Kumsusan Palace of the Sun 금수산태양궁전
Kumsusan Palace of the Sun is a monument and memorial located in the Taesong-guyok district of Pyongyang, North Korea. Established in 1976, the site features brutalist architecture and is one of the most looked-up sights in North Korea.
Planning a visit
Spring and autumn are suitable times for a visit. April and May bring daily highs of 16 °C to 22 °C, while September and October offer highs between 18 °C and 24 °C with lower rainfall. Winters are cold, with January lows of -12 °C, and summers are hot and humid, particularly in July and August when rainfall exceeds 200 mm.
The palace is located 6 km from the center of Pyongyang. The nearest airport is Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (FNJ), 21 km away. Visitors can combine a trip here with nearby sights such as the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, 1.9 km away, or the Arch of Triumph, located 3.7 km from the palace. Other landmarks include the Mansudae Grand Monument at 4.7 km, the Juche Tower at 5.5 km, and Kim Il Sung Square at 5.8 km.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 28 °C. The wettest is July, with about 274 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | -2 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 22 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 18 | 9 | 2 |
| Average low, °C | -12 | -8 | -2 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 15 | 8 | 0 | -7 |
| Rainfall, mm | 11 | 12 | 25 | 47 | 76 | 85 | 274 | 207 | 106 | 43 | 36 | 14 |
| Rainy days | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
