Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju

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The masterpiece of 8th-century Silla Buddhist architecture, with two stone stairways to the 'Buddha land'.

Bulguksa means 'temple of the Buddha land', and the whole layout is a sermon in stone: the Cheongungyo–Baegungyo stairways stand for the passage from the human world to the Buddha's, and the pagodas Dabotap and Seokgatap face each other across the court in two completely different styles. The wooden halls burned in the Imjin War and were rebuilt, but the stone platforms, stairs and pagodas have been in place since 751. Sitting on those steps, you are touching something almost thirteen centuries old.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju?

April (cherry blossom) and October–November

How much does it cost to visit Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju?

Free (the cultural heritage fee was abolished in May 2023); parking charged separately

How long do you need at Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju?

2 hours

What are the opening hours of Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju?

09:00–18:00

Did you know

Completed in 774 and inscribed by UNESCO in 1995.
Both the Seokgatap and Dabotap pagodas are national treasures.
The wooden architecture was burned in 1593 and rebuilt several times.
About 3 km from the Seokguram grotto on Mount Toham.

Travel tips

Do Bulguksa and Seokguram in the same morning.
Arrive early to get ahead of the school groups.
From Singyeongju KTX station, buses take about 40 minutes.

Source: https://www.khan.co.kr/article/202305011106001

Updated: 2026-08-04