What to do in Gyeongju

Once upon a time this city was the capital in the Silla kingdom, around year 600 up to 900. Silla was one of three kingdoms in Korea at that time, and a lot of important people and institutions was founded in Gyeongju. And the kingdom later conquered the two other kingdoms in Korea.

Today it is a small town (according to Koreans) with tourism and some local population. Though most(?) of the young generation of South-Koreans wants to live in Seoul and big cities, Gyeongju's surprisingly cool cafes and local coffee shops, restaurants and adorable book shops shows that there is something happening here. Maybe there is a growing youth culture, and a growing wish to live outside of the biggest concrete cities?

The train ride ride from Seoul is between 2 and 3 hours long, depending on where in Seoul you travel from, but then there is also a little piece of road to conquer in (rental?) car before you reach the city of history and culture, and cool vibe.