Cover From ancient royal tombs to serene temples and scenic hills, Gyeongju offers a journey through South Korea’s past and the settings of your favourite K‑dramas. This guide highlights experiences that connect history, culture and iconic filming locations (Photo: Zero Take/Unsplash)
From ancient royal tombs to serene temples and scenic hills, Gyeongju offers a journey through South Korea’s past and the settings of your favourite K‑dramas. This guide highlights experiences that connect history, culture and iconic filming locations (Photo: Zero Take/Unsplash)
1 / 1
A guide to things to do in Gyeongju, highlighting historic sites and famous K‑drama filming spots
Gyeongju, long celebrated as South Korea’s ancient capital, has recently drawn attention from K‑drama fans seeking real‑world backdrops of their favourite series. Historic sites like Donggung Palace, Wolji Pond and the Five Royal Tombs have featured in productions including Princess Hours (2006), Mr. Sunshine (2018) and The Beauty Inside (2018), while Bon Appetit, Your Majesty (2025) used the slopes of Mount Obong for pivotal scenes. Visitors can trace these filming locations while exploring centuries of Silla architecture and scenic landscapes, offering a unique blend of heritage, visual storytelling and contemporary culture. Planning a trip here benefits from a clear sense of things to do in Gyeongju, from royal tombs and observatories to temples, museums and craft villages, ensuring both drama enthusiasts and cultural explorers find experiences that connect history with the screen.
Read more: Winter warmers: 9 K-dramas that bring holiday magic
Visit Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond
Above An illuminated palace complex and reflective pond used as a backdrop for courtly scenes in historical K-dramas (Photo: John Ko/Unsplash)
An illuminated palace complex and reflective pond used as a backdrop for courtly scenes in historical K-dramas (Photo: John Ko/Unsplash)
1 / 1
Donggung Palace and its adjacent Wolji Pond (formerly Anapji) were once part of a secondary royal palace complex. Reconstructed pavilions sit beside a reflective pond that comes alive at night with lighting that highlights traditional architecture. This site appears frequently in guided lists of things to do in Gyeongju and has featured in televised works where period‑scene aesthetics are needed.
Stand before Cheomseongdae Observatory
Above One of Asia’s oldest observatories and a quiet landmark often framed in wide establishing shots (Photo: Rawkkim/Unsplash)
One of Asia’s oldest observatories and a quiet landmark often framed in wide establishing shots (Photo: Rawkkim/Unsplash)
1 / 1
Cheomseongdae is among the oldest surviving observatories in Asia and a central landmark in Gyeongju’s historic precinct. Built during the seventh century, it has endured as a focal point for visitors on lists of things to do in Gyeongju. The stone structure’s geometric form makes it a frequent subject of photography and a recognisable point of interest in the city’s skyline.
Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto
Above A Unesco-listed temple complex offering architectural detail and mountain settings seen across historical productions (Photo: KS Kyung/Unsplash)
A Unesco-listed temple complex offering architectural detail and mountain settings seen across historical productions (Photo: KS Kyung/Unsplash)
1 / 1
Bulguksa Temple, a Unesco World Heritage site, stands on the slopes of Tohamsan Mountain and houses several national treasures, including its twin pagodas and gilt‑bronze statues of Buddha. Nearby, Seokguram Grotto contains a seated Buddha statue set within an artificial cave. Both sites offer insight into Buddhist art and architecture of the Unified Silla period and are listed prominently among things to do in Gyeongju for those interested in cultural history.
Discover filming locations on Mount Obongsan
The terrain around Mount Obongsan has been chosen as a filming location for recent and past dramas. Madangbawi, a rocky terrace near the summit, was used in the 2025 series Bon Appétit, Your Majesty for scenes involving dramatic encounters. Fans of such shows will find the landscape’s stark lines and elevated views a departure from temple complexes and tombs, but consistent with things to do in Gyeongju for enthusiasts of K-drama-inspired itineraries.
Visit the K‑pop museum
Not all things to do in Gyeongju relate to ancient history. The K-Pop Museum in the Bomun Lake Resort area documents the development of Korean popular music from the early 20th century to the present and holds a significant collection of items. While not a filming site itself, it connects the city to modern Korean pop culture in ways that may interest visitors with broad contemporary interests.
Don't miss: 9 new museums shaping Asia's cultural scene
Wander around the Gyeongju Folk Craft Village
The Gyeongju Folk Craft Village preserves crafts from the Silla kingdom era in a setting of traditional hanok‑style houses set against a mountain backdrop. This site is included in longer lists of things to do in Gyeongju for those who value craft traditions and quieter cultural exploration beyond the better‑known heritage sites.
Explore the Royal Tombs and historic sites
Above From ancient royal tombs to serene temples and scenic hills, Gyeongju offers a journey through South Korea’s past and the settings of your favourite K‑dramas. This guide highlights experiences that connect history, culture and iconic filming locations (Photo: Zero Take/Unsplash)
From ancient royal tombs to serene temples and scenic hills, Gyeongju offers a journey through South Korea’s past and the settings of your favourite K‑dramas. This guide highlights experiences that connect history, culture and iconic filming locations (Photo: Zero Take/Unsplash)
1 / 1
A cluster of ancient burial mounds known as the Five Royal Tombs or Oreung Tombs sits within the larger historic area and represents a key example of things to do in Gyeongju. These earth‑covered tumuli are believed to hold Silla royalty and have been used as settings in recent dramas for scenes requiring a regal or contemplative backdrop. The broader Gyeongju Historic Areas around the tombs include other tumulus parks and pathways that trace the ancient capital’s footprint.
Many of these sites lie within or near the central historic area and are accessible on foot or by short local transport. For places slightly further out, such as Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, it helps to allocate a half‑day and check seasonality and opening times before you go.
Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
