Koryo Hotel

Pyongyang

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This striking 1985 twin-towered structure is commonly used for business travellers and NGO staff, although some tour groups stay here, too. Each of its twin towers has a revolving restaurant on top, though only one of them is open – in a spectacular failure of forethought, the other overlooks the ‘forbidden city’, home to the country's highly secretive political elite.

The rooms are quirky, with small bathrooms and curious alcoves for sitting in, but the hotel is comfortable, clean and has several bars, restaurants and shops to occupy guests.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Juche Tower, Pyongyang

    Tower of the Juche Idea

    1.55 MILES

    This tower honours the North Korean philosophy of Juche and was unveiled to mark President Kim Il-sung's 70th birthday in 1982. Indeed, the tower is made…

  • Mansudae Grand Monument

    Mansudae Grand Monument

    1.85 MILES

    Every itinerary includes an homage to these vast bronze statues of the smiling Great Leader and Dear Leader, the latter in his trademark parka. The first…

  • Kim Il-sung Square

    Kim Il-sung Square

    1.14 MILES

    Pyongyang’s central square is where North Korea’s massive military parades normally take place. The plaza is ringed by austere-looking buildings: most…

  • Triumphal Arch

    Triumphal Arch

    2.63 MILES

    Your guides will tell you proudly that the Triumphal Arch is 6m higher than its cousin in Paris, making it the largest of its kind in the world. The arch…

  • Chollima Statue

    Chollima Statue

    1.97 MILES

    This impressive statue portrays Chollima, the Korean Pegasus. It’s an interesting example of how the North Korean state has incorporated traditional…

  • USS Pueblo

    USS Pueblo

    2.2 MILES

    The USS Pueblo is a US surveillance vessel that was seized by the North Koreans off the east coast of Korea in January 1968, during a heightening of…

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Nearby Pyongyang attractions

1. Party Founding Museum

0.42 MILES

Located on the southern slope of Haebang Hill is this museum that originally housed the Central Committee of the Korean Workers’ Party, as well as Kim Il…

2. Grand People's Study House

1.09 MILES

This impressive building on Kim Il-sung Sq is the country’s largest library and centre of Juche studies, where any North Korean over 17 can come for free…

3. Kim Il-sung Square

1.14 MILES

Pyongyang’s central square is where North Korea’s massive military parades normally take place. The plaza is ringed by austere-looking buildings: most…

4. Korean National Art Gallery

1.16 MILES

This large gallery on Kim Il-sung Square is worth a visit to see the postwar socialist-realist art collection. There are 14 rooms of prewar Korean art…

5. Korean Central History Museum

1.25 MILES

The Korean Central History Museum is all rather predictable – a large number of exhibits about the North's struggle against imperialism and oppression.

6. Potong Gate

1.31 MILES

The western gate of the original walled city of Pyongyang dates from the 6th century, but was rebuilt in the 15th century and then again in 1955.

7. Taedong Gate

1.45 MILES

This was the eastern gate of the ancient walled city of Pyongyang, built in the 6th century to defend the entrance to the inner fortress from the Taedong…

8. Tower of the Juche Idea

1.55 MILES

This tower honours the North Korean philosophy of Juche and was unveiled to mark President Kim Il-sung's 70th birthday in 1982. Indeed, the tower is made…