Kicked Off the Day with a Simple Breakfast
We had a simple breakfast of toast with butter and coffee in the lounge area of our hotel in Gyeongju.
By the way, you may also check out my full summary post here for a day-by-day breakdown.
Daereungwon Tomb Complex
After breakfast, we walked towards Daereungwon Tomb Complex under the gentle morning sun. The weather was perfect—bright and cold, but not too freezing.
Seeing the giant brown tombs rising from the earth was surreal. They looked peaceful, majestic, and kind of magical, especially with the soft winter sunlight casting long shadows over the mounds. It honestly felt like we had stepped into another era.
The Daereungwon Tomb Complex is one of the most iconic historical sites in Gyeongju and offers a fascinating glimpse into the burial practices of the Silla Kingdom. The complex is home to more than 20 large earthen mound tombs, believed to be the final resting places of Silla royalty and nobility from over a thousand years ago.
One of the most famous tombs here is Cheonmachong, or "Heavenly Horse Tomb," which you can actually enter and explore inside. It contains fascinating artifacts including a gold crown and ancient relics that showcase the wealth and craftsmanship of the Silla era.
Walking through the park-like grounds feels peaceful and surreal—especially in winter, when the golden-brown mounds under the crisp sky look absolutely ethereal. It’s a must-visit site for anyone interested in Korea’s ancient history.
One of the most famous tombs here is Cheonmachong, or "Heavenly Horse Tomb," which you can actually enter and explore inside. It contains fascinating artifacts including a gold crown and ancient relics that showcase the wealth and craftsmanship of the Silla era.
Walking through the park-like grounds feels peaceful and surreal—especially in winter, when the golden-brown mounds under the crisp sky look absolutely ethereal. It’s a must-visit site for anyone interested in Korea’s ancient history.
Cheomseongdae, Wolseong, Seokbinggo, Donggung Palace & Anapji Pond
From there, we made our way through a series of historical landmarks that played a huge role in the Silla kingdom.
First up was Cheomseongdae Observatory, the oldest of its kind in Asia—it’s small, but knowing it was built in the 7th century? Mind-blowing. We also visited the Wolseong Palace site, then the Seokbinggo Ice Storage, which was fascinating. Imagine ancient Koreans preserving ice before freezers were a thing!
Then came Donggung Palace & Anapji Pond—this place was so serene. The stillness of the pond, the simple beauty of the pavilions, and the sense of history in the air… it was honestly one of my favourite spots in Gyeongju. We ended up spending the entire morning till late afternoon soaking in all these gems.
Then came Donggung Palace & Anapji Pond—this place was so serene. The stillness of the pond, the simple beauty of the pavilions, and the sense of history in the air… it was honestly one of my favourite spots in Gyeongju. We ended up spending the entire morning till late afternoon soaking in all these gems.
Yangpyeong Haejangguk
Speaking of lunch, we found this cosy local spot serving Yangpyeong Haejangguk—a rich beefy soup often called "hangover soup." No, we weren’t hungover 😅, but this soup was so hearty and warming, it hit the spot perfectly.
Gyochon Hanok Village
As the sun started to dip, we headed to Gyochon Hanok Village. This area is full of traditional hanok houses, quiet streets, and a slower pace. It was so relaxing walking around there—no rush, no noise, just the charm of old Korea glowing softly in the evening light.
Woljeonggyo Bridge
We then made our way to the stunning Woljeonggyo Bridge. If you’ve ever dreamed of walking through a scene from a sageuk drama… this is it. The whole bridge lit up in red and gold tones, with reflections in the water—it was so romantic and peaceful.
Before crossing the bridge itself, we had a bit of fun hopping across the stream using the stone steps laid out like a path. The whole area felt peaceful and almost cinematic, like we had wandered onto the set of a historical K-drama. It was such a beautiful and romantic way to wrap up the evening.
Tomb Mounds View at Night
On our walk back, we passed by the tomb mounds again—this time bathed in moonlight. The gentle lighting around them made the whole scene feel mystical and calm. It’s amazing how different a place can feel just a few hours later. I don’t know why, but the sight really stuck with me.
Gyeongju has this quiet beauty that sneaks up on you, and the more you see, the more you fall in love with it. From sunshine to moonlight, it was a magical journey through Korea’s past. 🌞🏯🌙That wrapped up Day 5. We couldn’t wait to see what Day 6 had in store! ✨
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