a group of people standing in front of a building

Kathmandu

Visitors come for Pashupatinath and Boudhanath, the carved wooden Kasthamandap at Durbar Square, and the highways and flights into the Himalaya.

Find a room in Kathmandu Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Kathmandu

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Kathmandu is the capital and largest city of Nepal, in the central Kathmandu Valley. It is the country's main center for government, finance, industry and culture, and one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited places, with its founding dated to the 2nd century BCE. The city was once called Kantipur, meaning City of light. It is also the gateway to the Nepal Himalayas.

Pashupatinath, on the Bagmati River, is a major Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, and only Hindus may enter its grounds. Boudhanath, about 11 km northeast of the center, is one of Nepal's largest stupas, and pilgrims walk clockwise around it. Durbar Square holds palaces and temples, including the wooden Kasthamandap, and Swayambhunath sits on a hill in the north-west of the city. About 65% of the year's rain falls from June to September, during the monsoon.

Kathmandu in five

Visa on arrival at the airportFill in the online form before you fly and pay at the counter.
Stay in Thamel or PatanThamel for trekking shops and restaurants, Patan for a quieter base.
Keep your square ticketsKathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares each charge foreigners an entry fee, and staff check tickets inside.
Walk Boudhanath at duskJoin the clockwise circuit around the stupa as the lamps are lit.
Leave spare days for LuklaMountain flights wait for the weather, and in peak season many leave from Ramechhap, several hours' drive away.Everest region

Things to do in Kathmandu

See all attractions in Kathmandu

Sight · KathmanduPimbahal Pokhari Krishna Temple

Sight · KathmanduKarya Vinayak Temple

Temple · KathmanduSimhavarna Rajasri Vihar, I Baha Bahi, Chakrabahil.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to KathmanduPut the places you like in Kathmandu on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Tribhuvan (KTM), 15–30 min to Thamel
Getting around: Taxis and walking; agree fares first
Best base: Thamel or Patan
Emergency: 1144 tourist police, 102 ambulance

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear4 rainy daysHigh17°Low6°Cold nights
FebruaryClear6 rainy daysHigh19°Low8°Clear, cool
MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh23°Low11°Rhododendrons
AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Warm, hazy
MayRain26 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Hot, pre-monsoon
JuneRain28 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Monsoon starts
JulyRain31 rainy daysHigh25°Low19°Monsoon
AugustRain31 rainy daysHigh25°Low19°Monsoon
SeptemberRain28 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh25°Low18°Rains ease
OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Clear, Dashain
NovemberClear3 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Clearest skies
DecemberClear2 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Cold, clear

Average daily high and low in Kathmandu, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Kathmandu

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 13°
Humidity: 91%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Patan

02:25 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+5:45

Today23°12°0%Tuesday: Fog. High 23°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed23°11°2%Wednesday: Fog. High 23°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 2%.
Thu23°11°0%Thursday: Fog. High 23°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri23°10°4%Friday: Fog. High 23°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 4%.
Sat24°11°29%Saturday: Clear. High 24°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 29%.
Sun23°13°14%Sunday: Drizzle. High 23°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 14%.

Updated 11:43 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 152 NPR

Amount

Converted to

NPR · Nepalese Rupee

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Pokharaabout 25 min by air, 6 to 8 hours by busLake town and the base for Annapurna treks.Read the guide
Chitwan National Parkabout 5 to 7 hours by tourist busRhinos and jungle walks; plan an overnight, not a day trip.Read the guide
Bhaktapurabout 40 min by roadA medieval brick city of squares and pottery lanes.

Before you go to Kathmandu

Stays in Thamel and PatanTrek shops or quieter courtyardsCheck availability

Kathmandu Valley day toursPatan, Bhaktapur and BoudhanathCompare tours

eSIM for KathmanduMaps and ride apps on landingRead the guide

Travel insurance for NepalCover for treks and mountain flightsRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Kathmandu, checked

Check visa rules for your passport on the Department of Immigration website before you book.Source
Only Hindus may enter the Pashupatinath temple grounds. Other visitors can view the temple from across the Bagmati River.
At Boudhanath, walk clockwise around the stupa and spin the prayer wheels as pilgrims do. Do not walk against the circuit.
Cattle slaughter is banned and beef is avoided by many people here. Do not offer or order beef in religious or local settings.
Check current advisories before you go out. In September 2025, Gen Z protests in Kathmandu led to a government resignation and army deployment. Avoid large gatherings and demonstrations.

Plan around Kathmandu

All of Nepal

Treks, jungle and entry basics

Read the guide Pokhara

Lake town and Annapurna trek starts

Read the guide Chitwan National Park

Rhinos and jungle, a long bus ride away

Read the guide Everest region

Lukla flights and permits from Kathmandu

Read the guide Visas and entry

Check your passport rules before you fly

Read the guide Travel insurance

Altitude limits and helicopter evacuation

Read the guide

Kathmandu FAQ

How many days do you need in Kathmandu?

Three days covers the old town, Patan and Bhaktapur as separate mornings, with room for Boudhanath at dusk. Add spare days if a Lukla flight follows.

Should I stay in Thamel or Patan?

Thamel if you are shopping for trek gear and want restaurants nearby. Patan if you prefer quieter courtyards and are happy to take taxis.

How do I get from Kathmandu airport to Thamel?

By taxi in about 15 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic. Agree the fare before you get in, or ask your guesthouse to arrange a pickup.

Is air quality a problem in Kathmandu?

Dust and smoke haze build in the dry months before the monsoon. A mask helps on busy roads, and clearer mornings come after rain and in autumn.

Is Kathmandu safe for tourists?

Mostly yes, with the usual care for pickpockets in crowds and unlicensed trek touts. Save the tourist police number from the facts above in your phone.