We visited some of the must-see spots on any Gyeongju trip — walking all the way from Daereungwon through Cheomseongdae to Donggung and Wolji, enjoying both daytime and nighttime in Gyeongju! Since everything connects on foot, the route was easy to follow, and each spot had a completely different atmosphere so there was never a dull moment.
Daereungwon
Daereungwon is home to a collection of Silla dynasty royal tombs, and admission is free, so you can visit without any hesitation!
Opening hours are from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM!
Daereungwon During the Day
Personally, I preferred Daereungwon during the day. The royal tombs are quite large and the grass is so lush and green — seeing those round burial mounds sitting on the vast green fields was truly healing.
Some people were having picnics there, and just watching them was enough to feel at peace..
Daereungwon at Night
We went back at night too, and the atmosphere was quite different from daytime.
The soft lighting gave it a serene, tranquil feel, but personally I thought Daereungwon looked a bit better during the day. I recommend visiting during daytime when the green grass and wide-open fields really come alive!
The tomb with trees growing on it is called Bonghwangdae. It was so unique that I had to snap a photo. 📸
Cheomseongdae
We visited Cheomseongdae at night, and admission is free!
Opening hours are the same as Daereungwon — from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM!
Surprisingly, there were more people around Cheomseongdae at night than on Hwangnidan-gil. There were plenty of tourists and quite a few international visitors too. Still, the overall atmosphere was on the quiet side, making it great for a stroll.
The park, the lighting, and the wide-open fields at night were absolutely beautiful. Like Daereungwon, the expansive fields were impressive, and with the added lighting it was pure healing!
Nearby Flower Gardens
There are flower gardens around Cheomseongdae, which were also great for photos!
Various flowers were in bloom, and there were nice photo spots too. It's dark at night, so if your main goal is seeing the flowers, I'd recommend visiting during the day!
Around Cheomseongdae
Since Hwangnidan-gil is just above Cheomseongdae, there are plenty of street food options like 10-won bread and chalbori bread.
On the way from Cheomseongdae to Donggung and Wolji, there are street food stalls, and since we were getting hungry from all the walking, we each grabbed a corn pop! 😋
Donggung and Wolji
Last but not least — Donggung and Wolji! This place used to be called Anapji, and we reached it by walking across from Cheomseongdae.
Admission Info
Admission: Adults 3,000 KRW / Teens 2,000 KRW / Children 1,000 KRW
Hours: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (ticket sales close at 9:30 PM)
Note: Food and drinks cannot be brought inside!
Night View
Donggung and Wolji is definitely stunning at night! It was the most crowded of the three spots, which goes to show how famous the night view is. The lights reflecting on the pond were so beautiful — it's clear why people call it the number one night view spot in Gyeongju.
It was a bit tricky to take photos because of the crowds, but if you waited a moment you could get your shot.
Inside, there were also scale models of Donggung and Wolji on display.
That day we did a quick loop through Daereungwon → Cheomseongdae → Donggung and Wolji, then headed to Gidungjip, a Korean bar on Hwangnidan-gil, for some drinks. The distance from Daereungwon to Donggung and Wolji was longer than we expected.
We walked about 8 kilometers in total. 💪 Check out the post below for our review of Gidungjip, a Korean bar on Hwangnidan-gil!
Walking from Daereungwon → Cheomseongdae → Donggung and Wolji lets you cover all the key historic sites in downtown Gyeongju in one go. Everything is within close distance so the route is convenient, and the daytime and nighttime atmospheres are completely different, letting you experience a unique charm at each time of day.
Location | Admission / Hours | Recommended Time |
|---|---|---|
Daereungwon | Free / 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM | Daytime |
Cheomseongdae | Free / 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM | Nighttime |
Donggung and Wolji | 3,000 KRW (adult) / 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM | Nighttime |
If you're visiting Gyeongju, I recommend walking through at least one or two of Daereungwon, Cheomseongdae, and Donggung and Wolji! Take a daytime stroll through Daereungwon, then catch the night views at Cheomseongdae and Donggung and Wolji — you'll truly experience the full charm of Gyeongju!
