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A building of the Gyeongju National Museum

No. 38 Top 100 Most Visited Art Museums 2025 · 1,976,313 visitors in 2025

Gyeongju National Museum

Gyeongju, South Korea · City guide: Gyeongju

The treasures of the Silla kingdom: gold crowns, Buddhist sculpture and Korea's most famous bronze bell.

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Photo: by martinroell, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The Gyeongju National Museum is No. 38 in The Art Newspaper's survey of the world's most visited art museums, with 1,976,313 visitors in 2025, up 46% on 2024. Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla kingdom for nearly a thousand years, and the museum holds the finest collection of Silla art.

Its galleries cover the history and art of Silla, from the gold of its royal tombs to Buddhist sculpture, along with finds from the palace pond of Wolji. Entry to the permanent galleries is free.

The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok at the Gyeongju National Museum
The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok at the Gyeongju National Museum. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC0, source

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings are the quietest. Spring cherry blossom and autumn foliage make Gyeongju busy. Check the official website for hours.

Highlights & collections

  • 1

    Silla gold crowns

    Spectacular gold crowns and ornaments from the royal tombs of Gyeongju.

  • 2

    Divine Bell of King Seongdeok

    A great bronze bell completed in 771, one of the largest and most beautiful in Korea, displayed in the grounds.

  • 3

    Silla Art Gallery

    Buddhist sculpture and decorative arts of the Silla period.

  • 4

    Wolji Gallery

    Objects recovered from the pond of the Silla royal palace.

  • 5

    Outdoor exhibits

    Stone pagodas and sculptures set around the museum grounds.

Getting there

The museum is in central Gyeongju, near Wolji Pond and Donggung Palace and the royal tombs. KTX trains run to Singyeongju station, from which city buses and taxis reach the museum.

Visiting tips

Tickets & hours
Entry to the permanent galleries is free; some special exhibitions charge. Check the official website for hours.
Time needed
One to two hours.
Currency
South Korean won (KRW). Cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Visa & entry
Citizens of 22 countries and regions, including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and several EU countries, are exempt from the K-ETA until 31 December 2026 and fill in an e-Arrival card instead. Other visa-free visitors need a K-ETA before boarding. Apply only at k-eta.go.kr.

Official information: Gyeongju National Museum (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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