Things to do in Lhasa besides the palace
Is Lhasa worth visiting for more than one day? Yes, if you plan around the sights outside the centre. Besides the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple, the best known things to do in Lhasa are the former summer palace of Norbulingka and the two large monasteries of Sera and Drepung. Together they fill a three or four day programme, which is how most Lhasa tours are built.
Lhasa lies at around 3,700 m. The sights are spread over the city and its edge, so a driver and guide from your agency make the days easier. Tibet can be visited only on an organised trip with a permit, and the tours on this page include a guide and a vehicle.
Our picks: tours in Lhasa
The 8-day tour pairs Lhasa with Everest Base Camp, the private four-day tour stays in Lhasa and names its tickets, and the five-day tour adds Yamdrok Lake.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. 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.
8-day Lhasa to Everest Base Camp tour with permit
- Tibet Travel Permit application
- Visit to Potala Palace
- Tent guesthouse at Base Camp
Three hotels with breakfast, oxygen supply and travel insurance are included. Flights or trains to and from Tibet are extra.
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5-day Lhasa and Yamdrok Lake tour
- Potala, Jokhang and Yamdrok entrances
- Tibet Travel Permit arranged
- Private transport
A three-star hotel with daily breakfast, a welcome dinner on day 1 and a farm-style lunch on day 4. Oxygen is available throughout.
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4-day private Potala Palace and monasteries tour
- Licensed English-speaking guide
- First-entry tickets including Potala
- 3 nights in a 4-star hotel
Breakfast plus five main meals are included, with oxygen in the room and in the vehicle. Passport details for the permit are needed at least 20 days ahead.
Check availability →Lhasa tours with Norbulingka, Sera and Drepung
Private and small tours that visit the sights of Lhasa, from a four day private trip to an eight day journey to Everest Base Camp, with live prices and availability.
Norbulingka
The former summer palace.
Norbulingka was the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. The park complex dates from the 18th century and has been part of the Potala World Heritage listing since 2001. It is a quieter place than the palace on the Red Hill and works well as a gentler stop on the first days at altitude.
Entry is 0 CNY from 15 October 2026 to 15 March 2027. In that period the park opens at 09:30 and closes at 18:00. The ticket check ends at 16:30 and the last entry is at 17:00, so these are three different times to keep apart. Foreign tour groups show their passports and copies of their documents at the ticket office to receive the free tickets. Outside the winter period, ask your agency for the current fee.
Sera Monastery and the debates
Tickets on site, no advance booking.
Sera Monastery lies on the northern edge of Lhasa. According to the city's summer guide, visitors buy tickets at the monastery and do not reserve in advance. Check the current price and hours when you arrive.
Sera is best known for its monks' debates, which take place in the afternoon in a shaded courtyard. They are not a guaranteed programme, and the timing can change, so ask on site whether a debate is running that day. Treat a debate as a bonus and not as the reason for the trip.
Drepung Monastery
White buildings on the hillside.
Drepung Monastery climbs a hillside west of the city, with white washed buildings stacked up the slope. As at Sera, visitors buy tickets on site without advance booking. Ask your guide for the current fees and opening hours on the day.
The paths are uphill and the air is thin. Walk slowly, carry water and keep the monastery visit away from your arrival day. Our altitude page sets out how to spend the first 48 hours.
Jokhang and Barkhor
The old town at the centre.
The Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street form the centre of the old town, and the temple needs a reservation on WeChat one day ahead. Details of tickets, the pilgrim circuit and the winter rules are on our Jokhang Temple page.
Lakes beyond the city
A day out from Lhasa.
Two lakes are the usual day or overnight excursions from Lhasa: Namtso and Yamdrok. Some tours add Yamdrok to a Lhasa programme, and the longer Everest tours often pass by it. Distances, passes and winter conditions are covered on the Namtso Lake page. For the palace itself, see Potala Palace tickets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lhasa worth visiting?
Yes, for the combination of the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka and the two large monasteries. A Lhasa programme of three to four days fits them in without rushing at altitude.
Is Norbulingka free?
From 15 October 2026 to 15 March 2027 entry is 0 CNY, and foreign groups show their passports and copies at the ticket office. Outside that period, ask your agency for the fee.
Can I count on seeing the debates at Sera?
No. The debates take place in the afternoon but are not a guaranteed programme, so ask on site.
Do I need to reserve Sera and Drepung?
No. Tickets are sold at the monasteries, according to the city's summer guide.