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location.beaches.districts
location.beaches.districts_subtitle
City Center
hotelsMain area with Clock Tower, traffic policeman booth (famous!), shops, restaurants. Traditional Bhutanese architecture everywhere. Memorial Chorten nearby. Where daily life happens. Small but charming.
Tashichho Dzong
hotelsFortress monastery - seat of government and religious head. Stunning traditional architecture. Open to visitors evenings/weekends. Thimphu's most impressive building. Where king works. Beautiful riverside setting.
Buddha Dordenma
hotelsGiant Buddha statue (51m) overlooking Thimphu Valley. Bronze and gold. Contains 125,000 smaller Buddha statues inside. Meditation hall below. Stunning views of city. Modern landmark built 2015.
faq.title
faq.subtitle Thimphu
Yes! Most tourists must book through licensed tour operator. Includes guide, driver, accommodation, meals. Daily fee 100 USD off-season, 200 high season.
Installed one traffic light once - locals complained it was too impersonal. Removed it! Policeman in decorated booth directs traffic instead.
Bhutan measures success by GNH not GDP. Four pillars: sustainable development, environmental conservation, cultural preservation, good governance.
Fly to Paro Airport (PBH) - one of world most dangerous landings through Himalayan peaks! Only Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines fly there.
Travel Tips
Useful tips for visiting Thimphu
Watch the famous traffic policeman in his decorated booth - only capital without traffic lights! Performs graceful hand signals to direct cars. Great photo opportunity. Shows Bhutan's human-centered philosophy.
Visit Tashichho Dzong in evening (5-6pm weekdays, weekends open longer) - fortress-monastery is Thimphu's most impressive building. Seat of government. Free entry when open. Beautiful riverside location.
Be prepared for altitude (2,300m) - Thimphu is high! Take it easy first day. Drink water. Paro Airport even higher. Most people adjust quickly but some feel breathless initially.
Try ema datshi - national dish of chili peppers with cheese. Bhutanese food is SPICY! Also try momo (dumplings), red rice. Butter tea is traditional. Vegetarian options widely available.
Weather
Average temperature by month
Now
2°
2°31%3 м/с
Today
10°1°
10°1°Tomorrow8°-2°
8°-2°Thu6°-3°
6°-3°Fri8°-2°
8°-2°Sat11°0°
11°0°Sun10°1°
10°1°Mon
10°1°
10°1°12°
-3°Jan
14°
-1°Feb
17°
3°Mar
20°
7°Apr
23°
12°May
24°
15°Jun
24°
16°Jul
24°
15°Aug
23°
13°Sep
21°
8°Oct
17°
3°Nov
14°
-1°Dec
location.transport.title
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location.transport.taxi
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Prices
Cost of food, accommodation and services
Cafes & Restaurants
Budget meal
3 - 8 $
Mid-range
15 - 30 $
Fine dining
40 - 80 $
Street Food
Local dish
1 - 4 $
Drinks
Coffee
2 - 5 $
Local beer
2 - 4 $
Groceries
Water 1.5L
0.5 - 1 $
Prices are approximate and may vary by season and area.
Accommodation
Hotels and rental prices
Hostel dorm
0 $ / night
Guesthouse
50 - 100 $ / night
Hotel 3★
150 - 300 $ / night
Hotel 5★
400 - 1,500 $ / night
Prices are approximate. Book in advance during high season.
location.payment.title
location.payment.subtitle
location.payment.accepted_cards
VisaMastercard
location.payment.atms
limited
location.payment.cash
Cash dominant! Ngultrum local currency. Cards accepted at hotels included in tour packages. Small shops, markets, street vendors cash-only. ATMs limited. Bring Indian Rupees or USD to exchange.
location.payment.currency_exchange
Bank of Bhutan and Bhutan National Bank ATMs in Thimphu main street. Limited ATMs - withdraw maximum when possible. Indian Rupee accepted 1:1 with Ngultrum. Bring USD or INR to exchange. Tourism controlled - most expenses prepaid with package. Small Himalayan capital.
location.payment.tipping
0%
Tipping not traditional. Appreciated for guides $5-10 per day. Hotel staff small tips welcomed. Not expected but appreciated.
Safety
High safety level
Tourist area with low crime rate
Thimphu is extremely safe - virtually no crime. Buddhist culture promotes peace. No traffic lights (policeman directs traffic!). Main concern is altitude (2,300m). Friendly locals. One of world's safest capitals.