Overview
North Korea (the DPRK) is one of the most tightly controlled destinations in Asia, and a trip here looks nothing like a typical holiday. Every visit is on an organised, fully guided group programme run by a specialist operator, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office currently advises against all travel to North Korea. Access for foreign visitors has also been heavily restricted since early 2020, with only limited and changeable reopening since. If you are researching flights to North Korea, treat this page as a planning guide and speak to our team about what is realistically bookable right now.
Best time to fly to North Korea
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are the most comfortable seasons, with mild days and clearer skies. Summer (July and August) is hot, humid and brings heavy monsoon rain that can disrupt internal travel, while winter (December to February) is bitterly cold, especially in the north. Organised tours cluster around fixed departure dates and public commemorations, so demand into the regional hubs spikes then – check the When to book chart above before you commit.
Main gateway cities & airports
Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (FNJ) is effectively the only international gateway foreign visitors use, sitting about 25km north of the capital. Almost all itineraries route through Beijing, and occasionally Vladivostok, before the short final hop into Pyongyang. Domestic airports such as Wonsan Kalma and Orang handle internal tour flights rather than international arrivals.
Airlines and routes
There are no direct flights from the UK to North Korea, and no European airline serves the country. The national carrier, Air Koryo, operates the main international link between Pyongyang and Beijing, with Air China historically flying the same route on a reduced, often-suspended schedule. From London you would typically fly to Beijing (around 10–11 hours) with a carrier such as Air China, British Airways or a Gulf or European hub airline, then connect onward to Pyongyang in under two hours. From Manchester you will normally connect once in a hub such as Doha, Istanbul, Helsinki or Amsterdam to reach Beijing.
Popular places to visit in North Korea
- Pyongyang: the showcase capital, with its monuments, spotless metro and wide ceremonial boulevards.
- Panmunjom & the DMZ: the tense border village where the Korean War armistice was signed.
- Mount Paektu: the sacred volcanic peak and crater lake on the Chinese border, central to national identity.
- Kaesong: a former royal capital with preserved traditional architecture and nearby dynastic tombs.
- Myohyangsan: forested mountains north of Pyongyang, home to the vast International Friendship Exhibition.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to North Korea
- Focus on the price of the UK–Beijing leg, as that is where most of your fare and flexibility sits – book it early and watch the price charts on this page.
- Compare connections through different hubs, such as Doha, Istanbul, Helsinki or Amsterdam, rather than assuming one is always cheapest.
- Travel in the shoulder months and mid-week to avoid demand spikes around major commemorative dates.
- Let our team line your flights up with the tour operator's fixed entry and exit dates so you do not overpay for rigid tickets.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders need a visa, which is arranged for you by the approved tour operator and usually issued in Beijing shortly before departure; independent travel is not permitted. The local currency is the North Korean won, but visitors generally pay in euros, US dollars or Chinese yuan, and UK bank cards do not work. Book several months ahead: tour places, the Pyongyang flight and the Beijing connection are all limited, and confirming early gives you the best chance of a sensible fare – see the When to book chart above.
