For central Gyeongju sights such as Hwangnidan-gil and Daereungwon, a car-free walking plan can work. If you want to connect Bomun and Bulguksa as well, the choice becomes clearer when you park at a base whose operation is confirmed and then consider circular routes 10 and 11. Gyeongju City’s webzine describes route 11 as covering a similar area to route 10 in the opposite direction, linking the National Gyeongju Museum, Tongiljeon, Bulguksa, Bomun Tourist Complex, Bunhwangsa and Jungang Market. Because the supporting transport and parking information is marked for rechecking, confirm current frequencies, parking operation and fees, and the Seokguram connection before you go.

A decision guide for combining central Gyeongju, Bomun and Bulguksa with buses and parking

Choose between routes 10 and 11 by direction

Do not match routes 10 and 11 separately to each attraction. Think of them as opposite directions around a similar area. Choose your first destination among central Gyeongju, Bomun and Bulguksa, then compare which direction reaches the relevant stop first. This is a practical order for making the choice, not a guarantee of today’s travel time.

One republished travel record says that, instead of waiting for route 1150, the writer took a regular bus, transferred at a terminal and used route 10 or 11. The writer’s independence from the source is not confirmed and this is not a current timetable, so treat it only as a possible same-day alternative after checking the route display.

When to park and switch to the bus, and when to start by bus

Parking near Hwangnidan-gil and then using a circular route means leaving the car at one base and splitting central and outer sights by bus. It does not mean searching for a parking space at every stop. The Gyeongju City webzine describes public parking near Hwangnidan-gil and a post-parking circular-bus connection, but the currently available spaces, operating method and fees cannot be fixed from that material alone.

When to park and switch to the bus, and when to start by bus
Trip conditionFirst option to compareDecision basis
Hwangnidan-gil and Daereungwon are the focusWalk without a carThe central area is described as workable without a car.
Connecting central Gyeongju, Bomun and BulguksaPark at a base whose operation is confirmed, then compare routes 10 and 11Consider the routes’ area connection together with the post-parking plan.
Bulguksa and Seokguram on the same dayCompare a car with the route 12 connectionAccess and parking are separate for the two places, and a route 12 connection is described for bus travel.

A traveler moving from a parked car toward a bus stop near Hwangnidan-gil

If parking operation is not confirmed, reset the base at your accommodation or a terminal, leave the car there, and switch to the bus and walking plan. After parking, save the stop location, the vehicle location and the route back on one screen so the return does not depend on memory.

A car can help on a Bulguksa–Seokguram day

When you put Bulguksa and Seokguram on the same day, the car’s advantage is not simply that it is faster. It lets you manage the two places as separate stages. The guidance recommends counting the return to the parking area, the drive, finding a new parking space and entering the temple separately, then using the group’s energy and return time to shorten or drop the second visit. Choose the car when those conditions matter. Choose the bus when the routes 10 and 11 connection, the route 12 connection and enough time between services have all been checked.

Separate reaching the parking area from reaching the final viewing point. The guidance says to check assistance needs and steep stairs in parts of Bulguksa, and the walking and stair access after the Seokguram parking area. If someone in the group uses a wheelchair or stroller or has knee-related walking limits, check each site’s official accessibility information and on-site route before comparing transport modes.

A traveler checking Bulguksa and Seokguram as separate travel stages

Adjust for rain and operating changes

In rain or strong wind, change the day’s focus before choosing a transport mode. A travel record from 5 February 2024 says the writer reduced outdoor plans after checking a storm warning, rain and strong wind, and shifted towards the National Gyeongju Museum and other indoor stops. That is a record from one day, not a guarantee of how transport or attractions operate in every wet-weather situation; use it as a reason not to lock in long walks and multiple transfers.

Before leaving, one set of guidance suggests planning the whole route in NAVER Map, checking live buses in KakaoMap and comparing any discrepancy with the Gyeongju Traffic Information Center. This article has not independently verified current service, so check each of the following close to departure.

Six checks before you go

  • Current direction, stops and frequency for routes 10 and 11.
  • Current parking availability, operating method and fees.
  • The route 12 connection between Bulguksa and Seokguram, plus the return connection.
  • Walking and stair conditions after parking, matched to your group’s mobility.
  • Whether the bus service and your indoor alternative still work in rain or strong wind.
  • The base where you can leave the car and the return plan if you miss the final connection.

If checking all six is difficult, it is safer not to force Bulguksa and Seokguram into the same day.

Sources:

Images are examples to aid understanding.

Last checked: 2026-09-09

Sources & verification

A source-based guide. Check the linked operator information again before you travel.

  1. Gyeongju City webzine: routes 10 and 11 and parking-after-bus connectionsSources checked:
  2. Bulguksa and Seokguram itinerary design guidanceSources checked:
  3. Bulguksa and Seokguram connection guidanceSources checked:
  4. Gyeongju two-day public-transport itinerary guidanceSources checked:
  5. Gyeongju public-transport route-checking guidanceSources checked:
  6. Gyeongju Station to Bulguksa travel recordSources checked:
  7. Rainy and windy Gyeongju itinerary change recordSources checked:

Illustrations are examples to aid understanding, not photographs taken on site. Actual photographs have separate source credits.

Continue planning