North Korea
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Eastern Asia · PRK
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To North Korea
North Korea is a highly controlled destination where travel is only possible in very limited and policy-dependent ways. Any visit would be a specialized, tightly managed trip rather than a normal independent itinerary.
Popular For
Things To See
- Pyongyang
- Kaesong
- Mount Kumgang
- Demilitarized Zone
- Mansudae Grand Monument
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- Access is heavily restricted and can change without much notice.
- Any trip would need to follow the exact structure allowed by authorities.
- Treat this as a special-case destination rather than a typical independent vacation.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
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Open hotel and accommodation options for North Korea.
Guidebooks
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Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for North Korea.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Pyongyang
- Population
- 25,950,000
- Area
- 120,538 km²
- Region
- Eastern Asia
Languages
- Korean
Currency
North Korean won (₩)
KPW
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Safety & Peace
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Pyongyang (39.02°N, 125.75°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
13/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 0/100
- Lived safety
- 37/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionUnknown
- Adoption recognition❓
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❓
- Legal gender recognition❓
- Conversion therapy ban❓
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (3)
- 🌍
Mount Kumgang – Diamond Mountain from the Sea
Inscribed 2025
- 🏛️
Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong
Inscribed 2013
- 🏛️
Complex of Koguryo Tombs
Inscribed 2004
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 2.4%
- Forest cover
- 49.6%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 10
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 30
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
20/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Winter Sports
25/100
Ski infrastructure & alpine pedigree
Combines ski resort depth, ski resort density, and Winter Olympic skiing results. Separate from climate comfort.
Luxury Infrastructure
0/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Do not travelto North Korea due to wrongful detention and other risks. Do not travel to North Korea due to the continuing serious risk of arrest, long-term detention, and the threat of wrongful detention of U.S. citizens. Do not travel to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for any reason. U.S. passports cannot be used to travel to, in, or through the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) unless they are specially validated for such travel by the Secretary of State. Special validations are granted only in very limited circumstances. Review the information on how to apply for the special validation. Because the U.S. government does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea, it cannot provide direct help to U.S. citizens in North Korea in emergencies. Sweden serves as the U.S. protecting power in North Korea through its Embassy in Pyongyang and provides limited consular services to U.S. citizens. Additionally, the North Korean government has often delayed or denied Swedish officials access to U.S. citizens who are detained. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). This is due to the risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of North Korea. For more information U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data