Lhasa itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Lhasa, day by day: the Potala Palace, the Jokhang and the Barkhor, Ramoche Temple and Sera Monastery first, then Drepung Monastery, Nechung, Norbulingka and the Tibet Museum as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Lhasa in 1 day
Day 1
Potala Palace Must see
Former winter palace of the Dalai Lamas on Red Hill, a vast white and red fortress of chapels, tombs and halls.
Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet
Concrete monument on the square in front of the Potala Palace, put up by the Chinese government in 2002; a short stop.
Jokhang
Tibet's holiest temple, founded in the 7th century, with the revered Jowo Shakyamuni statue and a rooftop view over the Barkhor.
Barkhor Must see
The pilgrim circuit and old market streets around the Jokhang, walked clockwise by pilgrims spinning prayer wheels.
Ramoche Temple
Temple north of the Barkhor, founded around the same time as the Jokhang, which houses a revered statue of the young Buddha.
Sera Monastery
One of the three great Gelug monasteries of Tibet, at the foot of the hills north of Lhasa, known for its monks' debates.
Lhasa in 2 days
Day 1
Potala Palace Must see
Former winter palace of the Dalai Lamas on Red Hill, a vast white and red fortress of chapels, tombs and halls.
Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet
Concrete monument on the square in front of the Potala Palace, put up by the Chinese government in 2002; a short stop.
Jokhang
Tibet's holiest temple, founded in the 7th century, with the revered Jowo Shakyamuni statue and a rooftop view over the Barkhor.
Barkhor Must see
The pilgrim circuit and old market streets around the Jokhang, walked clockwise by pilgrims spinning prayer wheels.
Ramoche Temple
Temple north of the Barkhor, founded around the same time as the Jokhang, which houses a revered statue of the young Buddha.
Sera Monastery
One of the three great Gelug monasteries of Tibet, at the foot of the hills north of Lhasa, known for its monks' debates.
Day 2
Drepung Monastery
Once the largest monastery in the world, spread over a hillside west of Lhasa, with whitewashed halls and chapels.
Nechung
Small monastery below Drepung, the traditional seat of the State Oracle of Tibet, with colourful murals.
Norbulingka Must see
The Dalai Lamas' summer palace and gardens west of the centre, with palaces, pavilions and shady parkland.
Tibet Museum Must see
The region's main museum near Norbulingka, with exhibits on Tibetan history, art, religion and everyday life.
Watch: Lhasa
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Lhasa
May to October is the best time, with warm days and open roads; July and August have most of the year's rain. Winters are cold but sunny and quiet, and the Shoton festival takes place in late summer. Travel permits can be suspended at short notice, often around sensitive dates.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Lhasa on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Lhasa on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Lhasa on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for China from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Lhasa
- Foreign visitors need a Tibet Travel Permit, arranged through a licensed travel agency, and must visit with a licensed guide.
- Lhasa is at about 3,650 metres; take the first day slowly, drink plenty of water and avoid heavy exertion until you are used to the altitude.
- Potala Palace tickets are limited and sold for timed entry, and the visit inside is kept short; book through your agency well ahead.
- Monks at Sera Monastery hold their debates in the courtyard on most afternoons; time the visit for the afternoon to see them.
- Walk the Barkhor clockwise with the pilgrims, and ask before photographing people or the inside of chapels.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Barkhor: unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Drepung Monastery: unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jokhang: onwardtibet.org, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet: Jack Versloot, CC BY 2.0
- Nechung: No machine-readable author provided. John Hill assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5
- Norbulingka: travel oriented, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Potala Palace: Xiquinho, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ramoche Temple: Dieter Schuh 18:55, 30. Sep. 2009 (CEST), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sera Monastery: Evanosherow, CC BY 2.0
- Tibet Museum: Fanghong, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
