15 Top Things to Do in Lhasa

Lhasa, known as the "Holy City," is the soul of Tibet. Here you'll find magnificent palaces and monasteries, as well as authentic scenes of daily Tibetan life. Whether you are a devoted pilgrim or a curious traveler, you will feel spiritually touched in Lhasa. These 15 experiences are absolutely not to be missed:

1. Climb the Potala Palace

As the world’s highest palace complex that combines palace, fortress, and monastery, the Potala Palace is the landmark of Lhasa. Since the 7th century, it has served as the winter residence of successive Dalai Lamas. “Potala,” derived from Sanskrit and also translated as “Putuo Mountain,” originally referred to the abode of Avalokitesvara. Inside are stupas, statues, murals, thangkas, scriptures, and ancient texts. Most remarkable are the eight stupas of the Dalai Lamas from the Fifth onward.

2. Worship Jokhang Temple

Located within Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple was built by King Songtsen Gampo over 1,300 years ago. It holds supreme status in Tibetan Buddhism. The temple enshrines the life-size statue of 12-year-old Sakyamuni, the most sacred figure for Buddhists and pilgrims. At dawn, the sight of devotees prostrating under the golden sunlight creates a moving and unique cultural landscape of Lhasa.

3. Visit Drepung Monastery 

As the largest monastery in Tibet and the most important of the Gelug school, Drepung Monastery is named “heap of rice” for its whitewashed buildings covering the hillside. It is a great place to learn about Buddhist history and doctrine. From its slopes, you can overlook the whole of Lhasa. During the annual Shoton Festival, a giant thangka of Buddha is unfurled on the hillside, drawing countless pilgrims and visitors in a grand spectacle.

4. Watch Monks Debating at Sera Monastery

Sera Monastery is one of the three great monasteries of Lhasa. For centuries, eminent lamas have taught here. In the courtyard to the north and rear of the monastery, monks in crimson robes gather to engage in Buddhist debates. This tradition sharpens logic, fosters critical thinking, and deepens understanding of Buddhist philosophy. Debates usually take place Monday to Saturday, 3:00–5:00 pm.

5. Stroll Through Summer Palace Norbulingka

Norbulingka, once the summer palace and garden of successive Dalai Lamas, combines Tibetan architectural style with elements of Qing dynasty garden design. The “New Palace” blends monastery features with palace artistry, elegant and unique. With more than 100 plant species, including rare Tibetan hydrangeas, it is hailed as the “Plateau Botanical Garden.”

6. Explore Yaowang Mountain

Known in Tibetan as “Jiabozhi,” meaning “the mountain at the corner,” Yaowang Mountain offers one of the best panoramic views of the Potala Palace. Its southern slope preserves Tang dynasty grottoes from over 1,300 years ago, including a unique central pillar cave built by Songtsen Gampo for his Tang princess. In the back alley of Yaowang Mountain lies the Thousand-Buddha Cliff, covered with colorful Buddhist carvings.

7. Visit Drak Yerpa Hermitage

One of Tibet’s four major meditation sites, this 1,500-year-old cliffside monastery was once frequented by Songtsen Gampo and Guru Padmasambhava. Its 108 meditation caves preserve secrets of the ancient Tibetan Empire. Built into the cliffs, half embedded in rock and half protruding, the monastery is striking. The steep pilgrimage path is lined with prayer flags, radiating the devotion and resilience of practitioners.

8. Discover the Tibet Museum

The Tibet Museum, a national first-class museum, is an architectural gem in traditional Tibetan style. Its exhibits vividly embody regional culture and blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. Highlights include the double-body pottery jar, golden imperial edict seals, the thangka “Demon-Subduing Map of Tibet,” and the Tibetan opera mask wall. From the third-floor terrace, you can also overlook Lhasa and the Potala Palace.

9. Join Tibetans in a Kora

Pilgrims perform circumambulation (Kora) to seek blessings and merit, and Lhasa is considered the spiritual center of the world. The innermost circle around Jokhang Temple’s Sakyamuni Chapel is the Nangkor, the outer circuit along the temple walls is the Barkhor, and the largest circuit, the Lingkor, links the Potala Palace, Yaowang Mountain, and Ramoche Temple. Pilgrims walk or prostrate clockwise along these sacred routes.

10. Taste Sweet Tea in a Traditional Teahouse

Lhasa’s charm lies in the coexistence of holy sites and daily life—pilgrimage routes just steps from bustling shops. Sweet tea, a local specialty, tastes like a blend of milk tea and soy milk, lightly salty yet refreshing. Strolling Barkhor Street, you’ll often see Tibetans chatting in teahouses. To experience the most authentic atmosphere, visit Guangming Teahouse.

11. Savor Tibetan Cuisine and Local Drinks

Tibetan cuisine is based on mutton, yak beef, butter tea, dumplings, and noodles. Lhasa’s soft drinks and beers are also famous, with honey malt sweetness and subtle floral bitterness. Popular restaurants near Jokhang Temple include Snowland, Makye Ame, and Lhasa Kitchen. Must-try dishes include yogurt, fried lamb ribs, beef porridge, yogurt cake, mutton soup, and barley wine. (Budget about 100 RMB per person.) Tip: avoid overeating to prevent digestive issues.

12. Picnic Like a Local in a“Linka”

“Linka,” meaning "garden" in Tibetan, refers to outings and picnics—one of the favorite leisure activities of locals. The best time is July–August. Head to Sangmu Village outside Lhasa, where streams, fields, and farmhouses create idyllic scenery. If welcomed by locals, you might be invited into a home to taste authentic Tibetan family dishes.

13. Go Birdwatching at Lhalu Wetland

In winter, the Lhalu Wetland hosts flocks of migratory birds from the north, with February being peak season. Black-necked cranes and bar-headed geese dance gracefully against the backdrop of snowy peaks. From the eastern observation deck, you can capture the Potala Palace reflected in the wetlands alongside flocks in flight.

14. Cycle in Lhasa

Cycling routes in Lhasa are like a thangka slowly unfolding—some form classic circuits around the holy city, outlining its religious and historical contours; others lead through hidden valleys, guiding riders into secret realms of nature and culture. You may take a leisurely ride along the Lhasa River to enjoy the sunset, climb up to Pabonka to see the birthplace of Tibetan script and experience steep mountain trails, or cycle to Garu Monastery to take in the idyllic scenery of Lhasa’s outskirts.

15. Shop for Handicrafts on Barkhor Street

Barkhor Street is a must-see marketplace in Lhasa. Shops and stalls line both sides, selling handicrafts and religious items made by local Tibetan artisans, as well as curios and goods from India and Nepal. Bargaining is common, and prices often settle at about half of the original asking price—if the seller agrees, etiquette requires that you complete the purchase.

Conclusion

Whether climbing the majestic Potala Palace or sipping sweet tea in a bustling teahouse, Lhasa embodies a rare harmony of faith and daily life. Palaces, monasteries, pilgrimage routes, and vibrant local shops all lie within reach, illuminated by sunlight, prayer flags, chants, and human warmth. Completing these 15 experiences, you’ll discover that Lhasa is not just a travel destination but a journey into the soul of a “Holy City.”