Tashichho Dzong
A large fortress-monastery beside the river that serves as the seat of government and home to the central monk body. Its whitewashed walls, gold roofs and courtyards are impressive in the evening light.
Thimphu
Famous for having no traffic lights, the capital also has Tashichho Dzong, a weekend market and the giant Buddha Dordenma statue.
Attractive locations
Buddha Dordenma
A huge gilded bronze Buddha seated on a hilltop above the valley, with thousands of smaller Buddha statues inside. The terrace gives sweeping views of Thimphu.
National Memorial Chorten
A white stupa in the centre of the city built in memory of the third king. Local people walk clockwise around it with prayer wheels from early morning, giving a lively glimpse of daily devotion.
Motithang Takin Preserve
A small wildlife reserve for the takin, Bhutan's national animal, a goat-antelope that looks like a mix of cow and goat. Visitors can watch the animals from paths in the forest.
Changangkha Lhakhang
An old hilltop temple above the city, where local families bring newborn babies to receive a blessing and a name. Prayer wheels and a view over the valley add to its calm.
Folk Heritage Museum
A museum in a traditional rammed-earth farmhouse that shows rural Bhutanese life, with a kitchen, tools, grain stores and a hot stone bath.
Simtokha Dzong
The oldest surviving dzong in Bhutan, on a ridge just south of Thimphu, now home to a school of Buddhist and language studies. It is a short drive from the centre.
Airports
Paro International Airport PBH
It is about 22 km in a straight line from Thimphu.
Bathpalathang Airport BUT
It is about 110 km in a straight line from Thimphu.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-1.6 °C5 mm
- Feb-0.4 °C12 mm
- Mar2.2 °C32 mm
- Apr5.5 °C60 mm
- May8.9 °C108 mm
- Jun12.1 °C153 mm
- Jul12.6 °C259 mm
- Aug12.3 °C206 mm
- Sep10.9 °C134 mm
- Oct7.1 °C51 mm
- Nov3.3 °C3 mm
- Dec0.3 °C2 mm
Driest months: Jan, Nov, Dec. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Costs
Prices here are about 23% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
religious
Thimphu Tshechu
In the capital, this is the biggest festival of masked dance.
Who can help
Emergency
Your tour operator and guide are your first contact. Reported numbers: police 113, ambulance 112, fire 110 - confirm on arrival.
local government
Royal Bhutan Police emergency hotline 113
Helps with: Bhutan's police emergency hotline, for crimes such as theft or assault. The police site also lists 110 for fire, 111 for traffic and 112 for an ambulance. No tourist police unit is shown.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Bhutan who needs the police urgently, including visitors.
Phone: 113
local government
Department of Tourism, Bhutan
Helps with: Bhutan's tourism department. Its visitor FAQ tells travellers to phone it about tourism enquiries or problems with their tourism experience. The FAQ gives 2300 for calls made within Bhutan.
Who qualifies: Visitors to Bhutan with a tourism enquiry or a problem with their trip.
Phone: +975 17661974
ngo
Bhutan Red Cross Society
Helps with: Bhutan's national Red Cross society. It describes services in social work, health and disaster risk management, delivered through a volunteer network across the country.
Who qualifies: People in Bhutan who need its social, health or disaster response services.
Phone: +975-2-339999
Email: [email protected]
Address: Kuenzangkhar Zur Lam 5 S W, Lower Motithang, Thimphu (PO Box 1976)
local government
Disaster Communication Helpline (999)
Helps with: The Royal Bhutan Police emergency page lists 999 as the Disaster Communication Helpline Unit, alongside 113 for police, 110 for fire and 112 for an ambulance.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Bhutan affected by a disaster or reporting one.
Phone: 999
local government
Thimphu combined emergency number 1010
Helps with: The Royal Bhutan Police emergency page says that in Thimphu, 1010 reaches any of its listed emergency services: police, fire, traffic, ambulance and the disaster helpline.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Thimphu who needs an emergency service.
Phone: 1010