Climate guide for Kaesong, North Korea

Best Time to Visit
Kaesong

How to read the score (0–10)
05810
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01 · North Korea

About Kaesong

Kaesong's heritage is tied to the Koryo capital, with palace remains, walls, tombs, schools, and traditional architecture spread across a landscape that is visited through controlled tours. Access to the city and demilitarized-border region depends on current political, visa, and transport conditions. Verify official guidance before booking, use an authorized operator, and follow rules about photography, movement, and religious or historic sites. Allow flexibility for route changes and never assume that a published itinerary or border stop will operate as scheduled.

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Did you know?

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Travel Tips

01Best time & timing
Target April, March, October — that is where comfort scores peak (8.0/10). July is the weakest month at 4.6/10.
02Weather & what to pack
April averages 11°C with 77 mm of rain and about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine. Pack a mid-weight jacket and shoes you can walk in all day.
03Crowds & value
If budget matters, target October — 7.5/10 with lighter demand than April.

Things to do in Kaesong

Kaesong, North Korea. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Kaesong: the short answer

Plan Kaesong for April, with March, October close behind — the stretch with the most usable temperatures and the fewest lost days to rain: April averages 11°C with 77 mm of rain and about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are July, August.

Across the year Kaesong swings from -4°C in January to 25°C in July, a 29-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 18 mm in February to 305 mm in July. In short, Kaesong is not equally good year-round — the gap between its best and worst month is 3.4 points on the same 10-point scale.

Warmest month: July (25°C). Coolest: January (-4°C). Driest: February (18 mm). Wettest: July (305 mm).

Kaesong month by month

January in Kaesong — middling scores, decent value

Trade-offs · 6.6/10

At -4°C (25°F) this is proper winter weather in January: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.

Only 19 mm of water-equivalent precipitation is expected (snow at altitude), leaving about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.9 hours of daylight.

That is 6.6/10 on the same scale — 8th of 12 months, versus 8/10 for the best month here.

Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip.

February in Kaesong — reliably good (5th best month)

Good · 7.1/10

At -1°C (30°F) this is proper winter weather in February: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.

Only 18 mm of water-equivalent precipitation is expected (snow at altitude), leaving about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.8 hours of daylight.

That is 7.1/10 on the same scale — 5th of 12 months, versus 8/10 for the best month here.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip.

March in Kaesong: strong conditions, 2nd of 12

Good · 7.6/10

March averages 5°C (41°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 52 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12 hours of daylight.

It scores 7.6/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 8/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

April in Kaesong — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8/10

Expect 11°C (53°F) in April. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.

Budget for roughly 77 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.2 hours of daylight to work around it.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Kaesong at 8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

May holds up well in Kaesong — 6th best month

Good · 7.1/10

May averages 16°C (60°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Monthly rainfall reaches 143 mm — wet for this destination — but about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.

It scores 7.1/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 8/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

June in Kaesong: mixed conditions, plan around the weather

Trade-offs · 6.4/10

At 21°C (70°F) this is comfortable city weather in June, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.

This is the year's wettest stretch at 204 mm, but with about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine it is not a total loss; an indoor fallback covers the risk.

That is 6.4/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 8/10 for the best month here.

Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, April is materially better in Kaesong — 1.6 points higher on the same scale.

July in Kaesong — off-season conditions

Hardest · 4.6/10

At 25°C (77°F) this is comfortable city weather in July, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.

This is the year's wettest stretch at 305 mm, but with about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine it is not a total loss; an indoor fallback covers the risk.

That is 4.6/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 8/10 for the best month here.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, April is materially better in Kaesong — 3.4 points higher on the same scale.

August in Kaesong: expect compromises

Hardest · 4.7/10

August averages 25°C (77°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.

265 mm makes this the wettest stretch of the year, though about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still appear — keep an indoor fallback ready.

It scores 4.7/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 8/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

Flexible dates? April scores 3.3 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

September in Kaesong: mixed conditions, plan around the weather

Trade-offs · 6.4/10

September averages 21°C (70°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.

Monthly rainfall reaches 189 mm — wet for this destination — but about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.

It scores 6.4/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 8/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

Flexible dates? April scores 1.6 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

October holds up well in Kaesong — 3rd best month

Good · 7.5/10

Temperatures hover around 13°C (56°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

Budget for roughly 96 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.2 hours of daylight to work around it.

That is 7.5/10 on the same scale — 3rd of 12 months, versus 8/10 for the best month here.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

November in Kaesong — reliably good (4th best month)

Good · 7.3/10

Expect 6°C (42°F) in November. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.

Budget for roughly 53 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.1 hours of daylight to work around it.

That is 7.3/10 on the same scale — 4th of 12 months, versus 8/10 for the best month here.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

December in Kaesong — middling scores, decent value

Trade-offs · 6.8/10

December averages -2°C (28°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.

Precipitation is light at 23 mm (mostly snow at altitude), with about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.6 hours of daylight.

It scores 6.8/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 8/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on peak pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip.

FAQ

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Kaesong, North Korea?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Kaesong are April. April is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 8.0/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.
What is the weather like in Kaesong year-round?
Kaesong has a climate profile suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Average monthly temperatures range from -4°C in January to 25°C in July, with Ideal Weather scores between 4.6 and 8.0 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Kaesong?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Kaesong are July (4.6/10), August (4.7/10), June (6.4/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer days with 6+ hours of sunshine.
When is the rainy season in Kaesong?
July is the wettest month in Kaesong, averaging about 305 mm of rainfall. February is the driest, at roughly 18 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Kaesong?
March sees the most sun in Kaesong, with about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Kaesong a good destination for sightseeing and cultural travel?
Kaesong is well suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (April) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Kaesong calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Kaesong: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine - weighted for sightseeing and cultural travel.

Climate data: Open-Meteo ERA5 historical archive, the five most recent complete years (2021–2025). Scores are monthly averages for that window, not forecasts, and short-window precipitation can differ from longer-term normals. “Sunny days” count days with at least 6 hours of measured sunshine — they are not dry days.

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Curated in Kaesong

Tickets & experiences