Gyeongju is a city made for walking.

Once the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom, the city is filled with royal tombs, historic observatories, old forests, traditional hanok villages, and beautifully restored landmarks. But modern Gyeongju has another side too — trendy streets, cafés, small shops, and local street food.

This walking route brings both sides together.

Start in lively Hwangridan-gil, taste Gyeongju’s famous 10-won bread, walk among the royal tombs of Silla, visit Cheomseongdae, pass through the legendary Gyerim Forest and Gyochon Traditional Village, and finish beside the illuminated Woljeonggyo Bridge.

No car needed. Just comfortable shoes and an afternoon in Gyeongju.

TODAY’S ROUTE

Hwangridan-gil Street (경주 황리단길)
↓Walk
Gyeongju Hwangridan 10-Won Bread Main Store (경주황금십원빵)
↓Walk
Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex (경주 대릉원)
↓Walk
Cheomseongdae Observatory (경주 첨성대)
↓Walk
Gyerim Forest (경주 계림)
↓Walk
Gyochon Traditional Village (경주 교촌마을)
↓Walk
Woljeonggyo Bridge (경주 월정교) 🏁

START 01. Hwangridan-gil Street (경주 황리단길)

 

Begin your journey at Hwangridan-gil Street (경주 황리단길), one of the liveliest neighborhoods in modern Gyeongju.

The area is filled with renovated hanok buildings, cafés, restaurants, boutiques, souvenir shops, and small street-food stores. It is where the ancient atmosphere of Gyeongju meets the lifestyle of young Koreans today.

Don't rush through it.

Walk through the small streets, look inside the shops, and enjoy the contrast between traditional Korean architecture and modern cafés.

Before entering the ancient part of the city, however, there's one famous Gyeongju snack you should try.

NEXT → Gyeongju Hwangridan 10-Won Bread Main Store (경주황리단 십원빵 본점)

SPOT 02. Gyeongju Hwangridan 10-Won Bread Main Store (경주황리단 십원빵 본점)

 

It's time for your first taste of Gyeongju.

10-Won Bread, or Sipwon-ppang (십원빵), has become one of the city's most recognizable street foods.

Despite its name, it doesn't cost 10 won.

The snack gets its name from its shape: a giant version of a Korean 10-won coin.

And there is a reason this snack belongs in Gyeongju.

The Korean 10-won coin features Dabotap Pagoda (다보탑), one of the famous stone pagodas of Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju.

Break the bread apart while it's warm and you'll usually find melted cheese stretching between the two halves.

Take the classic photo of the giant "coin," enjoy your snack, and continue walking.

From modern street food, we're now heading more than a thousand years into the past.

NEXT → Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex (경주 대릉원)

SPOT 03. Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex (경주 대릉원)

 

A short walk brings you to Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex (경주 대릉원).

The scenery changes dramatically.

Large, grass-covered hills rise from the ground throughout the park. But these aren't natural hills.

They are ancient royal tombs.

Gyeongju served as the capital of the Silla Kingdom for nearly a thousand years, and members of Silla's royal and aristocratic families were buried in enormous mound tombs like these.

Walk between them and you'll begin to understand why Gyeongju feels different from almost every other Korean city.

One of the best-known tombs here is Cheonmachong, where archaeologists discovered thousands of artifacts, including a magnificent Silla gold crown.

Take your time walking through the park.

You aren't simply looking at Korean history.

You're walking through the landscape where it happened.

NEXT → Cheomseongdae Observatory (경주 첨성대)

SPOT 04. Cheomseongdae Observatory (경주 첨성대)

 

Continue toward one of the great symbols of Gyeongju: Cheomseongdae Observatory (경주 첨성대).

Built during the Silla period, this distinctive stone structure is widely recognized as one of East Asia's oldest surviving astronomical observatories.

It may look surprisingly small when you first see it.

But imagine standing here more than 1,300 years ago.

This was a kingdom observing the sky, tracking celestial movements and understanding the changing seasons.

The landscape around Cheomseongdae is also part of the experience. Open fields and seasonal flowers surround the ancient structure, making it particularly beautiful during spring and autumn.

Take your photo and continue south.

The next part of the journey leads beneath the trees.

NEXT → Gyerim Forest (경주 계림)

SPOT 05. Gyerim Forest (경주 계림)

 

Enter Gyerim Forest (경주 계림) and Gyeongju becomes quieter.

The wide-open landscape surrounding Cheomseongdae gives way to old trees and shaded walking paths.

Gyerim isn't simply a beautiful forest.

It is closely connected with Silla history and legend, particularly the story of Kim Al-ji, traditionally associated with the origins of the Gyeongju Kim clan.

You don't need to know every Silla legend to appreciate this part of the walk.

Slow down.

Listen to the leaves and enjoy the shade.

In autumn, the forest becomes especially atmospheric as the leaves begin to change color.

Continue along the path and traditional tiled roofs will soon come into view.

NEXT → Gyochon Traditional Village (경주 교촌마을)

SPOT 06. Gyochon Traditional Village (경주 교촌마을)

 

The next stop is Gyochon Traditional Village (경주 교촌마을).

Traditional hanok houses, stone walls, tiled roofs, courtyards, and narrow paths create another change of scenery.

Gyochon is closely associated with the Gyeongju Choi family and gives visitors another glimpse into the cultural heritage of the city beyond its ancient Silla monuments.

This is a good place to slow down again.

Walk through the village, explore the traditional architecture, and look for local snacks or drinks if you need a break.

If you began this route in the afternoon, the light should now be starting to change.

That's exactly what we want.

Because the final stop is best experienced after sunset.

Follow the path toward the river.

NEXT → Woljeonggyo Bridge (경주 월정교)

FINISH 07. Woljeonggyo Bridge (경주 월정교)

 

Your walking journey ends at Woljeonggyo Bridge (경주 월정교).

During daylight, the large traditional wooden bridge is already impressive.

But wait until the sun goes down.

As darkness arrives, lights illuminate the structure and the bridge begins to reflect across the water below.

This is one of the most beautiful ways to finish a day in Gyeongju.

Look back at where you've been.

You started among cafés and shops on Hwangridan-gil.

You tasted a giant 10-won coin filled with cheese.

You walked among the royal tombs of the Silla Kingdom.

You stood beside an ancient astronomical observatory.

You passed through a forest filled with Silla legends.

You wandered between traditional Korean houses.

And finally, you arrived at Woljeonggyo under the evening lights.

All of it on foot.

ROUTE COMPLETE

Hwangridan-gil Street (경주 황리단길)
↓
Gyeongju Hwangridan 10-Won Bread Main Store (경주황리단 십원빵 본점)
↓
Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex (경주 대릉원)
↓
Cheomseongdae Observatory (경주 첨성대)
↓
Gyerim Forest (경주 계림)
↓
Gyochon Traditional Village (경주 교촌마을)
↓
Woljeonggyo Bridge (경주 월정교) 🏁

Gyeongju isn't a city you need to rush through.

Sometimes the best way to discover Korea's ancient capital is simply to start walking.

One street. One local snack. A thousand years of Korean history.

Autumn in Korea is one of the best times to leave the city and head into the mountains.

And you don’t need a car to experience it.

This journey begins at Seoul Station (서울역), where you board a KTX train and travel east toward the mountains of Gangwon-do. Your destination is Odaesan, one of Korea’s most beautiful places to experience forests, temples, mountain streams, and autumn colors.

This isn’t a trip about conquering a difficult mountain peak.

It’s about slowing down and walking through autumn.

TODAY’S ROUTE

Seoul Station (서울역)
↓ KTX
Jinbu (Odaesan) Station (진부(오대산)역)
↓ Bus or Taxi
Woljeongsa Temple (월정사)
↓Walk
Woljeongsa Fir Forest Trail (월정사 전나무숲길)
↓Walk
Seonjae-gil Trail (선재길)
↓Walk

Sangwonsa Temple (오대산 상원사) 🏁

START 01. Seoul Station (서울역) — Leave the City Behind

 

Your autumn journey begins at Seoul Station (서울역).

Instead of spending another day surrounded by skyscrapers, traffic, and busy streets, board a KTX train and watch the city gradually disappear outside the window.

As the train travels toward Gangwon-do, dense buildings give way to countryside and mountains.

Today’s destination is Odaesan.

Bring comfortable walking shoes, water, a light jacket, and enough time to enjoy the journey without rushing.

NEXT → Jinbu (Odaesan) Station (진부(오대산)역)

SPOT 02. Jinbu (Odaesan) Station (진부(오대산)역) — Gateway to Odaesan

 

Step off the KTX at Jinbu (Odaesan) Station (진부(오대산)역) and the atmosphere immediately changes.

You are now in Pyeongchang, surrounded by the mountains of Gangwon-do.

Jinbu Station is the transportation gateway for this trip. From here, continue toward Odaesan National Park by local bus or taxi.

The first destination inside Odaesan is one of Korea’s historic Buddhist temples.

NEXT → Woljeongsa Temple (월정사)

SPOT 03. Woljeongsa Temple (월정사) — Where the Walk Begins

 

Welcome to Woljeongsa Temple (월정사), a historic Buddhist temple surrounded by the forests of Odaesan.

Before starting the long walk, take some time to explore the temple grounds.

The peaceful temple buildings surrounded by mountains create an especially beautiful scene during autumn, when the forest changes into shades of yellow, orange, and red.

But this is only the beginning.

From Woljeongsa, we leave the temple grounds and enter one of Odaesan’s most famous forest paths.

NEXT → Woljeongsa Fir Forest Trail (월정사 전나무숲길)

SPOT 04. Woljeongsa Fir Forest Trail (월정사 전나무숲길) — Walk Beneath the Trees

 

The scenery changes as you enter the Woljeongsa Fir Forest Trail (월정사 전나무숲길).

Tall fir trees rise on both sides of the path, creating a natural corridor through the forest.

There is no need to hurry here.

Listen to the wind moving through the trees. Feel the cooler mountain air. Look up at the enormous trunks towering above you.

In autumn, the deep green of the fir trees contrasts beautifully with the changing colors of the surrounding forest.

Keep walking.

The short forest walk soon connects to the main journey of the day.

NEXT → Seonjae-gil Trail (선재길)

SPOT 05. Seonjae-gil Trail (선재길) — Walk Through Odaesan’s Autumn

 

Now the real journey begins.

Seonjae-gil Trail (선재길) connects Woljeongsa and Sangwonsa through the forests of Odaesan.

Rather than steep climbing toward a summit, much of the route follows a relatively gentle path through the valley.

Mountain streams run beside sections of the trail. Fallen leaves cover the ground. Bridges cross the water, and the forest becomes quieter as you move deeper into the mountain.

During autumn, this is the heart of the journey.

Don’t think of Seonjae-gil as something you need to finish quickly.

Stop occasionally.

Listen to the stream.

Take photographs.

Sit beneath the trees.

Watch the colors change as sunlight moves through the forest.

The entire experience is the destination.

Continue following the trail through Odaesan until the forest eventually leads you toward another ancient temple.

NEXT → Sangwonsa Temple (상원사)

FINISH 06. Sangwonsa Temple (평창 상원사 중창권선문) — The End of the Autumn Journey

 

After walking through the forests and valleys of Odaesan, you finally arrive at Sangwonsa Temple (상원사).

This is where today’s journey ends.

You started the morning among the crowds of Seoul Station.

You boarded a KTX, crossed into the mountains of Gangwon-do, entered Odaesan through Woljeongsa, walked beneath towering fir trees, and followed an old forest trail through the mountains.

Now, surrounded by the quiet atmosphere of Sangwonsa, Seoul feels very far away.

Take a moment before leaving.

Look back toward the forest you just walked through.

Today wasn’t about reaching the highest point of Odaesan.

It was about experiencing the mountain itself.

ROUTE COMPLETE

Seoul Station (서울역)
↓
Jinbu (Odaesan) Station (진부(오대산)역)
↓
Woljeongsa Temple (월정사)
↓
Woljeongsa Fir Forest Trail (월정사 전나무숲길)
↓
Seonjae-gil Trail (선재길)
↓
Sangwonsa Temple (상원사) 🏁

From a KTX platform in the middle of Seoul to a quiet Buddhist temple deep in the mountains.

This is autumn in Korea — one train ride and one forest trail away.

This route begins at Seoul Station (서울역) and ends at Busan Station (부산역), connecting four highway rest areas along the way.

TODAY’S ROUTE

Seoul Station (서울역)
↓
Anseong Service Area – Busan-bound (안성휴게소 부산방향)
↓
Manghyang Service Area – Busan-bound (망향휴게소 부산방향)
↓
Geumgang Service Area (금강휴게소)
↓
Chilgok Service Area – Busan-bound (칠곡휴게소 부산방향)
↓
Busan Station (부산역)

START 01. Seoul Station(서울역) — Let the Hot Dog Tour Begin!

 

Our journey begins at Seoul Station, one of Seoul’s major transportation hubs.

From the heart of the capital, we’re heading south toward Busan. But this time, we won’t be driving straight to our final destination. Along the way, we’ll stop at four service areas on the Gyeongbu Expressway and enjoy a hot dog at each one.

Think of it as a simple road-trip challenge: one stop, one hot dog.

You can even rate each hot dog as you go and choose your favorite at the end of the journey.

Ready?

Leave Seoul Station, head toward the Gyeongbu Expressway, and begin your journey south.

NEXT → Anseong Service Area (Busan-bound)

SPOT 02. Anseong Service Area (Busan-bound)(안성휴게소 부산방향) — Your First Hot Dog

 

The first hot dog stop of the journey is Anseong Service Area (Busan-bound).

After leaving Seoul and settling into the long drive south, Anseong is a great place to take your first break. It is one of the major service areas along the Gyeongbu Expressway, offering a wide variety of classic Korean highway snacks and quick meals.

Your first mission is simple: choose a hot dog and officially start the tour.

With three more hot dog stops ahead, there’s no need to fill up too much here. Grab a hot dog, enjoy a drink, stretch your legs, and get ready to hit the road again.

The journey has only just begun.

NEXT → Manghyang Service Area (Busan-bound)

SPOT 03. Manghyang Service Area (Busan-bound)(망향휴게소 부산방향) — Hot Dog Number Two

 

Our second stop is Manghyang Service Area (Busan-bound), a major rest area in the Cheonan region.

This is where you take on your second hot dog of the day.

Try something different from what you had at Anseong. Compare the sausage, bread, toppings, sauces, texture, and overall flavor.

Traveling with friends or family? Make it a competition. Give each hot dog a score out of five and keep track of the results until you reach Busan.

Two stops completed, two more hot dogs to go.

Now it’s time to continue south toward one of the most scenic stops on the route.

NEXT → Geumgang Service Area

SPOT 04. Geumgang Service Area(금강휴게소) — A Hot Dog with a River View

 

The third destination is Geumgang Service Area.

What makes this stop special is its location right beside the Geumgang River. Unlike a typical highway rest area where travelers simply grab some food and leave, Geumgang Service Area gives you a reason to slow down and enjoy the scenery.

Pick up your third hot dog and find a spot where you can enjoy the river view.

This is also one of the best photo opportunities on the tour. Instead of taking a simple close-up of your food, try capturing your hot dog with the Geumgang River in the background.

A hot dog, a beautiful river view, and a short break from the highway — sometimes the simplest moments become the best memories of a road trip.

By now, you’ve traveled a significant distance from Seoul.

Take a good rest, stretch your legs, and prepare for the final hot dog stop.

NEXT → Chilgok Service Area (Busan-bound)

SPOT 05. Chilgok Service Area (Busan-bound)(칠곡휴게소 부산방향) — The Final Hot Dog

The final hot dog stop before reaching Busan is Chilgok Service Area (Busan-bound).

Located before entering the Daegu area, Chilgok is a convenient place to take one last major break before the final stretch of the journey.

The area around Waegwan is also known for locally made sausages, making Chilgok a fitting final destination for a road trip built around hot dogs and sausages.

If you’ve followed the entire route, this is hot dog number four.

Now comes the important question:

Which stop had the best hot dog?

Think about more than just flavor. Consider the sausage, toppings, portion, atmosphere, scenery, and the overall experience of each stop.

Choose your personal BEST HOT DOG OF THE TOUR before getting back in the car.

The hot dog challenge is complete, but the road trip isn’t over yet.

There is one final destination ahead.

NEXT → Busan Station

FINISH 06. Busan Station(부산역) — Hot Dog Tour Complete!

Welcome to Busan Station!

After starting at Seoul Station and traveling through Anseong, Manghyang, Geumgang, and Chilgok, you’ve finally reached Busan.

You’ve traveled nearly 400 kilometers and turned an ordinary highway drive into a themed road-trip experience.

TODAY’S ROUTE

Seoul Station
↓
Anseong Service Area (Busan-bound)
↓
Manghyang Service Area (Busan-bound)
↓
Geumgang Service Area
↓
Chilgok Service Area (Busan-bound)
↓
Busan Station

Normally, a Seoul-to-Busan road trip is all about one question: “How quickly can we get there?”

But this journey asks something different:

“What can we experience along the way?”

By connecting several ordinary highway stops around one simple theme — hot dogs — the drive itself becomes part of the adventure.

And the idea doesn’t have to end with hot dogs. Next time, you could create a Korean highway tour around tteokbokki, fish cakes, walnut pastries, ramyeon, coffee, regional specialties, or even the best scenic rest areas.

So the next time you travel from Seoul to Busan, don’t just enter your destination and drive straight there.

Start at Seoul Station, conquer four hot dog spots along the Gyeongbu Expressway, and finish your journey at Busan Station.

Same road. Same destination. A completely different journey.

Nationwide Highway Rest Area Okdu Food Hot Dog Tour — Presented by Okdu Food
Discover Korea’s highway rest areas through a special hot dog road trip presented by Okdu Food.

Official Website: http://www.okdufood.com/