Thimphu Travel Guide - Tourist Attractions, Transportation, Weather, Hotels, Restaurants

Currently, there is no airport serving Thimphu, and Paro Airport is the only international airport in Bhutan, which is about 50km from Thimphu for 1.5 hours’ driving. Besides, Bhutan opens 3 land ports of Bhutan-India border areas. Therefore, tourist planning to travel to Thimphu can either fly to Paro first or have an overland driving from India via one of the land border ports.

Paro to Thimphu: Driving from Paro to Thimphu is the most convenient and popular way to reach Thimphu. If you travel to Bhutan by flight, your first destination is Paro. You are suggested to spend a couple of days to tour the major attractions of Paro first, and then transfer to Thimphu from Paro by 1.5 hours’ driving on well-paved roads. Travelers can enjoy gorgeous natural views of rivers, valleys and nice-decorated local houses, temples en route.

India to Thimphu: Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar located in Southern Bhutan regions in Bhutan-India border are the only three land ports opened to tourists. After crossing the Phuentsholing in the southwest, you will have a about 6 hours’ driving trip for 170km to Thimphu, while it takes about 10 hours from Gelephu in central-south and at least 3 days from Samdrup Jongkhar in southeast area to get to Thimphu. >> How to Get to Bhutan

Weather and climate of Bhutan vary widely in different regions according to altitude changes and the influence of monsoon from the Indian Ocean in the south. Due to the location of the valley and large area of forests, Thimphu (alt: 2,500m) belongs to a moderate climate zone with clear seasonal features and great temperature variation within a day. In general, months from September to November in autumn are the best time to visit Thimphu, because the weather and climate are mild and comfortable, the sky is clear blue and many colorful and splendid festivals like Dromchoe and Tsechu are held in Thimphu during this period.

Spring of Thimphu starts from March to May, when the average maximum daytime temperature is 11℃~17℃ and the average lowest temperature goes between 0℃~5℃. During spring, it is kind of chilly in Thimphu, and often sprinkles in the morning and evening, even thunder shower happens occasionally. The following summer months from June to August comes to Thimphu with warmer, but much more rainfalls days. With an average temperate of 17.7℃, July is the month with the highest temperature of a year. However, too much rainfall makes it the less-chosen season to travel to Thimphu. Winter of Thimphu begins from December to February, when the weather is cold and dry, probably snow a little in high-elevation areas. >> Thimphu Weather and Climate

Tourists don’t need to worry about accommodation in Thimphu, because it offers lots of choices covering from luxury hotels, budget hotels to local homestays or guesthouses. Whenever you stay, you will be well treated with clean, comfortable rooms, warm hospitality and excellent services by the hotels.

Best Hotels in Thimphu - If you would like to experience luxury lodging during your stay in Thimphu, there are word class 5 star hotels with perfect amenities, service and amazing environment you can choose from. Le Meriden, Amankora, Taj Tashi are the three top ranking hotels in Thimphu. Le Meriden is centrally located, close to the Clock Tower Square and offers the Himalayan views, spacious rooms with internet access and relaxation spa and fitness center. Built in traditional Bhutanese style, Taj Tashi is in downtown Thimphu with magnificent mountain views. Amankora Hotel which is only few minutes’ walking distance to Motithang Takin Preserve provides guests more authentic, pristine feast like being at home.

Budget Hotels in Thimphu - There are still many 3 star and 4 star hotels in comfortable class and reasonable rate in Thimphu. Druk Hotel, Hotel Norbuling, Hotel Thimphu Tower and Osel Hotel are most valued budget hotels with good location, tidy and clean rooms, amazing room views and kindly services from hotel staff. Adventures who like to get closer to local life and culture can accommodate in a Bhutanese homestay or farmstay. >> Hotels in Thimphu and Bhutan

To make you taste more flavors and relax yourselves in cozy places, Thimphu offers tourists large collection of restaurants at moderate price, including western standard cafes, bars, and lots of nice restaurants of traditional Bhutanese food, Asian cuisines, Indian dishes, and etc. Above all, most restaurants in Thimphu and Bhutan are vegetarian friendly restaurants.

The Zone, Ambient Café, Seasons Restaurant are the top rated western-style restaurants which locate conveniently in town center with good food and warm ambience. Here you can enjoy many excellent foods, such as burger, cake, pizza, sandwich, spaghetti, fries, rice, and martini and so on. Pizza lovers can’t miss the Seasons Restaurant! Zombala Thimphu is a local small restaurant famous for delicious Tibetan dishes, including Momo, chicken fried rice, chicken noodles, chilli chicken and Red Panda - the local beer.

Bhutanese Restaurants - When in Rome, do as Romans do. The best way to know about Bhutan’s culture is to try some authentic Bhutanese cuisine. The Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant, Bhutanese Restaurant, Bhutan Orchid Restaurant, Bhutan Kitchen are highly recommended places to experience specialty of Bhutan. They mainly serve vegetarian food and they customized the cuisines for tourists for the original Bhutanese food is casual and too spicy. Indian restaurants in Thimphu - Ama Restaurant, Chh’a Bistro & Bar, Sinchula Indian Cuisine and Chula serve well-cooked Indian dishes with decent price.