For those who’re planning a household journey to South Korea and questioning whether or not Gyeongju belongs in your itinerary, the reply is an emphatic sure – the traditional capital of the Korean peninsula is an interesting distinction to the fashionable cities, and also you positively received’t be wanting issues to do in Gyeongju with youngsters.
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Typically referred to as the ‘museum with out partitions’, Gyeongju was someplace I wanted we had longer to discover and would positively be excessive on my listing to spend a number of extra days if (when?!) we return to South Korea.
The historic capital of the Silla Kingdom, between 57BCE and 935CE, you may go to as a day journey from Busan (lower than an hour by high-speed KTX prepare), and it’s solely round two hours by KTX from Seoul, however that is positively someplace which is price permitting greater than a single day.
Why go to Gyeongju with youngsters
For those who’re questioning what makes Gyeongju so particular, this metropolis nonetheless retains a lot of its historic allure – count on low-rise picket buildings, hanok lodging, and the possibility to step again in time to the times earlier than Korea was a single unified kingdom.
One of many first issues that strikes you’re the numerous grassy domes which seem throughout the panorama, all of which disguise a royal tomb. Solely a handful of those royal burial mounds have been excavated up to now, with over 150 left untouched.
However even these few which have been explored by archaeologists (learn on to study one open to the general public) have held 1000’s of artefacts, together with astonishing quantities of gold.
Town itself, which additionally goes by the names of the Golden Metropolis and the Thousand-year Metropolis, has historical past round each nook – you’ll additionally discover a stargazing tower that’s stood for over 1,300 years, together with Buddhist temples tucked away in hillside timber, and streets the place in the event you look previous the 7-Elevens, you may think about your self again in time.
Gyeongju Historic Areas: Understanding what you’re visiting
Earlier than you set foot on the primary website, it’s price understanding that Gyeongju’s UNESCO World Heritage designation isn’t a single location – it covers 5 distinct historic zones unfold throughout town and surrounding mountains, collectively inscribed in 2000 because the Gyeongju Historic Areas.
So in the event you’re anticipating to show up and go to a single website or tick off the whole lot in a single day, you’ll have to readjust your plans a bit when you begin to perceive the dimensions and number of what there may be to discover. The 5 zones are:
Namsan Belt, a mountain scattered with lots of of Buddhist carvings and relics
Wolseong Belt, the positioning of the traditional palace grounds together with Cheomseongdae Observatory and Donggung Palace
Tumuli Park Belt, house to the nice royal burial mounds of Daereungwon
Hwangnyongsa Belt, the place the foundations of a once-magnificent nine-storey pagoda and royal temple survive
Sanseong Belt, the mountain fortress of Myeonghwalsan to the north-east.
Collectively they signify one of the extraordinary concentrations of historic heritage in all of Asia.
For those who solely have limted time, you may see a number of highlights in Wolseong Belt and Tumuli Park Belt that are inside strolling distance of one another, round 15-20 minutes aside. The Hwangnyongsa is round quarter-hour in the other way from Cheomseongdae Observatory within the Wolseong Belt, so it’s not too laborious to mix these both.
Namsan Belt, round Mount Namsan, is outdoors town, as is the Sanseong Belt round Myeonghwal Mountain Fortress, barely north-east of Gyeongju.
We stayed not removed from the Tumuli Park Belt space, within the space round Poseok-ro and Hwangnidan-gil – a bit touristy however beautiful to stroll round, and with plenty of locations to eat and seize souvenirs.
You may as well get a Gyeongju tour move from Klook which features a preloaded transport card and entrance to numerous points of interest – you additionally get some freebies like hanbok rent and Gyeongju bread too
Gyeongju Nationwide Museum
The Gyeongju Nationwide Museum makes the perfect start line for any household journey to Gyeongju, setting the scene earlier than you truly enterprise out to the archaeological websites themselves, or serving to to place the whole lot in context in the event you’re visiting afterwards.
It homes one of many most interesting collections of Silla artefacts on the earth – intricate gold crowns, jewelry, pottery, and weapons – together with originals of among the shows you’ll see within the historic tombs, and does a terrific job of serving to to deliver the traditional kingdom to life for younger guests.
There’s an audio information to provide a bit extra data, however wanting on the shows of golden crowns goes to attraction to all ages. The out of doors sculpture backyard is a beautiful spot too. Entry is free, so in case your youngsters have a restricted tolerance for museums, it doesn’t matter in the event you whizz spherical shortly both.
There’s additionally a separate youngsters’s museum which may be very arms on and which makes the historical past accessible for youthful youngsters – there are restricted numbers, so it’s price attempting to order a spot if doable. Or there are walk-up locations for non-Koreans.
Daereungwon Tomb Advanced
Our favorite of all of the issues to do in Gyeongju with youngsters, the Daereungwon Tomb Advanced stands out even amidst all of the historical past.
Even simply strolling previous this extraordinary cluster of 23 historic royal burial mounds is barely surreal, with the symmetrical grassy mounds rising up like one thing out of a fairytale. Some are as much as 22m tall, and the very fact you’re a stone’s throw from town streets makes it much more uncommon.
The most important attraction is Cheonmachong, the one tomb the place you may truly go inside. Identified too because the ‘Heavenly Horse Tomb’ due to a portray on a saddle among the many treasures buried right here, you may discover a duplicate of the unique burial chamber together with shows of among the particular person finds.
And strolling by, you begin to get a way of the fabulous wealth belonging to the Silla dynasty, with golden crowns, equipment, even gold (or gilt) footwear, alongside jade ornaments, ornamental gear and trappings for hoses and an entire lot extra.
Strolling in by the darkish entrance does really feel just a little like dwelling out any Indiana Jones/treasure-hunting fantasies too, particularly as you see the primary glimmers of the gold replicas. We additionally liked watching the movies on the finish, which confirmed how the items had been most likely made.
The encompassing park itself is gorgeous too, particularly in spring with the blossom in bloom, so it’s properly price saving a while to stroll round and take in the views – and ponder what else is hidden inside the opposite mounds.
It’s free to enter the park itself and solely 3,000 received for adults to go contained in the tomb (2,000 received for teenagers/1,000 received for youthful youngsters) and you should purchase your tickets on the sales space by Cheonmachong itself. Alternatively, it’s included within the Gyeongju tour move from Klook.
For those who want a guided tour, this small-group tour is led by a historical past specialist and takes you to the Daerungwon Tomb Advanced in addition to different key historic websites – it’s a full-day tour so higher with tweens and teenagers although.
Cheomseongdae Observatory
The most effective-known sights to go to in Gyeongju with youngsters, Cheomseongdae Observatory can be one of many oldest surviving astronomical observatories in Asia, constructed through the reign of Queen Seondeok within the seventh century.
This 30ft-tall bottle-shaped stone tower – constructed from 362 exactly stacked granite blocks – was utilized by Silla students to look at the heavens and observe the seasons.
Whilst you would possibly in any other case overlook the tower in the event you didn’t know its historical past, it’s a good way to get youngsters speaking and fascinated by life within the Silla dynasty – how might this be constructed with out trendy instruments, what the oldest observatory in Asia says the early days of science, even about feminine rulers and the way the Queen’s identify has endured in consequence.
If that doesn’t seize your loved ones, the observatory stands amid open fields surrounded by flower gardens and it’s notably beautiful in spring with the cherry blossom and autumn when the muhly grass turns pink. Or in the event you head there at night time, it’s lit up for one more nice view.
Cross Woljeonggyo Bridge
The unique Woljeonggyo Bridge was in-built round 760CE, however was later burned down through the Joseon dynasty – and reconstructed in 2018 primarily based on historic data, turning into the biggest picket bridge in Korea immediately.
You don’t really want to know the again story to understand it although, because it’s simply one of the photogenic locations in Gyeongju. Set throughout the Munheon Stream, the colorful picket bridge has roofed pavilions at both finish and loads of ornament.
It’s properly price a go to at any time however in the event you head there round sundown, you’ll benefit from the views at twilight earlier than the bridge is illuminated after darkish – the entire space close by is nice for a relaxed household wander with avenue meals stalls, or there’s additionally a riverside strolling path close by in the event you’re visiting through the day.
Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond
Only a brief stroll from town centre, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (additionally recognized traditionally as Anapji Pond) is likely one of the loveliest spots to wander round in Gyeongju with youngsters.
The decorative pond was created in 674CE as a part of a royal pleasure backyard, with the three reconstructed palace halls on the western edge reflecting within the calm water.
A secondary royal palace, it’s the place the prince of the Silla dynasty would dwell in addition to being the situation for necessary feasts and the pond was designed with three islands within the centre and to accommodate uncommon birds and animals. It’s identify, discovered on a bit of excavated poetry, was ‘a pond that displays the moon’.
So whereas it’s nonetheless preferrred for a delicate stroll through the day, it’s magical within the night when the buildings are lit up and glow amber, their reflections shimmering within the water. For those who arrive simply earlier than sundown, you may watch the sunshine flip golden earlier than the illuminations swap on, all to the sound of frogs calling throughout the pond.
It’s open till round 10pm (final entry half-hour earlier than), priced 3,000 received for adults, 2,000 for teenagers and 1,000 for youngsters.
Bulguksa Temple
Arguably probably the most well-known temple in South Korea, Bulguksa is an intricate advanced of picket halls, stone staircases, and manicured gardens, with a backdrop of forested mountainside round 40 minutes from Gyeongju itself.
Additionally a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, it was first constructed round 528CE and rebuilt in its present type through the Joseon Dynasty earlier than being critically broken by fireplace and restored within the twentieth century.
This masterpiece of Silla Buddhist structure is as magical for teenagers as adults. The colorful dancheong paintwork (the normal Korean ornamental patterns in vivid blues, greens, and reds) transforms each constructing, when you’ll additionally spot large bronze bells, dragon carvings, and stone pagodas.
The 2 well-known and placing stone bridges – Cheongun-gyo (Blue Cloud Bridge) and Baekun-gyo (White Cloud Bridge) are a terrific spot for images.
There are not any audio guides (except you discover a third-party one), so in the event you do need to perceive extra of the symbolism, it’s price contemplating a tour information. Many day excursions are primarily based on a day journey from Busan, however this non-public tour of Gyeongju has a family-friendly four-hour possibility primarily based on pick-up in Gyeongju.
Alternatively, if you wish to journey by yourself, there are a number of buses which run from Gyeongju to Bulguksa temple together with Golden Line bus 10 (and 11 which follows the same loop in the other way), in addition to bus 700.
It’s additionally straightforward to mix a go to to the temple with Seokguram Grotto which is a brief bus experience up the mountain – bus route 12 shuttles between the 2 and takes about 20 minutes, leaving Bulguksa at 40 minutes previous the hour, and coming back from the grotto on the hour. You need to use a T-money card to pay.
Girimsa Temple
Much less visited than Bulguksa however no much less lovely, Girimsa Temple is tucked right into a valley within the Hamwol Mountains to the north-east of Gyeongju – round half an hour away by taxi (realistically this one is more durable to succeed in with public transport, so taxi or tour is greatest).
Based within the seventh century, it’s the second largest temple advanced after Bulguksa however has a splendidly peaceable, unhurried ambiance – notably welcome in the event you’re visiting throughout peak season when Bulguksa can really feel just a little crowded.
The method alongside a forested valley path is gorgeous, and the temple buildings themselves are spectacular; it’s break up into two areas, with one part round Daejeokgwangjeon Corridor and the second round a 500-year-old bo tree, with a picket pagoda, museum and three different halls.
Extra unexpectedly, the temple can be well-known for its water from the Ojong-su Spring: it’s stated to have 5 distinct tastes (candy, bitter, salty, spicy, and plain).
You may as well go to Golgusa Temple with its 12 grottos close by – it was initially the temple hermitage
A few of Korea’s temples additionally run temple keep programmes, a few of that are appropriate for households – search for relaxation programmes as these are usually extra versatile. Higher for older youngsters and teenagers who’re occupied with studying extra about Buddhism and taking part in meditation and rituals than youthful ones although.
Gyochon Conventional Village
Proper within the coronary heart of town, Gyochon Conventional Village is a superb place to get a style of conventional Korean village life in Gyeongju with youngsters. Fairly a number of of the well-preserved hanok homes are actually transformed into workshops, teahouses and locations to find completely different cultural experiences, so there’s loads of probability to get hands-on.
The village itself is legendary for its conventional gyodong rice wine, gyeongju beopju, which has been brewed right here for over 1,000 years – though that is likely to be extra fascinating to oldsters!
There are workshops, together with choices to make bracelets in addition to rice muffins, or it’s also possible to rent hanbok, conventional Korean clothes, to discover in. It’s straightforward to mix with the Cheomseongdae Observatory in the event you’re brief on time or don’t need to enterprise too far out of the centre of Gyeongju.
For those who’d like to rent hanbok elsewhere, you may reserve for a few hours or the complete day on Klook for one of many shops with the widest vary in Gyeongju – it’s strolling distances from the historic websites so you may profit from dressing up as you discover
Yangdong People Village
Somewhat method outdoors Gyeongju, Yangdong People Village is one other UNESCO World Heritage Web site and Korea’s largest conventional village.
Based within the early Joseon interval, the village has been repeatedly inhabited for over 500 years – which implies actual households nonetheless dwell in these extraordinary homes, slightly than among the different reconstructed folks villages throughout South Korea.
The village itself is ready within the shadow of Seolchangsan Mountain, with 54 houses courting again greater than 200 years, in addition to some 500-year-old cottages with thatched roofs.
It’s a beautiful solution to discover several types of conventional Korean homes too, with some aristocratic yangban homes larger up and dwellings for decrease lessons decrease down – a dwelling illustration of Joseon social hierarchy.
Go on a weekday in the event you can because it will get a lot busier at weekends. There are buses which run immediately from Gyeongju to the village in round 45 minutes, or it’s straightforward to get a taxi on the market which is faster.
For those who don’t have time to go to, Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul and Yongin Korean People Village (round an hour outdoors Seoul on the best way to Gyeongju by street) are a few alternate options to go to in the event you’re spending time within the capital
Be part of a cookery class
There’s no query that embracing native tradition is much more enjoyable when you will get arms on, and meals is likely one of the best methods to try this in Gyeongju with youngsters.
This enjoyable half-day tour takes you just a little method outdoors town to Ura Village, round an hour from Gyeongju itself, the place you’ll craft your personal picket chopsticks earlier than studying the best way to cook dinner two conventional dishes – gimbap and jumeokbap (Korean rice balls).
Plus, in addition to attending to eat your creations, you may wander by the village and meet some native inhabitants.
Or in case you have youngsters aged 10+, this bibimbap and gimbap cooking class takes place in Gyeongju itself, whereas this Gyeongju cooking expertise features a go to to a market, in addition to studying the best way to make a wide range of dishes together with gimbap and japchae (all ages, though under-fives should work with an grownup).
Undecided what to eat in Korea with youngsters? Take a look at my information to child-friendly Korean meals to start out you off
Keep in a hanok
A lot of Korea’s conventional single-storey hanok homes have been transformed into locations to remain, and it’s a implausible expertise when you’re visiting South Korea with youngsters.
Though you’ll discover choices in Seoul too, for instance, that is simply probably the greatest issues to do in Gyeongju with youngsters – you’ll be surrounded by historical past through the day, so it’s enjoyable to maintain the theme going at night time as properly.
Fortunately a number of the normal buildings have had a number of trendy upgrades so that you get the most effective of each worlds. You’ll have to take your footwear off earlier than going into the room, and also you’ll be sleeping on a futon mattress on the ground, however the one we stayed in had underfloor heating and a mini fridge in addition to an en-suite lavatory, all set round a beautiful courtyard. You would possibly have to deliver your personal towel, or count on pretty small ones to be supplied, though we didn’t have any drawback.
Our keep was a part of our tour with Intrepid Journey but it surely’s straightforward to e book your personal in the event you’re travelling independently – reserving.com has a range or there are a number of to select from on Klook.
Take a look at Gallery Jin Hanok Guesthouse which is strolling distance from the historic centre (and has a room with a correct mattress in the event you’re unsure about sleeping on the ground) or Gyeongju Hwangnamkwan Hanok Lodge which can be very central.
Discover Hwangnidan-gil
Half the enjoyable of visiting Gyeongju with youngsters isn’t the particular websites, though these are implausible, it’s wandering across the streets of this historic city.
Hwangnidan-gil probably the greatest locations to start out your wanderings – it’s touristy, certain, but it surely’s additionally full of low-rise buildings, enjoyable souvenirs and plenty of locations to get meals, together with coin bread (coin-shaped rounds of bread filled with melted cheese).
Wander the little streets off to the facet and also you’ll stumble throughout one other street which is one restaurant after one other, tons set round fairly courtyards with streams, together with numerous several types of meals together with loads of locations to seek out conventional Korean meals and dessert.
Look out too for hwangnam-ppang – extra generally often called Gyeongju bread. These small pastries are full of candy crimson bean paste and offered in bakeries all through the outdated city too.
Seokguram Grotto
Excessive within the forested mountains above Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto dates from the eighth century and is one other of Gyeongju’s UNESCO-listed websites.
Strolling up feels faintly otherworldly, wandering by the pine forest – look out for chipmunks – earlier than gazing out to the encircling peaks. Within the grotto itself, the Buddha statue is surrounded by dozens of guardians and bodhisattvas, though they’re all behind protecting glass so a cloudy day typically offers you higher views than when the solar displays.
There’s additionally an 11-faced carving of the Goddess of Mercy, though that’s hid behind the statue. Whereas it’s a big Buddhist monument, it’s additionally spectacular for the truth that large blocks of granite had been introduced right here alongside a slim mountain path when the grotto was initially constructed.
Straightforward to mix with Bulguksa Temple (see above), there’s a bus which runs between the 2, or you might come again down the steps – it’s lower than 1.5 miles and never too strenuous.
Namsan Mountain
Namsan Mountain is definitely one of the sudden locations to discover in Gyeongju, with greater than 50 temple websites, 100 stone pagodas and 80 stone Buddha photographs scattered across the slopes – many courting from the Silla interval.
In order you observe one of many mountain’s well-marked trails, it feels much less like your common hike and extra like one thing of a treasure hunt, with the whole lot from carvings to stone lanterns showing immediately across the subsequent bend.
In case your youngsters are sufficiently old to tackle an extended trek, the Samneung Valley path stretches for round 6km and takes round three hours to finish and get again to your start line, taking you previous among the Buddha carvings as you stroll by the pine forests.
There’s additionally a 10km model taking you to Chilbul-Am, though the upper stretch is more difficult, or you might simply stroll a shorter a part of the Samneung Valley path.
Buses run from central Gyeongju to the Samneung Royal Tombs cease, the place the route begins. It’s greatest for households to deal with the route throughout spring and autumn, to keep away from the excessive temperatures and rain of the summer season, in addition to the a lot colder climate in winter. At all times deliver loads of water and permit loads of time everytime you go.
Gyeongju World
There’s extra than simply historic websites, temples and grottoes in Gyeongju, so in the event you’re in search of one thing utterly completely different, take a look at Gyeongju World theme park.
This amusement park is just a little method east of the centre, not removed from Bomun Lake, with an entire sequence of rides in addition to two separate seasonal points of interest – the California Seaside water park for the summer season, with slides, swimming pools and a lazy river, then a snow park for the winter.
There are gentler rides to go well with youthful youngsters, with top restrictions beginning at 100cm; in case your youngsters are 110cm or taller, they’ve received 10 choices for select from. Or in case your youngsters are older/taller/braver, there are alternatives like Phaeton, one of many world’s strongest inverted rollercoasters., whereas Draken is the world’s sixth dive coaster (and the primary one in Korea).
You’ll discover western quick meals on sale alongside some conventional Korean meals and snacks, or you may deliver your personal with you. Get discounted day passes for Gyeongju World on Klook.
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Pororo Aqua Village
Not too removed from Gyeongju World, Pororo Aqua Village is a water park themed round Pororo the Little Penguin – most likely probably the most beloved youngsters’s animated character in South Korea.
However even when your youngsters haven’t encountered Pororo earlier than, this little water park is gorgeous for households with youthful youngsters. There are shallow splash areas, gentler slides and a few enjoyable interactive water options, all designed across the characters from the Pororo tales.
It’s not large however in the event you’ve received toddlers or preschoolers particularly, they’ll have a lot to entertain them on this vibrant world. Unsurprisingly busier throughout Korean college holidays.
Ideas for visiting Gyeongju with youngsters
Gyeongju is positioned in North Gyeongsang Province within the south-east of South Korea, roughly 170 miles from Seoul because the crow flies and round 50 miles from Busan.
For my full set of suggestions for visiting South Korea with youngsters, take a look at this put up
Attending to Gyeongju
The best solution to attain it’s by KTX high-speed prepare to Singyeongju Station (round two hours from Seoul, lower than an hour from Busan) which will be booked on the Korail web site – seats on the KTX trains promote out shortly at peak instances, so it’s properly price reserving prematurely.
You may as well discover categorical bus providers to Gyeongju, which take as much as 4 hours from Seoul and round an hour from Busan.
Getting Round
When you get there, lots of the sights are in straightforward strolling distance of one another and there are good bus hyperlinks, in addition to taxis (together with Uber). Bus route 10, the Golden Line, is especially helpful because it passes points of interest together with Cheomseongdae Observatory, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, and Bulguksa Temple (and route 11 does the same loop in reverse).
It’s properly price downloading Naver maps to navigate by as Google Maps doesn’t at the moment work properly in South Korea – we used Google Maps to pin locations of curiosity, and you need to use it to navigate brief distances between them on foot, however Naver makes getting buses very easy. Kakao Map is one other different to strive.
The primary historic sights – the tomb advanced, Cheomseongdae, Donggung Palace, Woljeonggyo Bridge – are all inside snug strolling or biking distance of one another, and you’ll rent bikes within the metropolis together with choices for teenagers.
When to go to Gyeongju
One of the best time to go to is spring (late March to Might) when it’s not too scorching, not too chilly, and also you’ll get to see the cherry blossoms in bloom in the event you go to round early April. Autumn (September to November) is one other good different with implausible colors on the timber and the bizarre pink grass across the observatory.
Summers are scorching and humid, so pack mild clothes and loads of solar cream, though be ready for rain as properly. Winter temperatures get very chilly, though in the event you wrap up heat, you’ll typically get clear blue days.
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Photos: Nationwide Museum/Woljeonggyo Bridge/Donggung Palace/Bulguksa/ Gyochon/Yangdong/bibimbap/ Seokguram grotto/Namsan Mountain/Samneung Royal Tombs courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
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