Last year was hard and exhausting for everyone. That’s why when I was able to visit South Korea in December, I didn’t want to stress myself with too much planning.
I knew which cities I wanted to visit but I didn’t plan how long I’d be staying or even where I’d stay.
It was one of the very few spontaneous trips I’ve ever been on.
Originally, I planned to head up north again after my time in Jeju and Busan. However an increase in Covid cases, meant more restrictions in Seoul. As a result, I was looking into an alternative destination.
Few travel blogs mentioned Gyeongju, the old capital of the Silla kingdom. Silla along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
I have to confess I’m not very knowledgeable when it comes to Korean history but I’m curious. A UNESCO World Heritage site like Gyeongju seemed perfect to complement the hikes, food markets and walks I’ve experienced in South Korea.
I chose to stay in the south of the city centre where most of the historical sites are. It is slightly detached from the centre and looks very different. I felt like travelling back in time. The area was a hanok village in a way. It was quiet and serene, a real glimpse into ancient art and history.
I don’t think I have the words to express how I felt in Gyeongju. Instead, I’m sharing with you what to do and what to see via my lens, the lens of my phone to be more accurate.
Food


What was really surprising is the large number of restaurants offering western food especially pizza. I had a pizza for dinner one evening and it was absolutely delicious.
Historical sites







Bulguksa Temple





From Bulguksa temple, people can drive, take a bus or alternatively there’s a hiking path to the grotto. It was about an hour hike, mostly easy but it kept getting steeper as I got closer to the mountain top.

Hanok stay


Despite the lack of common spoken language, the hanok owners and I managed to exchange few conversations and a lot of smiles. They even gifted me a set of Gyeongju postcards before I leave.

Beautiful walks




Take it slow & soak up the vibes of Gyeongju
This is probably the highlight of my visit to Gyeongju, partly because I didn’t expect this part of the city to be boosting with cafes, restaurants and so much life.
My day would start by checking out some of the landmarks then I’d walk aimlessly just to admire the buildings, street art and to watch young couples queuing for food or tarot readings as you do.







I did get my reading (is that even the right expression?) but in a different city.

















If you’ve scrolled so far, thank you. I hope you enjoyed this photo essay. A lot of us can only virtually travel at the moment by looking at travel videos, photos and blogs. I hope these photos would cheer you up.
It is not surprise that Gyeongju is called the museum without walls. Just like a museum, there’s so much to learn in this city. It is like taking a trip back in time to relive in the Silla period. And just like a museum, you need to slow down, take your time and pay attention to the details.