Take a day trip out of Busan and explore the coastal city of Gyeongju with a private driver. Avoid the hassle of public transport as you're chauffeured to landmarks like Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, Cheomsengdae, and the traditional Gyochon Hanok Village.

Get picked up by your driver in Busan and get comfortable on the ride to Gyeongju in the north. Gyeongju was the former capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom that ruled much of the Korean Peninsula between the 7th and 9th centuries, and traces of its past can still be found today. Once you arrive in the city, drive to the Bulguksa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the Silla Kingdom. The temple, a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, is considered a masterpiece of golden age Buddhist art.

Later, travel to Seokguram Grotto, another UNESCO-listed site that overlooks the East Sea. Believed to have been built by Silla chief minister Kim Daeseong in the 8th century, the hermitage is home to a number of intricately carved Buddha statues. Ask your guide or driver for lunch recommendations after your grotto visit, and continue your tour in the afternoon by driving to Gyochon Hanok Village. The traditional town offers a look into the lives of the Choi clan, who descended from the Silla philosopher Choi Chiwon.

Next, make your way to Cheomseongdae, a 7th-century astronomical observatory. The oldest surviving stargazing observatory in Asia, Cheomseongdae served the Queen Seondeok of Silla during her reign. Your last stop of the day is Gyeongju Donggung Palace and its surrounding Wolji Pond. Admire the picturesque site, which was the secondary residence of the Silla Crown Prince, before making the drive back to Busan.