For almost 1,000 years (57 BC to 935 AD) it was the capital of Silla, an ancient kingdom that ruled most of Korean Peninsula. During the height of the Silla kingdom, Gyeongju was the fourth largest city in the world. Needless to say, you can’t go very far without stumbling upon a palace, temple, ancient tombs, or museum.

While on a road trip through Korea, I found myself in Gyeongju, known as the "museum without walls" because there is so much history that the whole city is like a museum. While I’m not so into history museums and the like, a lot of people recommended that I check out Gyeongju, so I spent 24 hours here, and this is what I did.

First Things First: Rent a Bike

Gyeongju is a very bikeable city: flat, not too big, and there are a lot of bike rental stores around to meet your biking needs. You can rent a bike near the bus station or throughout the city. Or stay at a hostel that has bikes available.

I stayed at Gyeongju Guesthouse and had a bike for the day for ₩5,000.

There are the main sights to see, but with a bike, you can bike around the city at your leisure. The area across the Daereungwon Tomb Complex is vibrant at night and a cool place to cruise around.

Bike through Daereungwon Tomb Complex

At first glance, the area looks like a park with some green mounds all around. But it really is so much more. The 23 mounds are actually tombs of kings and other notable people from the Silla Kingdom. Not unlike the pyramids of Egypt, only a lot smaller and a tad bit newer.

I spent the morning riding around the ancient tombs and enjoying the calm.

Cheomseongdae Observatory

From the tombs, ride south to the oldest observatory in Asia, and quite possibly the world. This observatory was built in the 7^th century under the rule of the Silla Kingdom’s first female ruler, Queen Seondeok. Cheomseongdae literally means "star-gazing tower" in Korean.

After peeping the observatory, stroll through the park and enjoy the flowery scenery.

Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond

Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond is an artificial pond and was part of the palace complex of ancient Silla. I didn’t pay to go in, but if you have the time, it could be worth checking out.

Hop on a Bus to Bulguksa Temple

This head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism was built in 528 and houses seven of the national treasures of Korea. It’s a bit out of the city, you’ll have to catch a bus to get there, but the grounds are worth exploring. (Catch buses 10 or 11 from central Gyeongju, 30 minutes).

The details in the architecture and art work throughout the temple make it a cornerstone site left over from the Silla empire.