Top places to visit in Pyongyang

• Mansudae Grand Monument

  Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The iconic bronze statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il on Mansudae Hill, flanked by dramatic mosaic murals of Mount Paektu. The most photographed site in Pyongyang and the political heart of the DPRK. Tourists are expected to bow and may…

• Pyongyang Metro

  metro · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of the world's deepest metro systems — stations up to 100 m underground, built to serve as nuclear bomb shelters. Two public lines with extravagantly decorated stations featuring chandeliers, mosaics and propaganda murals unique to…

• Kim Il-sung Square

  public square · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The vast ceremonial plaza at Pyongyang's heart — 75,000 sq m along the Taedong River's western bank. Flanked by the Grand People's Study House and Korean Art Gallery, it hosts mass parades, torch-lit processions and national celebrations.…

• Arch of Triumph

  monument · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's largest triumphal arch at 60 m high and 52.7 m wide — surpassing Paris's Arc de Triomphe. Built in 1982 to mark Kim Il-sung's anti-Japanese resistance. Visitors may ascend to the top for views over the surrounding boulevards…

• Kumsusan Palace of the Sun

  mausoleum · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The mausoleum of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, where both leaders lie in embalmed state in refrigerated glass sarcophagi. Multiple security checkpoints are passed in solemn silence. One of the most extraordinary visitor experiences in the…

• Juche Tower

  monument · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The 170-metre Tower of the Juche Idea on the eastern Taedong bank, built in 1982 for Kim Il-sung's 70th birthday from 25,550 white granite blocks — one for each day of his life at that point. A red flame burns at the top; the observation…

• Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum

  military museum · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  North Korea's major military museum covering the Korean War (1950–1953). Exhibits include captured US aircraft, tanks, and the USS Pueblo (US spy ship seized 1968, still berthed outside). Centrepiece is a spectacular 360-degree rotating…

• Rungrado May Day Stadium

  Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The largest stadium in the world by capacity (114,000 seats), built on Rungrado Island in the Taedong River. Used for mass games (Arirang Festival), football matches, and state events. The stadium itself is architecturally striking — a…

• Mangyongdae Native Home

  birthplace monument · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The preserved birthplace of Kim Il-sung — a simple thatched farmhouse maintained as a national monument and pilgrimage site in western Pyongyang. The adjacent Mangyongdae Children's Palace stages extraordinary performances of children's…

• Pyongyang State Circus

  circus · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  World-class acrobatics, tightrope acts, juggling and animal performances by resident professional troupes. Several evenings weekly, tourists sit alongside North Korean families in an entertaining and informal setting. Widely regarded as…

• Grand People's Study House

  library · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  North Korea's national library — an imposing traditional Korean-style building anchoring the northern end of Kim Il-sung Square, built in 1982 with 600 rooms. Tourists are guided through reading rooms, music listening booths, and computer…

• Moranbong Park

  park · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Pyongyang's most beloved green space — a hilly riverside park with ancient fortress walls, pavilions, and historic Chilsong and Xuanwu gates. On Sundays and holidays locals picnic, play music and socialise here in an unusually relaxed…

Things to do

• Pyongyang Metro Tour Cultural · 1 h · from INR 4,500 per person
• Pyongyang Full-Day City Highlights Cultural · 8 h · from INR 18,000 per person
• Kim Il-sung Square & Juche Tower Tour Cultural · 2 h · from INR 5,500 per person
• War Museum & USS Pueblo Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from INR 5,000 per person
• Mangyongdae & Children's Palace Visit Cultural · 2.5 h · from INR 5,500 per person
• Pyongyang State Circus Evening Show Entertainment · 2 h · from INR 14,000 per person
• Pyongyang Bowling & Beer Experience Leisure · 2 h · from INR 3,600 per person

Day trips and tours

• Classic Pyongyang Day Tour 8 h · from INR 11,500
• War Museum & USS Pueblo Full Tour 3.5 h · from INR 4,500
• Kaesong UNESCO Heritage Day Trip 10 h · from INR 7,200
• Pyongyang Metro & Monuments Half-Day 4 h · from INR 4,600
• Pyongyang Bowling & Beer Evening 2.5 h · from INR 2,750

Where to stay in Pyongyang

• Yanggakdo Island Zone about KPW 130 per night

  The primary tourist accommodation area in Pyongyang, centred on Yanggakdo International Hotel on an island in the Taedong River. Virtually all Western tourists stay here. Separation from the city on an island means…

• Koryo Hotel Zone about KPW 120 per night

  The Koryo Hotel is a twin-tower landmark in central Pyongyang used for business visitors and some tour groups. Slightly more central than Yanggakdo, offering easier access to the city.

Hotels

• Yanggakdo International Hotel 5-star · EUR 130 to EUR 200 per night
• Koryo Hotel 5-star · EUR 120 to EUR 180 per night
• Potonggang Hotel 3-star · EUR 70 to EUR 110 per night
• Ryanggang Hotel 3-star · EUR 60 to EUR 95 per night
• Sosan Hotel 3-star · EUR 55 to EUR 85 per night
• Haebangsan Hotel 2-star · EUR 45 to EUR 70 per night

Where to eat

• Okryu-gwan Restaurant Korean, North Korean Traditional · about EUR 15 per person
• Taedonggang Brewery Taproom Korean, Bar food, Snacks · about EUR 8 per person
• Chongryu Restaurant Korean, North Korean Traditional · about EUR 12 per person
• Pyongyang Duck Barbecue Restaurant Korean, North Korean Traditional · about EUR 20 per person
• Yanggakdo Hotel Restaurant Korean, International, Western · about EUR 25 per person
• Koryo Hotel Revolving Restaurant Korean, Chinese · about EUR 30 per person
• Haebangsan Restaurant Korean, North Korean Traditional · about EUR 12 per person
• Pyongyang Koryo Barbecue Restaurant Korean, Barbecue · about EUR 18 per person

Getting to Pyongyang

Airport: Pyongyang (FNJ)

How visitors arrive in Pyongyang

• Overnight train Beijing to Pyongyang via Dandong By train from Beijing · common · unconfirmed

  Trains link Beijing and Pyongyang through Dandong and Sinuiju; operation and eligibility change, so confirm with a tour agency. Source: lonelyplanet.fr

• Air Koryo flight Beijing to Pyongyang Sunan By air from Beijing · common · unconfirmed

  Air Koryo and Air China serve Pyongyang airport; tour agencies normally arrange tickets. Source: lonelyplanet.fr

Getting around

• Metro limited to a few areas

  The Pyongyang Metro serves the west side of the Taedong River; tourists usually ride only short sections arranged in advance by their tour.

• Tram

  Pyongyang has a public tram system with several lines, and Line 3 is the only one that currently crosses the Taedong River.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Overpriced Souvenir Pressuring

  Tourist shops, Pyongyang hotels

  Staff at tourist shops may apply persistent social pressure to purchase souvenirs, stamps, or artwork at non-negotiable and elevated EUR prices. While not a scam in the traditional sense, prices are fixed above international equivalents.

  How to avoid it: Budget for souvenir purchases in advance. EUR 50–100 is sufficient for typical purchases. Politely decline items you do not want — DPRK shop staff accept refusals without issue.

• Currency Exchange Confusion

  Hotel reception, tour guide handover

  Tourists are given EUR/USD/CNY change in mixed denominations. Some guides may round change in their favour when breaking large notes at unofficial rates.

  How to avoid it: Carry small EUR or USD denominations. Request an itemised receipt for all purchases. Count change carefully before leaving the counter.

• Unauthorised Photography Fine

  City landmarks, military checkpoints, construction sites

  Photographing prohibited subjects (military personnel, construction, poverty, anything your guide objects to) can result in camera inspection, forced deletion of photos, or in serious cases, detention and interrogation.

  How to avoid it: Always ask your guide before photographing anything. When in doubt, do not shoot. Delete any sensitive images immediately if requested — non-compliance escalates the situation significantly.

Best time to visit Pyongyang

• Jan 0°C
• Feb 3°C
• Mar 10°C
• Apr 18°C
• May 24°C
• Jun 28°C
• Jul 29°C
• Aug 30°C
• Sep 26°C
• Oct 19°C
• Nov 10°C
• Dec 1°C

More in North Korea

• Kaesong
• Wonsan
• Sariwon
• Nampo
• Rason
• Hamhung

Frequently asked questions about Pyongyang

What are the top-rated places to visit in Pyongyang?

The highest-rated places in our Pyongyang guide are Mansudae Grand Monument, Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, Pyongyang Metro, Kim Il-sung Square, Arch of Triumph.

Where should I stay in Pyongyang?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Pyongyang: Yanggakdo Island Zone, Koryo Hotel Zone.

How do I get around Pyongyang?

Ways to get around Pyongyang covered in our guide: Metro, Tram, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Pyongyang?

Scams reported to us for Pyongyang include Overpriced Souvenir Pressuring; Currency Exchange Confusion; Unauthorised Photography Fine. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Pyongyang?

Average daytime highs in Pyongyang run from 0°C in Jan to 30°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Pyongyang?

The nearest airport to Pyongyang has the code FNJ.