Travelling to North Korea in 2026: What You Need to Know

Please note: We do not organize or sell tours to North Korea. The information below is intended solely as a practical overview for people interested in understanding what travelling to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) looks like in 2026. It is based on our own experience travelling in North Korea, combined with our observation of the country's tourism industry and its evolution since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Travelling to North Korea has always been unlike travelling to almost any other country. Since 2020, however, the experience has changed dramatically. The country's borders were almost completely closed to international tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the traditional tourism industry has never fully returned to its pre-pandemic operation. As a result, anyone considering a trip today needs to understand that North Korea is not currently a conventional tourist destination and that access can change with very little notice.

The current situation in 2026
North Korea has been officially almost completely closed to international tourism since the beginning of 2020. For several years, essentially no ordinary foreign tourists were permitted to enter the country.Since 2024, however, there have been signs of a very gradual and highly selective reopening.

The most important exception has been Russian tourism. Russian citizens have been permitted to travel to North Korea under arrangements that are separate from the general closure affecting most other nationalities. Russian visitors have been able to travel to Pyongyang and, in some cases, to destinations that have remained inaccessible to other foreigners.

There are also circumstances in which foreigners may be able to enter North Korea under non-tourist categories, such as business or other specialized forms of travel. These cases are very different from ordinary tourism and depend on specific authorization from the North Korean authorities.From time to time, a small number of tourist opportunities for other nationalities have also appeared. These openings can be associated with specific events or specially authorized tours. When such opportunities become available, they tend to be extremely limited and can disappear very quickly.

The Pyongyang International Marathon provided a particularly good example of this new reality. In 2025, a limited number of foreign amateur runners were permitted to enter North Korea for the event, representing one of the most significant returns of non-Russian tourists since the pandemic. Places were in exceptionally high demand. The planned 2026 marathon, however, was subsequently cancelled.The lesson is important: an announcement that tourism is reopening should not automatically be interpreted as a general reopening of North Korea. Access can remain limited to a specific nationality, event, destination or category of traveller.

When might tourism reopen?
For someone hoping to visit North Korea, there are two periods of the year that deserve particular attention.

The first is spring.April 15 is the birthday of Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea and grandfather of the current leader, Kim Jong Un. Known officially as the Day of the Sun, it is one of the most important dates on the North Korean calendar. The period surrounding April 15 traditionally includes major celebrations, performances, sporting events and other public activities.

May 1, International Workers' Day, follows shortly afterwards and is another important public holiday. Historically, the combination of these celebrations and the Pyongyang International Marathon has made April and early May particularly attractive periods for foreign visitors.

The second important period is the second half of summer and early September.

July 27 commemorates the end of the Korean War's active hostilities and is one of the country's most important military and political anniversaries. August 15 commemorates the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule, while September 9 marks the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 1948.

These dates have traditionally been associated with important celebrations and therefore represent periods worth monitoring when looking for potential tourism openings.There is, however, an important distinction between a major national holiday and an actual opportunity to visit. North Korea may celebrate these events without allowing foreign tourists into the country. These dates should therefore be considered potential windows of interest rather than guaranteed tourism seasons.

Why 2028 could be particularly interesting
One additional consideration is North Korea's strong emphasis on major anniversaries and significant numerical milestones.

The country's political culture places considerable importance on anniversaries, commemorations and major historical milestones. “Round-number” anniversaries are often treated as particularly significant occasions, although there is no formal rule stating that a particular anniversary will result in greater access for foreigners.

This makes July 27, 2028 a particularly interesting date to watch.

That day will mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Korean War's active hostilities. A 75th anniversary represents exactly the kind of major milestone that could receive substantial attention from the North Korean authorities.If international tourism has broadly reopened by then, July 2028 could potentially be an exceptional time to visit. The authorities may organize larger commemorations, military events, cultural performances or other activities that would not normally be accessible to foreign visitors.

Even if tourism remains restricted, a major anniversary could potentially provide an incentive for a limited opening specifically designed around the event.

This is not a prediction that North Korea will be open to tourists on July 27, 2028. Rather, it is a date that anyone seriously interested in visiting should keep in mind. The same principle applies to other major 50th, 60th, 70th, 75th, 80th or 100th anniversaries of politically significant events.

Who organizes North Korea tours?
Before the pandemic, Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours (YPT) were among the best-known foreign agencies specializing in North Korea travel.Koryo Tours is the older and larger of the two and has been organizing travel to North Korea since the early 1990s. Its approach has traditionally been relatively generalist, with itineraries covering history, politics, culture, architecture, geography and everyday life.

Young Pioneer Tours has traditionally had a somewhat younger clientele and has generally emphasized more active itineraries, smaller groups and full schedules.

There are also several other agencies specializing in North Korea.

It is important to understand, however, that the differences between operators should not be exaggerated. Foreign agencies generally work through the same North Korean tourism infrastructure and local partner organizations. As a result, prices, destinations and itineraries often resemble one another considerably.

The main differences tend to be the pace of the trip, group size, additional activities, accommodation choices and the style and experience of the foreign tour staff.

Since we do not organize North Korea tours ourselves, we recommend contacting several established operators directly when tourism opportunities become available and comparing their proposed itineraries and conditions.

How much does a North Korea trip cost?
The cost of travelling to North Korea has changed substantially since the pandemic.

Before COVID-19, a conventional five- to seven-night trip could often cost approximately €1,000–€2,000, depending on the itinerary and transportation arrangements. This generally covered accommodation, meals, transportation within North Korea, organized sightseeing and many of the principal activities.Current prices should not be compared directly with these historical figures.

The rare tourism packages advertised since the pandemic have generally been considerably more expensive, reflecting the extremely limited supply of available places, the additional logistical complexity and the unusual circumstances under which tourism has resumed.Nevertheless, even current offers generally remain in the thousands of euros rather than tens of thousands.

The advertised tour price should also not be considered the complete cost of a trip. Visa fees, gratuities for the North Korean guides, optional activities, souvenirs and personal expenses can add several hundred euros. Travelling between Beijing and Pyongyang by air rather than by the traditional train can also increase the cost substantially.

For this reason, when tourism becomes available again, it is sensible to budget an additional €1,000–€2,000 above the advertised tour price to obtain a realistic estimate of the total cost. This is particularly important if you intend to fly between Beijing and Pyongyang, participate in optional activities or spend additional nights in Beijing.

Prices will ultimately depend on what type of tourism North Korea decides to permit. Because the post-pandemic market remains so limited, there is not yet a stable “standard” price comparable to the pre-2020 market.

What does a typical itinerary look like?
Before the pandemic, the classic North Korea itinerary was remarkably efficient.

A standard trip generally involved approximately five nights in North Korea. Most of the time was spent in Pyongyang, while one day was usually dedicated to an excursion toward the Korean Demilitarized Zone, often including a stop in Kaesong and other secondary locations along the route.

This itinerary became popular for a good reason: it provided a relatively comprehensive introduction to the country without requiring extremely long journeys.

Depending on how one defines the country's principal attractions, a classic itinerary could give a first-time visitor an impression of roughly 50–75% of what was traditionally accessible to tourists.

It was possible to go much further. Travellers could visit different provinces, the east coast, Mount Paektu, industrial areas and special economic zones such as Rason.

The problem was time.

North Korea is a geographically large country with relatively slow transportation infrastructure. Travelling to remote areas can involve very long days on the road, sometimes in exchange for relatively little additional sightseeing.

For this reason, the traditional Pyongyang-centred itinerary was popular: it provided a good balance between seeing a substantial part of the country and spending most of the trip experiencing different aspects of the capital.

What has been accessible since COVID-19?
The post-pandemic experience has been much narrower.

The few foreign tourists who have been admitted have generally been restricted to Pyongyang, Rason or specifically authorized destinations.

Rason, located near the Chinese and Russian borders, has been particularly significant because of its status as a Special Economic Zone. It briefly reopened to foreign tourism in 2025, demonstrating that North Korea is capable of selectively restoring tourism in specific regions.

Russian tourists have also been able to visit the newly developed Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort area, another indication that the North Korean government continues to invest in tourism infrastructure despite the broader closure.

These developments are encouraging for people hoping to visit in the future, but they should not be interpreted as evidence that the pre-2020 tourism system has returned.

The distinction is crucial: North Korea has the physical infrastructure to receive tourists, but the political decision to allow a particular foreigner, nationality or group to enter remains entirely separate.

How to stay informed
The situation changes too quickly for a traveller to rely on an old travel guide or a blog post written several years ago.

Anyone seriously interested in visiting North Korea should monitor the websites and social-media pages of established specialist agencies such as Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours. 

Their announcements are often among the first indications that a particular event, nationality or itinerary may become available.

It is also worthwhile following the agencies' other international travel programs. These companies organize trips to destinations outside North Korea as well, and their broader activities can provide useful insight into their guides, organization and travel style.

Most importantly, prospective travellers should be prepared for uncertainty. A tour can be announced, sell out rapidly and subsequently be cancelled. A border opening can occur for one nationality while remaining closed to everyone else. A destination can reopen briefly and then close again.

The bottom line
Travelling to North Korea in 2026 requires patience, flexibility and realistic expectations.

For most international travellers, the country remains effectively closed to ordinary tourism. Russian tourism and selected exceptional forms of travel demonstrate that the border is no longer completely sealed, but they do not represent a general reopening.

The traditional spring celebrations around April 15, the late-summer commemorations around July 27 and August 15, and the September 9 founding anniversary are particularly important periods to monitor. Looking further ahead, July 27, 2028—the 75th anniversary of the end of the Korean War—could become an especially significant moment if international tourism has resumed by then.

For those willing to wait, however, the current situation also offers an unusual opportunity: the eventual reopening of North Korea may itself become a historically interesting moment. The tourism industry that existed before 2020 may return, but it may also return in a very different form.

Until then, the best approach is to follow developments closely, verify information directly with established operators and, above all, remember that there is currently no guarantee that a foreign traveller will be able to enter North Korea simply because a tour is advertised.

This article is intended to provide context and practical information based on our experience and observations. We do not offer, organize or sell tours to North Korea.

Etienn Daoust