City guide · Updated June 2026
AsiaNorth Korea39.2° · 127.4°
Wonsan,North Korea.
A secretive coastal gateway with limited but distinctive access.
Wonsan · KP
WonsanNorth Korea
★
Wonsan Kalma International AirportNEAREST AIRPORT
Population
338,321
Total residents
Global rank
#1,216
Wanderlust index
Best time
Summer months offer the most…
Peak window
Time zone
Asia/Pyongyang
Local time
Currency
North Korean won (KPW)
Money in use
Language
Korean
Spoken locally
01 · Overview
About Wonsan
A secretive coastal gateway with limited but distinctive access.
Wonsan is a port city on North Korea's east coast, historically significant as a trading hub and beach resort destination. Tourism is highly restricted and controlled by the state, with access limited to organized government-approved tours. The city offers limited modern amenities, unreliable infrastructure, and minimal international connectivity, making it an unconventional destination for experienced travelers.
02 · Wanderlust scorecard
How Wonsan scores
Ratings run 0 to 5 unless marked. They come from our AI-assisted research and are refreshed on a rolling basis.
5
/ 5
Cost of living
Affordability, 0–5. Higher means cheaper.
2
/ 5
Leisure
Leisure rating, 0–5.
2
Mbps
Connectivity
Median internet speed.
3
/ 5
Safety
Safety rating, 0–5. Higher is safer.
2
/ 5
Overall livability
Overall rating, 0–5.
5
/ 5
Air quality
Air-quality rating, 0–5. Higher is cleaner.
5.2
index
Index score
Wanderlust ranking, 0–10: overall, safety, internet, cost, leisure and air quality, weighted.
03 · Weather & when to go
Best time to visit Wonsan
Current weather and the forecast, and the months our research rates best for a visit.
Month by month
Best months Either side Other months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sweet spot: Summer months offer the most favorable weather conditions..
More cities for these months: Where to go in June · Where to go in July · Where to go in August · Where to go in September
04 · Things to do
Things to do in Wonsan
Top sights from our AI-assisted research, and other places we have photos of.
Top sight
Top sight
Wonsan Beach
Top sight
Top sight
Kalema Islet
Top sight
Top sight
Kangdong Hot Spring Resort
05 · Monthly cost of living
Cost of living in Wonsan
Estimated monthly totals in USD from our AI-assisted research, one per profile. Treat them as a starting point for a budget, not a quote.
$900
estimated monthly spend · USDProfileExpat
Price references — vs. profile benchmarks
Nomadmonthly spend · USD
$1,500
+67%
Expatmonthly spend · USD
$900
baseline
Familymonthly spend · USD
$2,368.1
+163%
Localmonthly spend · USD
$563.6
-37%
Median fiber speeddownload · Mbps
2
Mbps
06 · Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Wonsan
Neighborhoods our AI-assisted research lists as popular with visitors.
Wonsan Port District
Seaside Resort Area
07 · Insider tips
Sights and neighbourhoods, with a tip each.
Practical tips on places from this Wonsan guide, written with AI. One is free; Pro members see the rest. Double-check details before you go.
Insider tips · Wanderlust Pro
Practical tips on the sights and neighbourhoods in this Wonsanguide — when to go, what most visitors miss. Written with AI about the guide's own places; double-check details before you go. Pro members see every tip.
08 · Practical notes
Practical information for Wonsan
The essentials from this guide's data, in one place.
01
Getting there
- Nearest airport — Wonsan Kalma International Airport
02
Money
- Currency — North Korean won (KPW)
- Affordability — 5/5 on the Wanderlust index (higher is cheaper)
03
Internet
- Median speed — 2 Mbps
- Internet score — 0.3/5
04
Safety
- Safety score — 3/5 from our AI-assisted research
05
Language
- Primary language — Korean
06
Timing
- Best window — Summer months offer the most favorable weather conditions.
- Time zone — Asia/Pyongyang
Questions
Frequently asked, plainly answered.
The quick answers travelers want before they commit to flights, neighborhoods, and how long to stay.
Is Wonsan safe for travelers?+
Wonsan has a safety rating of 3 out of 5.
What is the best time to visit Wonsan?+
The best time to visit Wonsan is Summer months offer the most favorable weather conditions..
What are the top things to do in Wonsan?+
Top sights in Wonsan include Songdowon International Children's Camp, Wonsan Beach, Kalema Islet, and Kangdong Hot Spring Resort.
Where should I stay in Wonsan?+
Popular neighborhoods for visitors to Wonsan include Wonsan Port District and Seaside Resort Area.
How expensive is Wonsan?+
Wonsan has an affordability score of 5 out of 5, where 5 is most affordable.
How much does it cost to live in Wonsan per month?+
Estimated monthly costs in Wonsan are about $1,500 for a digital nomad, $900 for an expat, $2,368 for a family, and $564 for a local resident (USD).
What is the nearest airport to Wonsan?+
The nearest airport to Wonsan is Wonsan Kalma International Airport.
What is the internet speed in Wonsan?+
Wonsan has an average internet speed of 2 Mbps.
What currency does Wonsan use?+
The currency used in Wonsan is North Korean won (KPW).
What language is spoken in Wonsan?+
The primary language spoken in Wonsan is Korean.
What time zone is Wonsan in?+
Wonsan is in the Asia/Pyongyang time zone.
Work-ready layer
Coworking spots and laptop-friendly anchors.
Real coworking spaces, laptop-friendly cafés, and libraries mapped near the center of the city — the closest, best-rated desks first.
Spots surfaced2
Categories1
Mapped2
Concierge
Ask the Wonsan concierge.
Share your travel style, must-see spots, or work schedule and the concierge will help turn this guide into something personal.
Personal trip brief
Tell it what kind of trip you're trying to have, and it will tighten the plan.
01
Travel style
Ask for cafés, quiet neighborhoods, date-night spots, or a first 48-hour plan.
02
Work constraints
Mention calls, Wi-Fi needs, or how much of the day has to stay laptop-friendly.
03
Real tradeoffs
Get faster answers on where to stay, when to move neighborhoods, and what to skip.
Traveler reviews
Reviews of Wonsan
Written by signed-in Wanderlust members. We don't check that a reviewer has visited.
No reviews of Wonsan yet.
Plan a trip to Wonsan.
Tell the planner your dates, who's coming, your budget and pace, and it drafts a day-by-day itinerary you can edit.
Wanderlust Pro
Insider tips for Wonsan, unlimited AI-built itineraries, and travel companions you can invite to plan a trip together. From $5.00/month, billed annually.