BY KTX
Korean temples you can reach by KTX from Seoul
These 8 temples outside Seoul pair well with a KTX trip. For most of them you take the KTX to a nearby city, then a local bus or taxi for the final leg.
The directions are the same checked Getting there text as on each temple page. Check train times and actual travel time with KORAIL and a map app before you go.
Admission and English-friendliness in the table are the same checked values as on each temple page. Open a temple for opening hours, etiquette and a taxi card you can show a driver without speaking Korean.
| Temple | Region | Admission | English | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beomeosa Temple | Busan | Free | High | Day visit or templestay |
| Hwaeomsa Temple | Gurye, Jeonnam (Mt. Jirisan) | Free | Medium | Day visit or templestay |
| Bulguksa Temple | Gyeongju | Free | High | Day visit or templestay |
| Golgulsa Temple | Gyeongju | Free | High | Day visit or templestay |
| Musangsa Temple (International Zen Center) | Gyeryong, Chungnam | Free | High | Day visit or templestay |
| Mihwangsa Temple | Haenam, Jeonnam | Free | High | Day visit or templestay |
| Woljeongsa Temple | Pyeongchang (Gangwon) | Free | High | Day visit or templestay |
| Tongdosa Temple | Yangsan (Gyeongnam) | Free | High | Day visit or templestay |
Beomeosa Temple 범어사
The spiritual crown of Mt. Geumjeongsan, one of the three great temples of Yeongnam
A majestic mountain monastery easily accessible by Busan subway, famous for its wisteria valley and stone streams.
Getting there: From Busan Metro Line 1 Beomeosa Station, walk up the lane between Exits 5 and 7 (under 5 minutes) to the Beomeosa Entrance stop (B-I Mart) and take bus 90 to the Beomeosa ticket office stop (about 3.5 km from the station). Bus 90 also leaves from the stop outside Nopo Station Exit 2.
Beomeosa Temple: Hours, etiquette and taxi card →Hwaeomsa Temple 화엄사
The grand Avatamsaka sanctuary nestled in Mt. Jirisan featuring National Treasure Gakhwangjeon
A majestic cathedral-scale mountain monastery in Mt. Jirisan National Park. Renowned for its towering Gakhwangjeon Hall, deep dawn chanting, the dark red plum blossoms beside Gakhwangjeon, and foreigner-friendly vegan culture.
Getting there: Take the KTX from Yongsan to Guryegu Station, then a taxi (about 25 minutes, about 14 km, roughly 18,000 KRW). From Gurye Bus Terminal in Gurye town, take a city bus or a taxi (about 10 minutes, per the temple).
Hwaeomsa Temple: Hours, etiquette and taxi card →Bulguksa Temple 불국사
The pinnacle of millennial Silla Buddhist art and stone architecture (UNESCO World Heritage)
Home to Dabotap, Seokgatap, and stone bridges embodying ancient Pure Land vision. Unrivaled historic gravitas.
Getting there: From the Gyeongju Station (KTX) stop outside KTX Gyeongju Station, express bus 1150 runs to the Bulguksa stop without a transfer (about 1 hour 5 minutes including walking, per Kakao Map). From the bus terminals in central Gyeongju, city buses 10 and 11 go to Bulguksa.
Bulguksa Temple: Hours, etiquette and taxi card →Golgulsa Temple 골굴사
The 'Shaolin of Korea', where you can train in Sunmudo martial arts and traditional Korean archery
If silent sitting feels restless, this is your place. Dynamic, full-body Sunmudo martial arts amid rocky cliffs.
Getting there: From KTX Gyeongju Station, take bus 50, 51, 70 or 71 toward downtown to the Express/Intercity Bus Terminal stop, transfer to bus 100 or 150 to the Andong / Girimsa Golgulsa Entrance stop, and walk about 15 minutes. A taxi from KTX Gyeongju Station or downtown Gyeongju takes about 40 minutes (per the temple).
Golgulsa Temple: Hours, etiquette and taxi card →Musangsa Temple (International Zen Center) 무상사
An authentic international Zen temple where Eastern wisdom meets global practitioners
An international Zen sanctuary with resident multinational monastic teachers, well suited to visitors seeking practice and guidance in English.
Getting there: Take the KTX from Yongsan to Gyeryong Station (about 1 hour 20 minutes), then a taxi (about 20 minutes, about 11,000 KRW) or bus 300, which runs between Gyeryong Station and Musangsa. Book train tickets early for weekends and holidays (per the temple).
Musangsa Temple (International Zen Center): Hours, etiquette and taxi card →Mihwangsa Temple 미황사
An old temple at the southern tip of the Korean peninsula, embracing West Sea sunsets beneath Mt. Dalma's rocky cliffs
One of Korea's most celebrated sunset temples, with dramatic rocky cliffs and the Dalmagodo Trail starting right at the temple.
Getting there: Take a KTX service from Yongsan to Mokpo (about 2 hours 20 minutes), transfer separately to Mokpo Bus Terminal, then take a bus to Haenam (about 1 hour). From Haenam Bus Terminal, allow about 35 minutes by taxi, or about 40 minutes on a local bus that stops at Mihwangsa plus a 10-minute walk from the Iljumun gate. Allow extra time for station transfers and waiting.
Mihwangsa Temple: Hours, etiquette and taxi card →Woljeongsa Temple 월정사
The fir forest trail known as the 'Thousand-Year Forest Path', leading to pristine Odaesan mountain silence
Walking barefoot through the 1km fir forest clears all mental clutter. A superb winter snowscape.
Getting there: Take the KTX from Seoul or Cheongnyangni Station to Jinbu (Odaesan) Station (about 1 hour 20 minutes); a taxi to Woljeongsa takes about 30 minutes for 12.4 km (about 21,000 KRW, per Kakao Map). From Jinbu Intercity Bus Terminal, a taxi takes about 15 minutes (about 18,000 KRW), or take the Woljeongsa/Sangwonsa bus from behind the drop-off area (about 20 minutes), get off at Woljeongsa and walk about 5 minutes. Times and fares vary with traffic.
Woljeongsa Temple: Hours, etiquette and taxi card →Tongdosa Temple 통도사
One of Korea's Three Jewel Temples, enshrining actual Buddha relics without an altar statue
Enshrines genuine Buddha relics in its Diamond Altar instead of statues. The pine-scented Mupunghansong trail is sublime.
Getting there: From the stop outside KTX Ulsan Station, take bus 314 (or 13) to the Sinpyeong Terminal stop, transfer to bus Jisan 1, get off at the Jisan Village stop and walk to the temple (about 1 hour 20 minutes including walking, per Kakao Map). Check routes and frequency in a map app.
Tongdosa Temple: Hours, etiquette and taxi card →