Lhasa packs more UNESCO World Heritage sites into its valley than almost any city its size, with the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and three great Gelugpa monasteries forming the core of any visit. At 3,656 metres, altitude shapes every itinerary: plan 2-3 days to acclimatise before tackling monastery steps or hill climbs. This guide covers the essential sights with practical details on hours, tickets, and how to reach each one. For accommodation near the major sites, see our where to stay in Lhasa guide.
Things to Do in Lhasa: Iconic Landmarks
Potala Palace
The Potala Palace is Lhasa’s defining image: a 13-storey, 1,000-room fortress rising from Marpo Ri (Red Hill) in the city centre. Built in the 7th century and expanded by the 5th Dalai Lama in 1645, it served as the winter residence of successive Dalai Lamas until 1959. The palace divides into the White Palace (administrative quarters) and Red Palace (religious halls, stupas, and chapels). Entry costs CNY 200 (May-October) or CNY 100 (November-April). You must book tickets online 1-7 days in advance through the official WeChat mini-program; walk-up tickets are rare. Allow 2-3 hours for the visit. The 300-plus steps to the entrance are at 3,700m, so take them slowly. Open 9:00-16:00, last entry 15:00. No photography inside the chapels. Bus routes 6, 13, 24, and 25 stop at Potala Palace Square.
Jokhang Temple
The Jokhang Temple is the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism, housing a life-sized statue of the 12-year-old Sakyamuni Buddha said to have been brought by Princess Wencheng in the 7th century. The temple sits at the centre of the Barkhor circuit in Lhasa’s old city and draws pilgrims from across the Tibetan plateau who prostrate their way around the kora (circumambulation path). Entry costs CNY 85. The rooftop offers excellent views of the Potala Palace and the golden dharma wheels atop the temple. Open 8:30-18:00. Arrive early (before 9:00) to see pilgrims performing morning rituals. The surrounding Barkhor market sells prayer wheels, thangkas, and yak-butter candles. Combine your visit with the Barkhor circuit walk, which takes about 20 minutes at a slow pace.
Norbulingka
Norbulingka, meaning “Jewel Park,” was the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas from the 1780s onward. Located in western Lhasa, the 36-hectare grounds contain several palaces, pavilions, and gardens shaded by ancient trees. The New Summer Palace (Takten Migyur Potrang), built in 1954, features murals depicting Tibetan history and a collection of ceremonial objects. Entry costs CNY 60. Open 9:00-17:00. The gardens are at their best from May through September when flowers are in bloom. Bus routes 2, 14, and 26 stop nearby. Allow 90 minutes. Combine with the Tibet Museum next door for a half-day outing.
Things to Do in Lhasa: The Great Monasteries
Sera Monastery
Sera Monastery, 5km north of central Lhasa, is famous for its afternoon debating sessions where monks engage in lively philosophical argument accompanied by dramatic hand gestures and claps. Founded in 1419, it is one of the three great Gelugpa university monasteries. The debating courtyard fills from 15:00 to 17:00 daily except Sundays; arrive by 14:30 for a good viewing spot. Entry costs CNY 50. The monastery complex includes several colleges (dratsangs), assembly halls, and chapels with intricate murals and statues. Bus routes 6, 16, 24, and 25 connect to the city centre in about 20 minutes. Allow 2 hours including the debate viewing.
Drepung Monastery
Drepung Monastery, 8km west of Lhasa at the foot of Mount Gephel, was once the largest monastery in the world, housing up to 10,000 monks at its peak. Founded in 1416, it served as the Dalai Lama’s residence before the Potala Palace was built. The main assembly hall (Tsokchen) holds an enormous statue of Jampa (Maitreya, the future Buddha). Entry costs CNY 60. The monastery sprawls across a hillside, so expect steep paths and many stairs. Open 9:00-17:00. During the Shoton Festival (August), a giant thangka is unfurled on the hillside at dawn, drawing thousands of pilgrims. Bus route 24 from the city centre takes about 30 minutes. Allow 2-3 hours. The views across the Lhasa Valley from the upper halls are spectacular.
Ganden Monastery
Ganden Monastery, 57km east of Lhasa on Wangbur Mountain at 4,300m, is the farthest of the three great monasteries and the least visited by tourists. Founded in 1409 by Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa school, it was heavily damaged during the Cultural Revolution but has been partially rebuilt. Entry costs CNY 45. A 45-minute kora (pilgrim circuit) circles the monastery with panoramic views of the Kyichu Valley. Minibuses depart from the east side of the Jokhang Temple area (near the Lhasa Bridge) at 6:30-7:00am, taking about 90 minutes and costing CNY 40. The high altitude makes the visit physically demanding: save this for day 3 or later after you have acclimatised. Allow a full day for the round trip. Take water, snacks, and sun protection.
Things to Do in Lhasa: Culture and Daily Life
Barkhor Street and Pilgrim Circuit
The Barkhor is a 1km circular pilgrimage route around the Jokhang Temple, lined with traditional Tibetan buildings housing shops, tea houses, and small restaurants. Pilgrims walk clockwise spinning prayer wheels and chanting mantras. The circuit is most atmospheric in early morning (7:00-9:00am) and late afternoon when the light is golden and pilgrims are most numerous. The surrounding alleys contain workshops producing thangkas (religious paintings), metal statues, and woodblock prints. Bargaining is expected in the shops. The nearby Ani Tsangkung nunnery is a peaceful spot for a break from the crowds. Free to walk the circuit at any hour.
Tibet Museum
The Tibet Museum, adjacent to Norbulingka in western Lhasa, houses a collection of prehistoric artefacts, Buddhist statues, thangkas, and exhibits on Tibetan history and culture. The modern building opened in 2016 and includes English signage. Entry is free with passport. Open 10:00-17:30, closed Mondays. Allow 1-2 hours. Combine with Norbulingka for a half-day. The museum provides excellent historical context before visiting the monasteries.
Lhasa Sweet Tea Houses
Sweet tea (cha ngamo) houses are Lhasa’s social hubs, packed with locals sitting on long benches at communal tables. The most famous is the Guangming Sweet Tea House near the Barkhor, a large hall where you help yourself to a glass (CNY 1), leave coins on the table, and waitstaff refill glasses as needed. It is chaotic, noisy, and an essential Lhasa experience. Open roughly 8:00-19:00. Also try Tibetan butter tea (po cha), barley beer (chang), and momos (Tibetan dumplings) at the tea houses around the Jokhang Temple area. No English menus; point at what others are eating.
Things to Do in Lhasa: Day Trips and Excursions
Namtso Lake
Namtso, at 4,718 metres, is one of Tibet’s three holy lakes and the second-largest salt lake in China. The turquoise water against snow-capped Nyenchen Tanglha mountains is striking, but the 250km drive from Lhasa takes 4-5 hours each way on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. Day trips depart around 6:00am and return after dark. The altitude is punishing: Namtso sits nearly 1,100 metres higher than Lhasa itself, so only attempt this after at least 3 days of acclimatisation. The road closes from November to April due to snow and ice. Tours cost CNY 300-500 per person including transport and a basic lunch. Tashido hermitage on the lake’s southeast shore is worth the short walk.
Yamdrok Lake
Yamdrok Yumtso, 100km southwest of Lhasa, is a sacred turquoise lake shaped like a scorpion when seen from the Kamba La pass (4,794m). The drive takes about 2 hours each way, climbing through the Kamba La pass with views of the Nojin Kangtsang glacier. The lake itself sits at 4,441m. A day trip costs CNY 400-600 including transport. Combine with a visit to Samding Monastery on the lake’s peninsula. The pass viewpoint can be windy and cold even in summer; bring layers. The road is open year-round but can be icy in winter.
Drigung Til Monastery and Tidrum Hot Springs
Drigung Til, 150km northeast of Lhasa, is the head monastery of the Drigung Kagyu school, famous for its sky burial site (do not photograph or approach the burial area). Nearby Tidrum Nunnery has natural hot springs at 4,300m where monks and locals soak in stone pools. The drive takes 3 hours. Combine both for an overnight trip rather than a rushed day excursion. Guesthouses at Tidrum are basic (CNY 50-80). The hot springs operate year-round and are especially atmospheric in winter with steam rising against snow-covered mountains.
