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North Korea✨ 10 best things to do in North Korea

Things to do in North Korea

1. See Pyongyang's monumentsVisit the Juche Tower, Kim Il Sung Square and the Arch of Triumph on a guided city tour.
2. Ride the Pyongyang MetroTravel deep underground through stations decorated with chandeliers and mosaics.
3. Visit the DMZ at PanmunjomSee the Joint Security Area and the armistice talks site from the northern side.
4. Explore Kaesong's heritageWalk through the old Goryeo capital, its Confucian academy and royal tombs.
5. Hike Mount MyohyangVisit the Buddhist temple of Pohyon and the vast hall of gifts presented to the country's leaders.
6. Run the Pyongyang MarathonJoin amateur runners in one of the few events open to foreign participants, when held.
7. Taste naengmyeonTry Pyongyang's famous cold buckwheat noodles at a local restaurant.
8. See the Goguryeo tombsView ancient burial mounds whose murals are among the finest early Korean art.
9. Visit Mount PaektuSee the sacred volcano and crater lake on the Chinese border, central to Korean mythology.
10. Watch a mass performanceWitness synchronised gymnastics and art performances when they are staged.

North Korea🗺️ Where to visit in North Korea

Where to go in North Korea

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  PyongyangCapital · monumentsA city of wide boulevards, grand monuments and the Taedong River, seen only on a guided tour.
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  KaesongSouth · historic capitalFormer capital of the Goryeo dynasty, with UNESCO-listed monuments near the DMZ.
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  Panmunjom (DMZ)Border · Joint Security AreaThe site where the 1953 armistice was signed and the two Koreas meet.
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  Mount MyohyangNorth · mountains & templesForested peaks with historic Buddhist temples and walking trails.
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  Mount KumgangSoutheast · scenic mountainsThe famed 'Diamond Mountains', celebrated in Korean art and poetry for their granite peaks.
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  Mount PaektuNorthern border · volcanoThe highest mountain on the peninsula, with the striking Heaven Lake in its crater.
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  WonsanEast coast · port & beachesA coastal city with beaches and a newly developed resort area.
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  RasonFar northeast · special economic zoneA trading zone near the Chinese and Russian borders that has sometimes been open to visitors.

North Korea🌦️ Weather & best time to visit North Korea

Best time to visit North Korea

North Korea has a continental climate with very cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers when most of the year's rain falls. The mountainous north and interior are colder than the coasts.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Pyongyang (approximate averages).

North Korea🎉 Festivals & events in North Korea

• 15 April
  Day of the SunThe country's most important holiday, marking Kim Il Sung's birthday with ceremonies and performances.
• April
  Pyongyang MarathonAn international marathon that has at times allowed foreign amateurs to take part.
• September-October
  ChuseokThe harvest festival, when families visit ancestral graves and share food.
• January-February
  Lunar New YearFamilies gather to eat rice-cake soup and play traditional games.

North Korea🧭 North Korea itinerary ideas

How many days in North Korea?

North Korea🎒 Backpacking North Korea – tips & hacks

• Independent and budget backpacking is not possible – all tourism must be arranged through approved tour operators, when tourism is open at all.
• Check whether your own government restricts or advises against travel before contacting any operator.
• Most tours depart from Beijing or the Chinese border city of Dandong.
• Expect very limited internet and mobile access; plan to be offline for the whole trip.
• Bring all medication and essentials you need, as you won't be able to buy them easily.

North Korea🛡️ Safety & money in North Korea

Emergency:

North Korea🛬 Getting to North Korea

Access, when permitted, is via flights or trains from Beijing or Dandong in China, and occasionally via Vladivostok in Russia. Borders and tourism have been closed for long periods, so check current status with official sources.

✈️ Cheap flights to North Korea: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

North Korea💡 Did you know? 5 facts about North Korea

• The Complex of Koguryo Tombs was North Korea's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The Korean War has never formally ended – it was halted by an armistice in 1953.
• The Pyongyang Metro is one of the deepest metro systems in the world.
• Mount Paektu is regarded as the mythical birthplace of the Korean people.
• Pyongyang-style cold noodles (naengmyeon) are famous and loved across the whole Korean Peninsula.

North Korea❓ North Korea travel FAQ

North Korea travel questions