Dora Observatory
Dora Observatory
4
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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3 within 3 miles
Attractions
12 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
239 reviews
Excellent
78
Very good
107
Average
53
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Soudamini M
Bengaluru, India1,602 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Visited it on a cloudy day and nothing much was visible. Liked the place and the view. The triangular river bed and some buildings on the South Korea side was very clearly visible. Overall it's a nice place to visit as part of the DMZ tour.
Written April 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NICHOLAS T
Dubai, United Arab Emirates10,871 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
This is an interesting and eerie place to visit.
The observatory offers a great view over both North and South Korea including lots of free telescopes for a closer view. There is an auditorium to take in the view and decent cafe inside the main building.
The observatory offers a great view over both North and South Korea including lots of free telescopes for a closer view. There is an auditorium to take in the view and decent cafe inside the main building.
Written April 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bozeman-Dublin
Trim, Ireland11,389 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
Fantastic views across the DMZ and into North Korea. There are mounted binculars for you to use for free and you can see people working in the fields, North Korean guards at their post, the massive North Korea flag fluttering in the breeze You get to see the nearest city to the border and you can easily make out individual buildings and statues.
After spending a day in the DMZ it was great to get such a good glimpse into such a mysterious and forbidden place.
There are great views of the south from the other side of the observatory.
After spending a day in the DMZ it was great to get such a good glimpse into such a mysterious and forbidden place.
There are great views of the south from the other side of the observatory.
Written July 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sandia1993
Albuquerque, NM96 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
An odd experience all around. No personal vehicles and no walking on the road is allowed in the DMZ (demilitarized zone), so you must be packed onto a tour bus and shuttled over.
Tour guides like to keep it moving so don't be surprised if you only stay ten minutes.
Bring lots of coins for the binoculars to see into North Korea, or even bring your own!
Literally hundreds of tourists pack onto the viewing deck to observe North Korea. A refrain that is often heard is that it is like a human zoo. It is very odd
Tour guides like to keep it moving so don't be surprised if you only stay ten minutes.
Bring lots of coins for the binoculars to see into North Korea, or even bring your own!
Literally hundreds of tourists pack onto the viewing deck to observe North Korea. A refrain that is often heard is that it is like a human zoo. It is very odd
Written July 20, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patrick K
Llandyrnog, UK955 contributions
Jun 2019 • Friends
Really enjoyed this as part of a day tour of the DMZ. Had a nice light lunch with great views over North Korea... new facilities look great
Written June 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dirk_Schmoker
London, UK582 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
The Dora observatory is a viewing platform on a hill that allows you to see directly into North Korea. There’s binoculars that you can use for 500 Won for 2 minutes and it’s well worth it just for the closer glimpse into a closed off country/. I was able to see North Korean soldiers moving around in their watch tours and standing outside looking in our direction. All very surreal!! The model village is just that and they no longer play propaganda messages over loud speakers so if you are going expecting that then it all stopped earlier this year. The Dora observatory is VERY busy but I only had to wait less than a minute to get to the front which wasn’t bad. I only gave it 4 stars as there could be more information signs showing you what you could see. There was a large one hanging overhead in the middle of the platform, I think one of my pictures shows it, but there needs to be something on the actual wall where the binoculars are. It was the second stop on my DMZ/JSA tour after the Third Tunnel and worth the 20 minutes you’ll be there for.
Written August 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel P
Perth, Australia719 contributions
Apr 2018 • Family
What an amazing experience to take our kids to see North Korea. They have paid binoculars to see more clearly. A lovely Korean gave the kids some coins to see as we had no change. Love the flag pole story as well.
Written May 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
redsonya25
Norfolk, VA30 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
Cool to be able to look over into North Korea and hear the music and verbal propaganda that is being blasted across the fields.
Written August 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniel L
Singapore, Singapore488 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Know more on the history of Korea and understand the peace that we are have doesn't come easy the only place that could view North Korea without going into the country..Only available via DMZ tour group
Written December 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia20,003 contributions
Apr 2023
"The highlight of the tour", as described by most agencies who sell the "Half day DMZ tour".
Dora Observatory was built atop the hill on SK side, roughly a mile or two away from the demarcation line.
On the ground floor is an interesting exhibition of historic timeline, leaders meetings, peace talks, economy achievements,...etc.
First and second floor are the same - observations decks. First floor is indoor when weather's bad, so if it's nice head directly to the second floor open air view point.
There you have both, classic and digital binoculars to observe North Korea, which is clearly visible from here.
Basically you stare at a land mass like any other. With digital binoculars you can zoom and see the first village in NK - feels little bit humiliating like you're watching animals in a Zoo, not humans over there. A woman from our group screamed in joy when she spotted a North Korean guy riding his bike like she saw an alien.
For me, the biggest attraction were two flag poles - NK of course higher due to their propaganda purposes.
Dora Observatory was built atop the hill on SK side, roughly a mile or two away from the demarcation line.
On the ground floor is an interesting exhibition of historic timeline, leaders meetings, peace talks, economy achievements,...etc.
First and second floor are the same - observations decks. First floor is indoor when weather's bad, so if it's nice head directly to the second floor open air view point.
There you have both, classic and digital binoculars to observe North Korea, which is clearly visible from here.
Basically you stare at a land mass like any other. With digital binoculars you can zoom and see the first village in NK - feels little bit humiliating like you're watching animals in a Zoo, not humans over there. A woman from our group screamed in joy when she spotted a North Korean guy riding his bike like she saw an alien.
For me, the biggest attraction were two flag poles - NK of course higher due to their propaganda purposes.
Written May 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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