9 high-altitude cities worth a visit

Elevate your travel experiences.

By National Geographic Staff
Published 29 Mar 2019, 11:18 GMT
Lhasa, Tibet, China
At an altitude of 11,975 feet (3,650 meters), Lhasa is higher than any other city on our list. The 17th-century Potala Palace, former home of the Dalai Lama, hovers above the city like a giant Buddhist scroll.
Photograph by Michael Yamashita, National Geographic

From Cusco’s vibrant rooftops to Bhutan’s fortified monasteries, these high-altitude cities will whisk you through steep mountain passes, medieval palaces, and colonial towns. Here are nine high-altitude cities that will elevate your travel experience. 

This list originally appeared in the book The World's Best Cities. This story was published in 2014 and updated in 2019.
loading

Explore Nat Geo

  • Animals
  • Environment
  • History & Culture
  • Science
  • Travel
  • Photography
  • Space
  • Adventure
  • Video

About us

Subscribe

  • Magazines
  • Disney+

Follow us

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society. Copyright © 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved