A Towering Dream
In the heart of Pyongyang, North Korea, stands the Ryugyong Hotel, a 330-meter (1,080-foot) pyramid-shaped skyscraper dominating the city’s skyline.
Planned as a luxury mixed-use development with thousands of rooms and revolving restaurants, construction began in 1987, aiming for completion by 1992 to celebrate Kim Il Sung’s 80th birthday. If finished on time, it would have been the world’s tallest hotel.
From Ambition to Abandonment
The project halted in 1992 after the collapse of the Soviet Union triggered an economic crisis. By then, the structure had reached its full height but lacked windows, fittings, and interiors.
For 16 years, the towering concrete shell remained untouched, earning nicknames like the “Hotel of Doom” and the “Phantom Hotel.” At one point, the North Korean government even removed the building from official photos and maps to hide its unfinished state.
Renewed Efforts and Delayed Openings
In 2008, work resumed under Egypt’s Orascom Group, which installed glass panels and antennas, completing the hotel’s exterior by 2011.
Plans to partially open the property in 2013 under Kempinski Hotels were announced but later cancelled. Photos released in 2012 revealed unfinished interiors with no wiring or pipes. Further delays followed, and by 2018, an LED display covering an entire side began showing propaganda animations and film clips.
A Future Still Uncertain
In 2019, new signage was installed above the main entrance, sparking speculation about an eventual opening. In 2024, reports surfaced that the North Korean government was seeking a casino operator to complete and manage the property in exchange for profits.
Despite numerous attempts to revive it, the Ryugyong Hotel remains unopened today, standing as one of the tallest unfinished buildings in the world and an enduring fixture on Pyongyang’s skyline.
A 330 m pyramid rises over Pyongyang.
The Ryugyong Hotel began in 1987 as a mixed use tower with planned revolving restaurants and thousands of rooms.
It was slated to open in 1992 for Kim Il Sung’s 80th birthday.
It would have been the world’s tallest hotel, but…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/8iTyWls0Dj
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) August 29, 2025