Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hootsmon]

In a couple of weeks I'm heading down to Gyeongju with the girlfriend for two nights, three days (though travelling down on the afternoon of the first and returning on the evening of the third, so more like an evening, a full day and a morning+afternoon).

Anyway, specifics aside, I was just wondering if anyone had anything to recommend in the city. I'm a big history fan and like any old buildings, ruins, forts, palaces, temples, tombs etc. and I know the city and surround area is bursting with them, so I'm looking for any suggestions for things I shouldn't miss. Hiking is not a problem for me. The girlie likes hiking too but isn't so good at it, so nothing too taxing (like an 8 hour hike around the Namsan area might be too much).

Not planning on any nights out drinking so not bothered about that but recommendations of nice restaurants/hotels/motels is welcome.

Thanks in advance! Really looking forward to this vacation - work has been stressful this year, my previous plans to go on vacation in February fell apart at the last minute and this is my first chance to get out of the Seoul Metro area for a couple of nights and I can't wait - want to see as much as possible ^^

[tzechuk]

The Gyeongju Hilton is nice and not too expensive (about 100 a night).

[hogwonguy1979]

Most of the big historical places are around downtown which is very compact and easy to walk. Exception is Bulgoksa but that can be reached by city bus.

Hotels, cheapies are near the bus terminals, fancy ones are out at Bomun lake which is nice but a bit isolated from the sites, you can get city buses to Bulgoksa and downtown.

If you havent gotten train tickets yet you may have problems getting one over a weekend (you can either take the KTX to Dongdaegu and transfer to a local train or there are a few that go directly to Gyeongju) buses are frequent

[fakeplastiktree]

There's a city tour bus that you might consider taking. http://www.vsmm.org/2002/tour.htm It's fairly cheap and will take you to all the major tourist sites. Also, you can rent bikes right outside of one of the bus terminals (I can't remember which one, but they're right beside each other anyway), which is a nice way to see the city. There's a helpful, English-friendly tourist information kiosk in between the two bus stations where they can show you how to get to the various sites.

[Bibbitybop]

What's that lake in the northern area? I forget, too lazy to find my map at the moment. It's a man-made lake. The hotels there are expensive. What I would get at a Motel 6 in the USA runs 150,000 or more.

When I travel, I put my money into fun things and drinks while staying at 25,000 to 40,000 won love motels.

[tzechuk]

http://www.kyongjuhilton.co.kr/

http://www.kyongjuhilton.co.kr/Package/package_View.aspx?idx=61

Weekday rate is 100,000 including breakfast (excluding tax and service charge)

Friday is 120,000 and Saturday is 130,000. All inclusive of breakfast.

I think that's pretty good for a 5 star hotel.

[scribld]

The Bellus Hotel is near the bus station, and is about 50,000 won a night. Small rooms, but clean, and there's a coffee shop and bar/club in it too.

There's also a hostel a few blocks from there, 20,000 won a night I think. It's a quirky building, but clean and friendly.

Both places speak enough English.

[scribld]

Definitely head out to Bulguksa - I was there a couple days ago and it was well worth it.
You can take public buses 10 or 11 out from the downtown area (this also goes by Boemun Lake and the museum) for 1,500 won. Any of the tourist offices can give you great directions and time schedules.
Once you're at Bulguksa, there's a tourist village of a sort that is a bit pricey, but the souvenirs and such don't seem to be jacked up any. I also noticed a very fancy hostel in this area.

There's a shuttle from Bulguksa to the Seokgram Grotto - again, 1,500 won each way. It's a very impressive drive up, since it climbs a winding road up to the ridge, then along the top. Otherwise, you can hike up from Bulguksa temple (not the parking lot) to the grotto, which takes about 1 hour.

[Bibbitybop]

I have also heard that the "water tomb," which is far from the city and on the ocean, is just a bunch of rocks in the water and not impressive.

I hiked some of the mountains around Gyeongju, like Namsan, and loved it. Even on a weekend, there weren't many people. The mountain is scattered with small offshoot trails with old relics and shrines at the end of them.

[doc_ido]

I stayed at the Sa Rang Chae minbak (http://www.kjstay.com/eng.htm) - it's in the Lonely Planet so you get plenty of backpackers there, but I found it a really nice traditional place if that's your thing.

[Hootsmon]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Was originally thinking about staying at one of the expensive hotels for a treat but as we'll probably be out exploring until quite late then out for dinner, a nice and clean motel will probably do the job. We ain't posh folk, like.

Will steer clear of the water tomb - ta for the heads up there.

I'm definitely wanting to spend at least an afternoon hiking around the Namsan area and exploring all the wee trails to see what we can find. Sounds like Bulguksa and the grotto will also be on the list of things we should do.

The bus tour I'm not so sure about...maybe...but renting a bike is definitely going to happen. Hope the weather is good!

Well, got just over a week to go. Any more ideas, let me know. Thanks again!

[hogwonguy1979]

best advice is to rent a bike one day and wander around downtown for a morning, its really compact. there are a ton of bike rental places near the bus terminals and cheap hotels.

an interesting hike is from Bulgoksa to Seokorram, that way you aint mobbed on a bus winding around the mountain. the city buses there run from the area near the bus terminals

there are a ton of options in hiking namsan