Buseoksa Temple in autumn is one of Korea’s quietest fall escapes: a golden ginkgo road, a 1,300-year-old mountain temple and one of the oldest wooden halls in the country, all with a view across the Sobaek mountain ranges. It sits in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and the KTX-Eum train from Seoul gets you there in about 1.5 hours, so it works as a long day trip or an easy overnight.
Why Visit Buseoksa Temple in Autumn
Buseoksa (부석사) was founded in 676 by the monk Uisang and is one of the seven mountain monasteries listed by UNESCO in 2018 as “Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea.” Its main hall, Muryangsujeon, is a Goryeo-era wooden building and a National Treasure, famous for its gently swelling “baeheullim” columns.
Autumn is the best season for three reasons:
- The ginkgo road. The walk from the ticket gate to the temple is lined with ginkgo trees that turn bright yellow, and the area around Cheonwangmun gate glows with red maples.
- The sunset view. From the terrace in front of Muryangsujeon and Anyangnu pavilion you look out over layer after layer of Sobaek ridges – especially beautiful in clear autumn air.
- Apples and ginseng. Yeongju is apple and Punggi ginseng country; roadside stalls sell fresh harvest fruit in October and November.
2026 timing: a visitor report published October 18, 2026 found the ginkgo trees still green-yellow on October 8 and expected them to turn noticeably yellow from around October 24–25. The usual peak is late October to early November, so the next two weekends are ideal. Colors depend on temperature – check recent photos before you go.
How to Get to Buseoksa from Seoul
By train (recommended)
- KTX-Eum: Cheongnyangni Station → Yeongju Station, about 1 h 32 min – 1 h 49 min, ₩23,300 one way (standing ₩22,100).
- ITX-Maeum: about 2 h 11 min – 2 h 20 min, ₩18,100.
- Around 14 trains a day; first departure 05:40, last 22:00 (timetable for late October 2026). Book on the Korail website or app.
From Yeongju to the temple
- City bus No. 27 or 55 from the Yeongju bus terminal area to Buseoksa – about 30–45 minutes plus waiting; buses are not frequent, so photograph the timetable at the stop.
- Taxi: about 30 minutes from Yeongju Station. Sharing a taxi saves a lot of time on a day trip.
- By car: Jungang Expressway to Punggi IC, then Provincial Road 931 (about 30 minutes). Parking is free.
Buseoksa Trip Cost (Day Trip, Per Person)
| Item | Cost (KRW) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| KTX-Eum round trip Cheongnyangni–Yeongju | ₩46,600 | ~$35 |
| Local buses (or shared taxi, extra) | ~₩4,000–6,000 | ~$3–5 |
| Buseoksa admission | Free (since May 2023) | $0 |
| Sosu Seowon + Seonbichon combined ticket | ₩2,000 | ~$1.50 |
| Lunch + snack | ~₩20,000–25,000 | ~$15–19 |
| Total | ~₩73,000–80,000 | ~$55–60 |
Staying overnight? Simple motels and hotels near Yeongju Station and in Punggi typically cost about ₩60,000–100,000 per room. Local bus fares and lodging prices are estimates.
Suggested One-Day Itinerary
- 07:00–08:50 – KTX-Eum from Cheongnyangni to Yeongju.
- 09:00–10:00 – Bus or taxi to Buseoksa.
- 10:00–12:30 – Walk the ginkgo road, climb the stone terraces through Cheonwangmun and Anyangnu, see Muryangsujeon, the floating rock (buseok) and the three-story stone pagoda behind the hall.
- 12:30–13:30 – Mountain-vegetable bibimbap at a restaurant by the temple entrance.
- 14:00–16:00 – Sosu Seowon and Seonbichon village (about 20–30 minutes away).
- 16:30 – Acorn-jelly mukbap in Sunheung, then back to Yeongju for the evening train – or stay overnight and catch sunset from the Buseoksa terrace.
Temple hours: April–October 09:00–18:00, November–February 09:00–17:00.
Nearby Attractions
- Sosu Seowon (소수서원) – Korea’s first Confucian academy (1543), part of the UNESCO “Seowon” listing of 2019, set in a pine grove by a stream. Adult combined ticket ₩2,000 (includes the Sosu Museum and Seonbichon); open 09:00–18:00 in September–October, 09:00–17:00 November–February.
- Seonbichon (선비촌) – a recreated Joseon-era scholars’ village right next to Sosu Seowon, with hanok stays.
- Museom Village (무섬마을) – a riverside hanok village famous for its narrow single-log bridge over the Naeseongcheon stream.
- Punggi Ginseng Market – buy fresh ginseng and try ginseng-chicken dishes in the ginseng capital of Korea.
Where to Eat Near Buseoksa
- Sunheung Jeontong Mukjip (순흥전통묵집) – 21 Sunheung-ro 39beon-gil, Sunheung-myeon (near Sosu Seowon). Famous for traditional buckwheat-jelly mukbap in cold broth, ₩10,000; plain muk ₩9,000. Tel. 054-634-4614.
- Nadeuri (나드리) – 89 Jungang-ro, Yeongju (downtown, near the station). The local legend for spicy jjolmyeon chewy noodles: jjolmyeon ₩8,000, cold jjolmyeon ₩9,500; daily 11:00–20:30.
- Temple-entrance restaurants – a row of eateries by the Buseoksa parking lot serves sanchae (mountain-vegetable) bibimbap and pancakes; expect roughly ₩10,000–15,000 per dish.
Tips for Buseoksa Temple in Autumn
- The temple is built on a slope with many stone steps – wear comfortable shoes.
- Arrive before 10:00 on weekends to beat tour buses, or stay for the late-afternoon light.
- Be respectful in the halls: no photos of worshippers, keep voices low, and remove shoes if you enter.
- Combine it with other autumn trips in the region, like Andong Hahoe Village or Mungyeong Saejae, and see our Naejangsan foliage guide for more fall color.
Buseoksa Temple in Autumn: FAQ
When is the best time to see the ginkgo trees at Buseoksa?
Usually late October to early November. In 2026 the trees were expected to turn clearly yellow from around October 24–25.
How much does it cost to enter Buseoksa?
Nothing – Buseoksa abolished its admission fee in May 2023, and parking is free.
Can I visit Buseoksa as a day trip from Seoul?
Yes. The KTX-Eum reaches Yeongju from Cheongnyangni in about 1.5–1.8 hours (₩23,300), and the temple is 30–45 minutes from Yeongju by bus or taxi.
What else can I see near Buseoksa?
Sosu Seowon and Seonbichon, Museom Village and Punggi Ginseng Market are all within a short drive.
Sources
- Nate Travel – Buseoksa visit and ginkgo timing (Oct 18, 2026)
- Telltrip – Buseoksa admission, hours and access (2026)
- Train timetable – Cheongnyangni to Yeongju (Oct 2026)
- Sosu Seowon admission and hours
- Polle – Sunheung Jeontong Mukjip
- Hotplace Hunter – Nadeuri jjolmyeon (2025)
- UNESCO – Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea
Featured image: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons, CC0. Fares, hours and prices can change – check before you travel.