How to Travel in Lhasa? By Taxi, Bus, Tricycle or Biking

Knowing how to travel in Lhasa is key to a great Tibet tour. The means of transportation plays an important role during a tour in Lhasa because it will decide whether you can get around in this city easily. And once you are familiar with how to get to those attractions via different ways, you will have enough time to enjoy your Tibet tour. As the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa is easy to get around. Although there is no subway or well-equipped buses in this city, you can still find a way to travel in Lhasa while feeling happy and relaxed. You can choose public city buses, taxis, pedicabs, and bicycles for rent to go whatever you want to go while in Lhasa. Next, we will show you detailed information about these ways that you may use.

Taxis in Lhasa

Lhasa is a relatively small city among other major cities in mainland China, which makes it easy to take a taxi in the city. And it is also a fast and convenient way to travel around in Lhasa. The fares start at 10 RMB for the first 5 kilometers and cost an additional 2 RMB for each kilometer. Tourists may only need to pay the flag fall to travel around in downtown Lhasa. If you are about to travel to the suburbs of Lhasa to visit those remote attractions, you can still ask taxi drivers to charge by the meter. However, sometimes, if you are okay with the fixed price that drivers suggest, you can get on the taxi and get to your destination without waiting for another car. But if you are not in a hurry, you can go to your destination on foot or take a pedicab.

Taxis in Lhasa

Public Bus in Lhasa

The bus system in Lhasa is getting better and better these years. The local government has done a great effort to improve the service for local people and travelers to take a bus easily in Lhasa. It only takes 1 or 2 RMB to take a bus to travel around in Lhasa from one destination to another. It is definitely cheap for everyone. But not every bus can meet your need to take you to your destinations. However, you can always find some buses that will stop at those major attractions in Lhasa. There are dozens of bus lines running through Lhasa, providing convenient service for people in Lhasa. For international tourists who want to take a bus to get to some places in Lhasa, they’d better prepare cash in advance. It will be a little complicated for international tourists to purchase the bus ticket via their phone for now. But the buses in Lhasa will not announce every stop in English. So, please pay attention to the Mandarin pronunciation of the stop you are going.

Public Bus in Lhasa

Tricycle in Lhasa

Tricycles or pedicabs are common on the streets in Lhasa. Most of those tricycles are running by local people. They can count on this way to live a life and feed their families. Even if it will be slower than public buses or taxis, it can allow you to get around Lhasa in a pleasant way. Thus, you can see the city views clearly. And you will have a different experience to wander around the city. Most of those tricycles will be decorated with colorful ribbons, colorful knots, and jingle bells. What’s more, those drivers who are good at singing will sing all the way. The fares are varied according to the distance and the drivers. But you should know that the fares are not expensive for a trip around the city. But for a long-distance trip to the suburbs of Lhasa, the fare will be higher because it needs time and effort. Besides, it is better to reach an agreement before getting in the tricycle to avoid misunderstanding or trouble.

Tricycle in Lhasa

Rent a Bicycle in Lhasa

For international tourists who know how to ride a bicycle, they may want to have a try on the streets of Lhasa. It is another great way to have a day tour in Lhasa. In order to make it convenient for tourists, there are lots of bicycle rental shops in Lhasa. And some hotels in Lhasa also provide bicycle rental services for their customers to rent a bike in an easy way. If you are lucky to live in such a hotel, you can order bicycles from the reception easily. You can pay by the hour or pay by the day. Different types of bicycles charge differently. And you should be careful when riding on the streets. It is important to follow the traffic rules. Any damage to the bicycle will require compensation.

Lhasa is actually a developed tourists city in China. There is no need to worry about the difficulties in traveling around in Lhasa. On the contrary, tourists can have a great Lhasa tour by experiencing different means of transportation without traffic jams. However, it is better to ask for help or suggestions from your Tibet travel guide when you are planning to try something new.

Bicycle in Lhasa