All citiesThimphu Things to do and walking itinerary
Bhutan Thimphu travel guide
11 things to do in Thimphu. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Thimphu
- Tashichho Dzong — Buddhist monastery and fortress in Bhutan (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Simtokha Dzong — Dzong in Bhutan (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Memorial Chorten — place of worship and meditation in Thimphu, Bhutan (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Dechencholing Palace — building (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Dechen Phodrang Monastery — Buddhist monastery in Thimphu, Bhutan (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Folk Heritage Museum — museum in Thimphu (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Dobji Dzong — monastery in Bhutan (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Changangkha Lhakhang — Old Buddhist temple in Thimpu, Bhutan (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Clock Tower Square — Town center of Thimphu (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Phajoding Monastery — Buddhist monastery in Bhutan (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Pangri Zampa Monastery — Buddhist monastery in Bhutan (visit ≈ 40 min)
2-day Thimphu walking itinerary
Starting point: City centre. The top 6 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 9.2 km · 12,410 steps · 2 h 3 min on the way): Changangkha Lhakhang → Folk Heritage Museum → Dechen Phodrang Monastery → Tashichho Dzong
- Day 2 (≈ 2.3 km · 3,100 steps · 31 min on the way): Clock Tower Square → Memorial Chorten
Day trips
- Paro Taktsang — 27 km from the centre
Good to know before visiting Thimphu
- Fine: Photography inside dzongs and temples is prohibited.
- Fine: Drones require a permit.
- Warning: In dzongs and temples wear long sleeves and long trousers or skirts, and remove hats.
- Visa and entry rules depend on your nationality and change often; check official government sources before you travel.
- Tourists pay a daily Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) and arrange travel through official channels.
- Walk clockwise around chortens and temples.
- Emergency: police 113, ambulance 112, fire 110
- Plugs: D/F/G, 230V
- Tap water: Don't drink tap water; use bottled.
- Tipping: Tipping is optional; guides and drivers commonly receive one.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Bhutan, Wikivoyage — Bhutan, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Thimphu travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Thimphu?
- The top 6 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Add extra days for day trips (Paro Taktsang).
- What are the top things to do in Thimphu?
- Highlights: Tashichho Dzong, Simtokha Dzong, Memorial Chorten, Dechencholing Palace and Dechen Phodrang Monastery. The map has 11 things to do in total.
- What is the emergency number in Thimphu?
- Emergency: police 113, ambulance 112, fire 110.
- Do you tip in Thimphu?
- Tipping is optional; guides and drivers commonly receive one.
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