Top Things to do in North Korea
The 10 Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in North Korea, North Korea
Discover the best top things to do in North Korea, North Korea including Tongil Tours, Koryo Tours, The State Circus, Geumsusan Memorial Palace, Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, Pyongyang Metro, Koryo Museum, Mansudae Art Studio Gallery, International Friendship Exhibition, Golden Lane Bowling Alley.
Restaurants in North Korea
1. Tongil Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 35 reviews
Tongil Tours is the only North Korea travel service staffed entirely by Korean-speaking academic specialists. Tongil Tours seeks to provide tour participants with not only an unforgettable experience in North Korea, but also a more nuanced understanding of the country and its people.
2. Koryo Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 186 reviews
Since its inception in 1993, Koryo Tours has operated hundreds of tours and taken thousands of people to North Korea. Our mission is to facilitate responsible tourism to the world’s most isolated and least understood countries while encouraging people-to-people engagement through travel, culture, sport and humanitarian projects. We also run unforgettable tours to other rarely visited countries, including Mongolia, rural Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.
3. The State Circus
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By midway42 - Minnesota, United States
Continuing on the government approved tourist agenda, I visited the state circus in Pyongyang on my first full day in the country after the expected Mass Dance was cancelled for Liberation Day. My guides obviously took care of purchasing the ticket and making sure I got here on time. The circus has a dedicated building that seats about 3,000 (rough estimate) and it was sold out for my attended performance with mostly tourists in attendance. The actual routine consisted of approximately fifteen separate acts, all involving humans and various types of acrobatics. These were accompanied by lighting, sound, and video (including one of a missile test during a springboard routine), and if that wasn't enough a live orchestra to boot. I estimate the number of performers at 40-50, but it was a bit tricky to tell with all of the costume changes as everyone cycled through the acts fairly quickly. The entire show lasted a little under ninety minutes. I’ve seen more than a few of these in my years of travel and this was simply a virtuoso display of human athletics. It’s probably not too far from the truth to state that these young adults have been “chosen” at a young age to represent the country but even given that type of social commentary this was flat-out the best acrobatics performance I have ever seen. Please make it a must when visiting the country.
4. Geumsusan Memorial Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 87 reviews
Reviewed By Neil_and_Family_5 - Kelowna, Canada
Definitely, one of the highlights of our tour of North Korea. The palace is more than the mausoleum where the two previous Kims lie in state. It is a museum of Kim paraphernalia; their personal train cars, Mercedes Benz', golf cart; maps of their official tours, all of their awards, certificates, and honorary degrees and much more. First, it is quite the effort just to get in. Dress properly, arrive, wait in a building, be summoned to line up in rows of four, walk down a walkway into another building, go through security, arrive at the cloakroom where you deposit your recording devices and jackets, line up in rows of four, go up an escalator, then stand on numerous very long moving walkways (no walking on the walkways but don't worry; there are many portraits to look at while abiding your time), and then, finally arrive at the palace. And what a palace; opulent, grandiose, serene, truly out of this world. It's understandable that pictures are not allowed in the mausoleum but it sure would have been nice to be able to memorialize the palace in a visual sense. And be sure to mind your manners; quiet whispers at all times and hands in front or at your side; never in your pockets or behind your back. The tour of the interior was excellent as was the walk outside in the grounds. Truly a must do. 5 stars.
5. Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 174 reviews
Reviewed By bronwynrev - Toronto, Canada
Beautiful grounds, friendly guides, and an incredible interactive experience inside. Truly have never experienced a museum like this - it was huge and beautiful, and though I didn't get to go through every exhibit, I was particularly impressed by the level of detail they put into the recreation of woodland military bases and tunnels -- sound effects, life-sized dioramas, and historical items galore. The panorama upstairs is breathtaking as well. The next time I visit, I'd like to spend more time here. There's also coffee, tea, and a gift shop.
6. Pyongyang Metro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 211 reviews
Reviewed By 197estherk - Hong Kong, China
It was an authentic experience to ride the Metro, & my favourite in Pyongyang. I absolutely love the stations and platforms which are old but are orderly & clean. The Pyongyang Metro has a unique character that you can’t find It anywhere else. The murals on the walls are beautiful, that is, if you love North Korean propaganda art. The cars can be crowded during rush hour just like in any city. But your guide will take good care of you. The locals are shy in front of foreigners but they are nice to have offered seats to us. The platforms are great places for people photography as well.
7. Koryo Museum
8. Mansudae Art Studio Gallery
9. International Friendship Exhibition
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By garrickwright - Perth, Australia
To be honest, all the long reviews from experienced travellers on here are pretty accurate so I won't repeat what's already been said. However the sheer scale of this place - the art works on offer (most of this stuff should be in a museum) and the beautiful views on display from the balcony make this an absolute must see. We stayed overnight so we could also hike Mt Myohuang which I recommend, and see the Polyhon Temple nearby
