camp for exploration in Gyeongju. Hotel Valentine also prides itself over its great views: standing on the terrace of the room brings one to a great view over the Bomun Lake and the Tourist Complex. Bomunjeong Pavilion, a popular destination for cherry blossoms in spring, is located in front of Hotel.

There are 41 rooms, divided into different types like the Couple Room, Ondol (heated floor) Room, and Special Room, All rooms are fitted with high-speed Internet cables and wireless Internet, as well as TV, makeup table, minibar, air conditioning, toiletries, and hairdryers. The Special Room adds cooking facilities, and is divided into the bedroom, living room, and the kitchen, making it ideal for small gatherings or family trips. Other guests can opt to cook in the common kitchen or the outdoor grill. Other amenities include the 165㎡-wide relaxation room, fitted with sofas and tables; business room, equipped with computers and printers; a fitness studio; and a karaoke.

The-K Hotel Gyeongju (더 케이 호텔 경주)

5.2 Km 25568 2021-02-10

45, Expo-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-745-8100

The-K Hotel Gyeongju is a four-star hotel situated against the serene backdrop of Bomun Lake in the historic city of Gyeongju. The hotel is equipped with pleasant facilities in order to provide a better service to visitors.

The-K Hotel Gyeongju Spa World (더케이경주호텔 스파온천)

5.2 Km 76541 2021-02-23

45, EXPO-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-770-9260

Spa World in The-K Hotel Gyeongju opened in June 2001 and aims to guarantee guest satisfaction with excellent amenities, such as their sauna facilities, hot springs, sports center, and swimming pool. The hot springs were developed by using all-natural hot spring water from 630 meters underground. Spa World's hot spring water is famous for having a high concentration of alkaline (9.12 pH). Impurities in the water are filtered out, boosting the beneficial effects of hot spring water on the skin, muscle fatigue, and back pains.

BENIKEA Swiss Rosen Hotel Gyeongju (베니키아 스위스로젠 호텔 (경주))

5.2 Km 16540 2019-11-04

465-47, Bomun-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-748-4848

Swiss Rosen Hotel, located inside Gyeongju Bomun Complex, boasts sophisticated interior design and cozy guestrooms. Also, in addition to free services such as Wi-fi Internet, bike rentals, outdoor movie screening, and guest pick-up, the hotel offers easy access to several exciting adventures on the nearby Bomun Resort, including horseback riding, hiking trails, golf courses and Bomun Lake.

Gyeongju Bae-dong Samneung Royal Tombs (경주 배동 삼릉)

5.3 Km 24055 2020-04-06

Bae-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-6100

Samneung meaning "three royal tombs," has strong ties to history. The three royal tombs house three kings of the Silla Kingdom: King Adala (8th King of the dynasty), King Sindeok (53rd) and King Gyeongmyeong (54th).

King Adala, who cared deeply for his people, went to war after his citizens were abducted by the invaders of Baekje. But when Baekje asked for a peace treaty, King Adala released the prisoners he took during the engagement. During his rulling, a kingdom in Japan sent an envoy to ask for friendly relations with Silla. King Adala’s tomb is 58m in circumference at the base, 5.4m in x_height and 18m in diameter.

When King Hyogong died without any heirs, the people of the kingdom crowned his son-in-law as their next king – King Sindeok. During his reign, King Sindeok devoted himself to protecting his kingdom from invasions by Gyeonhwon and Gungye. The royal tomb is 61m in circumference at the base, 5.8m in x_height and 18m in diameter. It was robbed twice, inviting investigations in 1953 and 1963. The investigations revealed the tomb to be a chamber made of stone.

King Gyeongmyeong, the son of King Sindeok, together with Wanggeon, the founder of the Goryeo dynasty, successfully defeated Gyeonhwon’s attack against Daeyaseong Fortress. During his reign, he attempted to establish diplomatic relations with the Hudang dynasty of China, but was unsuccessful. The tomb is 50m in circumference at the base, 4.5m in x_height and 16m in diameter.

Sinseonam Hermitage Rock-carved Bodhisattva in Namsan Mountain of Gyeongju (경주 남산 신선암 마애보살반가상)

5.9 Km 27996 2020-04-04

Namsan-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-6100

This 1.4 m-high rock-carved Bodhisattva was carved on the southern rock standing right above Chilburam Rock on Namsan Mountain, which may be regarded as a repository of relics and artifacts including Buddha statues spanning the Three Kingdoms Period to the late Unified Silla Period.

Judging from the three-sided bejeweled crown he’s wearing on his head, this is clearly a Bodhisattva statue. He looks as if he is sitting on a cloud, while the closed eyes on the plump face give the impression that he is lost in deep thought. He seems to be watching mankind from his world above the clouds. He is holding a flower in his right hand and his left hand is held up to his chest as if he is preaching.

His robe is very thin, revealing the curves of the body, and hangs down to the base of the pedestal. The mandorla (Buddhist halo of light), which consists of both the dugwang (light radiating from the head) and hte singwang (light emanating from the Buddha’s body), is also the shrine for the statue, so the image of the Bodhisattva looks more prominent. It is presumed that this rock-carved Bodhisattva was made during the late eighth century during the Unified Silla dynasty.

Gyeongju Namsan Mountain (경주 남산)

6.3 Km 64149 2024-02-27

Namsan Mountain of Gyeongju (경주 남산)
+82-54-771-7142

Namsan Mountain of Gyeongju is a 466-meter mountain located south of the Gyeongju city center. Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla dynasty (BC 57-AD 935) from its inception to its end. The Silla people revered this mountain, considering it sacred, and left many traces of their presence, resulting in numerous cultural relics that still exist today. Therefore, visitors can enjoy both hiking and cultural heritage sightseeing on this mountain.

Coffee Myungga Bosque (커피명가보스케)

6.8 Km 0 2024-02-23

477-57 Yongdam-ro, Hyeongok-myeon, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Located near Seogyeongju Station, Coffee Myungga Bosque is notable for its unique and beautiful exterior, which received the Gyeongsangbuk-do Architectural Culture Award in 2020. The café's signature coffee, Myunggaccino, is renowned for its rich flavor, achieved by roasting and brewing the beans in-house. Additionally, the café offers a variety of breads, including maneulppang (garlic bread) and croissants, catering to diverse tastes.

Silla Arts and Science Museum (신라역사과학관)

7.8 Km 27594 2023-04-07

33, Hadonggongyechon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-745-4998

Silla Arts and Science Museum, opened in 1988, displays miniature models of scientific cultural assets in order to explore and educate how these assets are formed and preserved.

Gyeongju-si Special Tourist Zone (경주시 관광특구) - Area information - Korea travel information