Major city · North Korea (DPRK)
Sariwon사리원시
Sariwon is a half-day stop on the Pyongyang–Kaesong rail line: see the Folklore Street and Songbulsa Temple, then move on.
Sariwon, capital of North Hwanghae Province, is a compact city of 300,000 on the Pyongbu Line. Most visitors come on an organised tour that includes the post-war Folklore Street and the 5th-century Songbulsa Temple. One night is enough; many tours pass through in a few hours.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- KPW
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon), Dec–Feb (cold)
- Airport
- FNJ
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6Check your own government travel advice for North Korea b…US passports are not valid for the DPRK without special v…
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- North Korea (DPRK) ↗Check your own government travel advice for North Korea before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- North Korea (DPRK) ↗Entry is only through controlled arrangements when permitted at all; there is no independent visa route.
- North Korea (DPRK) ↗US passports are not valid for the DPRK without special validation from the State Department.
- North Korea (DPRK) ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to North Korea before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Sariwon112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Sariwon, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Foreign cards, ATMs and transfers do not work: see Insurance & payments above.North Korea (DPRK)-wide
- SafetyNorth Korea is tightly controlled; follow your guide's instructions at all times.
- Emergency numbers112 police · 119 fire · 110 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportFNJ Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (About 1.5 h by road; all tours include transfer).
- Getting aroundOn foot or by tour bus.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- FNJ Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (About 1.5 h by road; all tours include transfer)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
Feb
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Mar
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Apr
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
May
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jun
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jul
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Aug
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Sep
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Oct
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Nov
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Dec
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)), coolest Jan (−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C) low), wettest Jul (12 rain days), driest Jan (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Sariwon: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C)
4 rd
Feb
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
4 rd
Mar
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
5 rd
Apr
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
6 rd
May
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
7 rd
Jun
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9 rd
Jul
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
12 rd
Aug
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11 rd
Sep
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7 rd
Oct
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
5 rd
Nov
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
6 rd
Dec
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
4 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
On foot or by tour bus. The centre is walkable; taxis are not available to independent travellers.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Kaesong
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Train from Sariwon Chongnyon Station, about 1 h
Part of the same tour route; includes the DMZ and Koryo Museum.
Sinchon
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Road, about 30 min by tour bus
Sinchon Museum is a controversial war memorial; check your tour itinerary.
Haeju
cautionDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Road, about 1 h by tour bus
Coastal city with a temple; requires a separate tour permit.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
City centre near the station
Sariwon 3.8 Hotel is the main option; all tours arrange accommodation.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Tour package (all-inclusive)
- check
Trip budget
| Tour hotel (Sariwon 3.8 Hotel or similar)1 × 1 night × KPW 120 | KPW 120 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × KPW 300 | KPW 300 |
| Train Pyongyang–Sariwon (one way)1 × KPW 10 · check | KPW 10 |
| eSIM for North Korea (limited data)1 × KPW 30 · check | KPW 30 |
| Buffer 15%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | KPW 69 |
| Trip total≈ KPW 529 per person per day, bed included | KPW 529 |
Included in tour package; price is per person per night.
2026 estimate in USD; independent travel is not possible. All costs are part of a tour package.
Prices of common things
| Tour package (3 days, all inclusive)check | USD 800–1,500 |
| Bottled water (local shop)check | KPW 5,000–10,000 |
| Meal in a state-run restaurantcheck | USD 10–20 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Independent travel is not allowed: you must join a government-authorised tour.
- Photography restrictions apply at military and border areas; ask your guide.
- Internet access is severely limited; buy an eSIM before arrival if you need data.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 112
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 110
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Sariwon사리원시
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
이 주소로 가 주세요To this address, please
Emergency
- Police112
- Fire119
- Ambulance110
Embassy
Most embassies are in Pyongyang; your tour operator handles all communication.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Train Sariwon → Kaesong: about 1 h, check
- Taxi (not available to tourists): N/A
Say or show
- 안녕하세요 — Hello (annyeonghaseyo)
- 감사합니다 — Thank you (gamsahamnida)
- 네 — Yes (ne)
- 아니요 — No (aniyo)
- 얼마예요? — How much is it? (eolmayeyo)
- 화장실이 어디예요? — Where is the toilet? (hwajangsiri eodiyeyo)
All travel in North Korea is guided. Carry your passport and tour voucher at all times.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Sariwon. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon), Dec–Feb (cold)
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 1 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for Folklore Street, Songbulsa Temple and the Arts Theatre with verified opening hours.
- Eat pages for the few restaurants in the city centre.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures for the station and hotel.
Sources
Ask about Sariwon
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