Where is the Potala Palace
The Potala Palace, sometimes searched for as the Tibet palace, stands on the Red Hill in the Lhasa valley. The address is Beijing Middle Road 35 in Chengguan district, Lhasa. UNESCO gives the altitude of the complex as 3,700 m, which describes where it sits above sea level, not how tall the building is.
The palace has two main parts. The White Palace holds the former administrative and living rooms, the Red Palace the religious halls and the halls of the gilded stupas. If you plan to visit Potala Palace, the Chinese tourism office suggests 2 to 3 hours in total for the visit. The palace is also the former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas, which explains its place in the history of Lhasa.
Our picks: Tibet tours
The Kailash journey and the Everest Base Camp tours suit travellers with more days, the four-day Lhasa tours are the short way in. The train tour from Shanghai and the 11-day round trip cover more ground. Tibet is visited on organised tours with a guide, so check each card for what it says about the permit.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar small-group journey
- English-speaking Tibetan guide
- Tibet Travel Permits
- Sightseeing and entrance fees
Land transfers run in a private vehicle, with twin-sharing hotel rooms. The China Tibet visa and the journey to Lhasa are not part of the price.
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11-day classic Tibet round trip with Everest Base Camp
- Four or five diamond hotels
- Breakfast
- Vehicle with driver
The hotel category is given, but the hotels are not named. Free cancellation applies.
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10-day Tibet train tour from Shanghai with Everest Base Camp
- Shanghai to Lhasa train ticket
- Tibet Travel Permit application
- Entrance fees including Everest eco car
The soft-sleeper cabin is shared by four people. In Tibet, pickups run at set times only, and the journey out of Tibet is extra.
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9-day Everest Base Camp and Namtso group tour
- Tibet Travel Permit and other permits where required
- 8 nights of accommodation
- Entrance fees including eco-buses
One night is in the Everest Base Camp tent camp, or in the Everest Town guesthouse in winter. Each person gets a portable oxygen bottle.
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8-day Lhasa to Everest Base Camp small-group tour
- Tibet Travel Permit and other permits
- English-speaking Tibetan guide
- Oxygen cylinder in the car
A winter care service runs from 15 November to 15 February, with a hot-water bottle and electric blanket at Rongpuk Guest House. The Chinese L visa is not included.
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4-day Lhasa small-group tour
- Entrance fees for itinerary sites
- English-speaking Tibetan guide
- Tibet travel permit
A vehicle with driver, with petrol included, and hotels with breakfast. A welcome dinner is held when the group meets in Lhasa.
Check availability →Potala Palace and Tibet tours
Guided programs with permit handling, from short Lhasa stays to Everest Base Camp, Namtso and a Kailash route, with live prices and availability.
Potala Palace guides at a glance
Pick the question you need answered first.
Potala Palace tours
Guided Lhasa programs with permit handling and entrances, as listed in each package.
Tibet tour options
Multi-day routes from Lhasa, the train route and the Everest Base Camp section.
Potala Palace tickets
2026 fares in CNY, WeChat reservation, opening hours and the Monday closure.
Inside the Potala Palace
The White and Red Palace, the visitor routes and the rules inside the halls.
Jokhang Temple
Tickets, one-day-ahead reservation and the Barkhor kora.
Things to do in Lhasa
Norbulingka, Sera and Drepung beside the palace.
Namtso Lake
Day trips from Lhasa, the summer bus and Yamdrok Lake.
Tibet Travel Permit
Who needs it, which documents are asked for and how long it takes.
Lhasa altitude sickness
The first days at altitude and the warning signs.
Lhasa weather by month
Climate normals for temperature and rain, month by month.
Lhasa airport and arrival
Lhasa Gonggar Airport, the airport bus and the railway.
Where to stay in Lhasa
Old Town, near the palace or near the railway station.
Potala Palace history
From the 7th century to the rebuilding from 1645.
Visiting Tibet needs a permit and a tour
Foreign tourists need the Tibet Travel Permit. It is applied for through a specialized travel agency in China, and the trip runs as an organized tour. The German Foreign Office asks for an accredited agency and for transport and a guide from that agency along the whole route. This is why the packages in this guide bundle a guide and a vehicle, and why most of them list permit handling in their includes. Read the includes of each package before you book. The details are on the Tibet Travel Permit page.
Your visa for China and the Tibet permit are two separate requirements. Which combination works for your passport and your stay is something to clarify with the agency and the embassy before booking.
Tickets and the Monday closure
Since 21 September 2026 the palace is closed on Mondays all year, except on statutory days off, according to the administration's notice of 5 September 2026. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Reservations run through the official WeChat mini program, so reserve early and check the current lead time there. Fares, hours and the Snow City route are on the tickets page. Entry to Route 1, Route 2 and the Snow City is announced as free from 15 October 2026 to 15 March 2027, while transport and reservation stay separate.
UNESCO Historic Ensemble
One palace, two later additions.
The Potala Palace was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1994. The Jokhang Temple was added as an extension in 2000 and Norbulingka, the former summer palace of the Dalai Lamas, in 2001. World Heritage status does not mean a shared ticket, so each site has its own entry rules. Read about the Jokhang Temple and the other sights in Lhasa when you plan the days around the palace.
Good to know
Short notes that help you plan with fewer surprises.
Plan for altitude
Lhasa lies at around 3,700 m. The first 3 to 5 days are the main adjustment period, and the long palace staircase is not a sensible plan for the day you arrive.
Altitude guide →Rain falls mostly in summer
Most rain comes from June to September, often at night. Winter and spring are dry and often windy.
Weather by month →Arrival is through Lhasa
Lhasa Gonggar Airport has the code LXA. Most booked packages include the airport pickup, as listed in their includes.
Getting there →Choose where to sleep
Old Town, the area near the palace and the railway station district each suit different plans.
Where to stay →Frequently asked questions
Is this the official Potala Palace website?
No. Potala-Palace.org is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of the palace administration, the tourism authorities of the Tibet Autonomous Region or Lhasa Gonggar Airport, and it is not connected to any agency, hotel or tour operator.
Can I visit the Potala Palace on a Monday?
Not at present. The palace is closed on Mondays all year since 21 September 2026, except on statutory days off. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday.
Do I need a guide to visit the Potala Palace?
Foreign tourists travel in Tibet on an organized tour with an accredited agency, which provides the guide, the vehicle and the permit handling. Check the includes of the package you choose.
How do I reserve Potala Palace tickets?
Through the official WeChat mini program of the palace. Book only through this official channel. Reserve early, keep to the booked time slot and check the current lead time in the mini program.
How much time should I plan at the palace?
The Chinese tourism office suggests 2 to 3 hours for the visit. Allow extra time for the stairs at this altitude.