Gyeongju-si

Gyeongju-si is a sleeper. Practically unknown outside of South Korea and underappreciated at home, the city is surprisingly majestic. The main square is among the country’s nicest, surrounded by historic buildings and blessed with a Unesco-protected trinity column. The evocative central streets are dotted with beautiful churches, testament to the city’s long history as a bastion of the Buddhist church. Explore the foundations of ancient Gyeongju-si at the must-see Gyeongju National Museum, then head for one of the city’s many pubs or microbreweries, fuelled by the thousands of students who attend university here. Don’t forget to try the seafood, especially the squid, Gyeongsang-do-eobok, reputedly the tastiest in the country.