Home/China Attractions/Tibet/Potala Palace

5A Tourism Area

Designated 2013

Potala Palace

拉萨市布达拉宫景区

Tibet, Lhasa★ 4.7Designated 2013·29.6554°N, 91.1176°E

Ticket Price

CNY 133; CNY 246; CNY 261

Duration

3 to 4 hours

Rating

4.7 / 5.0

Designated

2013

About Potala Palace

The Potala Palace towers over Lhasa as a UNESCO World Heritage icon of Tibetan Buddhism, once the winter residence of the Dalai Lama. Its red and white walls enclose shrines, murals and treasured relics on the slopes of Red Hill.

Highlights

The iconic hilltop palace of the Dalai Lamas; the White and Red Palaces; the tombs of past Dalai Lamas; vast murals (UNESCO).

Suggested Route

Enter from the foot, ascend the steps to the palace, tour the chapels and tombs, then exit downhill; allow 2-3 hours.

Food & Lodging

Tibetan tsampa, yak meat and butter tea; stay in Lhasa city.

Facilities

Timed-entry tickets, restrooms; no vehicles to the top, many stairs - limited accessibility, oxygen advised.

Travel Tips

Check official website for current information. Respect local customs and regulations. Best visited during mild weather seasons.

How to Buy Tickets

Passport booking guide for Potala Palace · verified 2026-08-16

⏰ When to book

Peak season (May-Oct): advance reservation required, tickets release a few days ahead and go fast. Book as soon as they open.

🛂 Passport requirement

Passport required for real-name booking.

🎟️ Where to book

OFFICIAL

Official (WeChat mini-program '布达拉宫票务') — First choice. Follow the official account for release times.

OTA

Trip.com ↗ — Some days available; compare before booking.

💡 Tip: You must enter within 1 hour of your booked time slot. Altitude is high — take it slow.

📅 Best Time & Crowds

Best season: June to September (warm season) or winter for snow activities

🏮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

Trip.com

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Tickets & experiences

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

Generally open 8:00-17:00 daily. Some temples open earlier for morning worship.

Getting There

No metro in Lhasa; ~65 km from Lhasa Gonggar Airport (airport bus/shuttle ~1h); Lhasa Railway Station ~? km; city bus/taxi to Potala.

Reservation

Advance online reservation required via WeChat mini-program 'Potala Palace Official Platform'/potalapalace.cn (book up to 10 days ahead, no same-day tickets; real-name + face recognition).

Ticket Price

CNY 133 (≈ $18); CNY 246 (≈ $34); CNY 261 (≈ $36)

Address

Lasa City Chengguan District Beijingzhong Road No. 35

📍 中文地址 / Chinese Address

拉萨市布达拉宫景区

拉萨市城关区北京中路35号 ,400-8649111,4008649111

Lasa City Chengguan District Beijingzhong Road No. 35

29.6554, 91.1176

Amap ↗Apple Maps ↗Google Maps ↗

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