Palaces, Silla tombs and a beach-city finish
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Seoul, Gyeongju & Busan
Seoul to Gyeongju
Seoul and Gyeongju sit about 276 km (172 mi) apart in a straight line, with Gyeongju to the south-east. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Seoul, Gyeongju & Busan itinerary, a 9-day trip. Here is how long it takes by train, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 276 km · 172 mi
- Est. road distance
- 331–387 km
- Est. drive time
- 3 h 30 min – 6 h
- Direction
- Heading south-east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By train
Our Seoul, Gyeongju & Busan itinerary is planned around rail, so a train is the likely way to cover this leg. Timetables and direct connections vary — check the operator before you book.
By car
Driving is an estimated 331–387 km (206–240 mi) and 3 h 30 min – 6 h at typical average speeds, not a routed time.
KTX trains link Seoul to Gyeongju (Singyeongju Station) in about 2 hours and Gyeongju to Busan in about 30 minutes. Seoul and Busan have excellent subways; in Gyeongju use city buses, taxis or rent a bike.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Gyeongju
The open-air museum of the Silla kingdom, full of tombs, temples and bike paths. Stay 2 days.
Bulguksa Temple
UNESCO-listed 8th-century temple with stone stairways and two famous pagodas.
Gyochon Hanok Village
Restored hanok village by Woljeonggyo Bridge, home of the Choi clan's historic house.
Hwangnidan-gil
Hanok-lined street of cafes, bakeries and casual restaurants near the tombs.
Seokguram Grotto
Granite Buddha in a man-made cave grotto on Tohamsan, viewed behind glass.
Daereungwon Tomb Complex
Grassy burial mounds of Silla royalty; enter Cheonmachong to see a tomb's interior.
Cheomseongdae Observatory
7th-century stone tower, among the oldest surviving observatories in Asia.
Before you leave Seoul
Korea's capital of palaces, markets and late-night neighborhoods. Stay 4 days.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
The largest of Seoul's Joseon palaces, with a guard-changing ceremony at the main gate.
Changdeokgung Secret Garden (Huwon)
Guided walks through a royal garden of ponds, pavilions and old trees behind Changdeokgung.
Gwangjang Market
Century-old market with stalls frying mung bean pancakes and serving yukhoe and mayak gimbap.
On this curated route
Where Seoul → Gyeongju sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Gyeongju to Seoul is the same 276 km in a straight line, heading north-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in December, when Gyeongju averages highs 4°C warmer than Seoul.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul high | 1° | 3° | 9° | 15° | 21° | 26° | 28° | 28° | 25° | 19° | 11° | 3° |
| Gyeongju high | 5° | 7° | 12° | 17° | 22° | 25° | 27° | 28° | 24° | 20° | 14° | 7° |
| Seoul rain | 20 | 31 | 37 | 72 | 84 | 116 | 361 | 260 | 138 | 53 | 47 | 22 |
| Gyeongju rain | 36 | 45 | 61 | 95 | 95 | 126 | 226 | 192 | 158 | 73 | 46 | 34 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Gyeongju month guides.
Seoul to Gyeongju: questions travelers ask
How far is Seoul from Gyeongju?
Seoul is about 276 km (172 mi) from Gyeongju in a straight line, with Gyeongju to the south-east. By road, we estimate 331–387 km (206–240 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Seoul to Gyeongju?
An estimated 3 h 30 min – 6 h, assuming 331–387 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day. Our itinerary leans on rail, so check train times too.
Which itineraries include the trip from Seoul to Gyeongju?
Our Seoul, Gyeongju & Busan itinerary includes this leg. Seoul, Gyeongju & Busan runs about 9 days across 3 stops, best in Apr – Jun, Sep – Nov.
Onward from Gyeongju
- Gyeongju to Busan 76 km
Guides for both ends
- Seoul travel guide
- Seoul weather best time to visit
- Gyeongju travel guide
- Gyeongju weather best time to visit
Gyeongju by month
Plan Seoul → Gyeongju with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.