Sarangchae Guesthouse (image from kjstay.com)
I was online this afternoon checking out local pensions for Chuseok when it dawned on me that I’ve been seriously delinquent in updating the “Links” section of this blog over the summer. In fact, for a blog that targets tourists, I hadn’t really posted that many websites for hotels and what not around Gyeongju. After several hours rectifying this oversight, I’ve compiled a formidable (if not definitive) list of local links. Here’s a brief rundown of what I’ve found:
Hotels and Housing
Down around the bus station are scads of love hotels and tourist motels. As they’re already pretty easy to find, I’ll link to the Gyeongju Tourist Hotel as a typical example of the whole lot. Instead, there are a few more traditional guesthouses around town that’d give you a more unique experience, like the Sundo Sanbang Guesthouse or the Shillabang Gueshouse. And of course there’s the classic Sarangchae Guesthouse tucked away next to Daereungwon Tombs Park.
Millenium Palace Resort, Gyeongju (image from www.smpark.co.kr)
If you’re not on a tight budget, there are the dozens of high-end hotels out at Bomun Resort, like the Gyeongju Hilton, the Hyundai Hotel, the Concorde Hotel and the classy Millennium Palace Spa and Resort. In the older tourist village at the foot of Bulguksa Temple, you can find the Valley Motel. Then, heading southwest towards the Ulsan coast is the ultra-chic Mauna Ocean Resort complete with condos, golf course and ocean view.
But for something completely different, why not stay at one of the pensions or traditional-style guesthouses that’ve been popping up in the countryside around Gyeongju lately? They’re private, cozy and romantic. Even if you don’t have a car, many of them provide pick up and drop off service the bus or train stations. Just north of Bomun you can find the Deunjang Guest House, then on the way to Bulguksa there is the lakeside Lacvert Pension. Up on Mt. Tohamsan is the luxurious Jayeonhyanggi Pension as well as the more traditional Dolmok Guesthouse and Chodang-bang Guesthouse. North of town in the Yangdong folk village you can spend the night in the rustic Uyeonje Guesthouse. While nestled at the foot of Mt. Namsan is the lovely Simcheon Pension.
Simcheon Pension, Gyeongju (image from www.simchun.net)
Tourist Sites and Destinations
Most of the actual historical sites around here are covered in Gyeongju’s E-Tourist Guide or on the Korea Sparkling Guide to Gyeongju. But actually all of the historical temples in Gyeongju have their own private homepages, though unfortunately they’re mostly in Korean. In any case, here are the websites of Bulguksa Temple, Seokkuram Grotto, Girimsa Temple, Golgulsa Temple, Bunhwangsa Temple and the modern Manbulsa Temple over in Yeongcheon. You can visit the web page for the Gyeongju National Museum for more info on their current exhibitions. Or you can check this page for an introduction to the rustic charm of Yandong Folk Village.
Out at Bomun Resort, families with kids will want to visit the historical Shilla Millennium Theme Park or the Gyeongju World Amusement Park, complete with its new California Beach water park. The more culturally minded can visit the Gyeongju branch of the Sonje Art Museum or check out the multi-culti fun of the Gyeongju World Culture Expo when it’s in town. While those interested in a proper game of golf can tee off at the Gyongju Country Club.
Of course, I’ve posted links to a lot more exciting sites, like the Korean branch of the Royal Asiatic Society and the Gyeongsangbuk-do Arboretum, but I’ll leave it to you dear reader to click through them yourselves. If I give away all of the links here, that’d plum take all the fun out of things, now wouldn’t it? And if you yourself have stumbled across any other interesting websites related to Gyeongju, feel free to share them in the comments section below. That said, any links involving Viagra, Botox or acia berries will be deleted on sight 
About
13 Comments
What about Couchsurfing? Or is this not really the place for it?
I honestly think it’s a great way to see the interesting side of Gyeongju by staying with people who know the area really well. Even better, it’s free! Although not Gyeongju specific, I suppose.
I personally know a number of folks in Gyeongju who’ve hosted couch surfers over the years, so I’d definitely give couch surfing a shot. For more info, check out this link.
Wow, this is amazingly helpful! Have you personally stayed at any of these places? Simcheon looks especially appealing to me. Do you think it would be a good base of operations for a couple of days? Or would it be better to stick closer in to the city? If the latter, is there a particular place you can recommend? I tried Sarangchae, but they’re all booked.
Thank you!
They only place I’ve actually stayed at myself is the Lacvert Pension between Bomun Lake and Bulguksa (which was excellent, btw). I would suggest staying in a pension outside the city only really if you’ve got a car or you don’t mind catching local buses and taxis. Otherwise, you might find it a bit frustrating if you’re on a tight schedule.
The said, the Simcheon pension looks like a good base for exploring Mt. Namsan and the quaint village of Namsan-dong. It’s not but 10 minutes out of the city by taxi and should be close to a stop for Bus 10 or 11, which run from town to Bulguksa Temple and back. Good luck and let me know how it works out for you
Will be visiting Gyeongju in Dec. How far is the Lacvert Pension from the bus station and how accessible is it to attractions and amenities? Is it safe to return to the Pension after nightfall? our family includes teenagers and a senior member – is this an appropriate place to stay? I know these are a lot of questions but we like what we saw on the website…only thing is we need to think of the practical aspects as well. Many thanks in advance!!
Lacvert is definitly family friendly and it’s out in the country at bit, so it’s pretty safe. It’s on the bus #10 & #11 routes (get off at the stop for the Folk Craft Villiage I think), which run to Bomun Resort, Bulguksa Temple and back into Gyeongju. The only glitch is the busses run about every 20 minutes and it’d be about a 30 minute ride out to the pension. But if that’s not a problem for you, or you don’t mind paying for a cab (about, 10,000 won one way, I’d guess), it’s a unique and enjoyable place to stay. Also, you might contact them and see if they’re willing to pick you up from the station.
I need to find email addresses for accommodations in Gyeongju. I need to book a camera crew for the upcoming Tea Kwon Do Championships. The Hilton is booked and the Hyundai is too expensive. I’ve been thru most of the Hotel links you have posted and the Gyeongju Tourist Eguide & VisitKorea websites. But there are never any Email Addresses listed. Or if I do a Google on the Tel#s I may sometimes get a “hanmail” address which always *fails*.
If you could help in any way to contact the motels in the area would be much appreciated.
Hey Chris, honestly I think your best bet might be to call the Gyeongju Tourist Information line. They speak English and they might be able to even book rooms for you. I’m assuming you out of country, so you’ll want to dial ++82-54-1330 . If you’re in Korea, the number’s just 054-1330 and they’re open I think 10 am to 5 pm Korea time. There are actually quite a lot of mid-range and budget hotels around town. Unfortunately, as you’ve found out, they aren’t easy to contact if you don’t speak Korean. Also “hanmail” blocks a lot of foreign email address automatically as part of their spam filter, which is pretty friggin’ annoying. Anyhow, I hope the Gyeongju Tourist Info can help sort you out. Good luck
You blog is great and is much appreciated. I am so glad I stumbled onto it. Like others, I am also frustrated with the Gyeongju loging situation for non-Korean speakers. While some recommend the hotels near the lake, it seems more convenient, and authentic, to stay in town. However, the in-town lodging choices are hard to navigate in English. For example, I did get a rough English e-mail back from the Hotel Liebe but can’t tell much about it. However, it looks like a love motel and don’t know if that is a good option. I’m interested in the guesthouses you mention but have no idea how to connect with them in English. I see you suggest calling Tourist information. Can I e-mail with them in English? Any other ideas on how to book something for a couple of nights in May?
Thanks Ian. Unfortunately the Korean Tourist Organization doesn’t seem to have an email address specifically for booking hotels in Korea. However they do have regional offices around the world that might be able to help you out. Here’s a list with phones numbers and email address for each: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_8_11_2.jsp You might want to try the regional offices in New York, L.A. or Toronto if you’re in N. America. There’s also the K.T.O. email address for complaints: tourcom@knto.or.kr
As for the Hotel Leibe; I’ve never stayed there, but it is one of the older “love hotels” in Gyeongju. I’m sure it would do in a pinch, but I doubt the facilities are as nice as the newer ones. Love hotels don’t age very well. Still, don’t let the “love hotel” thing put you off. They’re they most popular form of mid range accommodation in Korea and can be a bargain. You can’t complain when you get a two person jacuzzi bathtub in a room that costs $50 a night.
I’ll keep on digging and if I find more information on booking accommodations, I’ll let you know. In the mean time, good luck
By the way, if you haven’t seen it yet, you might want to check out the new English website put up by the Gyeognju City Government. They have a lot of different options listed for accommodations (usually with contact info): http://guide.gyeongju.go.kr/deploy/eng/eat/02/02_01/index.html
I lived in Gyeongju in 1990 and have been back several times with my wife and taking tours to Korea. Usually we stay at Bumun Lake in a tourist hotel, but for several reasons I want to be in down town Gyeongju this time. Do you know anything about Motel Leibe or Dream hill Motel. they are both Good Stay Accomidations from the KTO, but I wanted a suggestion from someone who is around there now. Any hotel that would be good for a family of 4 with a 12 year old girl and a 9 year old buy would be great. Please let me know.
Hey John, Hotel Liebe is one of the older so-called “Love” hotels in town. I’ve never been inside so I can’t comment on the facilities. If the name “Love”Hotel” doesn’t scare you off though, the newer one’s by the bus station have some of the best rooms in town, with big screen TVs and jacuzzi bath tubs. I think the “Show” and the “Icarus” are the newest. However, if that’s not quite what you had in mind, the “Bellus” is in the same neighborhood and is more of a normal business / tourist hotel.