Lhasa sits at 3,650 metres in a dry valley on the Tibetan plateau, and it is the one destination in China where the paperwork decides the trip. Five sights carry the visit: the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, the Barkhor pilgrim circuit around it, the Norbulingka summer palace and the afternoon monk debates at Sera Monastery.
Foreign passport holders cannot travel in Tibet independently. There is no version of this where you book a Lhasa hotel and explore alone: you travel on an organised tour arranged through a registered Tibet agency, with a licensed guide and a vehicle, and the permit has to be in hand before you can board a flight or train into the region.
What to see, and what it costs
| Sight | Ticket | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Potala Palace | ¥200 Route 1 / ¥100 Route 2 in peak season (1 May–31 Oct); ¥100 / ¥50 off-season | Timed real-name reservation. No same-day tickets |
| Jokhang Temple | ¥85, off-peak listings around ¥35 | Reserve about a day ahead, WeChat mini program |
| Barkhor Street | Free | None, but police ID checks are routine |
| Norbulingka | ¥80 peak (1 May–31 Oct) / ¥60 off-season | Usually just an ID scan at the gate |
| Sera Monastery | About ¥50 peak / ¥25 low season | Buy on site. Debates roughly 15:00–17:00, Mon–Sat |
| Yamdrok Lake (day trip) | Priced inside your tour | About 110 km, around 4,440 m |
| Namtso Lake (day trip) | Priced inside your tour | 220–250 km each way, tops out at 4,718 m |
The Potala is the hard ticket: no same-day admission, a timed reservation that must match the passport you carry, and an interior capped at roughly an hour in peak season. The climb is a few hundred vertical metres on stairs at 3,650 m, so book it for your second or third day, never the arrival day. Photography and phones are banned inside the chapels; the plaza and the golden roofs are fine. Prices move with the season, so confirm through your agency before you travel.
Best time to go
Two windows beat everything else: mid-April to late May, and September to late October. Days sit between 16 and 22°C, the rain has not started or has just finished, and the sky is at its clearest. October is the best single month — avoid its first week, when the 1–7 October holiday roughly doubles prices, and skip the first week of May for the same reason.
Winter, 1 November to mid-March, is the second-best choice and the cheapest: nights around -7 to -10°C, eight hours of sun a day, and most A-level sites free under the regional winter promotion — but fewer group tours run. June to August is the rainy season, with cloud most afternoons, the busiest crowds of the year and the Shoton Festival around early August. Winter layers are the main packing difference; the China packing list covers what to bring.
Getting there
Two ways in, and neither spares you the altitude. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway takes about 20–22 hours from Xining to Lhasa for roughly ¥495 in a hard sleeper or ¥781 in a soft sleeper, crossing Tanggula Pass at 5,072 m in sealed, pressurised carriages. Flying takes two to five hours from most Chinese hubs to Gonggar Airport, 3,570 m and 60–62 km from town, where the shuttle into the city is ¥30 and a taxi ¥200–250.
The train's slower climb is easier on most people, but both routes need the same document: airlines and railway stations can refuse boarding if the permit is missing or does not match your passport.
How many days
Three days in Lhasa, minimum, and the first one is not a sightseeing day. At 3,650 m the body needs three to five days to adjust, and most visitors get some version of acute mountain sickness in the first 24 hours: rest on arrival day and keep the Potala for day two or three. Five days adds a day trip — Yamdrok Lake at about 110 km and 2–2.5 hours each way, around 4,440 m, or Namtso at 220–250 km. Both must appear on the itinerary your agency filed. Budget for a guided tour rather than independent travel; how much a China trip costs has the figures.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Lhasa independently?
No. Foreign passport holders must travel as part of an organised tour booked through a registered Tibet agency, with a licensed guide and vehicle, for the whole stay — including the airport or station transfer.
How do I get the Tibet Travel Permit, and how long does it take?
You cannot apply yourself. An agency files it in your name against a fixed itinerary; processing is quoted at 8–20 working days, so allow 20–30 days of lead time. The original paper permit is couriered to you in mainland China before you depart.
Do I still need the permit with a Chinese visa, or if I enter visa-free?
Yes. It is separate from your Chinese visa, and visa-free entry does not remove the requirement. It is checked at boarding, at hotel check-in and at road checkpoints outside Lhasa.
How bad is the altitude, and what should I do on day one?
Lhasa is 3,650 m, where each breath delivers roughly a third less oxygen than at sea level. Headache, tiredness and poor sleep in the first 24 hours are normal and usually settle within 12–48 hours; rest on day one and skip alcohol for 48 hours. Breathlessness while sitting still, or confusion and an unsteady walk, mean medical help immediately.
When is the best time to visit Lhasa?
Mid-April to late May, and September to late October. October is the best single month, but skip its first week. Winter is cheapest, with most A-level sites free, but fewer group tours run.
Should I take the train or fly to Lhasa?
Train from Xining: 20–22 hours, about ¥495 in a hard sleeper and ¥781 in a soft sleeper, with the easier acclimatisation. Flight: two to five hours to Gonggar, 3,570 m and 60 km out, ¥30 shuttle into town. Neither avoids the altitude — set up data beforehand with the eSIM guide for China.