Tips · South Korea
Bulguksa and Seokguram by bus: a Gyeongju half-day
Take city bus 10 or 11 from central Gyeongju to Bulguksa, decide on Seokguram, then ride bus 10 back to Cheomseongdae and Donggung Palace.
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The short answer: buses 10 and 11 take you to Bulguksa
From central Gyeongju, city buses 10 and 11, which loop round the main sights, take you to Bulguksa. The two run the same loop, one each way, and turn around at Bulguksa. Bulguksa and Seokguram were listed by UNESCO together in 1995, and both are free to enter.
The area around Bulguksa is a good base for seeing Bulguksa and Seokguram early. So this post puts Bulguksa (and Seokguram) in the morning by bus, then rides bus 10 back to link up with the sites in the centre. The full 2-day Gyeongju route is in a separate post below.
- Morning: bus 10 or 11 → Bulguksa → (Seokguram once you have checked transport)
- Back: bus 10 → towards Tongiljeon, Gyeongju National Museum and Donggung Palace
- Afternoon and evening: Cheomseongdae and Daereungwon → Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond
Bus 10 or bus 11?
Bus 10 runs from the terminal via Cheomseongdae, Bunhwangsa and Bomun Lake Resort to Bulguksa, then back via Tongiljeon, Gyeongju National Museum and Donggung Palace. Bus 11 runs the same loop the other way. Starting from the Cheomseongdae or Bomun side, bus 10 heads towards Bulguksa; from the Donggung Palace or National Museum side, bus 11 does.
First bus 06:00, last 21:40 (from the terminal), about every 20 minutes. Bus 10-1 looks similar but turns back at Gyeongju World and does not reach Bulguksa, so check the number before you board. Check times for each stop and routes at the Gyeongju traffic information centre (its.gyeongju.go.kr).
If you arrive by KTX, several city bus routes stop at Gyeongju Station. Route numbers and times can change, so ask the traffic information centre or the station's tourist information centre (054-771-1336) how to connect with bus 10 or 11.
- Bus 10: terminal → Cheomseongdae, Bunhwangsa, Bomun Lake Resort → Bulguksa → Tongiljeon, Gyeongju National Museum, Donggung Palace
- Bus 11: the same loop the other way
- Bus 10-1: turns back at Gyeongju World (does not reach Bulguksa)
- First bus 06:00, last 21:40 (from the terminal), about every 20 minutes
Fares and transfers: staying on bus 10 is not a transfer
City bus fares are flat regardless of distance: KRW 1,300 for regular buses and KRW 1,700 for seat buses, with KRW 50 off when you pay by transit card.
With a card you get one transfer a day, to a different route within 30 minutes of getting off; a regular-to-seat-bus transfer costs KRW 400 extra. Getting off bus 10 and back on another bus 10 is not a transfer, and neither is a bus you catch after spending more than 30 minutes at Bulguksa.
Admission costs little. Bulguksa, Seokguram, Cheomseongdae and Daereungwon are free, and Gyeongju National Museum is free except for paid special exhibitions. The paid sites are Cheonmachong and Donggung Palace (KRW 3,000 each for adults).
- Regular KRW 1,300 / seat bus KRW 1,700 (KRW 50 off by transit card)
- Transfer: within 30 minutes, different route, once a day (KRW 400 extra regular → seat bus)
- Free: Bulguksa, Seokguram, Cheomseongdae, Daereungwon, Gyeongju National Museum (except paid special exhibitions)
- Paid: Cheonmachong and Donggung Palace, KRW 3,000 each for adults
Bulguksa: the great temple of Silla Buddhist culture
Buses 10 and 11 turn around at Bulguksa. It is the great temple of Silla Buddhist culture, rebuilt on a large scale by Kim Dae-seong in 751, and it holds seven national treasures.
Korea Tourism Organization lists admission as free. Check official information for the walking time from the stop to the temple and the opening hours; temple fees and hours can change.
In spring, Gyeongju City lists the cherry blossoms at Bulguksa among its spring flower spots. Check bloom timing on the city tourism site's flower calendar and cherry blossom alert.
- Rebuilt on a large scale by Kim Dae-seong in 751
- UNESCO World Heritage with Seokguram since 1995
- Seven national treasures
- Free admission (per Korea Tourism Organization)
Seokguram: decide how you will get there first
Seokguram is a man-made grotto built by Kim Dae-seong under King Gyeongdeok (742–765) of Silla, its main Buddha facing the East Sea. It is free, and opening hours vary by season.
From Bulguksa, Seokguram is about 3 km by hiking trail or about 9 km by road. Check bus routes and other transport to Seokguram with official sources such as the Gyeongju traffic information centre or the 1330 tourist helpline.
If you take the trail, wear comfortable shoes and check that day's Seokguram opening hours before you set off. If time is tight, seeing only Bulguksa and heading back to the centre still makes a good half-day.
- Bulguksa → Seokguram: about 3 km by trail / about 9 km by road
- Transport to Seokguram: check official information
- Free; opening hours vary by season
Afternoon in the centre: ride bus 10 back and link the sites
From Bulguksa, bus 10 heads back via Tongiljeon, Gyeongju National Museum and Donggung Palace. If you plan to stop at the museum, check its closing time first: weekdays 10:00–18:00, weekends and holidays 10:00–19:00; closed on 1 January, Seollal and Chuseok days, and the first Monday of March and November.
For Cheomseongdae and Daereungwon, get off bus 10 at the Wolseong-dong Community Centre stop. From there it is a 5–7 minute walk to Cheomseongdae and Daereungwon and 8–10 minutes to Donggung Palace. Cheomseongdae is free and open 09:00–22:00 in summer and 09:00–21:00 in winter. In autumn, Gyeongju City lists the pink muhly at Cheomseongdae among its autumn flower spots.
End the day at Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond: open 09:00–22:00 (last entry 21:30), KRW 3,000 for adults. It is busy with night-view visitors, and arriving close to last entry may mean you can't get in, so go early.
- Morning: bus 10 or 11 → Bulguksa → (Seokguram)
- Back: bus 10 → Gyeongju National Museum or the Wolseong-dong Community Centre stop
- Afternoon: Cheomseongdae and Daereungwon (Cheonmachong KRW 3,000 for adults)
- Evening: Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (last entry 21:30)
Checklist before you go
Check the official forecast for Gyeongju before you go. The evening route and spring blossom planning are covered in separate posts.
Tourist helpline 1330; KTX Gyeongju Station tourist information centre 054-771-1336. Book trains to 'Gyeongju': the station was renamed from Singyeongju on 28 December 2023. Entry rules for Korea depend on your nationality, so check official Korean government information before you travel.
- Check the bus number: 10 or 11 (10-1 does not reach Bulguksa)
- Have a transit card (KRW 50 off, one transfer a day)
- Transport to Seokguram and its opening hours: check officially
- Last bus 21:40 from the terminal: check the time at your stop
- Fees and opening hours: check officially
Plan your Gyeongju trip
We never take payment — compare, then book on the official partner site.
FAQ
Can I take bus 10-1 to Bulguksa?
No. Bus 10-1 turns back at Gyeongju World. Buses 10 and 11 go to Bulguksa: first bus 06:00, last 21:40 (from the terminal), about every 20 minutes.
Is there a bus from Bulguksa to Seokguram?
Seokguram is about 3 km from Bulguksa by hiking trail or about 9 km by road, so check transport with official sources such as the Gyeongju traffic information centre.
How much does the half-day cost?
City buses cost KRW 1,300 for regular buses (KRW 50 off by transit card), and Bulguksa, Seokguram, Cheomseongdae and Daereungwon are free. Cheonmachong or Donggung Palace add KRW 3,000 each for adults.
Do I get a transfer discount on the way back from Bulguksa?
Transfers apply once a day, by transit card, to a different route within 30 minutes of getting off. Getting off bus 10 and back on another bus 10 is not a transfer.
Related reading
ⓘ Photo credits
- Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond · Kouz14 / CC BY-SA 4.0
- A cherry tree near Bulguksa · myllissa / CC BY 2.0