Bulguksa and Seokguram

Bulguksa and Seokguram, in the hills outside Gyeongju, are the crowning artistic and spiritual achievements of the ancient Silla kingdom and a UNESCO treasure. Bulguksa is a serene, beautifully proportioned Buddhist temple of the eighth century, famed for its exquisite stone bridges, pagodas and terraces. Above it, the Seokguram Grotto shelters a sublime and serene white granite Buddha, gazing out toward the distant sea, one of the finest Buddhist sculptures in Asia.

What you actually see

• Bulguksa temple - the serene temple with its stone terraces and pagodas.
• The stone pagodas - the famous Dabotap and Seokgatap pagodas.
• The Seokguram Grotto - the sublime seated stone Buddha above.
• The hillside setting - the temples in their wooded mountain surroundings.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the mildest weather and blossom or autumn colour; go early to enjoy the serene temple before the crowds. Bulguksa and the grotto above are usually visited together.

Honest expectations

The famous Seokguram Buddha is now viewed through a glass screen from a walkway, to protect it, rather than up close, which some find distancing. It is a working temple and a popular site, so it can be busy. It is best combined with Gyeongju itself, and the two sites, temple below and grotto above, need a little travel between them.

Nearby

The ancient city of Gyeongju is just below; the coast is a short drive east.