Overview
Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea (the DPRK), a city of wide ceremonial boulevards, riverside monuments and Soviet-influenced architecture on the Taedong River. It is one of the most tightly controlled destinations in the world: all foreign visitors must travel on an organised, guided programme arranged through a specialist tour operator, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to North Korea. There are no direct flights from the UK, so every itinerary involves a connection, most often through Beijing. For current fares and routings, use the price charts on this page rather than older figures quoted elsewhere.
Best time to fly to Pyongyang
Late April to June and September to October bring the mildest, driest weather and are the traditional tour seasons. Winters are cold and dry, often below freezing, while summers are hot and humid with the heaviest monsoon rain in July and August. Autumn departures are the most sought-after, so check the When to book chart above for how prices move through the year.
Airlines and routes
No airline flies nonstop between the UK and Pyongyang. In practice you fly from the UK to Beijing (or, less commonly, Vladivostok), then continue on Air Koryo, North Korea's national carrier, which operates the majority of services into FNJ. Air China has served the Beijing route at times but suspends it frequently. London to Beijing is roughly 10 to 11 hours nonstop; from Manchester you would normally connect through a European or Gulf hub. The Beijing to Pyongyang leg takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. Frequencies are low and change at short notice, so allow a generous connection and choose flexible tickets.
Things to do in Pyongyang
Sightseeing is done with your guides on a set itinerary, but the highlights are genuinely striking.
- Mansu Hill Grand Monument: the huge bronze statues where visitors are expected to bow and lay flowers.
- Juche Tower: a riverside tower with a lift to a viewing platform overlooking the city.
- Pyongyang Metro: one of the deepest systems in the world, with chandelier-lit, mural-covered stations.
- Arch of Triumph: a triumphal arch marking resistance to Japanese rule, built taller than the Paris original.
- Kumsusan Palace of the Sun: the solemn mausoleum of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, with a strict dress code.
At Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (FNJ)
FNJ sits about 24 km (15 miles) north of the city centre, around 30 to 40 minutes by road. There is no public transport link or car hire for visitors: your operator's guide and driver meet you in arrivals and handle every transfer for the length of your stay.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Pyongyang
- Book well ahead and watch the price charts on this page, as the limited onward seats to Pyongyang fill quickly around the autumn season.
- Fly midweek and avoid Chinese public holidays, when fares into Beijing rise sharply.
- Keep your dates flexible; moving the Beijing legs by a day or two can noticeably reduce the total cost.
- Compare both the airlines and the routing (via Beijing versus Vladivostok) and let our team price the whole journey as one trip.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders need a visa, which the tour operator arranges as part of the programme; independent travel is not permitted. Tourist access was suspended in early 2020 and has since reopened only partially and intermittently, so check the latest FCDO advice and confirm current entry rules with us before booking. The currency is the North Korean won, but visitors pay in cash euros, Chinese yuan or US dollars. UK debit and credit cards do not work because of sanctions and there are no ATMs for foreign cards, so carry enough cash. Bring any medicines you need, and expect no mobile roaming and heavily restricted internet.
