North Korea Travel Tips

Visa

In most occasions, foreign visitors who want to visit North Korea have to go to North Korean Consulate to apply for a visa so that they can enter the country. In order to get the visa, tourists usually need to join a tour group.

The validity of a tourist visa is 6 months and it’s calculated from the date of issue. The stay length is calculated from the day the holder enters the country. According to the relevant regulations, visitors should enter and exit within the validity of visa.

Accommodation

There are three types of hotels: special class, first class and second class. Most foreign tourists are arranged to lodge in Yanggakdo Hotel, where TVs, shops, casinos, restaurants, bars, KTV and sauna are available.

Food

Local people like to eat acerbic, spicy, cold and hard food. Rice is their principal food. They prefer having all kinds of soup and pickles made of celery, carrot, cabbages, cucumber and so on.

Shopping

There are some souvenir shops in tourist spots and hotels. Many local products full of North Korean style, such as Korean ginseng, various goods made of ginseng, dolls with traditional clothes, Pyongyang embroidery, and stamps are for sale.

Entertainment

The major entertainment is the theatrical performance. Visitors can go to children’s palace to watch children’s show, including singing, dancing and instrumental performances. Visitors can enjoy a grand performance in Pyongyang by thousands of people - Arirang.

Money Issues

The currency of the country is Korean Won (KPW). Foreigners cannot use KPW or exchange for it with foreign currencies. It is used just among the permanent residents of the country. As its rules, foreigners could only use RMB, euro and dollar and they can only consume in shops which are opened for foreigners.

There are some canteens and souvenir shops for visitors but the price is expensive. It may cost about one dollar for a bottle of water or an ice cream.

Credit Card

It is accepted in the country but visitors could only use Master Card instead of Visa Card. 1% to 5% will be charged as the service fee.

Tip

People there don’t have the habit of tipping, so there is no need giving tips.

Telephone

Nowadays telephone is allowed to take into the country but visitors should use special SIM card dedicated for foreigners. You can buy it in the Pyongyang Sunan International Airport or the outlets of Koryolink but it is a bit expensive, almost 52,000 KPW. You should not send any message or picture with the phone and you could not call to North and South Korea. Please pay attention!

Internet

There is no internet in buses, restaurants and even in hotels. You cannot surf the internet with the phone either. All in all, there is no Internet for visitors in the country.

Power Supply

The voltage is 220V/50Hz and the socket is two-pin-hole type.

Medical information

Foreigners are supposed to go to designated hospitals to see a doctor and they have to pay a certain expense. Actually, visitors can prepare some regular and personal medicines in advance.

Post office

If you want to send some postcards or souvenirs to friends, you can go to a souvenir shop in Koryo Museum, Kaesong to buy and post them. The postcards there are full of North Korean style.

Safety

The security situation is good in the country. Visitors are not allowed to travel around alone so their security is guaranteed. In Pyongyang, the power is off at 23:00pm and the whole city is in darkness. Therefore, visitors had better go back to the hotel and finish washing up before the blackout.

Festivals

The Birthday of Kim II-Sung
Falling on Feb. 16, it’s the grandest festival in the country to celebrate the national leader Kim II-Sung’s birthday. During the festival, all units and schools will organize theatrical performances, sports matches and other recreational activities.

Spring Festival

On lunar Jan. 1st, people will wear new clothes and hold some sacrificial activities. Local people will visit their relatives and have delicious food. It is full of happiness all over the country.

Dragon Boat Festival

It is a traditional festival to relieve people’s fatigue from farming. It is celebrated on lunar May 5th when women would wear beautiful folk costumes and make glutinous rice cakes.

Harvest Moon Day

It is the busiest festival of the country and celebrated on lunar Aug. 15th. Each family will make various delicious meals with newly-harvested crops to celebrate harvest. Visitors can enjoy all kinds of folk games and recreational activities.

Dos and Don’ts

1. In places with pictures of national leaders, do not imitate the leaders or sit down to take a photo. Comments on the leaders and the economy of the country should be avoided.
2. During the tour, visitors should be accompanied by the local safety officer.
3. Visitors can take mobile phones and cameras. However, cameras with a lens more than 200mm are forbidden.
4. You cannot take photos whenever and wherever you like. Do not take a photo in the market or for a soldier. It’s not allowed to take photos showing the seamy side such as rubbish and a person who is improperly dressed.
5. Do not take the national flags of South Korea or America to the country.
6. Do not take any electronic equipment with GPS.