Mount Kumgang, North KoreaPhoto: Uri Tours, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in North Korea
North Korea, explained honestly: guided tours, strict rules and a country like no other
North Korea is the most closed country on earth, and visiting it is unlike any other trip. Every visitor travels on an approved guided tour, borders open and close with little warning, and many governments advise against going at all. This guide explains how tours work, what you will see, the rules you must follow and the risks, so you can decide calmly whether this trip is right for you.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you decideGovernment advice, passport limits and whether tours are running, explained
- ArrivingThe flight or train from China, customs and meeting your guides
- Your days in North KoreaPyongyang, the DMZ and beyond, on a fixed itinerary
- Home againLeaving smoothly, with photos and souvenirs that will not cause trouble
Where to go, eat and stay
- Honest about the risksWe put current government advice first and never play down what can go wrong.
- Official sourcesEntry, safety and health facts point you to official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain how tour packages, cash and extras work before you commit.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
A trip to North Korea should never be a gamble. We answer the hard questions plainly, so you can make an informed choice and, if you go, travel with your eyes open.
Curious about Pyongyang's monuments, the line that divides Korea at Panmunjom or the quiet hills of Kaesong? This guide was written for careful, first-time visitors.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first curiosity to a well informed decision.
- Read the adviceStart with your government's travel advice and check whether your passport can be used for North Korea at all.
- Check tours are runningBorders have opened and closed repeatedly since 2020, so confirm with an established tour operator what is actually possible.
- Learn the rulesPhotography, behaviour and what you may carry matter far more here than anywhere else.
- Shape your tripUse the destinations, places list and free trip planner to choose an itinerary that suits you.
Everything your North Korea research needs
Free tools and guides for every stage, from deciding to travelling.
Destinations
Pyongyang, Kaesong and the DMZ, Wonsan, Mount Myohyang and Rason, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred monuments, museums, restaurants and hotels that appear on tour itineraries.
See places to visitFlights and travel
How the routes through Beijing, Shenyang, Dandong and Vladivostok fit together.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and we will help you think through a realistic route.
Plan your trip
The classic North Korea tour
Pyongyang, then the DMZ
Most tours spend several days in Pyongyang, with its vast squares, monuments and metro, then drive south through farmland to Kaesong and the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom. Longer tours add Mount Myohyang, the east coast at Wonsan or the far north.
- Kim Il Sung Square and the Juche Tower
- A ride on the deep Pyongyang Metro
- Panmunjom, where the 1953 armistice was signed
- Koryo era tombs and temples around Kaesong
Start with the destinations
See how Pyongyang, the DMZ and the coast fit together.
North Korea destinationsDecide with confidence
Your choice, without the guesswork
North Korea is not a trip to book on impulse. Our free planner helps you think through timing, the route in through China or Russia and how a tour fits into a wider trip in the region.
- Current advice and passport limits first
- Which months tours usually run
- How to combine it with China or Russia
Where tours go in North Korea
From the monuments of Pyongyang to the border at Panmunjom, the mountains and the east coast.
Pyongyang
Pyongyang
North Korea's showpiece capital of vast squares, monuments and wide boulevards on the Taedong River.
Read the guidePhoto: calflier001, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
South Hwanghae and Kaesong
Kaesong and the DMZ
The border at Panmunjom and the old Koryo capital of Kaesong, a UNESCO listed town of tombs and temples.
Read the guidePhoto: Uri Tours, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Kangwon Province
Wonsan
An east coast port with long beaches, the new Kalma resort and the Masikryong ski slopes nearby.
Read the guidePhoto: (stephan), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
North Phyongan Province
Mount Myohyang
Wooded mountains north of Pyongyang with a Buddhist temple, waterfalls and the vast hall of gifts to the leaders.
Read the guidePhoto: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rason Special Economic Zone
Rason
A special economic zone on the far northeast coast, bordering China and Russia, with a slightly looser feel.
Read the guidePhoto: Caitriana Nicholson from 北京 ~ Beijing, 中国 ~ China, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Can tourists visit North Korea right now?
Only sometimes, and only on approved tours. North Korea closed its borders in 2020, reopened to some Russian groups in 2024 and briefly to other tourists in Rason in 2025 before pausing again. Check with an established tour operator and your government's travel advice for the current position before planning anything.
Is North Korea safe to visit?
Ordinary crime against tourists is very rare, but the real risk is arbitrary detention for breaking rules you may not even know exist. The UK, US, Canadian and Australian governments all warn strongly against travel. Read their advice in full before deciding.
Can US citizens go to North Korea?
US passports have been invalid for travel to North Korea since 2017 unless the State Department grants a special validation, which is rarely given to tourists. Check the US State Department's North Korea page for the current position.
Can I travel independently in North Korea?
No. Every visitor travels with an approved tour, accompanied at all times by at least two North Korean guides, on an itinerary agreed in advance. You cannot wander alone, choose your hotel freely or talk to people at random.
What currency do I use in North Korea?
Tourists cannot normally use the North Korean won. Tours are paid in advance, and extras are paid in cash in euros, Chinese yuan or US dollars. Foreign bank cards do not work, so bring clean notes in small denominations.
How long is a typical North Korea tour?
Most tours last four to eight days, usually starting and ending in Beijing or Dandong in China, or Vladivostok in Russia for some routes. Shorter trips focus on Pyongyang and Kaesong, longer ones add mountains, the coast or the north.
Thinking about North Korea?
Use the free trip planner to think through timing, routes and how a tour fits into a wider trip in the region.