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How to Visit North Korea

January 9, 2014 by Bino 15 Comments

I thought this post is a bit overdue, but better late than never!

To be honest, I was astonished when I received so many questions on how to visit North Korea after writing about the things to do in Pyongyang some months back. I certainly never expected there to be many people interested to visit this notorious place. When I was planning for the trip, many of my friends rejected me outright when I invited them. Are you crazy? – was the most usual response I got. But fortunately, two friends went with me in the end, so I didn’t have to experience the many “pleasures” of the DPRK by my lonesome!

Visiting North Korea is not as straightforward as visiting other countries. But let me clear up some myths here – it’s not an overly complicated process. Most of the arranging is actually done by the travel agency so one can just sit back and relax for the most part.

If you have intentions of visiting this mysterious country, here are some things to take note of.

Getting a Visa for North Korea

A visa is required for all nationalities except for Malaysians and Singaporeans. In this sense, North Korea has one of the most restrictive entry requirements in the world. Even the two nationalities that don’t need a visa to enter will not be permitted to enter unless they join a tour that is run by the state-owned tourism bureau.

To get the visa, prospective visitors need to go through an appointed travel agency running tours to North Korea. Even if you decide NOT to join a tour group, you will still need to go through one of these agencies. They will take care of booking plane and train tickets for you, verify your tour booking with the North Korean authorities and arrange your itinerary for the trip.

Most visitors obtain their visas in the form of a tourist card in Beijing. However, if you live in a country that has a North Korean embassy, you may obtain your visa there in the traditional way (i.e. a visa sticker stamped to your passport). Do note that for those issued with tourist cards, your passport will not be stamped when you enter / leave North Korea .

In my case, I opted to get a tourist card in Beijing even though there’s an embassy in Singapore, where I live. Nevertheless, the North Korean authorities still did a background check on me. I received a random call one evening where an embassy staff politely asked me my intentions of going to North Korea as well as the whereabouts of my friends who were joining me for the trip.

Requirements:

• Passport-sized photo (no more than 6 months old)
• Passport with minimum 6 months validity
• Application form (do note that the application form for tourist card differs from the one for visa)

Normally, the travel agency will apply for the visa or tourist card on your behalf. Once the North Korean authorities approve it, you will be contacted by the travel agency to make the trip down to the embassy to have the visa stamped in your passport. If you choose to obtain a tourist card, you will be provided details on picking it up in an agreed location in Beijing.

How to get there?

North Korea is one of the most isolated countries in the world. You definitely can’t visit the North from South Korea! Your best bet would be from China where there are direct flights from major cities such as Beijing and Shenyang. During August to September, there may be occasional charter flights that come direct from places like Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.

Alternatively, it’s also possible to visit North Korea by train from China.

While North Korea has its own currency (also called the Won), visitors won’t have to use it. During my visit, Euro was the preferred currency, although it was also possible to use US Dollar or Japanese Yen.

If you’re familiar with Korean food, then the food in North Korea will not surprise. It is precisely that, albeit you will notice there’s less meat and more vegetables used. North Korea is also one of the few countries where you won’t find western brands when it comes to food. No Coca-cola here, folks!

How Many Days Should You Spend in North Korea?

A standard tour running the major attractions lasts for around 9 to 10 days. In my case, I wasn’t so much keen on seeing the natural attractions. I was more keen on watching the mind-boggling Arirang Mass Games and experiencing the showcase capital, Pyongyang so 5 days was enough for me. More recently, there have been budget tours offered that lasts for as short as 3 days, inclusive of the Arirang Mass Games and a whirlwind city tour of Pyongyang.

When to Go?

I visited in August, the peak of summer (and the rainy season) which was the worst time to go weather-wise but I chose to go at this time for the Arirang Mass Games which are held only from August to September of most years.

What is There to See in North Korea?

A question that I get asked often. While your guide will make sure you visit a seemingly endless checklist of monuments, memorials and war museums, for me the real attraction in North Korea is getting to see a country living in a system unlike any other. North Korea won’t be able to boast an attraction as grand as Taj Mahal but for those looking for a unique travel experience, this country surely doesn’t disappoint.

But I did mention in my previous post that I thought North Korea had the most impressive attraction in the entire Korean Peninsula – the Arirang Mass Games . In fact, I count this as one of the most mind-boggling and grandest shows I’ve seen anywhere in the world. It easily beats what the folks over at Las Vegas conjur up year after year. It’s also reason enough to come to North Korea even during the humid and rainy summer season.

For more info on North Korea — do check out my entries on my most surreal North Korea trip

You may also like.

Hi, my name is Bino and I started I Wander around 15 years ago with the aim of sharing about some of my personal journeys and experiences, hoping that the information may benefit readers like yourselves. Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Alternatively, you can also email me at b i n o (at) iwandered.net. You can follow I Wander on Facebook , Telegram , or Instagram . Also, if you liked this article, please feel free to SHARE or RETWEET

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Reader Interactions

Older posts.

January 9, 2014 at 7:54 am

Is that Mr. Lim? Pareho tayo ng tour guide, LOL.

January 12, 2014 at 9:35 pm

This is so cool! I want to go to North Korea too but I think it will cost a LOT of money. How did you go about your budget for 5 days? And how much do you think I need if I want to stay for 1-2 weeks (since required din to always have a guide right?) I want to witness Arirang Mass Games! 😀

January 12, 2014 at 10:54 pm

Hi Mariane! You can check around the different travel agencies for their prices. Generally the lowest I’ve seen is about EUR 700 – 800 for a 5 day tour while a 10 day tour will cost upwards of EUR 1,300

January 12, 2014 at 11:53 pm

Interesting! I wish I could go backpacking in DPKR (eek, not possible). But seriously, North Korea is on my bucket list. I’ll go there someday when my travel fund is close to being enough.

March 9, 2014 at 6:27 am

Hi, I am from Singapore. Why did you opt to get a tourist card in Beijing when you know that you could easily get a visa from the North Korean embassy stationed in Singapore? What are the benefits of doing this way?

March 9, 2014 at 4:24 pm

Kris – I wanted to avoid North Korea stamps in my passport. Just in case other countries might refuse entry because of it

March 11, 2014 at 8:55 pm

Hmmm yes after what you mentioned above, I read some advice that leaving a North Korean stamp on my passport would have me refused entry by certain countries in the future. But some others say it will not affect in any way unless I have a stamp from Israel. If I choose to go to the DPRK embassy in Singapore, it would mean that the visa would be glued onto my passport and get stamped on entry? Or they will issue me a tourist visa separately from my passport?

March 12, 2014 at 10:25 pm

If you get the visa from the embassy in Singapore, it means you will get it glued in your passport and stamped upon entry

May 14, 2016 at 5:30 pm

Hi. What travel agency did you go to in arranging your trip to North Korea? Is there any in Singapore.? Thanks a lot

May 16, 2016 at 9:01 pm

Hi – the travel agency that arranged my journey is no longer operating sadly!

May 10, 2016 at 9:20 am

Hi, I am from Singapore. Which tour agency did you go with?

May 16, 2016 at 9:02 pm

Hi Phylis, unfortunately the travel agency that arranged my tour no longer operates.

February 3, 2018 at 7:15 pm

I’m a Canadian living in Dubai. I’m interested in a tour, possibly a ski vacation. Is it possible? How much lead time does one need for planning a trip to NK?

February 3, 2018 at 9:43 pm

Allow for around 3 months lead time to be safe.

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How To Travel to North Korea as a Tourist

13/05/2024 Update: Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, North Korea’s borders have been completely closed to foreigners. As of right now, it is not possible to go to North Korea, although borders are set to open soon.

Quite a few of my friends were shocked to discover I was travelling to North Korea. “I didn’t even know you could go to North Korea, let alone join a tour group!” they exclaimed.

Yup, against common belief, it is possible to travel to North Korea. And it’s actually surprisingly easy.

Almost anyone can visit North Korea, with the exception of citizens of South Korea and the United States. It was only recently (September 2019) that the US government banned its citizens from travelling to North Korea, and this may be reversed in time now that Donald Trump is out of office.

In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how to travel to North Korea as a tourist, explaining everything you need to know about tours, visas and travelling into the country itself.

How To Travel To North Korea: The Logistics

There are very few places from where you can enter North Korea — you can’t simply book a flight from London to Pyongyang! You will most likely need to go through China, which shares a border with North Korea. You’ll also need to book onto a government-run tour group, as you cannot visit North Korea independently.

With this in mind, there are three things you’ll need to do in order to visit North Korea as a tourist:

• Book onto a tour
• Arrange a Chinese visa
• Organise transport to China

1) Book Onto A Tour

To visit North Korea, you must book onto a tour group. You cannot visit North Korea independently as the country’s government simply doesn’t allow this. Any visit to North Korea will be an all-inclusive tour with an organized itinerary — there is no getting around this.

Your tour group is ultimately controlled by the Government via the Korean International Travel Company. This means your itinerary is set in stone, with no room for free exploration or solo adventuring. You will be escorted at all times by two guides and a driver.

There are a few tour operators who run trips in North Korea, and these are Lupine Travel , Young Pioneers and Koryo Group . I personally went with Lupine Travel, although it seems as though the three companies are all fairly similar.

There is quite a well-pathed tourist route which most if not all, tourists are taken on. This goes to all the main  attractions in Pyongyang , to the Demilitarised Zone on the border of South Korea and to a mountainous region in the north.

Once you choose the tour you want to go on and have booked it, the tour operator will take care of a lot of the logistics for you, including your return transport into North Korea from China, your North Korean visa and your accommodation, food and itinerary once in North Korea.

The tour company probably will not take care of your return transport to China from your home country, or your Chinese visa (although they will help you with this).

Once you’re booked onto a tour, the company will liaise with you prior to your trip, ensuring they have everything they need from you and that you have everything ready, as well.

2) Get Your Chinese Visa

My tour with Lupine Travel started and ended in Beijing. This meant I required a Dual Entry Chinese Visa, as I would technically be entering China twice: once via a flight from London, and then again when I left North Korea.

The Chinese visa can be a little tricky. I’ve applied for and received 2 Chinese visas in the last decade, and they were a bit of a hassle on both occasions. There are a lot of forms to fill out and it can get complicated. Be sure to read through the documents carefully and answer everything truthfully.

For your Chinese visa, you will need:

• Your passport: with a remaining validity of at least 6 months and with blank visa pages.
• Visa Application Form: truthfully completed and type-written.
• A photo: taken within the last six months; full face against a light background; size: 48mm x 33mm; bare-headed unless for religious reasons.

You can visit a Chinese embassy or Chinese Visa Application Centre to hand in your documents, or you can mail it. It typically takes four working days to process your application, but it’s recommended that you apply about 2 months before, as there can be issues. They rejected my photo on one occasion and I had to resubmit it, for example.

Once approved and processed, you can go and collect your passport and visa. The fee for a Chinese visa is £150 / $140.

Visit the Chinese Visa Application Service Center to apply for your visa.

The tour company you booked with will handle your North Korean tourist visa for you. All you’ll need to do is fill in a few simple forms and send over a scanned copy of your passport. Your guide will then give you your North Korean visa once you meet up with your tour group.

3) Book Your Transport To China

As your tour to North Korea likely starts in China, you’ll need to book flights or some other form of transport to China, as this is probably not included in your tour package. Check which city your tour’s meeting place is — mine met at the train station in Beijing, but some meet in the city of Dandong, which is on the border of China and North Korea.

Flights from Europe start from about £500. You can search for cheap flights on Skyscanner.

Travelling into North Korea from China

As mentioned above, your tour company will take care of the logistics of your transport into and out of North Korea from China. You’ll most likely meet your tour group in Beijing or Dandong, and then travel with them from there into North Korea, either by train or plane. It depends on the tour company you go with as to whether you’ll go by train or plane. You will be escorted at all times on your transit into and out of North Korea.

The sleeper train departs Beijing in the late afternoon and goes through Northeast China overnight, before reaching the border at around midday.

Once at the border, North Korean soldiers will come onboard to do visa, passport and luggage checks. I found the experience quite intimidating; they poked around in my backpack and asked me to explain what some things were. I remember a fellow traveller on my tour awkwardly explaining what his beard trimmer was used for.

You will also be given forms asking you to declare electronic devices that you’re bringing into the country. I’d advise that you don’t bring any devices with you if possible — you won’t be able to use the internet or make phone calls anyway, and you may be asked to open it up and show the soldiers your files.

Be certain that you do not have religious material, pornography, or memes/other insulting material about North Korea on your device.

It can take a few hours to cross the North Korean entry customs. Once through, you’ll spend about 5 hours travelling through the scenic North Korean countryside before arriving in Pyongyang .

Another way to enter North Korea from China is to take an aeroplane, which is much quicker than the train but certainly less scenic. Air Koryo runs three to four flights from Beijing to Pyongyang each week, as well as weekly flights from Shanghai, Shenyang and Dandong.

I took the train myself, so I don’t have first-hand insight into what the plane is like. But apparently, you’re welcomed on board with songs about socialism and Kim Jong-un, as well as magazines that showcase the ‘fatherly leader’ and the heinous war crimes of Japan and the US.

Tourism in North Korea: Frequently Asked Questions

There are lots of unique rules and regulations around travelling to North Korea as a foreigner, so let’s break these down.

How Much Does It Cost To Visit North Korea?

The North Korean tour companies I mentioned above organise all-inclusive packages. This means all of your meals, transport within the country and hotel will be included in the price. Tour prices range massively — between about £400 and £3500 depending on the length of your tour and the company you choose to go with.

• Lupine Travel tours start at £569 ($740)
• Young Pioneers tours start at £444 ($578)
• Koryo Group tours start at £448 ($583)

You should also bear in mind the cost of getting to North Korea. My  flight from London to Beijing  (the starting point of the tour) was about £500.

Is It Safe To Visit North Korea?

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all but essential travel to North Korea. They note that “the security situation in North Korea can change with little notice and with no advance warning of possible actions by the North Korean authorities.” However, the FCO also advises the same for many parts of Turkey and Egypt, which are still frequently visited by tourists.

Tensions between North Korea and the United States have calmed and North Korea announced a halt to its missile testing in April 2018. It is now arguably much safer to visit the country than when  I visited in August 2017 .

As long as you follow all the rules outlined to you before you enter North Korea, travel is ‘deemed safe’ in that you are never alone and are not going to be the target of petty crimes such as theft.

While there is definitely some risk in visiting North Korea, if you follow the rules and remain respectful, there should be no issues. Terrorism and crimes towards tourists are highly unlikely and detainment of tourists is rare!

What Are The Rules For Tourists In North Korea?

• Your every movement is watched and monitored and,  under no circumstance , can you wander off on your own. Doing so will result in serious consequences for both you and your tour guide.
• The country dislikes the term North Korea and prefers to be called the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK for short.
• Do not speak negatively about the country or the leaders. Disrespecting the country is viewed as a major offence and has caused problems for tourists in the past.
• You cannot take photos of everything. You’re allowed to take photos of tourist attractions etc, but it is forbidden to photograph the military, labourers or construction sites, among other things.
• You must ensure that any photos of statues of the leaders must capture their whole body — no close-ups or chopping off their feet from the frame.
• Your belongings will be thoroughly searched at the border. It is forbidden to bring religious material, porn or literature or film about North Korea into the country. Please, for heaven’s sake, do not try to bring a copy of  The Interview  into North Korea. Confiscated possessions may not be returned at the border.
• Practising religion is not allowed. North Korea is an atheist country and practising religion there is highly restricted. Praying or showing off a bible is a great way to get detained.
• You cannot speak with random citizens during your time in North Korea, as doing so may be considered espionage.

Will Visiting North Korea Affect Whether Other Countries Grant Me Entry?

Not at all! There are no restrictions on entering any country due to previous entry into North Korea — including South Korea and the United States. In fact, it’s unlikely that border controls will even know you’ve been to North Korea because your visa is issued on a separate piece of paper and your passport is not stamped.

My Experience Visiting North Korea

I found my time in North Korea to actually feel a lot more relaxed than I anticipated. When I first arrived, I was a little nervous and tried not to look at anybody for too long or seem disrespectful in any way.

However, by the end of my second day in North Korea, I felt more relaxed and realised that I just had to follow the rules. I stuck with my tour group, asked permission to take photos, didn’t question any “facts” the tour guides stated about their country, and didn’t try to interact with random locals. In doing this, all was well.

The country was extremely different to how I imagined it and threw a lot of my preconceptions out the window.

I was surprised, for example, to find that Pyongyang was a very picturesque and modern city. I think I had expected it to look kind of grey and old. I was also surprised to see that the countryside was absolutely beautiful, with rolling hills and vivid green colours.

Of course, I also saw plenty of things that upset, angered or confused me a little, such as the phenomenal amount of blatant propaganda and the fact that a guy on my tour got told off for buying ice cream from a nearby stall.

READ MORE:  My North Korea Travel Experience – What’s It Really Like?

What Do You Get To See In North Korea?

The key thing to bear in mind is that you won’t get to see the  real  North Korea. You’ll be ferried from place to place — mostly within Pyongyang — with zero opportunity for independent exploration. You’ll only see what they allow you to see, in what I believe is a very tightly controlled tourist route.

Monuments And Squares

A trip to North Korea will most definitely involve visiting the sites  they want you to see , such as Kim Il Sung Square, the Founding Party Monument, the captured US spy ship USS Pueblo, Kim Il Sung’s native home and many more. These are, what I would call, showpieces of the regime.

The Pyongyang Metro

At 110 metres underground, the Pyongyang metro is the deepest metro station in the world. Covered in propaganda, images of the Kim family, and with station names such as ‘Comrade’, ‘Glory’ and ‘Reunification’, North Korea’s metro is really quite an experience.

While it was definitely the most interesting metro journey I’ve ever been on, the whole scenario was somehow quite strange. You can only ride 5 of the 16 stops — perhaps there’s something secret beyond stop 5.

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a strip of land running along the Korean Peninsula. It is used as a buffer zone between North and South Korea, and is 160 miles long and 2.5 miles wide.

While tourists can easily visit the DMZ in South Korea, this is a chance to see it from the other side and, of course, hear the story from North Korea’s perspective.

The Kaeson Funfair

The Kaeson Funfair was the only place we were allowed to wander around somewhat freely. Our guides let us mingle with the locals a little and stood guard along the pathways leading to the entry and exit points.

We were, however, told that we should skip all the queues and go straight onto any ride we wanted, because “we’re Western.” This annoyed me, as I didn’t feel that this presented a good view of us as Westerners to the citizens of North Korea. Perhaps they didn’t mind, but as a Brit, orderly queues are an essential part of my culture!

Is It Ethical To Visit North Korea?

This is the most important question you should ask yourself before visiting North Korea: is it ethical?

There is a view that visiting North Korea is potentially helping to  fund the regime . I.e. that you’re helping to fund horrific human rights atrocities and nuclear programmes. However, I believe that the money North Korea receives from tourism is very small. With only 10,000 tourists a year, most of which are from China, how much can they  really  be making from this? It’s not like tourism in North Korea is a booming industry.

I also strongly believe that completely stripping a country of exposure to other cultures and attitudes is detrimental. Contact with the outside world helps to improve the citizens’ views of outsiders, which is a good thing since they’ve held a very bad view of the West for decades. Peace and progression within North Korea are certainly never going to occur if its citizens aren’t exposed to anything other than what they already know.

It’s certainly not a black-and-white answer and is something that you should consider carefully.

READ MORE:  Is It Ethical To Visit North Korea?

About The Author

Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger based in London. She writes about active adventure travel, aiming to encourage and inspire travellers to make the most of the great outdoors.

Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support – Lauren. Hotels –  Booking.com Hostels –  Hostelworld Cheap flights –  Skyscanner Travel insurance –  World Nomads Outdoor gear –  Decathlon  /  GO Outdoors Cycling gear –  Chain Reaction Cycles Alternatively, you could buy me a coffee to say thanks!

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12 comments.

very informative article. Awesome!

Hello Lauren and thanks for this detailed blog. I’m looking at going to North Korea next June 2025. I will be doing a multi country trip with my Dominican and American passport. I’ll use the Dominican passport to go to North Korea. Do you know if having in possession in my bag an American passport will trigger the border control to detain me or look at me suspiciously? I guess I can ask the tour operators as well.

Hi Hans, unless it’s now changed, Americans are not permitted to enter North Korea. I would probably advise against having your US passport with you. But yes, your tour operator are the best people to ask 😊

If you only have a single entry visa to China, at what point do authorities stop you if at all?

At the border where they check your visa, I would imagine.

Thanks a lot for your explanation Lauren this country is my dream to visit , however, I am terrified and nervous. and how I control myself.

I got curious about visiting North Korea since I saw a pic of someone else’s tour there. I didn’t even know it was possible to visit! But then my bubble burst since finding out that it has stopped since covid 🙁 anyways, thanks for writing this, it’s done plenty to satiate my curiosity for now haha

Thanks for reading Monica! Tours will likely open up again at some point in the future 🙂

very good and very detailed article.

Thanks John!

Very informative article on a unique topic, so much appreciated 🙂 I agree with the final message that there is a reciprocal value in connecting with people and cultures all around the world.

Glad you found it informative Lucas!

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Everything You Need to Know About Traveling to North Korea

Are you thinking of traveling to North Korea but unsure of how to make it happen? Start by reading this North Korea travel guide.

I’ve visited North Korea, or officially, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) twice: once in 2015 ( Pyongyang  / DMZ + Kaesong / Mount Kumgang /  Wonsan ) and once in 2018 (Rason). However, I rarely brag about visiting North Korea because it isn’t a place I would encourage just anyone to visit. It’s not relaxing or enjoyable. It’s…mentally challenging, to say the least.

You should not travel to North Korea unless you’re willing to consider a perspective different from what mainstream western media tells you. Your experience of North Korea hinges on how you frame it, and it’s vital that you go with an open mind. In fact, I believe I had an easier time digesting and understanding my North Korea travel experiences  because of my East Asian heritage, but still I’m struggling to put them all in words.

People who learn that I’ve traveled to North Korea  always  ask the same questions about how they can do it too, so I finally decided to write this guide to answer all the questions (and bust all the myths). If there’s something you want to know that’s not mentioned here, please leave a comment and I’ll reply!

Can anyone travel to North Korea?

There’s a misconception that it’s almost impossible to visit North Korea when in fact, almost anyone can go to North Korea (except South Korean citizens). Even US citizens were previously able to go but following the high-profile case of Otto Warmbier, the US Department of State has for now  banned citizens from traveling to North Korea .

While almost anyone can visit North Korea for tourism, you do not get to go around North Korea freely. You must join a tour, and only travel agencies approved by the North Korean government can organize tours to North Korea. Many of these tours have itineraries covering the same state-designated destinations and attractions.

Throughout your visit, you will be accompanied by at least two North Korean guides from the state-owned tourism bureaus such as KITC (Korea International Travel Company). They are the only North Koreans you’ll interact with extensively for the entire length of your stay.

But you’re not allowed to take photos, right?

Photography is definitely allowed in North Korea, as you can see from this post and others on this site. There are indeed some restrictions: you’re not allowed to take photos of military buildings and vehicles, soldiers in uniform, buildings under construction, or monuments undergoing maintenance. You will be cautioned not to crop any photos of the Great Leader (Kim Il Sung) or Dear Leader (Kim Jong Il). If you try to take a photo when it’s prohibited, your guides will stop you.

The North Korean government is extremely conscious of its image, and it’s understandable if you think about it. After all, photos of North Korea are often used by western media to paint the country in a negative light. The guides I’ve met know all too well how their country is perceived, and that likely reinforces what they’ve learned: to have great pride in what they’ve been able to achieve despite a lack of resources.

Is it very expensive to visit North Korea?

I find that North Korea tour costs are similar to any group adventure tour with accommodation, transport, and meals included. Expect a 5-night tour to cost around 1,200-1,700 euro with return Beijing-Pyongyang flights (entry/exit by rail should be cheaper). This does not include drinking water or tips and gratuities.

When choosing from North Korea travel operators, it’s more important to check their reputation and see what unique itineraries they offer.

Which tour operators would you recommend?

As with other East Asian countries, mutual trust and relationships are deeply rooted in the culture and a trusted North Korea tour company/agent will have latitude to offer more special tours. Koryo Tours and Juche Travel both have a good track record and in-depth knowledge to help you plan your trip (I’m not affiliated with either company).

Your North Korea tour company should guide you through the logistics of your trip, handle visa processing for you, and inform you on all the latest rules and regulations. That brings us to the most important question:

Is it safe to travel to North Korea?

You’re always looked after by guides, food is clean and tasty, and you’re unlikely to become a victim of crime. So yes, it’s safe to travel to North Korea, as long as you follow the rules.

I know what you’re thinking: that the North Korean tourism rules are meant to restrict tourists’ freedom and paint a false picture of the country. Whether you agree with this or not, you need to respect the rules and local laws of any place you visit. Some North Korea tourism rules include:

• Camera lenses beyond a certain zoom level are not allowed.
• Your passport will be kept by your guides upon arrival and returned at departure.
• All devices (mobile phones, cameras, laptops) will be inspected upon entry and exit to/from North Korea. Make sure your phone does not contain any religious or politically sensitive content (e.g. remove Bible apps, existing photos, etc.)
• You must pay respects when visiting statues of North Korea’s leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, or other national monuments.
• Be respectful to guides. Do not ask provocative questions or argue against their narrative.
• You are allowed to talk to locals, but they are very wary of foreigners and most do not speak English or other foreign languages.
• Do not bring any magazines or religious material into North Korea.
• Most North Korea tour companies will allow you to blog about your experience, but journalists are not allowed to visit as tourists or sell stories/images to news publications unless you receive special permission.

Not following the rules means you risk getting yourself, the tour company, and possibly even your North Korean guides in trouble. However, as long as you play by the rules, you’ll be able to glean quite a bit of knowledge beyond what you’re shown or told.

Isn’t it unethical to support the North Korean regime through our tourism?

Discussion about safety when traveling to North Korea inevitably lead to moral concerns about supporting the DPRK regime through tourism. Even if you disagree with how the country is governed, visiting in person is the best way to understand North Korea’s nuances and complexities. Think of it this way: your moral obligation, if any, is to learn as much as possible to make it worth the trip.

Reading up on a place before visiting is always a plus, but for travel to North Korea it’s absolutely essential. I’d recommend you go beyond US news articles and add the following 8 books to your reading list. Want more? Check out this extensive selection of books about North Korea .

Getting Around Seoul Like a Local: A Public Transport Guide

Certain “bestsellers” have been excluded from this list as they’re known to be overly dramatized or disrespect/risk the safety of ordinary people in North Korea. For news and analysis, NK News and 38 North are good places to start (but are by no means the only sources).

What will I get to see and experience in North Korea?

Lots of people sneer at North Korea tours, claiming that everything you’ll see is staged or even that all the people in the city are actors. While you’ll come across scenes that are more of performances, I can reassure you the people and buildings are real.

A typical first-time visit to North Korea will includes standard sights in Pyongyang, the DMZ, Kaesong, and some UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the tombs of ancient Korean kings.

How much do things cost in North Korea?

While most North Korea tours include accommodation and three meals a day, you’re expected to buy your own bottled water, snacks, and any out-of-pocket expenses such as riding the Pyongyang tram. Make sure you bring enough extra cash for souvenirs and tips.

The official exchange rate when I visited was US$1 : 100 North Korean won, but if you get to shop at a Pyongyang department store  you’ll find a far more favorable exchange rate.

Staying connected in North Korea

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If you haven’t lived in the pre-Internet age, be prepared to feel extremely isolated in North Korea as most tourists will not have any connectivity to the rest of the world. Although data SIM cards are available, they’re prohibitively expensive . If you have to call home, you can make international calls from the lobby at hotels like Yanggakdo Hotel. When I visited in 2015, calls cost US$5/minute.

Another cool activity is to send home postcards that you’ve purchased at souvenir shops. North Korean postal services will mail out your postcards to any international address, with the exception of some countries (definitely not the US or South Korea). It can take weeks or months to get delivered, but it’ll be a great gift when your friends receive it.

What else would you like to know about visiting North Korea? 

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North Korea Travel: 17 Things You NEED To Know Before You Go 

By Zoe Stephens

As the experts in North Korea travel, we’ve put together a list to help you prepare for your North Korea tour, or help you decide if you want to go or not. 

North Korea travel is still a largely unheard-of thing. There’s not so much information about it on the internet (that you can really rely on) and most is put together by bloggers who have been there once (or may never have been) who want to ride the “wow look I went to North Korea” train. 

Well, that's all fine. 

But what about the stuff to REALLY prepare you for your North Korea travel? 

As the experts in North Korea travel, we’ve put together a list to help you prepare for your North Korea tour, or help you decide if you want to go or not. 

Before every tour, you will have a pre-tour briefing that will be 100x more in-depth than this and will fully prepare you for North Korea travel. These are mandatory to attend. This list is a personal account from Zoe who has been to North Korea nearly 30 times and should be taken as general guidance. 

Note: There is currently no UK embassy in North Korea and the UK Government advises against travel to North Korea. 

- North Korea Travel: SO YOU’RE GOING TO NORTH KOREA

It’s not actually all fake.

Contrary to popular opinion, it’s not actually all fake. So prepare yourself for this mind-blow that will have you confused from the moment you set foot on the plane or train from China, before you even enter North Korea, and you are sat next to North Koreans and you're wondering how they got the paid actors here too. 

“Wow they really invested a lot into this show” - may cross your mind. That’s fine. But please go with an open mind and accept an entire country doesn’t revolve around you, just like the world doesn’t. 

Military Parades? 

Will I get to see a military parade too?

Despite the common portrayal of North Korea as a country with frequent military parades and rocket launches, it is most likely you will not see a military parade. These happen only on important national holiday dates, e.g. 70th anniversary of… 75th anniversary of… 

Talking to a North Korean

How should you talk to a North Korean?

Well, the best way to go about this, would be to treat them as normal humans. As that’s just what they are, people like you and me. When you first meet them, think about introducing yourself, and ask them for an introduction. 

Popular first topics of conversation to get to know each other and avoid alienation include; 

Home country 

Don’t forget the general rules of engaging in conversation by also asking as well as telling! North Koreans will be happy to tell you about their jobs, family, hobbies etc. 

Topics to avoid that are likely to alienate your audience (especially if brought up on the first meeting). 

Nuclear weapons

Labour camps 

The Kim Family 

Politics 

What Happens if They Launch a Missile? 

Unless they launch a missile and it lands in the wrong place (or unless they deliberately start a war - won’t happen, don’t worry) whilst you are in the country, being in North Korea when they launch a missile is a unique experience. 

If you are, don’t worry. It is a pride of the North Korean people to have a successful missile launch, and the atmosphere in the country is very happy and joyous. 

Most likely, though, you probably won’t even notice its happening. You won’t have access to the internet and unless you catch it on an international TV channel in the hotel rooms, life will go on as usual and you’ll only come to realise when you leave North Korea and your friends and family tell you. 

Anyway - you probably won’t be there when they do. North Korea do not frequently launch missiles. 

Can I Take Pictures? Can I Bring my Mobile Phone? 

Yes, and yes.

So make sure you pack a lot of memory cards and battery packs - you’ll want to take lots of pictures to show all your friends and family that yes, you really can take pictures in North Korea.

More information on this here. 

What if I Do Something/Say Something Bad?! 

Don’t worry. If you follow the guidance of your pre-tour briefing you will know what you can and cannot do. If you accidentally make a small mistake taking a picture somewhere you shouldn’t etc, you will be told politely. If you do this twice, a slightly less patient telling off will incur.

If you do this three times, you can expect a more severe telling off from your guide, and any more than that the guide can only presume that you are doing it deliberately and they may no longer tolerate the behaviour as accidental/naive.

Depending on what you are doing, you may get your camera taken from you until the end of the trip, or you may be asked to leave the tour and sent home.

I Want to Walk Around By Myself - Is That OK?

No. In North Korea you should be accompanied with North Korean guides at all time, unless at the hotel, inside a shop, restaurant etc. 

If you are not prepared to follow these rules you should reconsider your North Korea travel. 

- North Korea Travel: THE PRACTICAL STUFF

Bring enough money for your entire trip.

North Korea has no ATMs, no electronic pay, no cheques… Basically, no way to get money in the country unless it’s cash. So bring enough to last your whole trip - and then some, in case of emergencies. 

Check Your Phone and Electronic Devices

Some things are not permitted to take into North Korea, so it is important you check that your devices don’t contain any of this. You will be briefed about this before departure, but it mainly includes;

Bibles & religious material 

Anything in the Korean language

Country flags

Media on North Korea

Pornography

Pack Correctly 

You may be moving around a lot in your tour. It’s best to pack as lightly as possible and be mindful of this, but also not skim out on home comforts if you need them - since they almost definitely won’t be available in North Korea. 

A North Korean Hotel?  

What is it like in a North Korean hotel? 

Well, it’s tricky since a lot of the hotels are very different and unique. Some things they have in common to be aware of, though; 

The hotels have fabulous, astounding and unique decor. 

They are often outdated, both architecturally and in design, and in the amenities provided. 

There can sometimes be power-outages. These can last a few seconds or a few minutes. 

The hotel may not have 24/7 hot water. 

Checking in and out can take a long time. 

The lifts, if there are any, are often torturously slow. 

You cannot walk out the hotel grounds yourself, but you can usually enjoy a walk in the car park. 

The staff often speak no English but will do their best to make sure you have a pleasant stay. 

Most things in the hotel cost extra, e.g. game of ping pong, karaoke, bowling… 

What Food Will They Have? 

You’ll probably get a lot more than you’re expecting, and it’s probably a lot better than you’re expecting, too. Many people cannot finish the meals they’re presented with. 

Almost all meals are always group meals - you share with everyone at a table. It’s usually Korean/Chinese/Asian cuisine. 

Dietary requirements can be catered for. 

If you eat a lot of fruit, bring this with you. Fruit is sometimes difficult and expensive to get! 

If you snack a lot, best to bring some with you! There isn’t much time to stop at a shop during the tour. 

North Korea Travel: WHAT’S IT LIKE?! 

It’s action-packed.

A tour to North Korea is not a week at a resort in Greece. It is full-on. It’s action-packed. 

Most people are annoyed they can’t walk around by themselves at night and think they will get bored in the hotel. With most days starting at 8:00 am and not finishing until after 21:00, it is hard to get bored at the hotel. In fact, you’ll find yourself without much time to enjoy what the hotel has to offer - let alone wanting to get out and explore more places. 

Rest is important during the tour to help you get the most out of your North Korea travel, which can be both mentally and physically draining. 

In a good way. 

Prepare to be Underwhelmed 

“Pleasantly underwhelming” - how I will always describe my first tour to North Korea. 

It’s pretty… normal. And this is something that most people find difficult getting to grips with. 

You may not see that military parade, but you will see a lot of commuters on the Pyongyang Metro who might let you take their picture or have a conversation with you - and they’re real, too. 

Expect the Unexpected

North Korea is nothing like you see in the media. Of course, some things hold some truth. But the media portrays only a very small percentage of North Korea. 

You can expect to be surprised, underwhelmed, overwhelmed, confused, delighted… North Korea is largely unexplored with few foreigners visiting every year. Whatever you expect from your tour to North Korea, it will probably be different to what you get in the end. 

You’ll Leave with More Questions than Answers

The most common thing people say when they are finishing their tour to North Korea. They have more questions than answers, and it will take them a few days to digest and process everything. 

This is normal, and you should expect this. 

People travel to North Korea for multiple reasons. And if you are looking to simply find out more about the country, you will definitely learn a lot. But this only opens a whole Pandora’s box and you’ll be left only wanting more. 

See you next time! 

Koryo Tours North Korea Tours

Zoe Stephens

Zoe is the marketing manager and a tour leader at koryo tours..

Her love of meeting new people and exploring new cultures has led her to study several languages including German, Japanese, and Chinese. Having lived in several different countries across 4 continents, she often writes about languages and culture in her blogs and is very active on social media. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was 'stuck' in Tonga for 1.5 years after a weekend away. Ask her for some stories! 

🎥  Vlogs on North Korea 🎙  Discover North Korea Podcast ➤  Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Twitter/X  

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The most important piece of North Korea travel advice is to abide by a few important rules. 

Firstly, never speak ill of Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il or Kim Jon-un. Criticising the Kims is a huge insult –  and also a crime  – and could put your entire trip at risk. 

Secondly, don’t wander off from your group or guides. Trying to sneak off alone or to see things unaccompanied will land you in a huge heap of trouble.

Finally, be careful what you photograph . The rules on what you can photograph are not as restrictive as you might think – we took over 1000 photos during our trip to North Korea. 

However, certain things are off limits. Photos of construction sites and military officers are not allowed. Neither are shots of the countryside during the journeys between cities. 

Photography is also prohibited inside specific sites, but if in doubt check with your guides. Don’t be surprised if you’re told to delete any photos that your guides might not be happy with.

You'll Hear a Lot About the Kims

It’s impossible to overstate  how much the Kim dynasty dominates North Korea . The ubiquitous and glowing statues and portraits of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il are just the tip of a very large iceberg. 

The Kim’s cult of personality is inescapable and permeates every aspect of life, including tourist’s trips to the DPRK. 

Obvious examples are the visits to the embalmed bodies of the Kims at the  Palace of the Sun  and their enormous statues at  Mansudae Hill Grand Monument , but they’re infused into almost everywhere you visit .

Almost every book in souvenir shops is either written by or about Kim Il-sung or Kim Jong-il. At every place you visit in North Korea your guides will tell you how many times Kim Il-sung or Kim Jong-il visited it. There’s usually a framed red sign above the door to mark the date they came, or a huge framed photo of their visit at the entrance. 

The schools, universities, factories and farms that you’re taken to will all have a connection to the Kims, too. They’ll have either visited it, provided guidance there or, supposedly, will have given the order to build it. 

Even historic sites that were damaged during the war will have been restored under the orders of one of the Kims. Their words and slogans are even etched into the mountains in Myohyangsan.

Don't Question North Korea's Historical Narrative

Visiting North Korea means having to accept the country’s version of its own history and the history of the region. The North Korean version differs greatly from the reality. 

As a totalitarian state with a vice-like grip on all forms of education, media and communication, the ruling regime has created an alternative history for the DPRK that cannot be questioned . 

That history suits the narrative that portrays the DPRK as a victim, defending itself from several decades of American imperialism and aggression. Added to this is the complete whitewash of any of North Korea’s sins,  of which there are many.

Take anything presented as historical fact with a huge dollop of salt. Many historical claims will be heavily biased, and others will be a complete fiction. The prime example of this is the DPRK’s take on  the Korean War . 

North Koreans are taught that it was they who were attacked by the South, when in reality it was North Korea’s invasion of South Korea that led to war. If you’re told something that you know not to be true it’s best to hold your tongue and play along .

You Can Talk Politics, Up to a Point

Discussing politics isn’t completely out of the question in North Korea, but if the subject comes up you’ll need to know what to say and how to say it. 

One of our guides broached the subject on a couple of occasions, asking about  Kim Jong-un’s summits with President Trump  and if there was any discussions of the  economic sanctions on North Korea being lifted. 

It led to a fairly frank conversation about the geopolitical situation that North Korea finds itself in, though caution was obviously required. Our guide wanted to know how the land lay between the US and the DPRK following the summits, and was keen to know the outside world’s view on top of what was reported within the DPRK. 

For your own safety its best to play conversations regarding politics involving North Korea safely , but don’t be surprised if you get asked the occasional question about the view from outside the DPRK.

You Can Take Your Phone to North Korea

Despite some reports, you can take your smartphone into North Korea , as well as cameras, laptops and tablets. They will all be inspected by customs officials when you arrive in North Korea. Drones are not allowed into the DPRK. 

Be aware that you’ll be offline the entire time that you’re in North Korea . On the whole there is no access to internet or mobile phone network for foreigners in the DPRK, though things may be about to change.

Reports suggest that WiFi is available in the casino in the basement of the Yanggakdo Hotel in Pyongyang. According to NK News the network runs through China and their restrictive firewall, so websites like Google and BBC are still blocked.

Be Good to Your Tour Guides

Tour guides are appointed to every tour group that visits North Korea. They play a dual role of guide and minder, ensuring that visitors behave appropriately whilst providing information and the government line on all of the places you visit. 

The guides are far from stern faced state-appointed apparatchiks ; instead they are the young, friendly and mostly female face of North Korean tourism.

Forming a good bond with your guides will help you to get the most out of your trip to North Korea. Though they’ll never show it, ferrying groups of tourists around the DPRK is a stressful job, especially if tourists are hard to handle. 

If there’s any fallout from a badly behaved tour group, it puts them at risk of recriminations from their superiors.

Also, our guides told us that groups that are difficult to handle often miss out on visiting certain sites, such as the Palace of the Sun, as they can’t be trusted to behave themselves. Forming a good relationship and understanding with your guides will make the whole trip much more beneficial for everyone.

You See More of North Korea on a Private Tour

Though more expensive than group tours, if you can afford a private tour to North Korea then it’s worth the extra cost . 

Private group tours can be tailored and adjusted to suit you, meaning that you get to see more of the things that you want to see . Trips on group tours tend to be set itineraries that only allow for the odd tweak here and there.

Also, on a private tour your North Korean guides will be dedicated just to you, rather than looking after a group of up to 20 people. This means you’ll have a much more personal service and it allows you the chance to find out much more about the places that you visit and about life in North Korea.

You’ll also be easier to manage , meaning that you can fit a lot more into your daily schedule than if you were in a group. Fewer numbers means that it’s naturally a lot easier to move around and you’re able to do so much more in a day. 

Another advantage of a private tour is that you’ll be in a smaller vehicle, giving you the chance to go to places that group tours on coaches just can’t reach. This adds so many more possibilities to your trip, especially if you’re travelling outside of Pyongyang. 

As part of our ten day trip to the DPRK, we managed to visit  Pakyon waterfall  near Kaesong and Paeksang Pavillion in the city of Anju, two places that even our guides hadn’t previously visited.

You Will Get a Few Glimpses of the 'Real' North Korea

It’s often asked of how much of the ‘real’ North Korea you get to see as a tourist in the DPRK. The answer is hard to quantify. 

Contact with real North Koreans is extremely limited; you’re obviously not going to have the chance to discuss the Supreme People’s Assembly’s latest legislative proposals with the man on the street. 

You’re also in the odd situation whereby the state is trying to show you one version of North Korea whilst you might be trying to look for another.

You probably won’t find the real North Korea – whatever that is – whilst on a tourist trip. But you’ll be surprised by just how much you are allowed to witness . 

Whilst being driven around you will see plenty of examples of real life and of things that the North Korean regime itself might not actively promote, from aging Soviet-style housing blocks to old men sat by the road charging cyclists for the use of a bicycle pump. 

You’ll see even more if you venture outside of Pyongyang. The countryside is incredibly eye-opening and a world away from the epic monuments and lavish government buildings that line Pyongyang’s streets. 

Driving through North Korea’s countryside feels like going back in time, and there’s no hiding the harsh reality of life outside of the cities.

You'll be Taken to Many Places the State Wants You to See

The highlight of a visit to North Korea is the chance to see some of the country’s most well known sites, such as the Kim statues at Mansudae Hill Grand Monument, the Arch of Triumph or the spectacular view from the top of the Juche Tower. 

Yet in every trip to North Korea are tours of more everyday sites that the regime is keen for outsiders to see .

You’ll almost certainly be taken to a school to see performances by phenomenally talented if alarmingly young children. Other common stops are universities, farms and factories , and each is likely to be a little dry and uninspiring. 

The visits are obviously propaganda, designed to show North Korea as a highly educated, talented and productive nation blossoming under the leadership of the Workers Party of Korea. 

You don’t have to be a hardened cynic to see through it all. For the less entertaining trips it’s best to put on a polite smile and look enthusiastic until the tour is over.

North Korean Accommodation is Incredibly Varied

The standard of accommodation in North Korea is always adequate but the quality can fluctuate wildly . It’s recommended that you take a torch when you travel in North Korea in case you’re caught in a power cut whilst at your hotel.

In Pyongyang most tourists usually stay at the  Yanggakdo International Hotel , a monolithic tower with over 1000 rooms and a revolving restaurant on top. Filled with amenities to keep tourists entertained, the hotel’s rooms are okay if a bit dated and low on mod cons. 

They come with comfortable beds, a television with a few outside news channels and, most importantly of all, hot water and electricity when you need it.

Outside Pyongyang accommodation varies from the more basic to the scarcely believable . In Kaesong our dated hotel suffered from power cuts and hot water was rationed to an hour in the morning and an hour at night. The room was at least warm, with underfloor heating and radiators that didn’t turn off. 

The Hyangsan Hotel in Myohyangsan on the other hand was a completely different story altogether. Known as the best hotel in North Korea,  the Hyangsan is easily a 5 star hotel by Western standards . How and why it is where it is is a bit of a mystery, yet the bumpy ride from Pyongyang is worth the trip to see the Hyangsan alone.

Bring Enough Money in a Multitude of Currencies

This is where North Korea can get confusing. Foreigners aren’t allowed to spend North Korean Won whilst in the DPRK (the only exception being at  the Kwangbok Supermarket ). 

Instead, tourists have to use a confusing combination of three foreign currencies when buying anything in North Korea. These are the Chinese yuan , US dollars and Euros . Bring enough of each currency, and ideally in low denominations. Even $10 goes a long way in North Korea, so bring plenty of 5 and even 1 dollar bills. 

In souvenir shops and in hotels the staff will convert all local prices into whichever currency you wish to pay in. Be aware that your change may come in a different currency than the one you paid in . We received a handful of change in the cafe at the Yanggakdo hotel in US dollars, Euros and Chinese Yuan.

Make sure that you bring enough money for the duration of your trip. If you run out there are no ATM’s. Also, make sure that all notes that you bring into the country are in mint condition . Shop assistants in North Korea will turn away notes that are tattered or badly creased. 

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North Korea Travel Guide

Thinking of travel to North Korea? This guide will give you an idea of what to expect and what to look out for.

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. A journalist for more than 20 years, he's been travelling the world since 2011.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle and has been travelling full time for a decade.

Updated: February 2, 2023

North Korea Travel

Secretive. Isolationist. Dangerous. These are the words often used to describe North Korea, one of the world’s last truly communist countries. But what’s it like to travel to North Korea?

A lot of people don’t realise that you can actually travel to North Korea as a tourist. I guess the perception is that, because it’s a strange rogue nation, it wouldn’t be open to foreigners.

Well, guess what? You can go to North Korea. But it’s still going to be a very strange experience.

I’ve written a few stories about what it’s like to be a tourist in this fascinating country and what to expect from any North Korea travel. I’ve got links to all those articles at the end of this travel guide.

In this guide, I just want to focus on giving you some practical information in case you’re thinking about doing a North Korea trip yourself as a tourist.

The good news is that it’s not too difficult to arrange – but you do need to be prepared. You can’t just jump on a flight to Pyongyang and start exploring the Hermit Kingdom for yourself.

So here are my tips for your North Korea travel.

North Korea tours

The best (and only reasonable) way to travel into North Korea is with a tour company. Several thousand Western foreigners are allowed into the country this way each year.

There are several organisations that run North Korea tours – usually you would go in and out via China.

There are slight variations in price and length of the tours with different companies but, because the North Korean government has final say on the itineraries, they all go to generally the same places.

I would recommend Koryo Tours , which has been around the longest and is probably the most reputable company.

Other options which I have heard good things about include:

• Young Pioneer Tours
• Korea Konsult

Normally you will have a Western guide who will go with you from Beijing (or wherever your group meets). And then you’ll be joined by local North Korean guides when you arrive.

Your tour company will help you with the visa application process and all the paperwork you’ll need to do to confirm you have permission to enter the country.

What will I be allowed to do in North Korea?

You’ll be surprised at how much you are able to do – and how much you’re unable to do.

Your itinerary will be decided for you by the North Korean authorities and you’ll have two guides with you the whole time. If you would like to make any changes it would normally take about three days to get them approved, so speak up early.

Your guides will take you to see a lot of things – monuments, museums, transport systems, factories, parks, and artistic performances.

From the regime’s perspective, all the sights are supposed to be painting a positive picture of the country. But you will find yourself seeing a lot of the country as you’re driven between all these places and on the streets around them.

You won’t be able to wander off on your own, though. You’ll always have to be in the company of the guides and you’ll have to follow their instructions on what you can or can’t do.

You will be allowed to take photos, except of military personnel and from moving vehicles

You will be allowed to take your camera and your computer in with you. You are also now allowed to take your phone with you and use it as a camera (and whatever else). But you won’t be able to connect to a phone network to make/receive calls or use data.

As long as you are happy to follow the instructions, it will all be fine. I think that’s part of the experience.

For more information about what you can do, you can read this story about visiting North Korea .

Things to see in North Korea

Most of the main ‘sights’ of North Korea are in the capital, Pyongyang, and this is where the shorter trips will focus their time. The highlights of the capital are:

• The Kumsusan Memorial Palace: This is the mausoleum of the country’s founder, Kim Il Sung, and has a bizarrely-grand feel to everything about it inside.
• Juche Tower: The tower is about 170 metres high and has an elevator to the top. It gives a great view of all of Pyongyang.
• The Revolutionary Martyr’s Cemetery: The war memorial at the top of a hill for those who died fighting the Japanese.
• The Triumphal March : Intentionally-built to be three metres higher than the one in Paris, it is the world’s largest Arch de Triumphe. It will be hard to avoid seeing this as you drive around the city.
• The Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum: This is interesting for the exhibitions but even moreso to understand how the propaganda system work in North Korea.

Getting outside Pyongyang will be slightly harder unless your tour is longer than a few days. You won’t have much control at all over which areas you visit. Here are some of the highlights and it would be worth seeing if they are included in any trip you’re considering.

• DMZ: You can visit the de-militarised zone from South Korea as well but there’s something fun about waving at the perplexed tourists from the North Korean side.
• International Friendship Exhibition: This is promoted as being a display of the presents given by world leaders to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, although I’m convinced the bunker built into the mountain is actually a lair for when nuclear war breaks out. It will be a highlight of the trip because of the bizarre collection of gifts.
• Ryongmun Cave: A strange warren of caves lit up with different colours all along. It’s a popular spot for school groups to visit, it seems.
• West Sea Barrage: This is an eight kilometre dam built during the 1980s and is the industrial pride and joy of North Korea.

If you’re interested in some of the other things you might see on a tour, you can have a look at my photos from inside North Korea .

What about the locals in North Korea?

Visitors to North Korea will get limited interaction with locals. But it will be rare to find many who speak English, so unless you speak Korean you won’t be able to talk to them much.

Many of the locals will try to ignore you, because that’s clearly what they’ve been told to do. Children will often look at you in fear until you smile and wave, when they’ll smile and wave back even harder.

The guides you are with won’t stop you from talking and interacting with local people. But they will keep a watchful eye on things to make sure there is nothing suspicious going on.

You can read more about life in North Korea here.

The best attitude is to assume that, unless you speak Korean, you won’t get to have many conversations with locals. However, you will still feel like you get a bit of exposure to their lives.

Safety in North Korea

As long as you don’t go into North Korea with the clear intention to cause trouble, you will find things to be extremely safe.

You are always being looked after by two local North Korean guides and so you can’t really get into trouble with the authorities because the guides will stop you from doing anything that could land you in hot water.

One of the aims of the trips for foreigners is to send a positive message about the country. The regime essentially sees it as a big PR campaign – with you as part of the propaganda machine – and so they don’t want anything to go wrong.

If you do what you’re told, it will be one of the safest trips you ever take.

You can read more here about the propaganda in North Korea .

However, you have probably read some of the stories about tourists being detained in North Korea. These unfortunate situations are rare and usually occurred because the tourist did something they shouldn’t have.

I think it’s clear that their punishment vastly outweighed their ‘crime’ and they were obviously used as a form of hostage for political negotiations. But the advice from all the experts is still that, if you do nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear.

The Ariang Mass Games in Pyongyang

The Mass Games, the enormously epic 90 minute performance, has rightly been described as ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’.

It takes place several times a week during August and September in the May Day Stadium, the largest stadium in the world (holding 150,00 seated people).

The performance is a huge patriotic display of marchers, dancers, acrobats, musicians and more. About 100,000 people take part in it, including 20,000 children who hold up coloured cards to make the tableau backdrops.

If you’re thinking of a trip to North Korea, it would be worth finding out the latest information about dates for the Mass Games and try to coincide your travels with it.

You’ll have to pay extra for a ticket to the performance but it is worth it. I would recommend the first class ticket, which cost about 150 Euro.

You can read a bit more about my experience there and see some more of my photos from the Mass Games here .

Overall, a trip into North Korea will be an experience unlike any other you’ve had in the world of travel. It will open your eyes to a country with so few parallels to any you have lived in before.

You shouldn’t be worried or scared. But you do need to do some preparation in advance and behave accordingly when you’re there.

The trip will be safe and comfortable – but your opinions will be challenged. North Korea travel is not a holiday… it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

4 thoughts on “North Korea Travel Guide”

A great editorial. Travel to both Koreas has been a dream of mine, especially the DMZ. One thing I would like and maybe you can advise me on is a N. Korea lapel pin. I collect lapel pins from all over the world but have not been able to get this one. Thanks for the pics also! Jerry J., Las Vegas, NV.

Hi Jerry. Perhaps it would be worth doing a trip to North Korea just to collect the pin! I believe I was given one while I was there (although I’m not exactly sure where I’ve put it). Certainly if the collection is a passion of yours, you might be able to get a good selection over there. They are keen on them!

Sure, this may be a one-of-a-kind experience, but how do you reconcile that the 150 Euros spent on a ticket for the Arirang Games and who knows how much on a way to get into the country, you’re directly funding a horrifically repressive regime that holds twenty-five million people captive?

It’s a good question, Joyce, and not one that’s easy to answer. As a travel writer, this issue comes up often in regards to countries that have regimes or policies that seem ‘wrong’ compared to what is ‘normal’. In some cases, the injustice can be quite obvious and some people choose to boycott those countries. But most of the time there are lots of grey areas and if you started boycotting every country that had human rights issues you didn’t agree with, there would be almost no places to go (the death penalty in the US, incarceration of asylum seekers in Australia, etc).

In my case, I have made the decision not to boycott any countries, but to always report fairly and transparently what I see and how I feel about it. It’s not a perfect solution and the points you’ve raised are very valid, but I think seeing the world and understanding more about other cultures and politics ultimately outweighs the negatives.

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North Korea Travel Guide

At a glance.

Prepare for an unforgettable journey to North Korea. Often overlooked by travellers, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (‘DPRK)’, as it’s officially known, is a captivating destination filled with unique landmarks and architecture, unspoiled landscapes, and ancient heritage.

With a culture deeply intertwined with the legacy of the Korean War, North Korea operates on its own timeline in stark contrast to the rapid globalisation and digital revolution sweeping much of the world. While in North Korea, you’ll become immersed in a socialist society, where you’ll find friendly, welcoming people who display admirable patriotism and remarkable resilience.

For the open-minded traveler, visiting North Korea offers an opportunity to go beyond the media stereotypes and to experience this enigmatic country for themselves.

Pyongyang (Pop. 3,222,000)

Largest City

Notable cities.

Hamhung (Pop. 559,056), Chongjin (Pop. 327,000)

Established

September 9, 1948

Country Land Area

120,540 km²

The DPRK is a single-party communist monarchical regime

The DPRK is racially homogenous, with the Korean ethnicity being dominant.

Internet Suffix

Calling area code, essential information.

How to Get a North Korean visa

When Is the Best Time to Visit North Korea?

Should I Take a Flight or the Train to North Korea?

What to Pack for North Korea Travel

Can You Travel to North Korea From South Korea?

Is It Safe to Visit North Korea?

Can You Take Photos in North Korea?

How to Book a North Korea Tour

Places we visit.

Pyongyang is North Korea's capital and largest city. An ideological stronghold of imposing architecture and grand monuments, Pyongyang is the beating heart of politics, economy, culture, and tourism in North Korea.

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a buffer zone separating the Korean Peninsula, acting as the de-facto border between North Korea and South Korea.

Mt. Myohyang

Mt. Myohyang is one of North Korea's most beautiful nature reserves, weaved with rewarding hikes and dotted with ancient relics.

Kaesong, the ancient capital of the Koryo dynasty, is abundant with well-preserved UNESCO sites and cultural treasures. Situated near the South Korean border, Kaesong has played a crucial role in inter-Korean relations.

Wonsan is a charming seaside town on North Korea's east coast famous for its immaculate yellow-sand beaches and fresh seafood.

Nampo is an industrial port city and key trade gateway to Pyongyang located at the estuary of the Taedong River on the west coast.

Pyongsong is a satellite city of Pyongyang and a developing hub of science and technology often referred to as the ‘Silicon Valley' of North Korea.

Mt. Paektu & Samjiyon

Mt. Paektu is North Korea's tallest peak, the peninsula's most sacred mountain, and a dormant volcano.

Mt. Kumgang

Mt. Kumgang is a mountain range of rugged peaks, scenic valleys and emerald clear waters in the southeast of North Korea, a natural wonder that’s often celebrated in artworks and literature.

Sariwon is a tranquil regional city with thriving agricultural and developing light industries, and a growing tourism sector drawn to the city's traditional Korean cultural sites and surrounding picturesque landscapes.

Sinuiju is a bustling border city with China in the northwest, and is North Korea’s primary gateway to the outside world with foreign trade and overland travel.

Haeju is a port city in the southwest of North Korea with an important role in the economy as a hub for trade, agriculture, manufacturing and fisheries.

Mt. Kuwol is a mountain range and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of rugged terrain, dense forests, and coastal wetlands made home to rare and endangered species of plants and animals.

Travel Requirements and Visas

All tourists require a North Korean visa  to visit the country. This is arranged by your tour company, such as Uri Tours, who will provide you with and process your application paperwork with the relevant authorities. The DPRK visa is typically issued as a separate paper card and not inside your passport, although it’s possible to obtain the DPRK visa inside your passport at a DPRK Embassy. As at 2024, South Korean, Malaysian, or United States passport holders are ineligible to visit North Korea due to restrictions imposed by their respective governments.

The primary gateway to North Korea is Beijing, China by flight or train to Pyongyang. Further options are Shanghai, Shenyang or Dandong in China, or Vladivostok in Russia. If traveling via China, you’ll need to clear immigration which can be either with a Chinese visa or, if eligible and traveling by flight, using the  144-hour visa-free transit policy  in lieu of a Chinese visa. If travelling via Russia, you’ll need either a Russian visa or an e-visa applicable to certain nationalities and valid through Vladivostok.

North Korea’s currency is the Korean Won. There are 100 chon in 1 won. As a foreigner making purchases at tourism sites, shops, venues and hotels, you will primarily use foreign currency. Euro, USD and Chinese RMB are commonly accepted and preferred for use by tourists, and although they’re interchangeable, it’s handy to have a mix of these currencies in low denomination for the best rate and convenience. Our guide on which currency to use during your visit to the DPRK can be found  here .

In the past, there were different currencies in use in the DPRK, one type of won for use by DPRK citizens, one type of won existing for visitors from capitalist and Western countries, and one type of won existing for visitors from communist, formerly-communist, and friendly nations. Learn more about the current circulation DPRK banknotes here .

North Korean cuisine is similar to, yet distinct from, its southern counterpart. Traditional dishes such as naengmyeon (cold noodles), bibimbap (mixed rice with vegetables and meat), and jeongol (hotpot) are popular, as is Korean BBQ, where meats are cooked over a tray of coals in the middle of your table. North Korea also has some iconic dishes like injogogibap (mock meat), pansanggi (a traditional meal historically eaten by royalty), samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), and the famous petrol clam bake.

Meals are often communal and accompanied by sides such as bulgogi, mung bean pancakes, and rice cakes, as well as staples like kimchi, rice, noodles, corn, and potatoes. Two essential condiments are gochujang (red pepper paste) and doenjang (soybean paste), which are used as bases or marinades in many dishes. Soups and stews featuring vegetables and meats such as duck, pork, and chicken are common, with beef being considered a delicacy. Being surrounded by sea, there is a wide variety of seafood available.

Beverages such as tea, soy milk, soju, and makgeolli are commonly consumed, with beer and coffee becoming increasingly popular.

On our tours, we can cater to a wide variety of dietary requirements.

Climate and Weather

North Korea experiences all four seasons with mild and dry springs and autumns with long, cold winters and short, hot, humid, and rainy summers. It’s possible to visit North Korea in all seasons, but depending on the seasonal weather, some activities and accessibility can be limited. To assist your planning, we’ve outlined the pros and cons of each season in  our guide on when is the best time to visit North Korea. The peak (relatively!) tourist season is between April and October, tapering off as the weather begins to get cold in November until the country emerges from winter again in March.

Festivals and Holidays

The most important holiday in North Korea each year is the Day of the Sun, marking the birthday of the country’s founder, Kim Il Sung on April 15th. Koreans celebrate by making pilgrimages to relevant venerated sites, including his birthplace Mangyongdae in Pyongyang. The largest observances take place in the capital, including group homages at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun (the mausoleum) and the Mansudae Grand Monument . Similarly, Koreans celebrate the birthday of Kim Il Sung’s son, late leader Kim Jong Il, on February 16 known as the Day of the Shining Star. On October 10 the nation celebrates Party Foundation Day, commemorating the establishment of the Workers’ Party of Korea, and September 9 marks National Day, the foundation of the DPRK, featuring public dancing, artistic displays, and political speeches.

Visiting the DPRK during a national holiday is sure to be memorable with festivities such as special exhibitions, performances, mass dances, military parades, or the Mass Games , the largest performance of its kind in the world. Due to extreme demand and limited logistics over these periods, we recommend booking well in advance.

Officially atheist. Traditionally Buddhist, Confucian, and a local syncretic faith called Chondogyo. Religious activities are essentially non-existent, but some practicing government-run religious groups exist.

Health and Medicine

Medical facilities in the country are very basic, particularly in the rural areas, and offer only minimum care. Clinical hygiene is poor, and anaesthetics are not readily available. Electricity supply to hospitals in the capital can be intermittent. You should take extra precautions to avoid circumstances that could result in serious injury while in North Korea, and we require all travellers to obtain medical insurance (inclusive of medical evacuation) covering North Korea before you travel with us.

Every hotel has a doctor on-site, and some tourist sites may have modest medical facilities. Tourists will be taken to the Pyongyang International Friendship Hospital. It’s necessary for any traveller to North Korea to bring with them all required prescription medication, and medications you think you may need, ideally with backups stored separately, as certain medications will be difficult (if not impossible) to find once inside North Korea.

We’ve been traveling to North Korea for over 15 years, and based on our experience, North Korea is a safe destination to travel as long as you adhere to local law and follow the rules of the tour. We wrote an extensive blog post covering whether North Korea is safe to visit, which we recommend you read here .

Crime against tourists visiting North Korea is essentially unheard of. Because of the closed, tightly-controlled nature of guided tour groups, it is very unlikely there would ever be a chance for you to fall victim to someone who’s not a part of your group. Though exceedingly rare, some petty theft may occur from hotels, so be sure to keep your passport, cash, and any valuables on your person or in safekeeping at all times.

You will need to bring plenty of cash as traveler’s cheques are not accepted, bank transfers are not possible, and there are no ATMs. Make sure that you have some valid form of identification on your person at all times.

LGBTQ+ Travel

While not illegal, homosexuality is not officially recognised as existent in North Korea. However, LGBTQ+ travelers are allowed, welcome and are not treated any differently from other travelers.

Solo Female Travel

North Korea is generally a safe destination for female travelers. Gender equality is fairly prominent in North Korea due to the socialist system of values. Our founder has traveled extensively throughout the country with no issues relating to her gender. North Korea is a conservative society and it is always wise to dress modestly, particularly at important sites and memorials dedicated to the leaders and especially in situations where you are uncertain of local customs.

Disabled Travel

Many historical sites and tourist areas in North Korea do not have elevators or handicapped access. Hotels within Pyongyang, including the Koryo Hotel  where we primarily stay , typically have an elevator or escalator but this is the exception and not the rule beyond the capital. Intermittent power cuts can also render elevators unusable, and uneven ground or steps render wheelchair access limited. Visitors to historic sites and other outdoor attractions should expect stairs and, in some cases, challenging terrain. Road conditions outside of Pyongyang are poor and can be rough, particularly for long journeys.

Korean Words and Phrases

Hello! — 안녕하십니까! (Annyeonghasibnikka!) Goodbye (to someone leaving) — 안녕히 가십시요! (Annyeonghi gasibsiyo!) Thank you — 감사합니다! (Gamsahamnida!) Yes — 예 (ye) No — 아니요 (Aniyo) Please — 제발 (Jebal) Excuse me — 실례합니다 (Sillyehamnida) I’m sorry — 미안합니다 (Mianhamnida) How are you? — 어떻게 지내십니까? (Eotteoke jinaesibnikka?) My name is… — 제 이름은 …입니다 (Je ireumeun … imnida)