North Korea is a travel destination in Eastern Asia. Its capital is Pyongyang. October and April are its two best months to visit, ranked on 1991–2020 climate averages.
Top places to visit in North Korea
Kumsusan Palace of the Sun (landmark, Pyongyang) — Mausoleum housing the preserved remains of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il — monumental granite complex where foreign visitors must observe strict dress code and deep respect; the centrepiece of North Korean state ideology.
Kim Il-sung Square (landmark, Pyongyang) — Pyongyang's vast central plaza — site of military parades, mass dances, and the iconic view of the Korean Workers' Party mural above the Grand People's Study House; the symbolic heart of the North Korean state.
Juche Tower (landmark, Pyongyang) — 170 m granite obelisk built in 1982 to mark Kim Il-sung's 70th birthday — the eternal flame at the apex, panoramic Pyongyang views from the observation deck, and the 25,550 individual granite blocks representing each day of his life.
Mount Paektu (Baekdu) (natural, Ryanggang Province) — Sacred 2,744 m volcanic peak straddling the Chinese border — Heaven Lake (Tianchi) caldera in the crater, ancient forest, and the mythological birthplace of the Korean nation; deeply revered in both Koreas.
Pyongyang Metro (landmark, Pyongyang) — One of the world's deepest and most ornate metro systems — stations adorned with chandeliers, socialist-realist mosaics, and marble; running up to 100 m underground, it doubles as a nuclear shelter.
Triumphal Arch (landmark, Pyongyang) — Larger replica of Paris's Arc de Triomphe — built in 1982 of 25,550 white granite blocks (one per day of Kim Il-sung's life); flanking murals depict the victorious return from anti-Japanese resistance.
Mount Myohyang (natural, South Pyongan Province) — Scenic Buddhist mountain three hours north of Pyongyang — Pohyon Temple (founded 1042 AD), the International Friendship Exhibition halls housing gifts given to Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il from world leaders.
Demilitarized Zone (Panmunjom) (landmark, North Hwanghae Province) — The 4 km-wide buffer zone dividing the peninsula — Joint Security Area where North Korean and UN Command soldiers stand metres apart; the Conference Row buildings straddle the ceasefire line; one of the world's most tense borders.
Kaesong Historic Monuments (landmark, North Hwanghae Province) — UNESCO World Heritage medieval Koryo dynasty capital — Koryo Museum in a former Confucian academy, royal mausoleums, Songgyungwan shrine, and Sonjuk Bridge where reformer Chong Mong-ju was assassinated in 1392.
Wonsan Beach & Lagoon (beach, Kangwon Province) — North Korea's premier coastal resort on the East Sea — wide sandy beach, pine-fringed lagoon, hot springs, and the Masikryong ski resort 40 km inland; Wonsan is the country's most developed tourist coastal destination.