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Potala Palace, Lhasa

PreeChina · Route Guide

Things to Do Near Potala Palace, Lhasa

5 stops within 3 km of Potala Palace. A sample itinerary that PreeChina can turn into a private, custom or tailor-made tour.

1 day5 stopsStart: Potala PalaceWithin 3 kmFrom USD 305 per person, 2 travelers

At a Glance

Route Quick Facts

Anchor
Potala Palace (布达拉宫)
Stops
5, anchor first
Radius
All within 3 km of the anchor
City
Lhasa
Anchor to Centre
1 km, straight line
Length
1 day

Price

Price of This Private Tour

Per person, in US dollars. The price covers the guide, the ground service, and the transport, meals and tickets in the itinerary, and it falls as the group grows. This route is customized for the region, so the figures are a starting point. What a price includes and leaves out.

Estimated price per person for Things to Do Near Potala Palace, Lhasa, by number of travelers
Travelers246810152030
Day tripUSD 305USD 220USD 185USD 175USD 160USD 155USD 145USD 135

Premium hotels and first-class rail raise the price: the selectors on Private Tours show by how much. The final price is confirmed in writing before anything is booked.

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Why This Route

Potala Palace and What Lies Within Reach

The Potala Palace stands on Red Mountain in Lhasa at 3,700 metres. UNESCO dates its role as the Dalai Lamas' winter palace to the 7th century. It joined the World Heritage list in 1994, and the listing later added the Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka.

Potala Palace lies 1 km from central Lhasa in a straight line. This route stays within 3 km of it. The stops are Zongjiao Lukang Park, Jokhang Temple, Lhasa Barkhor Old Town, Norbulingka.

The Lhasa city guide covers the city itself.

Itinerary

Potala Palace Itinerary: 5 Stops Around It

The Day

  1. 1

    Potala Palace (布达拉宫). The Potala Palace stands on Red Mountain in Lhasa at 3,700 metres. UNESCO dates its role as the Dalai Lamas' winter palace to the 7th century. It joined the World Heritage list in 1994, and the listing later added the Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka.Start here.

  2. 2

    Zongjiao Lukang Park (宗角禄康). The pool behind the Potala, dug when builders took earth for the palace, and the standard place to photograph the palace in reflection.0.3 km from the previous stop, 0.3 km from Potala Palace, straight line

  3. 3

    Jokhang Temple (大昭寺). First built in the 7th century.1.5 km from the previous stop, 1.7 km from Potala Palace, straight line

  4. 4

    Lhasa Barkhor Old Town (拉萨八廓街与老城巷弄). The 1,300-year-old Barkhor kora (pilgrim circuit) around Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibet.0.3 km from the previous stop, 1.8 km from Potala Palace, straight line

  5. 5

    Norbulingka (罗布林卡). The summer palace and garden of successive Dalai Lamas.3.8 km from the previous stop, 2.5 km from Potala Palace, straight line

Stops run from Potala Palace outward, each next stop being the closest one left. We do not list clock times here: your private itinerary sets the pace, the order and the start time with you.

Map

Map of the Stops

The gold marker is Potala Palace. Numbers follow the route order. We do not draw a line because it would not follow roads.

Stop by Stop

The Stops

Potala Palace, Heritage Site
1
Heritage Site

Potala Palace (布达拉宫)

Start of the route

The Potala Palace stands on Red Mountain in Lhasa at 3,700 metres. UNESCO dates its role as the Dalai Lamas' winter palace to the 7th century. It joined the World Heritage list in 1994, and the listing later added the Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka.

2
Park

Zongjiao Lukang Park (宗角禄康)

0.3 km from Potala Palace, straight line

The pool behind the Potala, dug when builders took earth for the palace, and the standard place to photograph the palace in reflection. At 3,650 m, sources describe it as the highest city park anywhere.

Jokhang Temple, UNESCO Site
3
UNESCO Site

Jokhang Temple (大昭寺)

1.7 km from Potala Palace, straight line

First built in the 7th century. It enshrines the life-size statue of Shakyamuni at age twelve and is the centre of pilgrimage for Tibetan Buddhists.

4
Historic Neighborhood

Lhasa Barkhor Old Town (拉萨八廓街与老城巷弄)

1.8 km from Potala Palace, straight line

The 1,300-year-old Barkhor kora (pilgrim circuit) around Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibet. Beyond the tourist main street, 35+ narrow alleys hold 20,000+ Tibetan residents, butter tea houses, scripture-printing shops, and incense makers.

Norbulingka, UNESCO Site
5
UNESCO Site

Norbulingka (罗布林卡)

2.5 km from Potala Palace, straight line

The summer palace and garden of successive Dalai Lamas. Tibetan opera plays here during the Shoton Festival.

Distances

Distance From Potala Palace

#StopTypeFrom Potala PalaceFrom previous
1Potala PalaceHeritage Site--
2Zongjiao Lukang ParkPark0.3 km0.3 km
3Jokhang TempleUNESCO Site1.7 km1.5 km
4Lhasa Barkhor Old TownHistoric Neighborhood1.8 km0.3 km
5NorbulingkaUNESCO Site2.5 km3.8 km

Straight-line distances. Road distances are longer.

Independent Travel

Doing This Route Independently

Arranging these 5 stops yourself keeps the budget lower. It also means booking each one and the transfers between them. Compare a private tour with independent travel, or ask PreeChina to plan it.

Custom Tour

Turn This Into a Private, Custom Tour

This route is a starting point: 1 day and 5 stops. PreeChina plans it as a private, tailor-made trip and changes the stops, the days and the pace to your group.

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Questions

FAQ

How far is Potala Palace from central Lhasa?

Potala Palace lies 1 km from central Lhasa in a straight line. The road distance is longer.

What is near Potala Palace?

The stops on this route, with straight-line distances from Potala Palace, are Zongjiao Lukang Park (0.3 km), Jokhang Temple (1.7 km), Lhasa Barkhor Old Town (1.8 km), Norbulingka (2.5 km).

Which stop is closest to Potala Palace?

Zongjiao Lukang Park, at 0.3 km in a straight line.

How many days does this route need?

We plan it as 1 day. Your private itinerary sets the pace and the order with you.

Who is this route not a good fit for?

A traveler who cannot manage long transfers or limited facilities. This route runs through a remote region, so plan for long travel days and a slower pace.

Plan More

Nearby Routes and Tour Types

Things to Do Near Jokhang Temple, LhasaLhasaLhasa city guideWhere to stay, eat and go

See all PreeChina route itineraries

Explore More

This route is in Tibet. The province page lists its city guides, themes, museums and other routes.

Related

Keep Exploring Lhasa

Routes and day trips

Theme maps

Background reading

Plan This Route as Your Private Tour

Tell us when you arrive in Lhasa, who is travelling and how much time you have. We build the route around your group.

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