Plan my trek
Plan my trek
c. 1,400 m
Tribhuvan (KTM)
2 to 4 days
Oct to Nov, Mar to Apr
7 monument zones
Nepalese rupee (NPR)
Kathmandu is where almost every trip to Nepal begins, and too many travellers treat it as a place to sleep off a long-haul flight before heading for the mountains. That is a mistake. The Kathmandu Valley holds seven UNESCO-listed monument zones within roughly 20 km of each other, and in a single day you can walk through a medieval royal square, circle one of the largest stupas in Asia with Tibetan pilgrims, and watch Hindu cremations on the banks of the Bagmati.
It is also chaotic, dusty and loud. Traffic is heavy, pavements come and go, and the air quality can be poor, especially in winter and spring. The reward for putting up with that is a city where centuries-old ritual is still part of everyday life: offerings left at street shrines before breakfast, bells at dusk, and festivals that close whole neighbourhoods.
The valley floor sits at roughly 1,300 to 1,400 m and is ringed by forested hills. Three historic royal cities grew up on it: Kathmandu in the centre-west, Patan (Lalitpur) just south across the Bagmati river, and Bhaktapur about 13 km to the east. Today the first two have merged into one sprawl, while Bhaktapur still feels like a separate town.
Most visitors stay in Thamel, the backpacker and trekking quarter just north of the old city. Kathmandu Durbar Square is about a 15 to 20 minute walk south of Thamel through the markets of Asan and Indra Chowk. Swayambhunath sits on a hill around 3 km west; Pashupatinath and Boudhanath lie east, close to the airport, which is about 6 km from Thamel. The Ring Road loops around the city and is a useful mental marker: most of what you will want to see sits inside or just outside it.
Plan on at least two full days to see the big sights without rushing, and three or four if you want Bhaktapur and Patan at an unhurried pace or a viewpoint trip to Nagarkot or Chandragiri. For background on customs and daily life, our guide to culture in Nepal is a good primer before you land.
Entry fees below are for foreign (non-SAARC) visitors and were checked against 2025 and 2026 sources. They change often and are usually payable in cash in Nepalese rupees, so carry small notes. Students and SAARC nationals generally pay less, and children under 10 are often free.
| Site | Approx. fee (foreigners) | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu Durbar Square | NPR 1,000 (about £5.50) | 2 to 3 hours |
| Patan Durbar Square | NPR 1,000 (about £5.50) | Half a day |
| Bhaktapur old town | NPR 1,800 / US$15 (about £10) | Half to full day |
| Pashupatinath | NPR 1,000 (about £5.50) | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Boudhanath | NPR 400 (about £2.30) | 1 to 3 hours |
| Swayambhunath | NPR 200 to 500 (about £1 to £3) | 1 to 2 hours |
| Changu Narayan | NPR 250 to 300 (under £2) | 1 to 2 hours |
| Garden of Dreams | NPR 400 to 500 (about £2.30 to £2.80) | 1 hour |
The old royal heart of the city, also called Basantapur or Hanuman Dhoka, is a cluster of pagoda temples, palace courtyards and carved wooden windows. Highlights include the Hanuman Dhoka palace complex, the fierce Kal Bhairav statue, the Jagannath Temple and Kumari Ghar, home of the living goddess. Several buildings were badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake and some restoration work is still going on, so expect scaffolding in places.
Entry: around NPR 1,000 (about £5.50) for foreign visitors, collected at booths on the approach roads. Time needed: 2 to 3 hours. Best time: early morning, when locals make offerings and the square is quieter. Tip: keep your ticket; you may be asked for it more than once. If you want to stay longer, ask at the site office about extending your pass with your passport.
Patan’s square is many travellers’ favourite of the three: more compact, beautifully maintained and less frantic than Kathmandu’s. The stone Krishna Mandir, the Golden Temple (Hiranya Varna Mahavihar) a short walk north, and the Patan Museum, set in a former royal palace courtyard and widely regarded as one of the best museums in South Asia, are the highlights. Patan is also the valley’s metalworking and craft centre, so the lanes around the square are good for browsing.
Entry: around NPR 1,000 (about £5.50) for foreign visitors; ask at the counter whether the museum is included, as sources differ. Time needed: half a day with the museum. Getting there: 20 to 30 minutes by taxi from Thamel. Tip: stay for late afternoon, when the light on the brick temples is warm and the square fills with locals.
Bhaktapur is the best-preserved of the three royal cities and the one to choose if you only have time for one. Traffic is largely kept out of the core, so you can wander between Durbar Square (with the 55-Window Palace and the Golden Gate), Taumadhi Square with the five-tiered Nyatapola, the tallest pagoda in Nepal, and Pottery Square, where clay pots dry in the sun.
Entry: NPR 1,800 (about £10) or US$15 for most foreign visitors, with a lower rate for SAARC nationals. The ticket covers the old town and can be extended for multiple days. Time needed: half a day minimum; an overnight stay lets you see it before and after the day-trippers. Getting there: roughly 45 to 75 minutes from Thamel depending on traffic. Tip: try juju dhau, the local sweet buffalo-milk yoghurt, sold in clay bowls.
Perched on a hill west of the centre, Swayambhunath is one of the oldest Buddhist sites in the valley. Its white dome and gilded spire, painted with the Buddha’s eyes, are shared by Buddhist and Hindu worshippers. Climb the long stone stairway from the east (often quoted as 365 steps) for the full pilgrim approach, or take a taxi to the western car park near the top if your legs are saving themselves for a trek.
Entry: recent sources quote NPR 200 to 500 (about £1 to £3) for foreign visitors; check at the gate. Time needed: 1 to 2 hours. Best time: early morning for pilgrims and quiet, or late afternoon for sunset views over the city. Tip: the resident monkeys are bold. Keep food out of sight and do not tease or feed them.
Boudhanath is one of the largest stupas in the world and the centre of Tibetan Buddhist life in Nepal. Dozens of monasteries surround it, and at dawn and dusk hundreds of pilgrims walk the kora, a clockwise circuit, spinning prayer wheels and murmuring mantras. It is one of the most atmospheric places in the country and a calm contrast to Thamel.
Entry: around NPR 400 (about £2.30) for foreign visitors. Time needed: 1 to 3 hours. Best time: late afternoon into dusk, when butter lamps are lit and the kora is busiest. Getting there: about 20 to 30 minutes by taxi from Thamel, and walkable from Pashupatinath in around 30 to 40 minutes. Tip: always walk clockwise. Rooftop cafés around the square have great views but charge for them.
Nepal’s holiest Hindu temple, dedicated to Shiva, stands on the banks of the Bagmati river. Non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple, but you can explore the wider complex of shrines, ashrams and terraces, and watch from the far bank as open-air cremations take place on the ghats. Sadhus (holy men) gather here, some of whom will ask for money in exchange for photos.
Entry: around NPR 1,000 (about £5.50) for foreign visitors. Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours. Best time: arrive in the late afternoon and stay for the evening aarti, a fire ceremony held on the riverbank around dusk. Tip: this is a place of grief for local families. Be discreet, keep a respectful distance and never photograph mourners up close. A local guide (agree the fee first) adds a lot of context.
Thamel is a maze of guesthouses, trekking shops, bookshops, bars and restaurants. It is the easiest place in Nepal to buy or rent gear, change money and arrange onward transport. For a more local experience, walk south from Thamel through Thahiti, Asan and Indra Chowk towards Durbar Square: these are some of the city’s oldest market streets, lined with spice sellers, fabric shops and small shrines tucked into courtyards.
Entry: free. Time needed: 2 to 3 hours for the walk. Best time: mid-morning, when shops are open but before the heaviest traffic. Tip: Kathesimbu Stupa, a smaller version of Swayambhunath, sits in a courtyard just south of Thamel and is easy to miss. Haggling is normal in tourist shops; be friendly and fair rather than aggressive.
A short walk from Thamel, this restored neoclassical garden was built in the early 20th century for Field Marshal Kaiser Shumsher Rana and renovated between 2000 and 2007 with Austrian support. Pavilions, fountains, lawns and shady corners make it the best place in central Kathmandu to escape the traffic, read a book or recover from jet lag.
Entry: around NPR 400 to 500 (about £2.30 to £2.80) for foreign visitors. Opening: generally from 9am into the evening. Time needed: 1 hour or more. Tip: the on-site café is pricier than Thamel but you are paying for the setting. A good choice on arrival day, when you want something gentle.
The former royal palace became a museum after Nepal abolished its monarchy in 2008. You walk through state rooms named after the country’s districts, see royal portraits and gifts from foreign dignitaries, and visit the site of the 2001 royal massacre. It is a fascinating window into modern Nepali history and a useful counterweight to the medieval sights.
Entry: around NPR 1,000 (about £5.50) for foreign visitors, according to a December 2025 report. Time needed: 1.5 hours. Tip: opening days and hours are published inconsistently, and the museum has historically closed on some weekdays, so check locally the day before. Phones and cameras are generally not allowed inside; lockers are available at the entrance.
On the south side of Kathmandu Durbar Square, the ornately carved Kumari Ghar is home to the Royal Kumari, a young girl from the Newar Shakya community worshipped as the living incarnation of the goddess Taleju. She makes brief public appearances at festivals, most famously during Indra Jatra, when she is carried through the old city on a chariot.
Entry: included with the Durbar Square ticket; you may enter the courtyard. Time needed: 15 to 20 minutes. Tip: the Kumari sometimes appears briefly at an upper window. Photographing her is strictly forbidden; staff will tell you when to put cameras away. A short read on the tradition beforehand makes the visit far more meaningful.
Eating well is one of the great pleasures of Kathmandu. Momos (dumplings, steamed or fried, with buffalo, chicken or vegetables) are everywhere and cost little in local cafés. Dal bhat, the lentil-and-rice set meal, comes with refills and is what Nepalis eat twice a day. Look out for Newari dishes too: choila (spiced grilled meat), bara (lentil pancakes), yomari (sweet dumplings) and beaten rice platters called samay baji.
Cost: a plate of momos in a local place is often NPR 150 to 300 (about £1 to £2); a tourist-restaurant main course in Thamel is usually NPR 500 to 1,200 (about £3 to £7). Tip: Patan and Bhaktapur are the best places for Newari food, and Boudha for Tibetan thukpa and tingmo. Choose busy places where food is freshly cooked. A cooking class or guided food walk is a good way to learn what you are ordering.
On a hill north of Boudhanath, Kopan Monastery is a long-established Tibetan Buddhist monastery known for its introductory courses for Western visitors. Even if you are not joining a course, a visit gives you peaceful gardens, prayer halls and views back over the valley. Other meditation and yoga options are spread around the valley, from day sessions to residential retreats.
Entry: visiting is generally free; donations welcome. Courses are booked separately and fill up in peak seasons. Time needed: 2 hours for a visit, including the climb up from Boudha by taxi. Best time: morning. Tip: check the monastery’s own published visiting hours and course calendar before going, as access can be limited during retreats. Dress modestly and keep your voice low.
Once you have seen the main sights, the hills and smaller towns around the valley rim offer mountain views, fresher air and a slower pace. All of the trips below can be done in a day from Thamel by taxi or private car.
Nagarkot is a ridge-top village at roughly 2,100 to 2,200 m, about 32 km east of Kathmandu, known for sunrise views across a long sweep of the Himalaya, from the Annapurnas in the west to the Everest range in the east on very clear days. Most people either stay overnight or leave Kathmandu around 4am to catch dawn.
Getting there: about 1.5 hours by car, longer in traffic; a private car for the round trip typically costs a few thousand rupees. Best time: October to December for the clearest skies. Tip: views are often hazy in spring and hidden in the monsoon. Combine with Bhaktapur on the way back, or walk down to Changu Narayan (around 3 to 4 hours).
A modern cable car climbs about 2.5 km from near Thankot, on the valley’s south-western rim, to Chandragiri Hills at about 2,550 m. At the top are the Bhaleshwor Mahadev temple, a viewing tower, walking paths and cafés, with Himalayan views on clear mornings.
Cost: a return ticket for foreign visitors was reported at around US$22 in 2026 (about £16), with lower rates for Nepalis and SAARC nationals. Getting there: about an hour by car from Thamel. Ride: roughly 10 to 12 minutes each way. Tip: go first thing in the morning, before haze builds and queues grow at weekends and holidays.
On a hilltop north of Bhaktapur, Changu Narayan is often cited as the oldest temple in the valley, with stone inscriptions dating back to the Licchavi period. It is UNESCO-listed, beautifully carved and, unlike the Durbar Squares, usually quiet.
Entry: around NPR 250 to 300 for foreign visitors. Getting there: about 30 minutes by taxi from Bhaktapur, or as a downhill walk from Nagarkot. Time needed: 1 to 2 hours. Tip: pair it with Bhaktapur for a full day east of the city.
South of Patan, these Newar towns give you a sense of valley life away from the big monuments. Kirtipur, on a ridge near Tribhuvan University, has temples, old lanes and city views. Bungamati is known for woodcarving and Khokana for its traditional mustard-oil presses. Both were hit hard by the 2015 earthquake and are still rebuilding.
Getting there: 30 to 45 minutes by taxi from Thamel. Time needed: half a day for Bungamati and Khokana together. Tip: buy carvings directly from workshops, and ask before photographing people at work.
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park covers the forested hills on the valley’s northern edge. A popular day hike climbs from Budhanilkantha, home of a striking reclining Vishnu statue in a pond, to Nagi Gompa, a nunnery with valley views and, on clear days, glimpses of the Langtang and Ganesh ranges.
Entry: a park fee applies to foreign visitors (roughly NPR 1,000 plus tax at the time of writing; check at the gate). Time needed: 4 to 6 hours return. Tip: a useful leg-stretcher before a trek. Go with a guide or a companion, start early and carry water.
Beyond the valley rim to the east, Dhulikhel is an old Newar town with mountain views and a quieter feel than Nagarkot. From there, a road or hiking trail leads to Namobuddha, an important Buddhist pilgrimage site with a large hilltop monastery. Panauti, a well-preserved small town nearby, is worth adding if you have time.
Getting there: around 1.5 to 2 hours by car from Kathmandu. Time needed: a full day, or an overnight stay. Tip: this is a good option for travellers who want a gentle hiking day rather than a full trek.
Where you base yourself shapes your experience of the city. Prices below are typical nightly rates for a double room in the October to November and March to April peak seasons; expect discounts of 20 to 40 percent in the monsoon and winter. Check reviews and cancellation terms directly before booking, as standards vary widely within each price band.
The default base for most visitors, especially before and after treks. Thamel has the widest choice of accommodation, the most restaurants and the easiest access to trekking shops, money changers and tourist buses. The downside is noise from bars and traffic, and an atmosphere that can feel very touristy.
Suits: trekkers, first-timers, budget and mid-range travellers. Price guide: hostel dorms from roughly NPR 600 to 1,200 (£3.50 to £7); simple guesthouses NPR 2,000 to 5,000 (£11 to £28); comfortable mid-range hotels NPR 6,000 to 15,000 (£35 to £85). Tip: ask for a room away from the street, and check the generator or backup power arrangements.
Just east and north-east of Thamel, these areas are close enough to walk to Thamel’s restaurants but noticeably calmer. Durbar Marg, near the Narayanhiti Palace Museum, is home to several of the city’s larger international-standard hotels; Lazimpat has embassies, quieter guesthouses and boutique hotels.
Suits: couples, business travellers and anyone who wants comfort with easy access to Thamel. Price guide: mid-range from around NPR 8,000 (£45); upscale hotels often NPR 15,000 to 30,000+ (£85 to £170+).
Staying near Boudhanath means you can walk the kora at dawn and dusk when the day-trippers have gone. The area has monastery guesthouses, mid-range hotels and the Hyatt Regency Kathmandu, a long-established five-star hotel set in large grounds nearby. It is also close to the airport.
Suits: travellers interested in Tibetan Buddhism, meditation courses or a calmer stay. Price guide: guesthouses from about NPR 2,500 (£14); mid-range NPR 5,000 to 12,000 (£28 to £70). Tip: it is a longer taxi ride to Thamel and the old city, so it works best as part of a longer stay.
Patan has a growing number of heritage guesthouses and boutique hotels in restored Newar houses near Durbar Square, plus the cafés and restaurants of Jhamsikhel (often nicknamed Jhamel) and Sanepa, which are popular with expats and development workers.
Suits: culture lovers, repeat visitors and families who want a quieter, more local feel. Price guide: boutique and heritage stays roughly NPR 5,000 to 15,000 (£28 to £85). Tip: evenings in Patan’s squares after the crowds leave are a real highlight.
Spending a night in Bhaktapur lets you see the town at its most atmospheric: early morning worship, potters starting work and squares lit at night. Accommodation is mostly small guesthouses and family-run hotels inside or near the old town.
Suits: photographers and travellers with three or more days in the valley. Price guide: roughly NPR 2,500 to 8,000 (£14 to £45). Tip: your heritage ticket can be extended for multiple days; keep it with you.
At the top end, Dwarika’s Hotel, built around a remarkable collection of salvaged Newar woodcarvings, is the best-known heritage hotel in the city and an experience in itself. Several international chains also operate in Kathmandu. Expect five-star rates from roughly NPR 25,000 (£140) a night, often much more in peak season.
Suits: special occasions, post-trek recovery and travellers who prioritise comfort. Tip: a couple of comfortable nights at the end of a trek is money well spent, and many mid-range Thamel hotels will store luggage while you are in the mountains.
Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) is the main gateway to Nepal and sits about 6 km east of Thamel. There are no direct scheduled flights from the UK; most travellers connect through the Gulf (Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Istanbul or Delhi. Nepal also has international airports at Bhairahawa (near Lumbini) and Pokhara, but international services there are limited.
Most nationalities, including UK citizens, can get a tourist visa on arrival. You can fill in the online form on the Department of Immigration portal up to 15 days before arrival, then pay at the airport. At the time of writing fees were around US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days, but check the official immigration website before you fly. Card payment is possible, though the FCDO recommends carrying US dollars in cash as a back-up. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date you enter Nepal.
The prepaid taxi counter in arrivals offers fixed fares; a ride to Thamel was around NPR 900 (about £5) in early 2026, with surcharges late at night. Ride-hailing apps such as Pathao and inDrive are usually cheaper but need a local SIM and are easier to use from outside the terminal. Many hotels and all good trip operators will arrange a pick-up, which is the least stressful option after a long flight.
| Route | Option | Approx. time | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport to Thamel | Prepaid taxi | 20 to 45 min | NPR 900 (about £5) |
| Thamel to Patan | Taxi or app car | 20 to 30 min | NPR 300 to 500 (£2 to £3) |
| Thamel to Bhaktapur | Taxi | 45 to 75 min | NPR 700 to 1,000 each way (£4 to £6) |
| Valley sightseeing | Private car and driver, full day | 8 hours | NPR 4,000 to 7,000 (£23 to £40) |
| Kathmandu to Pokhara | Tourist bus | 7 to 10 hours | NPR 800 to 2,500 (£5 to £14); premium coaches about US$25 |
| Kathmandu to Pokhara | Flight | 25 to 30 min | About US$80 to 130 one way (£60 to £100) |
| Kathmandu to Pokhara | Private car or jeep | 6 to 8 hours | NPR 12,000 to 18,000 (£70 to £100) |
| Kathmandu to Chitwan (Sauraha) | Tourist bus | 5 to 7 hours | Similar to Pokhara buses |
Tourist buses to Pokhara and Chitwan mostly leave around 7am from Sorhakhutte or Kantipath, close to Thamel. Ongoing road works make journey times unpredictable, so build in slack and never schedule a flight the evening you arrive by road.
On domestic flights: the UK Air Safety List currently includes all Nepali airlines, meaning they cannot operate to the UK. Many travellers still fly domestically, especially to Lukla and Pokhara; check the latest FCDO advice and your insurance terms when deciding.
Kathmandu is a year-round destination, but the season shapes what you will see. Autumn is the classic choice for clear skies and festivals, while spring is warmer and greener but hazier. For the bigger picture across the country, see our guide to the best season to travel in Nepal.
| Season | Weather | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn (Oct to Nov) | Dry, sunny, warm days around 20 to 25°C, cool nights | Clearest mountain views from the rim; Dashain and Tihar festivals; peak trekking season | Busiest and most expensive; transport disrupted around Dashain |
| Winter (Dec to Feb) | Dry, mild sunny days, cold nights near freezing | Fewer crowds, lower prices, often good visibility in early winter | Morning fog and the worst air pollution; many hotels have limited heating |
| Spring (Mar to May) | Warm to hot, up to around 28 to 30°C by May; pre-monsoon storms | Rhododendrons in the hills; second trekking season; Holi and Bisket Jatra | Haze and dust often hide the mountains; poor air quality in March and April |
| Monsoon (Jun to Sep) | Warm and humid with heavy afternoon and overnight rain | Green valley, washed air, fewer tourists, festivals such as Gai Jatra and Indra Jatra | Cloud hides views; flooding, landslides and road closures outside the city |
Nepal follows a lunar calendar, so festival dates move each year. The dates below are for 2026; confirm dates for later years before booking.
These plans assume you are based in Thamel and are travelling outside major festival days. Traffic is the main constraint, so group sights that sit close together: the old city and Swayambhunath to the west, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath to the east, and Patan to the south.
A full day; hire a car and driver to make the transfers easier.
Day 1: follow the one-day plan above.
Day 2: leave early for Bhaktapur and spend the morning in Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square and Pottery Square. Try juju dhau, then continue to Changu Narayan in the early afternoon. Return to Kathmandu via Patan for sunset and dinner around Patan Durbar Square.
A good fit for trekkers with two spare days before or after their trek.
Day 1: Thamel, Asan, Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath at sunset.
Day 2: Patan for the day: Durbar Square, Patan Museum, the Golden Temple, then a taxi to Bungamati and Khokana in the afternoon.
Day 3: Pashupatinath in the morning, walk to Boudhanath, visit Kopan Monastery, then transfer to Nagarkot for an overnight stay.
Day 4: sunrise at Nagarkot, walk down to Changu Narayan, then finish in Bhaktapur in the afternoon before returning to Kathmandu.
Before the trek: one day for arrival, gear checks and a gentle walk to the Garden of Dreams and Durbar Square; a second day for Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and a final briefing. Early flights to Lukla and Ramechhap mean an early night is essential before an Everest Base Camp trek.
After the trek: Patan or Bhaktapur, a long lunch and some souvenir shopping. Always leave at least one buffer day between returning from the mountains and your international flight, as mountain flights are often delayed by weather.
The essentials to know before you land, from money and SIM cards to the current safety picture.
Kathmandu is generally a safe city for visitors, and serious crime against tourists is rare. In September 2025, youth-led protests against a social media ban and corruption turned deadly; government buildings, including parliament, were set on fire, curfews were imposed and the prime minister resigned. An interim government took over, and a general election was held peacefully on 5 March 2026, leading to a new government later that month.
Daily life and tourism have resumed, but the UK FCDO still advises that protests and strikes can start at short notice and may turn violent. Avoid demonstrations, follow local news and check the FCDO travel advice for Nepal before you travel. The FCDO also warns about pickpockets and bag-snatching in Thamel and nearby areas, drink spiking, and assaults on women after dark, so take normal big-city precautions at night. Read our safety tips for trekking in Nepal if you are heading into the hills.
No permit is needed to visit Kathmandu itself, but each heritage site charges its own entry fee, usually in cash. Keep tickets until you leave each site. If you are trekking, permits (and a licensed guide, which is now required for foreign trekkers in most national parks and protected areas) are arranged before you leave Kathmandu; a reputable operator will handle this for you.
The currency is the Nepalese rupee (NPR). ATMs are plentiful in Kathmandu but withdrawal limits are low and fees per withdrawal can be high, so take out the maximum each time. Money changers in Thamel are competitive; compare rates. Mid-range hotels, trekking shops and larger restaurants accept cards, often with a 3 to 4 percent surcharge, but fees, taxis and small cafés are cash only. Stock up on cash before heading into the mountains, where ATMs are unreliable. You should change leftover rupees before leaving Nepal.
Ncell and Nepal Telecom (NTC) both have counters in the airport arrivals hall and shops in Thamel. You need your passport and visa; a photo can usually be taken on the spot. A SIM costs very little, and 2026 tourist data packs started at roughly NPR 500 (about £3) for around 10 GB over a week. Both carriers also offer eSIMs for unlocked, compatible phones. Ncell is often stronger in cities; NTC generally reaches further in the hills. Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and cafés, though power cuts and slow speeds still happen.
Kathmandu is not high enough for altitude sickness, but it is a good place to rest before you go higher. Air pollution can be severe in winter and spring, so a well-fitting mask is worth packing if you have asthma or are sensitive to dust. Do not drink tap water: use a filter bottle or refill stations rather than buying many plastic bottles. Stomach upsets are common, so wash hands often and favour freshly cooked food. Make sure you have travel insurance that covers your whole itinerary, including high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation; see do I need travel insurance for trekking.
Dress modestly at temples and stupas: cover shoulders and knees. Remove shoes and often leather items before entering temple interiors, and ask before taking photos, especially of sadhus, worshippers and cremations. Walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels. Use your right hand to give and receive, and avoid pointing your feet at people or shrines. A simple namaste with palms together is the standard greeting. More in our article on things to know before travelling to Nepal.
Buy crafts directly from workshops in Patan, Bhaktapur and Bungamati, and be wary of anyone offering cheap “antiques”, which may be stolen heritage or illegal to export. Avoid orphanage visits and volunteering with children. Refill water bottles rather than buying plastic, give to established charities rather than to begging children, and hire licensed local guides at heritage sites. Tipping is appreciated: around 10 percent in restaurants that do not already add a service charge.
Kathmandu is the hub for almost every route in Nepal, so it pairs easily with mountains, lakes and jungle. Some natural combinations:
Our small-group treks, including the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, start and finish in Kathmandu, with time to explore the valley built in.
Ready to plan? Tell us how long you have and what you want to see, and we will shape a Nepal trip around it, from Kathmandu sightseeing to the high Himalaya. Plan your trip with Get Lost Forever, or send a booking enquiry if you already know your dates.
Yes. The Kathmandu Valley has seven UNESCO-listed monument zones, from the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur to Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan. It is noisy and dusty, but two or three days here are one of the cultural highlights of a trip to Nepal.
Two full days covers the main sights in the city. Three to four days lets you add Bhaktapur and Patan at an easy pace, plus a viewpoint trip to Nagarkot or Chandragiri. Trekkers should also allow at least one buffer day after returning from the mountains.
Kathmandu is generally safe and tourism has continued since the September 2025 unrest, with a peaceful general election held in March 2026. Protests can still flare up at short notice, so avoid demonstrations, watch for pickpockets in busy areas and check the UK FCDO travel advice for Nepal before you go.
October and November offer the clearest skies, comfortable temperatures and major festivals such as Dashain and Tihar. March and April are also good, though haze often hides the mountains. June to September is the monsoon, with heavy rain and cloud.
At the time of writing, foreign visitors pay around NPR 1,000 (about £5.50). Patan Durbar Square is a similar price and Bhaktapur charges NPR 1,800 or US$15. Fees change, so carry cash and check at the ticket booth.
Not from the city itself. On very clear days, usually in autumn and early winter, you can see parts of the Himalaya from the valley rim at Nagarkot and Chandragiri, and Everest is sometimes visible from Nagarkot. Mountain flights from Kathmandu airport also offer close views.
UK citizens and most other nationalities can get a tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport for 15, 30 or 90 days. You can complete the online form up to 15 days before you arrive. Fees were around US$30, US$50 and US$125 at the time of writing; check the Department of Immigration website for current rates.
The prepaid taxi counter in arrivals offers fixed fares of around NPR 900 (about £5) to Thamel, and the ride takes 20 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. Ride-hailing apps are cheaper once you have a local SIM, and many hotels and tour operators provide pick-ups.
Non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple, but they can buy a ticket to explore the wider complex, walk the riverbank and watch the evening aarti ceremony. Be respectful around the cremation ghats and avoid photographing mourners.
Thamel is the most convenient base for first-timers and trekkers, with the most hotels, restaurants and gear shops. If you want somewhere quieter, consider Lazimpat, Boudha or Patan, or spend a night in Bhaktapur.
Start with momos and dal bhat, then try Newari dishes such as choila, bara and samay baji in Patan or Bhaktapur, Bhaktapur’s juju dhau yoghurt, and Tibetan thukpa near Boudhanath.
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