Transportation in Pyongyang

Pyongyang's transport runs on three tiers: the metro for speed, trolleybuses for reach, and taxis for door-to-door comfort. The metro is the clear winner, cheap, punctual, and the only network foreigners can ride without a guide. Trolleybuses blanket the city and cost a fraction of a taxi. But expect crowded aisles and zero English signage. Taxis sit at the splurge end. Hail them at hotels or major intersections and always settle the fare before you board, meters are decorative. First-timers should buy the metro's stored-value card at any staffed booth. It spares you the coin-only queues and works on the trolleybuses too. Avoid the unofficial taxis that loiter outside tourist sites, they quote fantasy rates. Instead, stick to the hotel-dispatched cabs or the clearly marked city taxis with roof lights. From Pyongyang Sunan International, the state-run airport bus is the cheap option but runs only when flights land. Miss it and the official taxi rank is your only sanctioned ride. Agree the price before the trunk opens, no exceptions.