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4A Tourism Area

Potala Palace

布达拉宫

Tibet, Lhasa★ 4.7·29.6036°N, 91.1137°E

Ticket Price

CNY 80 (peak season), CNY 40 (off-season)

Duration

2-3 hours

Rating

4.7 / 5.0

About Potala Palace

A UNESCO World Heritage site in Lhasa, the Potala Palace rises majestically above the city as the historic seat of the Dalai Lamas. This towering fortress-palace combines Tibetan, Han and Indian architectural traditions and houses countless treasures of Buddhist art.

Highlights

• The iconic hilltop palace of the Dalai Lamas and a UNESCO World Heritage site. • The White and Red Palaces with immense thangkas and stupa tombs.

Suggested Route

Reserve tickets online in advance, enter via the main gate, climb to the Great West Hall, the Panchen/Stupa halls and exit; allow 2-3 h. Note steep stairs and no photos inside.

Food & Lodging

Lhasa city offers Tibetan noodles (thenthuk), yak meat and butter tea; many hotels from budget to 5-star.

Facilities

Bag storage, restrooms, water dispensers, a guide desk and audio guide; strict security and limited wheelchair access.

Travel Tips

1) The Potala Palace official website ticketing system is back in use; visitors can bind their ID to an e-ticket online with no on-site reservation or ticket exchange needed—just enter with ID. 2) Since July 21, 2019, tickets must be reserved one day in advance; bring valid ID to the Potala ticket-booking office to reserve next-day tickets. The booth is inside the palace; the voucher shows a timed slot and is void if missed. 3) Strict security checks before entry—no knives, flammables, or other restricted items.

📅 Best Time & Crowds

Best season: June-September

🏮Golden Week alert: May 1-5 and Oct 1-7 are China's biggest travel peaks — top attractions sell out days ahead. Book tickets the moment they open.

⏰Many museums and palaces close on Mondays (e.g. Forbidden City, National Museum). Plan around it.

Location

View on interactive map →

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💱

Book Tickets & Tours

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Buying tickets as a foreign visitor

• Most 5A/4A sites require real-name registration — bring your passport.

• Tickets often must be booked in advance online — peak season & holidays sell out quickly.

• Some remote or border-area sites have entry restrictions for foreign visitors — check before you travel.

External booking links. Prices may vary.

Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to platforms travelers actually use.

Opening Hours

08:00-16:30

Getting There

In Lhasa (no metro); nearest HSR: Lhasa Railway Station (~10 km); nearest airport: Lhasa Gonggar Airport (~60 km).

Reservation

Advance booking REQUIRED (up to 10 days ahead) via 'Potala Palace Official Platform' WeChat mini-program; no same-day tickets; ticket CNY 200/100 (peak/off); face verification.

Ticket Price

CNY 80 (≈ $11) (peak season), CNY 40 (≈ $5.6) (off-season)

Address

Lasa City Chengguan District Beijingzhong Road No. 35

📍 中文地址 / Chinese Address

布达拉宫

拉萨市城关区北京中路35号

Lasa City Chengguan District Beijingzhong Road No. 35

29.6036, 91.1137

Amap ↗Apple Maps ↗Google Maps ↗

Tip: Google Maps may be inaccurate in China — use Amap for navigation.