TR, Türkçe

Destinations

South KoreaJejuAll travel guides

Topics

Where to stayTravel vlog

About us

AboutContactEditorial policy
Skip to content
Gyeongju'da kaldığımız hanok evin odası

Where to Stay in Gyeongju: Best Areas, Hotels and Hanok Stays

6 areasWhere to stay guide

Where to stay in Gyeongju, in short: for a first visit of one or two nights, stay in the centre, around Daereungwon and Hwangnidan-gil or by Cheomseongdae and Gyochon Village; for a big hotel choose Bomun Lake, and to see the temple early, stay near Bulguksa. We did not stay in a hotel but in a hanok, Soseoljae, next to Cheomseongdae.

Below we compare Gyeongju hotels and hanok stays in four areas: who each suits, how you get around, and the sights and places to eat nearby.

The best areas to stay in Gyeongju

6 areas

Gyeongju is a small city, and most of the sights are close together in the centre. Choosing an area really comes down to two questions: hanok or hotel, centre or lake. The link under each card opens a place to stay in that area with prices for your dates.

Daereungwon and Hwangnidan-gil

Best for: first-timers staying one or two nights: the royal tombs and the cafe street are on the doorstep, and you can walk back after an evening on Hwangnidan-gil. The bus terminal is close too.

Best for: First-timers, evenings out

Getting around: Central; near the bus terminal, walk to most sights

Things to do: Daereungwon Tomb Complex , Cheonmachong , Hwangnidan-gil , Starbucks Daereungwon 

Food and drink: Buddha face bread , Hwangnam Jjondeugi , a concept cafe , Daereung Galbi (Hanwoo barbecue) 

Watch on YouTube · 9:51  walking Hwangnidan-gil

Browse hotels in Daereungwon and Hwangnidan-gil  Ad

Cheomseongdae and Gyochon Village

Best for: anyone who wants a hanok stay and an evening walk to the lit-up Donggung Palace and Woljeonggyo Bridge. This is where we stayed, at Soseoljae next to Cheomseongdae.

Best for: A hanok stay

Getting around: Central; walk to the palace, bridge and museum

Things to do: Cheomseongdae , Gyochon Traditional Village , Woljeonggyo Bridge , Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond , Gyeongju National Museum 

Food and drink: Gyochon Sambaengnyeonjip (bibimbap, bulgogi) , the rice cake shop 

Watch on YouTube · 5:04  walking through Gyochon Village

Browse hotels in Cheomseongdae and Gyochon Village  Ad

Bomun Lake

Best for: big hotels, pools and lake views, or travelling by car. Most of Gyeongju's large chain hotels are here; in return you need a taxi or bus to the centre.

Best for: Big hotels and pools, travelling by car

Getting around: Taxi or bus to the centre

Things to do: We did not go to Bomun Lake; the centre and Bulguksa are a drive away.

Browse hotels in Bomun Lake  Ad

Hanok, Guesthouse or Hostel

Other Places to Stay in Gyeongju

The favourite way to stay in Gyeongju is a hanok: rooms in traditional houses in the centre, around Hwangnidan-gil and Gyochon. On Booking some are listed as hotels, others as guesthouses.

Hanok rooms are often separated by paper doors, so sound carries. If you are a light sleeper, look for a detached room or a whole hanok house.

More about this area

Which One Suits You

  • Hanok: one or two nights, if you want to experience Gyeongju differently. Check whether there is a bed or a floor mattress and whether the bathroom is in the room.
  • Guesthouse: on a budget and in the centre. Small places may not have a 24-hour reception; if you arrive late, ask about check-in first.
  • Hostel: travelling solo. Check whether it is a dorm or a private room.
To see every place to stay in Gyeongju in one list:
Browse hotels in Hanok, Guesthouse or Hostel  Ad

Soseoljae (소설재)

Where we stayed in Gyeongju. We wanted a traditional Korean house, a hanok, rather than a hotel.

  • Area: next to Cheomseongdae
  • Type: hanok, a traditional Korean house
  • Room: floor mattress, ondol floor heating

If a floor mattress is not for you, check the room type before booking. Check Soseoljae Guesthouse Gyeongju prices  Ad

More about this area

What We Thought

  • Room: Wooden ceilings and paper-covered windows; simple but very peaceful.
  • Bed: There is no bed; you sleep on a mattress on the floor.
  • Heating: The best part is the floor. Koreans call it ondol; it gets warm, and when you lie down in the evening the whole day's tiredness goes.
  • Location: Gyochon Village, Daereungwon and Hwangnidan-gil are all within walking distance.
  • Who it suits: Everyone who comes to Gyeongju; I think you should spend at least one night in a hanok.
  • Video: Watch on YouTube · 5:42  our hanok room
Check-in and check-out times
Check-in15:00
Check-out11:00

These are typical times and vary by hotel, so check the exact hours in your booking.

Best Hotels in Gyeongju, Including 5-Star

Our short list of hotels in Gyeongju: most of the city's large and 5-star hotels are at Bomun Lake. We did not stay in any of them; the addresses and locations are from their Booking pages. Our hanok suggestions are in the area cards above.

Hilton Gyeongju

Bomun Lake · Bomun-ro

A big hotel with pools, overlooking Bomun Lake; for lake views and spacious rooms.

Check Hilton Gyeongju prices  Ad

Lahan Select Gyeongju

Bomun Lake · Bomun-ro

On the shore of Bomun Lake; for walks around the lake and a slower stay.

Check Lahan Select Gyeongju prices  Ad

Commodore Hotel Gyeongju

Bomun Lake · Bomun-ro

Within walking distance of the Bomun resort area; simpler than the other two.

Check Commodore Hotel Gyeongju prices  Ad

Good to know: the star rating on booking sites is not always Korea's official hotel grade; if it matters to you, check the hotel's own website.

Our South Korea videos
Things to Do in Busan, South Korea: Sky Capsule, Gamcheon & Korean BBQ | Full Travel Guide Things to Do in Busan, South Korea: Sky Capsule, Gamcheon & Korean BBQ | Full Travel GuideJEJU ISLAND TRAVEL GUIDE (2026) 🍊 Best Things To Do + 3-Day Road Trip | South Korea JEJU ISLAND TRAVEL GUIDE (2026) 🍊 Best Things To Do + 3-Day Road Trip | South KoreaSeoul Vlog: Korean BBQ, Street Food and Nightlife! PART 2 Seoul Vlog: Korean BBQ, Street Food and Nightlife! PART 25 Essential Apps to Avoid Getting Lost in South Korea! 📱 Seoul Vlog PART 1 5 Essential Apps to Avoid Getting Lost in South Korea! 📱 Seoul Vlog PART 1

Where to stay in Gyeongju: your questions answered

Which area is best to stay in Gyeongju?

For a first visit of one or two nights, stay in the centre: around Daereungwon and Hwangnidan-gil, or by Cheomseongdae and Gyochon Village. Most of the sights are in these two areas and within walking distance of each other.

For a big hotel with a pool, choose Bomun Lake; to be at the temple early, stay near Bulguksa. We stayed in a hanok, Soseoljae, next to Cheomseongdae.

What is a hanok stay like?

A hanok is a traditional Korean house. Our room had no bed; we slept on a mattress on the floor, and underneath was ondol, the heated floor Koreans have used for centuries. If sleeping on the floor is not for you, check the listing for a bed; some hanok stays have one.

How many nights in Gyeongju?

One night is enough. The centre and Bulguksa fit into one full day, but Donggung Palace and Woljeonggyo Bridge are at their best after dark. On a day trip from Busan you miss the evening. Our full plan is in the Gyeongju travel guide .

I am arriving by KTX. Where should I stay?

The KTX stops at Singyeongju Station, outside the city; head into the centre rather than staying by the station. Express buses arrive at Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal, which is in the centre near Daereungwon and Hwangnidan-gil. How to get here from Seoul and Busan is in the getting there section of our guide .

Hotel or hanok in Gyeongju?

If you are staying one night, a hanok. It is what makes Gyeongju different, and there are plenty of hanok stays around Hwangnidan-gil and Gyochon. If you want a big hotel, a pool and a breakfast buffet, look at Bomun Lake. All the options are in the other options card below.

Gyeongju and South Korea guides
Things to do in Gyeongju Bulguksa, tombs, food, getting there
Things to do in Busan 30 minutes by KTX
Where to stay in Busan area by area
Where to stay in Jeju area by area
South Korea visa and K-ETA by nationality
Korean phrases hello, thank you, numbers
Plan your trip to Gyeongju
  1. FlightsAdFind cheap flights
  2. HotelsAdFind a good-value hotel in Gyeongju
  3. Tours & ticketsAdBook tours and tickets ahead

Where next

Gyeongju guides

Things to Do in Gyeongju: Bulguksa, Royal Tombs and a Hanok Stay 

Things to do in Gyeongju, Korea: Bulguksa, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, Woljeonggyo Bridge, Daereungwon…

How we keep this page up to date

We review this page regularly. Hotel prices and neighborhoods can change, so double-check with official sources before you go.

Spotted something different on the ground? Let us know and we will fix it.

AdAbout our affiliate links

Some of the hotel, flight, ticket and car rental links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend. Affiliate disclosure 

Gezginbirchef logo
Gezginbirchef

Stuck choosing an area? Let's figure it out together

How many nights, how many of you, what is your budget… Tell us and we will answer from the hotels we stayed at and checked out.

Questions and answers are public: yours may help the next traveler who gets stuck in the same spot.

No questions yet. Be the first to ask.

Hi! Ask anything about this guide and I’ll answer right away: areas, getting around, budget…

Answers are generated instantly by AI from the information on this page; Halil reviews them and publishes the useful ones. Your question is sent to an AI service (Anthropic) to prepare the answer; no name or email is required. Privacy Notice