The Potala Palace has stopped booking group tickets since November 18th, 2008. Individual travelers don’t need to reserve tickets in advance. All admission tickets are available on a walk up basis at the palace’s tickets offices. The offices are located halfway up the hill past the security checkpoint at the front entrance. Offices are open daily from 09:00 to 15:00.
After construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Potala Palace saw a sharp increase in the number of tourists. To help preserve the structure, the palace administrator changed the ticket distribution method to reduce the number of visitors. This change, however, makes it easier for individual persons to visit the palace.