Where to stay in Lhasa: three areas
Where to stay in Lhasa depends on what you want close by. The city sits in a valley at about 3,700 m, and most visitors choose between the Old Town around the Jokhang Temple and Barkhor, the part of town near Potala Palace on Beijing Middle Road, and the area around the railway station. This page names areas, not hotels. Foreign visitors travel on an organised tour, so the agency often chooses or confirms the hotel, and it is worth asking which area your booking uses.
Whichever area you pick, plan the first nights with the altitude in mind. The stairs at the palace and long walks in the Old Town feel harder than they look on a map.
Our pick: round trip with hotels included
This round trip includes hotels with breakfast in the four or five diamond category.
Hand-picked tours, booked through 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.
Lhasa tours with hotel nights included
Organised tours with accommodation, a guide and permit processing, with live prices and availability.
Old Town and Barkhor
The Jokhang Temple lies in the centre of the old town, according to UNESCO.
A hotel in the Old Town puts you near the Jokhang and the Barkhor circuit, where pilgrims walk around the temple. This is a good base if you want to see the area on foot in the morning and evening, and for visiting the temple itself, which needs its own reservation. See Jokhang Temple for the entry rules. Because the district is old and busy, ask the agency or hotel how your car reaches the door.
Near the Potala Palace
The palace stands on the Red Hill at Beijing Middle Road 35. A hotel along this road keeps the main sight close, but walking times depend on where along the road you stay and on the climb itself, so check the map before you count on a short stroll. The palace is closed on Mondays, and entry needs a booked time slot, which you reserve early on the official WeChat mini program. More on Potala Palace tickets.
Near Lhasa railway station
Arriving by train, you may prefer a hotel close to the station. The LiuWu bus station lies west of the station, and an airport bus starts there. It takes about 60 minutes to the airport for 30 CNY, with departures at 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00, according to a notice of 10 February 2026. This makes the station area handy before an early or midday flight. Read more about routes on the Lhasa Airport and getting there page.
Your first nights at altitude
The US health authority CDC describes the first 3 to 5 days as the main period of adjustment. In the first 48 hours keep movement light and avoid alcohol. For that reason do not treat the long palace staircase as an easy item for your arrival day. Early signs are headache, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite and nausea. If you have symptoms, do not sleep higher, and if they get worse, go down. Our altitude sickness page has the details.
Hotels included in tour packages
What the listings say, in the packages' own terms.
Category, not names
An 11-day circuit tour lists hotels of 4 or 5 diamonds, with breakfast, a vehicle with a driver, a guide and entry to the Everest area. The hotel names are not given in the listing.
Meals and extras
Listings state which meals are included, usually breakfast. Lunches and dinners are often extra unless the includes say otherwise, so read each list line by line.
What to ask
Ask your agency for the area, the room type and whether breakfast is included before you pay. Compare the includes of each tour, not only the headline price.
Where to stay in Lhasa: frequently asked questions
Which area is best for the Jokhang Temple?
The Old Town around the Jokhang and Barkhor, because the temple stands in the centre of the old town.
Can I book a hotel myself in Lhasa?
Foreign visitors travel on an organised tour, and the agency usually arranges hotels as part of the package. Ask your agency which area it uses.
Is a hotel near the railway station practical?
It can be if you arrive by train or leave by air, because the airport bus starts at the LiuWu bus station west of the railway station.
How should I spend my first night?
Quietly. Keep activity light for the first 48 hours, avoid alcohol and do not climb higher to sleep if you feel unwell.