Gyeongju to Seoul
Apr 19, 2014, 11:06 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
Gyeongju to Seoul
After 35 years of traveling to Asia, I'm making my first visit to Korea, and for the most part, I have things planned. FWIW, I'm taking the Beetle from Fukuoka to Busan than proceeding to Gyeongju and Seoul.
The question I have is whether the route Busan->Gyeongju-> Seoul is better by bus or by train. In particular, I notice that there's a Singyeongju Station, but it's unclear whether the KTX goes that far yet.
On the whole, I prefer trains to buses, but if I have to take a local from Gyeongju to somewhere else (Daegu?) to catch the KTX, are transfers difficult or easy?
Thanks in advance!
The question I have is whether the route Busan->Gyeongju-> Seoul is better by bus or by train. In particular, I notice that there's a Singyeongju Station, but it's unclear whether the KTX goes that far yet.
On the whole, I prefer trains to buses, but if I have to take a local from Gyeongju to somewhere else (Daegu?) to catch the KTX, are transfers difficult or easy?
Thanks in advance!
Apr 19, 2014, 12:33 pm
#2
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
After 35 years of traveling to Asia, I'm making my first visit to Korea, and for the most part, I have things planned. FWIW, I'm taking the Beetle from Fukuoka to Busan than proceeding to Gyeongju and Seoul.
The question I have is whether the route Busan->Gyeongju-> Seoul is better by bus or by train. In particular, I notice that there's a Singyeongju Station, but it's unclear whether the KTX goes that far yet.
On the whole, I prefer trains to buses, but if I have to take a local from Gyeongju to somewhere else (Daegu?) to catch the KTX, are transfers difficult or easy?
Thanks in advance!
The question I have is whether the route Busan->Gyeongju-> Seoul is better by bus or by train. In particular, I notice that there's a Singyeongju Station, but it's unclear whether the KTX goes that far yet.
On the whole, I prefer trains to buses, but if I have to take a local from Gyeongju to somewhere else (Daegu?) to catch the KTX, are transfers difficult or easy?
Thanks in advance!
Good choice about visiting Gyeongju. The sights are spread out, and I'd recommend learning the right (tourist) bus numbers before arriving. Either that, or rent a bike!
Apr 20, 2014, 5:22 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,352
Yes, KTX goes to Singyeongju. There are tons of trains that stop there from Busan and back to Seoul. Like every 10 minutes almost. A taxi from Singyeongju to downtown Gyeongju is 15,000W. There are tons of buses that go to downtown Gyeongju as well.
You should definitely rent a bike around downtown.
If you want to go to Bulguksa or Seokram Grotto, take bus 10 or 11 from downtown. Once you get to Bulguksa, there is one bus, #12, that will take you up to the Grotto. When you get off the bus at Bulguksa, be sure to tap your T Money card on the way out. You can transfer to the Seokram bus for free. I also recommend walking down the mountain from Seokram to Bulguksa when you're finished. It's an easy, downhill, walk.
You should definitely rent a bike around downtown.
If you want to go to Bulguksa or Seokram Grotto, take bus 10 or 11 from downtown. Once you get to Bulguksa, there is one bus, #12, that will take you up to the Grotto. When you get off the bus at Bulguksa, be sure to tap your T Money card on the way out. You can transfer to the Seokram bus for free. I also recommend walking down the mountain from Seokram to Bulguksa when you're finished. It's an easy, downhill, walk.
Jun 25, 2016, 3:48 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2008
Location: WAS
Programs: AA Ex Plt
Posts: 1,630
Same bus numbers after 2 years? Is there a schedule and/or a route map?
Yes, KTX goes to Singyeongju. There are tons of trains that stop there from Busan and back to Seoul. Like every 10 minutes almost. A taxi from Singyeongju to downtown Gyeongju is 15,000W. There are tons of buses that go to downtown Gyeongju as well.
You should definitely rent a bike around downtown.
If you want to go to Bulguksa or Seokram Grotto, take bus 10 or 11 from downtown. Once you get to Bulguksa, there is one bus, #12, that will take you up to the Grotto. When you get off the bus at Bulguksa, be sure to tap your T Money card on the way out. You can transfer to the Seokram bus for free. I also recommend walking down the mountain from Seokram to Bulguksa when you're finished. It's an easy, downhill, walk.
You should definitely rent a bike around downtown.
If you want to go to Bulguksa or Seokram Grotto, take bus 10 or 11 from downtown. Once you get to Bulguksa, there is one bus, #12, that will take you up to the Grotto. When you get off the bus at Bulguksa, be sure to tap your T Money card on the way out. You can transfer to the Seokram bus for free. I also recommend walking down the mountain from Seokram to Bulguksa when you're finished. It's an easy, downhill, walk.
Jun 26, 2016, 9:52 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,352
Yes, it's the same bus number. They are local buses.
When are you going to Gyeongju? If it's the weekend, expect the buses to be very full. Just squeeze your way in. If you don't mind spending the extra money, a taxi from downtown to the temple and the grotto is around 20,000W if I remember correctly.
As far as a location, the main hotel is nice in quality, but kind of far if you're just going for a day or two. Especially on weekends, the traffic from the downtown tourist sites to that area is tough, and it can take maybe 20 minutes for a very short distance.
Gyeongju the city is a very normal Korean city and is quiet. That being said, we've always stayed downtown. For a short trip, it's central to what you need.
Our general routine is KTX in the morning, arriving just after lunch. Take a taxi to downtown (roughly 15,0000W). Once downtown, we grab lunch near the big park and the tombs. There's a lot of EXTREMELY similar restaurants, so just go for anything there.
Rent a bike anywhere near the park and ride it around to your content. You can use it to ride down to the museum, Anapji, etc. Also, if you go behind Anapji and away from the downtown, there's some good scenery with the mountains and canola flower fields. The bikes you pay like 5,000W each and can ride them as long as you like.
If you go to the temple and the grotto, it's about 45 minutes from downtown by bus. Going to those two places will take the larger portion of a day. The grotto is a quick view, and I'd recommend going there first. The temple is what you make of it, but I'd say about an hour there, too. The walk down the mountain from grotto to temple is nice. Well marked path, many people, maybe 20-30 minutes? I don't remember exactly.
As far as other hotels, yes, your options are love motels. That being said, these are always clean. Especially in a tourist town, they are used to normal tourists staying there and are a popular choice. The love motel always has a reputation, but, honestly, in Korea, they're where you really stay. Outside of like major chains in Seoul, these are what you get. I'd certainly stay in a Gyeongju love motel over these giant, old, ugly "tourist hotels" you see here and there.
When are you going to Gyeongju? If it's the weekend, expect the buses to be very full. Just squeeze your way in. If you don't mind spending the extra money, a taxi from downtown to the temple and the grotto is around 20,000W if I remember correctly.
As far as a location, the main hotel is nice in quality, but kind of far if you're just going for a day or two. Especially on weekends, the traffic from the downtown tourist sites to that area is tough, and it can take maybe 20 minutes for a very short distance.
Gyeongju the city is a very normal Korean city and is quiet. That being said, we've always stayed downtown. For a short trip, it's central to what you need.
Our general routine is KTX in the morning, arriving just after lunch. Take a taxi to downtown (roughly 15,0000W). Once downtown, we grab lunch near the big park and the tombs. There's a lot of EXTREMELY similar restaurants, so just go for anything there.
Rent a bike anywhere near the park and ride it around to your content. You can use it to ride down to the museum, Anapji, etc. Also, if you go behind Anapji and away from the downtown, there's some good scenery with the mountains and canola flower fields. The bikes you pay like 5,000W each and can ride them as long as you like.
If you go to the temple and the grotto, it's about 45 minutes from downtown by bus. Going to those two places will take the larger portion of a day. The grotto is a quick view, and I'd recommend going there first. The temple is what you make of it, but I'd say about an hour there, too. The walk down the mountain from grotto to temple is nice. Well marked path, many people, maybe 20-30 minutes? I don't remember exactly.
As far as other hotels, yes, your options are love motels. That being said, these are always clean. Especially in a tourist town, they are used to normal tourists staying there and are a popular choice. The love motel always has a reputation, but, honestly, in Korea, they're where you really stay. Outside of like major chains in Seoul, these are what you get. I'd certainly stay in a Gyeongju love motel over these giant, old, ugly "tourist hotels" you see here and there.
Aug 29, 2016, 4:29 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
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Posts: 6,016
Yes, it's the same bus number. They are local buses.
When are you going to Gyeongju? If it's the weekend, expect the buses to be very full. Just squeeze your way in. If you don't mind spending the extra money, a taxi from downtown to the temple and the grotto is around 20,000W if I remember correctly.
As far as a location, the main hotel is nice in quality, but kind of far if you're just going for a day or two. Especially on weekends, the traffic from the downtown tourist sites to that area is tough, and it can take maybe 20 minutes for a very short distance.
Gyeongju the city is a very normal Korean city and is quiet. That being said, we've always stayed downtown. For a short trip, it's central to what you need.
Our general routine is KTX in the morning, arriving just after lunch. Take a taxi to downtown (roughly 15,0000W). Once downtown, we grab lunch near the big park and the tombs. There's a lot of EXTREMELY similar restaurants, so just go for anything there.
Rent a bike anywhere near the park and ride it around to your content. You can use it to ride down to the museum, Anapji, etc. Also, if you go behind Anapji and away from the downtown, there's some good scenery with the mountains and canola flower fields. The bikes you pay like 5,000W each and can ride them as long as you like.
If you go to the temple and the grotto, it's about 45 minutes from downtown by bus. Going to those two places will take the larger portion of a day. The grotto is a quick view, and I'd recommend going there first. The temple is what you make of it, but I'd say about an hour there, too. The walk down the mountain from grotto to temple is nice. Well marked path, many people, maybe 20-30 minutes? I don't remember exactly.
As far as other hotels, yes, your options are love motels. That being said, these are always clean. Especially in a tourist town, they are used to normal tourists staying there and are a popular choice. The love motel always has a reputation, but, honestly, in Korea, they're where you really stay. Outside of like major chains in Seoul, these are what you get. I'd certainly stay in a Gyeongju love motel over these giant, old, ugly "tourist hotels" you see here and there.
When are you going to Gyeongju? If it's the weekend, expect the buses to be very full. Just squeeze your way in. If you don't mind spending the extra money, a taxi from downtown to the temple and the grotto is around 20,000W if I remember correctly.
As far as a location, the main hotel is nice in quality, but kind of far if you're just going for a day or two. Especially on weekends, the traffic from the downtown tourist sites to that area is tough, and it can take maybe 20 minutes for a very short distance.
Gyeongju the city is a very normal Korean city and is quiet. That being said, we've always stayed downtown. For a short trip, it's central to what you need.
Our general routine is KTX in the morning, arriving just after lunch. Take a taxi to downtown (roughly 15,0000W). Once downtown, we grab lunch near the big park and the tombs. There's a lot of EXTREMELY similar restaurants, so just go for anything there.
Rent a bike anywhere near the park and ride it around to your content. You can use it to ride down to the museum, Anapji, etc. Also, if you go behind Anapji and away from the downtown, there's some good scenery with the mountains and canola flower fields. The bikes you pay like 5,000W each and can ride them as long as you like.
If you go to the temple and the grotto, it's about 45 minutes from downtown by bus. Going to those two places will take the larger portion of a day. The grotto is a quick view, and I'd recommend going there first. The temple is what you make of it, but I'd say about an hour there, too. The walk down the mountain from grotto to temple is nice. Well marked path, many people, maybe 20-30 minutes? I don't remember exactly.
As far as other hotels, yes, your options are love motels. That being said, these are always clean. Especially in a tourist town, they are used to normal tourists staying there and are a popular choice. The love motel always has a reputation, but, honestly, in Korea, they're where you really stay. Outside of like major chains in Seoul, these are what you get. I'd certainly stay in a Gyeongju love motel over these giant, old, ugly "tourist hotels" you see here and there.
Also, if I took a taxi from the Hilton to the Grotto and then walked down to the temple would it be easy to get another taxi from there to either Gwaereung Tomb or back to the Hilton?
And finally - do you have any idea if it is better to take a bus from Gyeongju to Busan or go all the way back to the train and take that? Seems like the bus would be faster since it's closer. Staying at the Westin in Busan.
Aug 29, 2016, 10:35 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
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Posts: 2,352
Yes there will be taxis at Bulguksa. They should do meter and it should be about 15-20. You don't have to haggle for a taxi ride UNLESS you're trying to get an all day deal.
I've read that they have a train from Haeundae (if you're staying at the Westin there), but I honestly don't know much about it. As I live in Seoul, I always take KTX to Singyeongju. I'd just ask your hotel when you're there the fastest way to get to Gyeongju. They'll know for sure.
I've read that they have a train from Haeundae (if you're staying at the Westin there), but I honestly don't know much about it. As I live in Seoul, I always take KTX to Singyeongju. I'd just ask your hotel when you're there the fastest way to get to Gyeongju. They'll know for sure.
Aug 30, 2016, 12:34 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,016
Yes there will be taxis at Bulguksa. They should do meter and it should be about 15-20. You don't have to haggle for a taxi ride UNLESS you're trying to get an all day deal.
I've read that they have a train from Haeundae (if you're staying at the Westin there), but I honestly don't know much about it. As I live in Seoul, I always take KTX to Singyeongju. I'd just ask your hotel when you're there the fastest way to get to Gyeongju. They'll know for sure.
I've read that they have a train from Haeundae (if you're staying at the Westin there), but I honestly don't know much about it. As I live in Seoul, I always take KTX to Singyeongju. I'd just ask your hotel when you're there the fastest way to get to Gyeongju. They'll know for sure.
Aug 30, 2016, 5:55 am
#11
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
I've read that they have a train from Haeundae (if you're staying at the Westin there), but I honestly don't know much about it. As I live in Seoul, I always take KTX to Singyeongju. I'd just ask your hotel when you're there the fastest way to get to Gyeongju. They'll know for sure.