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Top North Korea hotels

P'yongyang Hotels: 176 Reviews - 520 Photos
Kangso Hotels: 0 Reviews - 2 Photos
Yuch'o-do Hotels: 0 Reviews
Wonsan-ni Hotels: 0 Reviews - 1 Photo
Wonsan Hotels: 0 Reviews - 5 Photos
Taesong Hotels: 0 Reviews - 1 Photo
Sariwon Hotels: 0 Reviews - 2 Photos
Samjiyon-up Hotels: 0 Reviews - 2 Photos
P'yongyang-ni Hotels: 0 Reviews - 9 Photos
Pohyon-ni Hotels: 0 Reviews - 2 Photos
Poch'on-ni Hotels: 0 Reviews - 3 Photos
P'anmunjom-ni Hotels: 23 Reviews - 79 Photos
Namp'o Hotels: 11 Reviews - 75 Photos
Myohyang-sanmaek Hotels: 16 Reviews - 58 Photos
Man'gyongdae-ri Hotels: 0 Reviews - 1 Photo

North Korea Favorites

by StublueKPL

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Favorites
by StublueKPL
Pyongyang at 8:30pm
by DSwede
My Beijing - Pyongyang plane ticket
by Willettsworld
Arc of Triumph
by Willettsworld
The front of my visa
by Willettsworld

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Currency/exchange rates

by Willettsworld

The North Korean currency is called the won and it is possible to obtain it when in North Korea but you can't spend it. Think of it as a souvenir. When I first arrived at the Yanggakdo Hotel, I noticed a small sign beside the reception counter saying "Exchange". My guide book (Lonely Planet) had said that it wasn't possible to exchange money for the won but along with the Exchange sign, there was also a list of foreign currencies and their exchange rates typed out on a piece of paper housed in a plastic holder. I changed 10 Chinese RMB for 175.10 won and received crisp, new notes and coins back. I was rather chuffed by this and went to tell other members of my tour party. The rates are the "official" rates but we all met an Italian guy working for UNICEF on the train back to Beijing who said that the unofficial black market rate was €1 = 4,000 won when the official rate was €1 = 192 won!...

Visa and travel arrangements

by Willettsworld

When you sign up for a tour via your travel agents website, you will have to complete and sign a visa application form for the DPRK. The details on this may be checked by your travel agent and then probably checked by the officials in Pyongyang. Your travel agent will also need a photocopied photo of you and your passport. After everything was sent I then paid for the trip and that really was that - all there was to it!What I did was to pick up my visa in Beijing before my trip as I was in China for a few months before my trip to North Korea. My travel agent (Korea Konsult) emailed me details of where and when to go and collect the visa (basically from a North Korean guy in a hotel, the day before I was due to fly out to Pyongyang). I did this without any problems. He also gave me my flight ticket to Pyongyang, so that was all there was to it as far as the travel arrangements were...

Money Exchange

by DSwede

FYI, obtaining North Korean Won is illegal for foreigners. If you want some, you will have to sweet talk one of your guides, or tip them very well (but discretely).For money collectors, currency bills can be found in Dandong China tourist shops.Any place that you can purchase goods in DPRK will do the exchange calculation on the spot. They accept RMB, EUR or USD. Your change will be given back in the same currency as your payment.As of 2003, USD is no longer the federal reserve security, so the USD will not get the best exchange value. Euros will give you slightly more advantageous exchange rate.

Arirang Festival

by DSwede

Every year North Korea hosts the Arirang Festival in P'yongyang during the months of August and September. It is a huge feat to coordinate thousands of participants to perform the intricate acts. There is music, dance, "flash card" displays through the stadium and much more.Being a Meegok Nam (tenderly named “American Bastard” by the North Koreans), this is the only time of year that the N Korean government will allow you to visit. But if you are any other nationality, you may visit at any time (but still need an invitation Visa and tour with a group). While it may be thought of as a huge achievement to orchestrate these huge performances, one must also look at the implications of it.The people in DPRK are hungry and lead a meager life. They do not have much to be thankful for, and are living until the carefully mastered direction of the government. The months of preparation and...

China - the unacknowledged

by DSwede

In my tours of China and more specifically Dandong, it was expressed by several Chinese people that the Chinese sided with North Korea in the Korean War because they were Communist brothers and they were geographical neighbors. However, all the people I spoke to stated that even though they fought with the North, Chinese opinion and general belief is that North Korea started the civil war and was the aggressor.Also, in all the museums of China, the impression is made that the 2.9 million Chinese soldiers fought side by side the North Koreans. Many died, more were wounded. However, in all my time in North Korea, no mention of the Chinese armies was ever voiced. On the contrary, it was not with the aid of 2.9 million Chinese soldiers that the Allied/UN forces signed an Armistice at Panmunjom, but rather it was Kim il-Sung who single handedly defeated the US. (and the Japanese in WWII also...

North Korean Military Personnel

by SLLiew

During the briefing, we were told the different uniforms so that we could distinguished the military personnel from the North vs the South. The North wears "brown or olive drab North Korean uniforms with red arm bands for guards with weapons and yellow arm bands ...."You may have guessed perhaps the more well built South vs smaller built North. Surprisingly, the North personnel seemed more jovial and at ease while the UN Command personnel wore dark glasses and were stern face and dead serious.

Anybody want to share a Koryo Short Trip to N Kore

by svmurray

Anybody want to share a Koryo Short Trip to N Korea Looking for anybody (male(s) or female(s)) that would like to share a trip to North Korea from Beijing with the Koryo Travel company. I will be arriving in Beijing 20 May 2005 and departing 2 June 2005.Ideally I would like to travel to North Korea on Sat 21 May 2005 by plane and return to Beijing also on plane on 24 May 2005(Sat 21 May 2005) DAY 1 flight Beijing-Pyongyang, / Mansudae grand monument (Sun 22 May 2005) DAY 2 city tour (Mon 23 May 2005) DAY 3 Kaesong/DMZ (Tue 24 May 2005) DAY 4 flight Pyongyang-Beijing I am open to suggestions as to variations on the trip, i.e. a similar trip one week later, etcAnybody interested, please contact myself: s_v_murray@yahoo.co.ukI am a 28 yr old male from the UK

How to get in

by histamin32

You need to be invited in order to be allowed to enter the country. This can be arranged via several groups, one being the Korean Friendship Association (KFA): http://www.korea-dpr.com/travel.htm Having been invited by a North Korean woman to lunch in her own house.

How to dress

by histamin32

The North Koreans usually wear suits or jackets and are not used to jeans and other western clothes.For site-seeing in Pyongyang it is certainly more appropriate that you adapt and wear a suit. A tie is not a necessity.That way you will also show some respect at locations that are of high importance for the North Koreans, such as memorial palace, Mansu hill etc.

Local currency Won

by histamin32

Despite rumours saying the opposite: tourists can change Euros into local Wons.This is certainly not necessary, because everything you need can be paid in Euros, but they certainly make a great souvenir.