Kathmandu Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Kathmandu tours, the UNESCO temples and palaces of Durbar Square, the great stupa of Boudhanath and the hilltop Swayambhunath monkey temple, breathtaking Mount Everest scenic flights, the Nagarkot Himalayan sunrise, the medieval city of Bhaktapur, flavour-packed food walks, and gateways to Everest treks and Chitwan safaris. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Kathmandu itinerary.
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Explore Kathmandu by interest
Whatever brings you to Kathmandu — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
City & temples
UNESCO heritage sites.
ExploreEverest flight
Soar past the peaks.
ExploreNagarkot sunrise
Himalayan dawn.
ExploreBhaktapur & Patan
Medieval royal cities.
ExploreFood tours
Momos and Newari food.
ExploreEverest & treks
Base Camp and Himalayas.
ExploreChitwan safari
Rhinos and jungle.
ExploreDay trips
All of Nepal.
ExploreTop attractions in Kathmandu
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Boudhanath Stupa
The great white stupa.
Swayambhunath
The Monkey Temple.
Mount Everest
Scenic flights.
Nagarkot
Himalayan sunrise.
Bhaktapur
Medieval Durbar Square.
Durbar Square
Temples and palaces.
Everest Base Camp
Treks and heli tours.
Chitwan
Jungle safaris.
Kathmandu in 2 days
- 1Day 1: City temples
- 2Day 2: Everest flight
- 3Bhaktapur
- 4Heritage
Kathmandu in 3 days
- 1Day 1: City temples
- 2Day 2: Everest flight
- 3Day 3: Nagarkot
- 4Temples, peaks & sunrise
1.5 hrs awayNagarkot
Himalayan sunrise.
45 min awayBhaktapur
Medieval Durbar Square.
1 hr flight awayEverest Flight
Soar past the peaks.
Multi-day awayEverest Base Camp
Treks and heli tours.
Multi-day awayChitwan
Jungle safaris.
In the city awayBoudhanath
The great stupa.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Kathmandu visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
October–November and March–April bring clear skies, mild weather and the best Himalayan views — the prime times to visit Kathmandu and trek.
Autumn (Oct–Nov)
Crisp, clear and dry after the monsoon, with superb mountain views; the peak trekking and travel season.
Spring (Mar–Apr)
Warm and colourful with rhododendrons blooming and good mountain views; another excellent season.
Monsoon (Jun–Sep)
Warm and wet with frequent rain and clouds that often hide the peaks; lush and quiet, but flights can be delayed.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cold but often clear in Kathmandu, with crisp mountain views; high treks are snowy, so plan lower routes.
Catch the peaks
Everest flights and Nagarkot sunrises are clearest in autumn and spring mornings — book early-morning slots.
One day
The UNESCO temples and stupas.
Two days
Add a Mount Everest scenic flight.
Three days
The sweet spot: temples, Everest flight, Nagarkot.
Four to five days
Add Chitwan safari or Pokhara.
A week or more
Trek the Himalayas to Everest or Annapurna.
Travelling with kids
Mix the Monkey Temple, stupas and a cable car.
Tours & private cars
Hiring a car with a driver or joining tours is the easiest way to see the spread-out valley sites and handle the traffic.
Ride apps & taxis
Pathao and InDrive apps and metered or negotiated taxis are cheap for getting around the city.
On foot
Thamel, Durbar Square and the old city are best explored on foot, though streets are crowded and uneven.
Domestic flights
Short domestic flights connect Kathmandu to Pokhara, Lukla (for Everest) and Bharatpur (for Chitwan).
Cable cars
The Chandragiri Hills cable car offers easy access to viewpoints and a temple above the valley.
From the airport
Tribhuvan International Airport is about 20–40 minutes from Thamel and the centre by taxi, depending on traffic.
Nepali rupee
Nepal uses the rupee; carry cash for entry fees, tips, markets and small shops, as cards are accepted only at hotels and bigger venues.
Heritage entry fees
The Durbar Squares, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath and Pashupatinath each charge a separate entry fee — guided tours usually handle these.
Temple etiquette
Dress modestly, remove shoes where required, walk clockwise around stupas, and ask before photographing people or rituals.
Book flights early
Everest scenic flights depend on clear weather — book an early-morning slot and keep a spare day in case of delays.
Air and altitude
Kathmandu’s air can be dusty; a mask helps. For treks, allow time to acclimatise to altitude.
Hire a guide
A local guide brings the temples, history and Newari culture to life and helps navigate the busy city.
Everest flights
Scenic flights have limited seats and weather windows — book ahead.
Heritage tours
Guided UNESCO temple tours are popular — reserve early.
Nagarkot sunrise
Early-morning sunrise tours fill up — pre-book.
Treks & heli tours
Everest treks and helicopter tours sell out in season — book well ahead.
Chitwan safaris
Multi-day jungle safaris are popular — reserve early.
Peak seasons
October–November and March–April are busy — plan ahead.
City temple tours
Around €25–60 for a guided UNESCO heritage tour.
Everest flights
About €200–280 for a Mount Everest scenic flight.
Nagarkot sunrise
Roughly €30–60 for a Nagarkot sunrise day tour.
Bhaktapur tours
Around €30–60 for a Bhaktapur and Patan day tour.
Everest heli tours
From around €900+ for an Everest Base Camp helicopter landing tour.
How to save
Join group tours, combine valley sites in one day, and travel in shoulder months.
Kathmandu through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Clear views, blossoms.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Excellent; book ahead.
- Best for
- Lush, quiet, low prices.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Clouds; flight delays.
- Best for
- Best mountain views.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak season; busy.
- Best for
- Clear city views.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold; high treks snowy.