Hwangnidan-gil

Behind a wall you can see the grassy mounds of Silla royal tombs, and along the street in front of them runs a line of cafés, bakeries and photo studios under hanok tile roofs. Hwangnidan-gil follows Poseok-ro through Hwangnam-dong in Gyeongju, and its appeal is that ancient tombs and present-day shops share the same view. Daereungwon and Cheomseongdae are only a few minutes' walk away, so the street fits naturally into a day of sightseeing in central Gyeongju.

The name and the transformation

The road was originally called Hwangnam Keungil, "Hwangnam main road". Its current nickname combines the neighbourhood name Hwangnam-dong with Gyeongnidan-gil, a trendy street in Seoul's Itaewon, and it spread online around 2017. Before 2015 it was an ordinary road of old restaurants and run-down houses; from late 2015 shops aimed at younger visitors began to open.

There were about 80 such shops in 2018, and by 2026 the number had reportedly reached around 450. As traffic grew, the road became one-way in 2018, and power lines were moved underground to make it easier to walk. In 2025 it was named Tourist Destination of the Year in the "Star of Korean Tourism" awards.

What to see

• The hanok shopping street: roughly 1.5 km of converted hanok cafés, restaurants, gift shops and photo studios, mixed with buildings from the 1960s and 70s.
• The side lanes: many of the smaller shops are in the alleys rather than on the main road. Several lanes are one-way for cars, so keep an eye on traffic.
• The Daereungwon wall: the Silla tomb park is right beside the street. Walk among the mounds before or after the shops.
• 10-won bread: this coin-shaped pastry was first sold in Gyeongju in December 2019 and then spread across Korea and to Japan.

Good to know

Navigation app data showed Hwangnidan-gil as Gyeongju's most-searched destination in 2023, with the longest average stay of any site at 93 minutes. Expect crowds at weekends and on holidays. In 2026 some nearby city bus stops were removed or moved, so check current stop locations before relying on a bus.

Nearby

• Daereungwon and Cheonmachong tomb: right next to the street.
• Cheomseongdae and the eastern historic area: about 10 minutes on foot, and lit up in the evening.
• Woljeonggyo Bridge and Gyochon Village: a slightly longer walk to the south.

A suggested walk

Because Hwangnidan-gil sits among Silla monuments, a little planning gives you a full day. See Cheonmachong in Daereungwon, come out onto Hwangnidan-gil for lunch, then walk past Cheomseongdae and Gyerim forest to Gyochon Village and Woljeonggyo Bridge. Geumgwanchong tomb and the tomb of King Naemul are also close to this route.

Tripto tips

• Cost and hours: the street is free; opening hours and days off vary by shop.
• Time needed: 1–2 hours for a stroll and a café, or half a day if you add Daereungwon and Cheomseongdae.
• Best time: weekend afternoons are the busiest. Weekday mornings or early evening are more relaxed.
• Parking: public car parks are on the Cheomseong-ro side and around the eastern historic area. Avoid driving into the street itself.
• Getting there: from Gyeongju Station take a city bus or a taxi; check routes in a map app.