Snowy Gyeongju Morning
We woke up to a magical winter wonderland—Gyeongju was blanketed in fresh snow, turning the ancient city into something straight out of a fairytale. The snow-covered tomb mounds looked even more surreal and majestic, their soft curves dusted in white under the pale winter light.
By the way, you may also check out my full summary post here for a day-by-day breakdown.
Of course, we couldn’t resist playing in the snow for a bit—throwing a few snowballs and soaking in the moment. It felt like Gyeongju was giving us a final, beautiful send-off before we left. After a short snow adventure, we hopped into a taxi and made our way to the Gyeongju National Museum for one last dive into history.
Gyeongju National Museum
Gyeongju National Museum is a treasure trove of Silla dynasty artifacts, from royal crowns and jewellery to intricate pottery and everyday tools. We spent time wandering through the exhibition halls, learning more about the life and culture of the people who once ruled this region.
Don’t miss the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok, located outdoors in the museum grounds—it’s one of the largest and most famous bronze bells in Korea! There’s also a beautiful open courtyard that felt especially serene with the snow gently falling around us. The museum isn’t just indoors—the grounds are spacious and great for a slow winter stroll.
Coffee Break at Ediya Coffee on Museum Grounds
Feeling a little cold, we took a cosy coffee break at the Ediya Coffee right on the museum grounds. Nothing felt better than warming up with a hot latte while watching the snowy grounds outside the window. It gave us a quiet moment to reflect on everything we’d seen in Gyeongju so far.
Exploring the Ancient Tombs Park in Nodong-dong
In addition to the well-known Daereungwon Tomb Complex, Gyeongju is home to other significant Silla-era burial sites. There are four tombs that located to the north of Taejong-ro and the east of Bonghwang-ro in the Nodong-dong neighborhood. These ancient tombs are presumed to date to the 5th to 6th centuries and belong to the kings or royal family of the Silla kingdom.
The four tombs consist of Bonghwangdae ("Place of the Phoenix"), Geumnyeongchong ("Tomb of the Golden Bell"), Singnichong ("Tomb of the Ornamental Shoe"), and Tomb No. 142. Among these, Bonghwangdae is the largest freestanding ancient tomb in Korea, measuring nearly 82m in diameter and 22m in height. The other three tombs were excavated during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945) and revealed to be wooden chamber tombs with stone mounds.
Artifacts excavated from Geumnyeongchong Tomb include a gold crown, ornate accessories, and an earthenware figurine of a man riding a horse. In Singnichong Tomb, ornate accessories as well as a pair of gilt-bronze funerary shoes decorated with various patterns were found. In Tomb No.142, ornate artifacts including gilt-silver accessories were found.
These tombs, resembling small hills, are interspersed among the residential areas of Gyeongju, allowing visitors to experience a blend of historical exploration and local life. Unlike the more formal Daereungwon complex, the Nodong-dong tombs offer a more relaxed environment where you can walk up close to these ancient burial mounds,
making them a fascinating addition to your Gyeongju itinerary. It was surreal to be able to stand right next to these enormous royal tombs and feel the weight of history.
To end our final evening in Gyeongju, we treated ourselves to a comforting meal at Ilpum Someoligomtang restaurant. The rich, milky beef bone soup was deeply satisfying on a cold winter night, warming us from the inside out. Paired with classic Korean side dishes, it was the perfect farewell feast before heading back to Seoul!
Our last day in Gyeongju felt like a perfect farewell ❄️. The snow, the history 🏯, and the cosy moments ☕️ made it truly unforgettable. With full hearts ❤️ (and full stomachs! 🍲), we were ready to return to Seoul 🏙️ for the final stretch of our Korea adventure. We couldn’t wait to see what Day 7 had in store! ✨
Dinner at 일품소머리곰탕 (Ilpum Someoligomtang)
To end our final evening in Gyeongju, we treated ourselves to a comforting meal at Ilpum Someoligomtang restaurant. The rich, milky beef bone soup was deeply satisfying on a cold winter night, warming us from the inside out. Paired with classic Korean side dishes, it was the perfect farewell feast before heading back to Seoul!