Wonsan: North Korea's east coast port and beach resort

Getting there

The road from Pyongyang crosses the mountainous spine of the country, with views of terraced fields, tunnels and rivers. It takes three to four hours with stops. Wonsan's Kalma Airport handles occasional domestic and charter flights, including some from Russia.

Wonsan Kalma

The **Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area** stretches along a long sandy peninsula south of the city, lined with dozens of new hotels, a water park, restaurants and shops. It opened in July 2025, initially for North Koreans and Russian groups. The North Korean authorities said soon after opening that foreign tourists would be temporarily limited, and access for other nationalities has remained uncertain. If it opens more widely, it will be one of the very few places where visitors can simply relax on a beach in North Korea.

Songdowon and the city

**Songdowon** is the city's older beach area, with pine trees, a seaside park and the **Songdowon International Children's Camp**, where children from abroad have attended summer camps. Wonsan city itself has a working harbour, the **Wonsan Agricultural University** with its tree lined campus, and a seafront promenade. Tours have sometimes visited a local fish shop or the port.

Masikryong Ski Resort

About an hour inland, the **Masikryong Ski Resort** opened in 2014 with around ten runs, a hotel with a pool and sauna, and ski hire. It is quiet and the snow can be thin, but skiing in North Korea is a genuine novelty. Since 2024 Russian groups have been the main visitors.

Mount Kumgang to the south

Further south, **Mount Kumgang**, the Diamond Mountains, is one of Korea's most famous beauty spots, with the Kuryong waterfall and the Samil Lagoon. It once hosted South Korean tourists, but most of those facilities were removed, and access for foreign tours has been very rare in recent years.

Food on the coast

Seafood is the highlight here: grilled clams, squid, crab and fish, sometimes cooked on the beach. Wonsan is also known for cold noodles and fresh kimchi.

Practical notes

Beaches are kept separate for tourists and locals in many areas. Swimwear is fine on the beach but cover up elsewhere. Do not photograph the harbour, ships or anything that looks military, as Wonsan is also a naval base. See Mount Myohyang for the country's other great scenic trip.

How a Wonsan trip fits a tour

When Western tours ran here, Wonsan was usually a two or three night extension after Pyongyang, sometimes combined with Mount Kumgang or Masikryong. The drive itself, crossing the mountains through tunnels and past small farms, is one of the best chances to see the countryside. In summer, a beach afternoon with a seafood barbecue is the usual highlight; in winter, a day of skiing at Masikryong.

Before you book

Ask your operator whether your nationality can currently visit Wonsan Kalma or Masikryong, which hotel you would use, and whether beaches are open for swimming during your dates. Plans for this coast have changed several times since 2024.

Wonsan's past

Wonsan was opened as a trading port in 1880 and later became an important Japanese era harbour and railway town. It suffered heavy damage in the Korean War, and the modern city was rebuilt afterwards. Kim Jong Un is reported to have spent time here as a child, which helps explain the investment in the coast.