Lhasa 拉萨
At 3,650 m, the highest capital-type city in the world.
- Region
- Tibet
- Best months
- Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
- Nights to budget
- 4
- Airport
- Gonggar International (LXA)
Why visit Lhasa
- Potala Palace is the most recognisable building in Asia after the Great Wall
- Barkhor kora circuit is a working pilgrimage route
- Altitude is the real challenge — plan two rest days
What to see
- • Potala Palace
- • Jokhang Temple
- • Barkhor Street
- • Sera and Drepung monasteries
- • Namtso Lake
- • Yamdrok Lake
What to eat
- Yak butter tea
- Tsampa
- Thukpa noodle soup
- Momo dumplings
- Yak yogurt
Getting there
The Qinghai–Tibet railway from Xining takes 21h; a Tibet Travel Permit is required for all foreign visitors, arranged through a licensed agency.
Lhasa has no metro; use DiDi or taxis, and allow more time for distances.
Practical guides for Lhasa
City-specific topic pages are being written city by city. In the meantime these national guides apply everywhere.
- Visa & entry
Whether you need a visa for China, and the three routes that get most travellers in without one.
- Payment & money apps
Alipay and WeChat Pay now accept foreign cards.
- eSIM & connectivity
How to get online in China without losing access to Google, WhatsApp and Instagram.
- Safety
China is statistically one of the safest countries for travellers.
- Getting around
Metro, taxi, ride-hailing and buses — how each works and which to use when.
- High-speed rail
The world’s largest high-speed network — how to book, board and not miss your train.
- Food & eating
How to order, what the regional specialities actually are, and how to handle dietary needs.
- Hotels & booking
Which sites actually work for foreigners, and what to check before you pay.
- Attraction tickets
Almost every major attraction now requires a timed online reservation, often days ahead.
- Money & costs
What a day actually costs, where the money goes, and how to budget by tier.
- Language & communication
How far English gets you, and the handful of Chinese that changes the trip.
- Apps you need
The short list of apps that make the trip work, and what each one replaces.