What is the best time to visit Korea, North?

Best Time to Visit Korea, North

The best time to travel to Korea, North is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).

Spring in Korea, North

Spring in Korea, North is a pleasant time of year, with temperatures beginning to warm up after the winter months. The cherry blossom season is a highlight of this season, as the trees blossom in shades of pink and white, creating a beautiful landscape. Tourists can also expect to enjoy mild temperatures, making outdoor activities and sightseeing more enjoyable. Popular attractions during this time include the DMZ Peace Train, the War Memorial of Korea, and the Namsan Tower.

Autumn in Korea, North

Autumn in Korea, North is a great time to visit, with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine. The foliage in the country is particularly stunning during this season, with the trees changing to vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Tourists can also enjoy many festivals throughout the season, such as the Seoul International Fireworks Festival and the Changdeokgung Palace Lantern Festival. Popular attractions during this time include the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the N Seoul Tower, and the Myeongdong Shopping Street.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Korea, North

Korea, North in January

Weather

January in North Korea is typically cold and dry, with temperatures ranging from -13°C to -3°C. Snow is common throughout the month, with an average of 10 days of snowfall.

Events

• January 1st is the New Year’s Day holiday in North Korea, and is celebrated with fireworks and parades.
• The Kimjongilia festival is held in February to celebrate the birthday of former leader Kim Jong-il. The festival includes performances, exhibitions, and a flower show.
• The Pyongyang Marathon is held in April. It is a 42.2 km race that attracts runners from around the world.
• The International Film Festival is held in October. It is an annual event that showcases films from around the world.
• The Pyongyang International Trade Fair is held in November. It is a trade show for businesses from around the world to showcase their products and services.

Korea, North in January

Weather

January is the coldest month of the year in North Korea, with temperatures in the capital city of Pyongyang dropping to an average low of -6°C (21°F). Snowfall is common during this month, with an average of 10-15 cm (4-6 in) of snowfall per month.

Events

• The New Year’s Day holiday is celebrated on January 1st. It is a public holiday in North Korea, and is celebrated with fireworks, parades, and other festivities.
• The Kimjongilia Festival is celebrated on January 8th. This festival celebrates the birthday of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, with parades, speeches, and other activities.
• The Pyongyang Marathon is held on the last Sunday of January. It is a popular event for both locals and foreign tourists, and features a 5 km, 10 km, and full marathon course.
• The Pyongyang International Film Festival is held in late January. It is an annual film festival that showcases films from around the world.
• The Pyongyang International Trade Fair is held in late January. It is an annual event that showcases products from North Korea and other countries.

Korea, North in March

Weather

March in North Korea is generally cold, with temperatures ranging from -2°C to 10°C. Snowfall is likely, and the days are usually overcast.

Events

• The Day of the Sun is celebrated on April 15th in North Korea. This holiday commemorates the birth of Kim Il-Sung, the founder of the country.
• The Pyongyang Marathon is held in March. This event is open to both locals and foreigners, and is a great opportunity to explore the country.
• The Pyongyang International Film Festival is held in March. This festival showcases the best of North Korean cinema, as well as films from around the world.
• The International Taekwondo Championship is held in March. This event brings together the best martial artists from around the world to compete in a variety of disciplines.
• The Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair is held in March. This event is a great opportunity to learn about the latest products and services from North Korea.

Korea, North in April

Weather

April in Korea, North is generally mild and dry with temperatures ranging from 6°C to 17°C. The days are sunny and the nights can be quite cold. April is the beginning of the dry season in North Korea, so there is usually very little rainfall during this month.

Events

• April 15th marks the anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, North Korea’s founder and the country’s most important holiday. This day is celebrated with parades, fireworks, and other festivities.
• The Pyongyang Marathon is held in April each year. It is a popular event that draws thousands of runners from around the world.
• The International Friendship Exhibition is held in April in the city of Mount Myohyang. It is a showcase of gifts presented to the North Korean leaders by foreign dignitaries.
• The Arirang Mass Games are held in April each year. It is a spectacular show of synchronized gymnastics, dance, and acrobatics performed by thousands of performers.
• The Pyongyang International Film Festival is held in April each year. It is a showcase of films from around the world, with a particular focus on North Korean films.

Korea, North in May

Weather

May in North Korea is usually warm and humid, with average temperatures ranging from 16°C (61°F) to 25°C (77°F). The days are long and sunny, with an average of 8 hours of sunshine per day. Rainfall is moderate, with an average of around 80mm (3.1 inches) of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• May 1st marks the International Workers’ Day, a public holiday in North Korea. The day is celebrated with large public rallies and parades in Pyongyang.
• The Arirang Mass Games are held every year in May at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang. The games feature thousands of performers and are considered to be one of the largest and most spectacular mass performances in the world.
• The Kimilsungia and Kimjongilia flower festivals are held in May at the Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang. The festivals feature displays of the two flowers, which are named after the country’s former leaders, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
• The Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon is held in Pyongyang in May. The marathon is open to both professional and amateur runners from around the world.
• The Pyongyang International Film Festival is held in May in Pyongyang. The festival showcases films from around the world, as well as films from North Korea.

Korea, North in June

Weather

June in North Korea is warm and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to the mid-30s Celsius. It is the start of the rainy season, with an average of 10-15 days of rain, and the average humidity levels ranging from 60-90%.

Events

• June 6th is the anniversary of the North Korean Constitution, which is celebrated with a public holiday.
• June 25th is the anniversary of the start of the Korean War, which is marked by a public holiday and a military parade in Pyongyang.
• June is also the month of the Arirang Mass Games, a large-scale gymnastics and artistic performance held in the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang.
• The International Taekwondo Festival is also held in June in Pyongyang.
• The Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon is held in Pyongyang in June, with runners from around the world taking part.

Korea, North in July

Weather

July in North Korea is hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to the mid-30s Celsius. Rainfall is common, with an average of about 20 days of rain per month.

Events

• The Day of the Shining Star is celebrated on July 8th in honor of the birth of Kim Il-sung, North Korea’s first leader.
• The Arirang Mass Games take place in July and August. The games involve thousands of performers performing gymnastic and artistic routines in unison.
• The Pyongyang Marathon is held in April, but the Pyongyang Half Marathon is held in July.
• The International Taekwondo Festival is held in July. It is a celebration of the Korean martial art of Taekwondo.
• The Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon is held in July. It is a marathon that takes place in Pyongyang and is open to international runners.

Korea, North in August

Weather

August is the hottest month of the year in North Korea, with temperatures ranging from an average low of 22°C (72°F) to an average high of 32°C (90°F). Rainfall is also at its peak during this month, with an average of over 200mm (8in).

Events

• The Day of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War is celebrated on August 15th. This day marks the end of the Korean War in 1953 and is a national holiday in North Korea.
• The Arirang Mass Games are held in Pyongyang in August. This spectacular show features thousands of performers in synchronized gymnastics, dance, and music.
• The International Taekwon-Do Festival is held in Pyongyang in August. This event is a celebration of the Korean martial art of taekwondo and features demonstrations, competitions, and performances.
• The Pyongyang Marathon is held in August. This event is open to both local and international runners and features a range of distances from 5km to a full marathon.
• The International Friendship Exhibition is held in Pyongyang in August. This exhibition features gifts and mementos from foreign leaders and dignitaries that have visited North Korea.

Korea, North in September

Weather

September in North Korea is generally warm and humid, with temperatures ranging from highs of 25°C (77°F) to lows of 15°C (59°F). It is usually sunny during this time of year, with occasional rain showers.

Events

• The Day of the Foundation of the Republic is celebrated on September 9th and is a national holiday in North Korea. This day marks the establishment of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 1948.
• The Pyongyang International Film Festival is held in the capital city in mid-September. This festival showcases films from North Korea and other countries around the world.
• The Pyongyang Marathon is held in the capital city in late September. This event is open to both professional and amateur athletes from around the world.
• The Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair is held in late September. This fair showcases products from North Korea and other countries around the world.
• The Arirang Mass Games take place in Pyongyang in late September. This event is a large-scale performance that includes thousands of performers and is a popular tourist attraction.

Korea, North in October

Weather

October in North Korea is generally cool and dry. Temperatures range from an average high of 16°C (61°F) to an average low of 4°C (39°F). The days are usually sunny, but there is a chance of rain and thunderstorms.

Events

• The Day of the Foundation of the Republic of Korea is celebrated on October 10th. This is a national holiday in North Korea that marks the founding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 1948.
• The Pyongyang Marathon is held in October. This is a major sporting event that attracts runners from all over the world.
• The International Friendship Exhibition is held in October. This is a major event in North Korea that showcases gifts given to the country by foreign dignitaries and heads of state.
• The Pyongyang International Film Festival is held in October. This is a major event that showcases films from around the world.
• The Pyongyang International Trade Fair is held in October. This is a major event that showcases products from North Korea and other countries.

Korea, North in November

Weather

November is the start of the cold season in North Korea. Temperatures start to drop and the weather becomes much colder. The average temperature is around 4°C (39°F), with highs of 8°C (46°F) and lows of -2°C (28°F). Rainfall is also common during this month, with an average of 40mm (1.6in).

Events

• November 11th is the anniversary of the death of Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea. This day is celebrated as a national holiday and is known as the Day of the Shining Star.
• November 15th is the anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea. This day is celebrated as a national holiday and is known as the Day of the Foundation of the Party.
• November 28th is the anniversary of the death of Kim Jong-il, the son of Kim Il-sung and the second leader of North Korea. This day is celebrated as a national holiday and is known as the Day of the Shining Star.
• November 25th is the anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People’s Army. This day is celebrated as a national holiday and is known as the Day of the Foundation of the Korean People’s Army.
• November is also the month of the Pyongyang Marathon, an annual event that takes place in the capital city. The marathon is open to both locals and foreigners and includes a full marathon, a half marathon and a 10K race.

Korea, North in December

Weather

December is the coldest month in North Korea, with temperatures typically ranging from -1°C (30°F) to -10°C (14°F). Snow is common in the northern and eastern parts of the country, while the western and southern regions tend to be drier.

Events

• The Day of the Shining Star is celebrated on December 17th in North Korea. This is the birthday of the country’s former leader Kim Jong-il and is a national holiday.
• The Pyongyang Marathon is held in April, but the Pyongyang Half Marathon is held in December. The race attracts runners from around the world and is a chance to experience the country’s capital city.
• The International Friendship Exhibition is held in December in Pyongyang. This exhibition showcases gifts given to North Korean leaders from foreign dignitaries, as well as items from the country’s history.
• The North Korean Ski Association holds the North Korean Ski Championships in December. The event is open to all North Korean citizens and is held at the Masikryong Ski Resort.
• The Pyongyang International Film Festival is held in December. The festival showcases films from around the world and is a chance to experience North Korean culture.