Journey Through Ancient Korea in Gyeongju

If you often visit Seoul or Busan, you might want to explore different places in Korea, such as Gyeongju. In fact, it's very convenient to travel from Seoul or Busan to Gyeongju. You can take the Korail train and reach Gyeongju in just two hours. It's even closer from Busan, taking only half an hour to reach Singyeongju Station. However, since I don't know how to drive, I had to take a taxi to the city center. Make sure to have a phone with translation functions because most taxi drivers don't understand English. Visiting Gyeongju feels like traveling back in time to ancient Korea. You can stroll and take photos in the old streets of the city, which are very beautiful. Many shops in traditional Korean houses retain their architectural features, and you can spend half a day exploring them. Additionally, they offer traditional and creative Korean cuisine and souvenirs. Moreover, you can visit unique ancient buildings from the Silla Kingdom, including Daereungwon Tomb Complex, the thousand-year-old Cheomseongdae Observatory, Anapji Pond, and Woljeonggyo Bridge. These sites are especially beautiful at night when illuminated, offering a completely different visual experience compared to daytime. During the day, you can explore history, while at night, you can appreciate the art and romantic atmosphere. After visiting the palace buildings, I also toured Yangdong Village, which has a 500-year history. It's a place to experience the life of ancient commoners. People still live in Yangdong Village today, and from a distance, the hillside is filled with ancient houses, creating a dreamy feeling. Another highlight of visiting Gyeongju is staying in a traditional Korean house, which is a unique experience.