Potala Palace is a must-visit sight spot in Tibet tour. Since there is a large amount of travelers want to visit Potala Palace, the entrance tickets of Potala Palace are almost out of stock every day. Now, there are some strategies about how to buy the entrance ticket of Potala Palace in low season and high season of Tibet tour.
In the low season of Tibet tour, the source of the entrance ticket of Potala Palace is rich. In general, you can buy the entrance ticket and visit Potala Palace in the same day, and do not wait. The low season of Tibet tour is from November to April in next year. If you have Tibet tour in this season, you do not need to worry about the entrance ticket of Potala Palace.
Independent tourists, when buy the entrance ticket of Potala Palace, need to line up for ticket voucher at the west gate of Potala Palace. The opening time of Potala Palace is from 9:00 to 15:30. In general, it will not check ticket after 15:30.
The high season of Tibet tour is from May to October. During this season, travelers need to line up for ticket voucher at the gate on east of Potala Palace with ID card or Passport. One ID card or passport only can get one voucher, and each person only can get 4 vouchers at most. On the second day, travelers need to come into Potala Palace at the time listed on voucher, and get the entrance ticket in Potala Palace with the ID card (or passport) and voucher.
Now, the entrance tickets of Potala Palace for independent tourists are 400. In every morning, there is a large amount of people line up for tickets. Hence, it is very hard to buy the entrance ticket of Potala Palace for independent tourist in this season. But there are many entrance tickets of Potala Palace for groups. So, it is easier to visit Potala Palace in groups. In July and August, the entrance ticket of Potala Palace is not to be bought with money. If you want to have Tibet tour in this period, you are suggested to book the entrance ticket through travel agency in advance.
Of course, there are some preferential policies about the entrance ticket of Potala Palace. The price of the ticket is 200 CNY per person. Children who are shorter than 1 meter are free; children who are taller than 1 meter and shorter than 1.4 meter are half price; children who are higher than 1.4 meters are full price. Tourists with student certification can enjoy half price. Tourists who are older than 60 years old and younger than 69 years old can enjoy half price. Tourists who are older than 70 years old are free. National retired personnel, disabled servicemen and the disabled are free. (All of these preferential policies are for reference. The detailed information is subject to the ticket office of Potala Palace.)