Travel advisory · ChinaSome governments advise against travel to parts of China.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Also named by one government: China-Nepal border area (Ireland), Gyirong County (Canada)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Exercise increased caution	Oct 19, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	Keine Reisewarnung; allgemeine Sicherheitshinweise	Oct 27, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise increased caution	–	Read the advice
Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs)	High Degree of Caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Vigilance normale (vert) pour l'ensemble de la Chine continentale	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

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Lhasa

Go for the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple, and plan the trip around the permit, the organized tour and the altitude.

Find a room in Lhasa Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Lhasa

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Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in southwestern China, on a plateau at about 3,650 meters above sea level. Its old core holds the Potala Palace, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas on Marpo Ri hill, and the Jokhang Temple, a central Buddhist shrine on its own square. The Potala Palace is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa.

Most visitors come for the monasteries, the walk around the Jokhang on the Barkhor circuit, and views over the valley. Altitude sickness can affect people in the first days, so keep the first day or two easy and skip long walks until you have adjusted. Foreign visitors need a Tibet Travel Permit, and a licensed agency handles the application. Most travelers join an organized tour. Late spring and early autumn bring the mildest days. Plan at least three to four days in the city.

Lhasa in five

Sort the permit before you book flightsForeign visitors need a Tibet permit arranged by a specialist agent in China, and must travel on an organised tour. The Tibet guide has the full UK government wording and what can change without notice.Tibet
Check conditions near the Nepal borderOn 26 August 2026, heavy flooding and landslides damaged roads and other infrastructure in Gyirong County in Shigatse, Tibet, near the Nepal border. Read the current UK advice before planning any route there.UK warnings
Acclimatize before you climbTravelHealthPro says altitude illness is a risk at 2,500 m or higher, and advises ascending gradually, with no more than 500 m of extra sleeping elevation a day and a rest day every three or four days above 3,000 m.TravelHealthPro: China
Put the big sites in the early daysUNESCO lists the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka together. Ask your agent to schedule them while you are still acclimatizing, at a slow pace with rest between visits.
Photography and gatherings: see the Tibet guideAsk before you photograph in monasteries, avoid large public gatherings and keep close to your guide. The Tibet guide has the UK government wording.Tibet

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to LhasaPut the places you like in Lhasa on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Lhasa Gonggar (LXA)
Getting there: Flights from Chengdu and other mainland cities, with a permit and tour
Getting around: With your guide and driver, as part of the organised tour
Best base: The old town near the Jokhang Temple, as arranged by your agent
Time needed: At least 3 days to acclimatize and see the main sites

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good

JanuaryClear2 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low-8°Cold, dry
FebruaryClear3 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low-5°Cold, dry
MarchPartly cloudy7 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh9°Low-3°Cool, dry
AprilRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low1°Mild, clear
MayRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh16°Low5°Warm
JuneRain18 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh21°Low10°Warm, rain
JulyRain23 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh20°Low10°Wet season
AugustRain21 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh20°Low10°Wet season
SeptemberRain18 rainy days1 snowy day2 days with stormsHigh19°Low8°Mild, clear
OctoberClear7 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh15°Low4°Clear, cool
NovemberClear2 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low-2°Cold, dry
DecemberClear1 rainy dayHigh7°Low-5°Cold, dry

Average daily high and low in Lhasa, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Lhasa

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: -4°
Humidity: 35%
Wind: 7 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Tibet

04:40 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+8

Today8°-1°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 8°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed8°-1°0%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 8°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu9°-1°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 9°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri7°-1°2%Friday: Clear. High 7°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 2%.
Sat5°-4°12%Saturday: Snow. High 5°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 12%.
Sun3°-5°9%Sunday: Snow. High 3°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 9%.
Mon0°-9°12%Monday: Snow. High 0°, Low -9°. Chance of rain 12%.

Updated 12:26 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.661 CNY

Amount

Converted to

CNY · Chinese Yuan

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Drepung Monasteryby tour transportA large hillside monastery on the western edge of Lhasa.
Sera Monasteryby tour transportA monastery north of the city, known for its debating courtyard.
Namtso lakelong day by tour transportA high-altitude lake reached by a long drive; altitude demands acclimatization.

Before you go to Lhasa

Tibet permit and tourArranged by a specialist agentRead the guide

Altitude health adviceRead the official guidanceRead the guide

eSIM for TibetData for maps and messagingRead the guide

Insurance for LhasaCheck altitude and remote-area coverRead the guide

Rules for Lhasa, checked

TravelHealthPro: altitude illness is a risk from 2,500 m; above 3,000 m avoid raising sleeping elevation by more than 500 m a day and rest every 3 or 4 days.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

Plan around Lhasa

All of China

Visa-free entry, payments, trains and cities

Read the guide Tibet

Permit, organized tour and routes beyond Lhasa

Read the guide Chengdu

The common flight gateway to Lhasa

Read the guide Kathmandu

Nepal's capital, a common onward stop

Read the guide China visa-free entry

The 30-day list and the 240-hour transit

Read the guide Travel insurance

Check cover for altitude and remote regions

Read the guide Qinghai

Xining, the lake and the start of the railway

Read the guide

Lhasa FAQ

Do I need a permit to visit Lhasa?

Yes. A specialist travel agent in China arranges the permit, and you travel on an organised tour. The Tibet guide has the UK government wording and the warning that permits can stop without notice.

How many days do you need in Lhasa?

At least three days: the first to acclimatize, then the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, then a monastery such as Drepung or Sera. Add days for Namtso or a longer circuit, and keep the schedule loose in case altitude slows you.

How do I avoid altitude sickness in Lhasa?

Ascend gradually and rest. TravelHealthPro advises spending a few days below 3,000 m before going higher, limiting increases in sleeping elevation to 500 m a day, and taking a rest day every three or four days. See a travel clinic before you go.

When is the best time to visit Lhasa?

April, May, September and October, when days are mild and clear. Summer brings the wet season, and winter is cold and dry, with fewer travelers. Check road and weather conditions before long drives.

Which sites does UNESCO list in Lhasa?

The Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka are listed together as one historic ensemble. Photography inside monasteries needs permission, and the Tibet guide has the UK government wording on what not to film.