Lhasa Travel Tips

To have a better travel experience in Lhasa, here are some useful Lhasa travel tips which may be helpful for your Lhasa tour. When plan your trip to Lhasa, view our answers to questions about Lhasa travel to get better understanding of Lhasa Tibet.

Useful Numbers

Here below are some useful numbers in Lhasa, in case the emergency while you are traveling (such as fire or traffic accidents), or have other complaints or questions.

Read More: Useful Numbers for Travelers in Tibet

Best Time to Visit Lhasa

Generally, tourists can visit Lhasa all the year round. The period from April to October is the best time to visit Lhasa and the peak season is from May to September. During that period, the climate in Lhasa is warm and humid.

Read More

• Best Time to Visit Namtso Lake in Tibet
• Best Time to Visit Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet
• Best Time to Visit Mount Everest Base Camp in Tibet

How to Plan Lhasa Travel

• Choose a gateway city to take a flight or train to Lhasa. Chengdu, Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Xining are the most popular gateway cities among tourists
• Make travel duration sure. Usually, the classic Lhasa city tour takes at least 4 days. Spend two full days visiting the most famous sites, such as Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery, etc. The another two days are for arrival and departure and free-time activities. If you have more time, Visiting the Tibetan family would be a nice option(1 day), or you can view Namtso Lake(1 or 2 days). If you want to trek Mount Everest, you have to add 3 or 4 days.

• How to Plan Tibet Mount Kailash Tour from Lhasa
• How to Plan Tibet Mount Everest Tour from Lhasa
• How to Plan Tibet Namtso Lake Tour from Lhasa
• Top Lhasa Tourist Attractions and Things To Do Rated on TripAdvisor

Other Tips

Tibet Permits for Lhasa Travel

Tibet Travel Permit is required before visiting Lhasa and the nearby areas and attractions, such as Namtso Lake, Ganden Monastery. It is issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau. You must have the permit to board your flight or train to Tibet. To get the permit, you need book a Tibet tour with a Chinese travel agency, and send your passport and Chinese visa to travel agency about 30 days in advance, and then the travel agency will handle the Tibet travel permit for you(all Tibet permits can only be applied by travel agency). 

• How to Get Tibet Travel Permit, Successful Application Tips

Acclimatize Yourself to High Altitudes of Lhasa

The average altitude of Lhasa city is around 3700 meters. You may suffer slightly from high altitude sickness in the first two days, but don't worry you can acclimatize yourself gradually by going for some leisure walking instead of strenuous activity after arrival. You'd better not have bath, in case of catching a cold. Drinking more water and having some fruit will be helpful. 

Packing and Clothing Tips for Lhasa Travel

• Firstly you can't forget your passport and Chinese Visa, In addition, Foreigners need to apply for Tibet Travel Permit before entering Tibet.  
• A large backpack and a smaller one should be taken(the smaller one can be used for daily activities).
• Necessary medicines like Rhodiola and cold medication are needed to prevent high altitude sickness or cold. 
• Other stuffs like sunglasses, snow glasses, hats, lip balm, Sunscreen Products are recommended due to strong solar radiation.
• As for wearing, you are suggested to dress in layers (both thin and thick jackets). Because of the large temperature difference between daytime and night, down jacket is always necessary when traveling in Tibet. A pair of durable and comfortable shoes is required as well.

Certificates

In addition to Tibet Travel Permit, many scenic spots in Tibet (such as Mount Everest, Zhangmu, Ali, Mêdog County, Yadong County, Mainling County, etc.) need border permit, and you'd better apply in advance in Lhasa. It is suggested to join a tour group. After applying for a group tour, generally, travel agency will handle the border certificates for you.

Embassy and Consulate

If you want to go to Nepal from Lhasa, you can apply for a visa at the Consulate General of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal in Lhasa.

Consulate General of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal in Lhasa(尼泊尔驻拉萨总领事馆)

Chancery: No.13, Norbulingka Road, Lhasa, Tibet西藏拉萨市罗布林卡路13号(Temporary Office：Tibet Hotel, Beijing Xi Road, Lhasa, Tibet)
Tel: 0891-6813965/6815744/6830609
Time of Visa Application: 10:00-12:30 from Monday to Friday
Visa Materials: Original passport(valid for more than 6 months); 2 two-inch ID photos with white background; Application form.
Visa Fee: 175 yuan for 15 days; 280 yuan for one month; 700 yuan for 3 months. 

Post Offices

Zip code in Lhasa is 850000. There are many post offices and expresses in Lhasa with the development of logistics industry. Sending postcards and parcels is very convenient. The postage for sending postcards is 0.8 yuan per sheet. 

• Lhasa Branch of China Post拉萨市邮政局
  Address: Address: No.33, Beijing Middle Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区北京中路33号
  Tel: 0891-6241443/11183
• China Post中国邮政
  Address: No.30, Yutuo Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区宇拓路30号
• China Post中国邮政
  Address: No.25, Linkuo East Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区林廓东路25号
• China Post中国邮政
  Address: No.38, Jiangsu Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区江苏路38号
• SF Express顺丰快递
  Address: Sera North Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区色拉北路
  Tel: 95338
• Yunda Express韵达快递
  Address: Beijing East Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区北京东路
  Tel: 95546
• STO Express申通快递
  Address: Jiangsu East Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区江苏东路
  Tel: 95543

Banks

Lhasa has bank of China, industrial and commercial bank of China, agricultural bank of China, China construction bank, etc., which are quite common in the urban area. So there's no need to worry about finding a bank.

• Bank of China中国银行
  Address: Tongzhan Road, Doilungdeqen District, Lhasa拉萨市堆龙德庆区通站路
  Tel: 0891-6279999
• Bank of China中国银行
  Address: No.118, Najin Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区纳金路118号
  Tel: 0891-6355109/0891-6332244
• Bank of China中国银行
  Address: No.131, Jinzhu West Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区金珠西路131号
  Tel: 0891-6868301
• China Construction Bank(CCB)中国建设银行
  Address: No.6, Tianhai Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区天海路6号
  Tel: 0891-6836885
• China Construction Bank中国建设银行
  Address: N0.89, Jinzhu West Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区金珠西路89号
  Tel: 0891-6866519
• China Construction Bank中国建设银行
  Address: No.21, Beijing West Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区北京西路21号
  Tel: 0891-6833303
• Industrial and Commercial Bank of China(ICBC)中国工商银行
  Address: No.31, Jinzhu Middle Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa(Close to Lhasa International Grand Hotel)拉萨市城关区金珠中路31号(近西藏国际大酒店)
  Tel: 0891-6898020
• Agricultural Bank of China中国农业银行
  Address: No.21, Jinzhu Middle Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区金珠中路21号
  Tel: 0891-6839323

Hospitals

The main hospitals in Lhasa include people's hospital of Lhasa, Tibetan medicine hospital of Tibet autonomous region, Tibetan emergency center, people's hospital of Tibet autonomous region and the second people's hospital of Tibet autonomous region, etc. Because the urban area of Lhasa is small and the transportation is convenient, it takes less time to go to the hospital when you suffer from physical discomfort, especially severe altitude sickness.

• People's Hospital of TAR(西藏自治区人民医院)
  Address: No. 18, North Linguo Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa, Tibet西藏自治区拉萨市城关区林廓北路18号
  Tel: 0891-6371462
• Houbei Hospital(厚北医院)
  Address: No. 20, Yi Road, Taiyangdao, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区太阳岛一路20号
  Tel: 0891-6875120
• People's Hospital in Lhasa(拉萨人民医院)
  Address: No.1, Beijing East Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区北京东路1号
  Tel: 0891-6323302
• Tibetan Medicine Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region(西藏自治区藏医院)
  Address: No.26, Niangre Road, Lhasa, Tibet西藏拉萨市娘热路26号
  Tel: 0891-6323428
• Lhasa Emergency Treatment Center(拉萨市急救中心)
  Address: No.1, Beijing East Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区北京东路1号
  Tel: 0891-6323302
• The Second People's Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region(西藏自治区第二人民医院)
  Address: No.119, Jinzhu West Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区金珠西路119号
  Tel: 0891-6865120/0891-6272700

Universities

• Tibet University
  Address:No.6, Linju South Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区林聚南路6号
• Hebalin Campus of Tibet University(西藏大学河坝林校区)
  Address: No.36, Jiangsu Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa拉萨市城关区江苏路36号
  Tel: 0891-6348268