Your first day in Kathmandu: arrival checklist

What should you do in your first 24 hours in Kathmandu?

Work through this list in order, starting before you leave the airport. Each item is explained below.

Before you leave the arrivals hall

• Clear immigration, with your passport, visa form receipt and some US dollars to hand.
• Complete your NepaliPort registration.
• Get enough rupees for a taxi and a SIM, about NPR 1,300 to 2,000 by our sum.
• Buy a SIM with your original passport, or activate your eSIM.
• Take your bag to the prepaid taxi counter, and agree the price before you get in.

At your hotel

• Ask for a fair taxi fare from the hotel, so you have a benchmark.
• Ask about the hotel’s emergency plan, and whether it has backup power.
• Charge your phone and power bank, and check your plug fits.
• Save the emergency numbers and your hotel’s address in your phone.
• Buy sealed bottled water, or ask if the hotel can boil some.

On your first afternoon

• Withdraw or change the rest of your cash in Thamel.
• Take one short walk, and get back before dark.
• Read your government’s travel advice again.

What do you need for the visa and NepaliPort?

You need a valid passport, a visa or proof you’re exempt, and a NepaliPort registration. Fees, forms and excluded nationalities are on our Kathmandu transit visa and layover rules page.

• NepaliPort: Canada says all foreign nationals travelling to Nepal after 16 September 2025 must register on arrival through the website or app. The Kathmandu Post reports that this includes Indian nationals. Canada adds that you may need to scan QR codes at hotels and airlines, so keep your phone charged.
• Paying: the UK says you can pay the visa fee by card, but should carry cash as a back-up, with US dollars preferred.

How much cash can you get from ATMs in Kathmandu?

No Nepali bank publishes a withdrawal limit for foreign cards, according to The Everest Holiday. So treat any figure as a report, and expect it to vary by machine.

Your home bank may charge on top. The fee is flat, so The Longest Way Home suggests taking out the most the machine allows. For the airport, a prepaid taxi, Ncell’s cheapest plan and a possible SIM card charge come to about NPR 1,300 to 2,000 by our sum. Other points to know:

• Home currency offer: if the ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, say no. The Longest Way Home puts that markup at about 3 to 5%.
• Failed PIN: The Everest Holiday advises stopping after one or two failed tries, in case your bank locks the card.
• At the airport: Nabil Bank’s list includes an ATM named “Tribhuwan International Airport-Arrival”, according to The Everest Holiday. The Longest Way Home said in January 2025 that the airport exchange booth had a US$50 minimum and a poor rate.
• In Thamel: Travelling Mandala says Thamel has many ATMs and exchange shops, and better rates than the airport.
• Cards: Canada calls the economy largely cash-based, though major stores, hotels and restaurants take credit cards.

Can you bring Indian rupees?

Indian citizens can, within limits, but Canada’s advice and Nepal’s central bank differ. Nepal Rastra Bank said in July 2026 that Indian and Nepali citizens may carry INR 200 and INR 500 notes issued on or after 9 November 2016, up to INR 25,000 per person, as reported by Business 360 and Business Today. Older INR 500 and INR 1,000 notes aren’t allowed.

Canada’s advice, updated 3 November 2026, still says notes above INR 100 are prohibited. Outlook Money describes that as the earlier rule. The reports name only Indian and Nepali citizens, so with any other passport, follow Canada’s advice and change larger notes before you arrive.

Foreign cash above US$5,000 must be declared on arrival, according to the bank and the UK. More on costs is in our Kathmandu trip cost guide.

Which SIM or eSIM should you buy in Kathmandu?

Ncell and Nepal Telecom are the two main networks, and both have counters at the airport, according to Nepal Traveller. It says they’re usually staffed for every international arrival, while The Longest Way Home warns they may close after 7 pm. Ncell publishes its tourist prices, so its figures are the firmest we have. We read them on 5 November 2026, and the page gives no effective date.

Ncell says a fair usage policy applies to “unlimited” data and calls, and that the plans are for non-Nepali citizens only.

Other sources differ. Nepal Traveller said in July 2026 that a SIM costs about NPR 100 to 150, with Ncell packs of about NPR 500 for 10 GB over a week and NPR 700 for 20 GB over two weeks. The Longest Way Home reported airport packs at around NPR 600 in January 2025. Trust the counter’s board on the day.

Nepal Telecom: we couldn’t read tourist prices on its own site. NepaliTelecom, a Nepali telecoms news site, lists a standard prepaid SIM at NPR 90, updated June 2026, and that isn’t a tourist plan. Nepal Traveller says Nepal Telecom’s tourist packs are in a similar range to Ncell’s. Best Heritage Tour prefers it for trekking and remote areas, and Nepal Traveller calls Ncell the simpler choice for cities.

What to bring: take your original passport, which Ncell requires. Nepal Traveller and NepaliTelecom also mention a photo and your visa or entry stamp. Nepal Traveller says most counters will take a photo for a small fee, and that rupees are the safest way to pay.

eSIM: your phone must be unlocked and support eSIM, says Best Heritage Tour. Sources differ on where to get one:

• Ncell says its tourist eSIMs are sold online, through its eSIM shop.
• Nepal Traveller said in July 2026 that you can ask for one at Ncell’s airport counter.
• The Longest Way Home said in January 2025 that eSIMs were only at main offices.
• Nepal Telecom’s portal offers a prepaid eSIM after registering by email. It doesn’t mention tourists, and we didn’t test it.

How do you get from the airport to your hotel?

A prepaid taxi to Thamel is reported at about NPR 700 to 1,200, as of November 2025 to May 2026. These numbers come from travel guides, because we couldn’t find an official price list. Our Kathmandu taxi fare guide has the full table, the meter rate and the app prices.

On the way out:

• Keep your baggage tag, because The Longest Way Home says a guard may check it against your bag.
• Have your hotel’s name and address ready.

What plug type and voltage does Nepal use?

Nepal uses plug types C, D and M at 230 V and 50 Hz, according to Wikipedia and World Standards. World Standards adds that most sockets in Nepal are universal and take many other plugs. We couldn’t confirm that in the official IEC list, which refused our request, so pack an adapter.

Check the label on each charger. If it doesn’t list 230 V, you may need a voltage converter as well as an adapter. World Standards says countries running on 100 to 127 volts are greatly outnumbered, so this mainly affects devices made only for those countries.

Are there still power cuts in Kathmandu?

Short cuts still happen, but sources disagree on how to describe them. Canada, in advice updated on 3 November 2026, says “load shedding” (power cuts) occurs year-round, often for short periods and without notice. The Nepal Electricity Authority’s managing director said in May 2025 that load shedding wasn’t returning, after a major outage. In January 2026, after complaints of frequent cuts in Patan, Syuchatar and Balaju, the authority again told customers not to worry about it.

Recent reports show local cuts, and we found no nationwide schedule in 2026. That doesn’t prove there isn’t one.

Keep your phone charged, carry a power bank, and ask your hotel what happens during a cut.

Is the water safe to drink on your first day?

No, don’t drink the tap water. The US CDC says tap water in Nepal isn’t considered safe, and that you should drink only boiled or bottled water. Choose sealed bottles, as our is Kathmandu safe page explains.

Will altitude affect you on arrival?

It’s unlikely to be a major problem in Kathmandu itself, which sits at about 1,324 to 1,400 metres. The CDC gives 1,324 m and Wikipedia about 1,400 m. The CDC says altitude illness risk begins at a sleeping altitude of about 2,450 m, and sometimes lower.

Air pollution in the valley is frequent, says the CDC, so ask your doctor before you fly if you have a heart or lung condition.

What time is it in Kathmandu?

Nepal runs on UTC+5:45 across the whole country, according to Wikipedia. It has used this offset since 1986, when clocks moved forward 15 minutes from Indian time. The IANA time zone database gives the same 1986 change.

By our sums, noon in Kathmandu is 6:15 am UTC and 11:45 am in India. Check your phone has updated, because a 15-minute error is easy to miss.

What are the emergency numbers in Nepal?

The main numbers are 100 for police, 101 for fire, 102 for ambulance and 1144 for the tourist police. The UK and Canadian governments list all four, though Canada calls 102 medical assistance. Nepal Police confirms 1144 as a toll-free hotline.

Don’t rely on 102 alone. The UK says there is no central public ambulance service, and advises calling the nearest hospital. There’s more in is Kathmandu safe.

What can you do on a free afternoon near Thamel?

Choose one short outing and leave the rest for another day. These three are close to Thamel.

Asan is a working market, and the longer walk passes through it. Our Kathmandu self guided walking tour gives the route, though it says early morning is the best time, so expect more traffic in the afternoon.

Thamel Marg gets congested in the late afternoon, says The Longest Way Home. Traffic drives on the left, so look right first. Our guide to Thamel covers the touts and noise.

What are the most common first-day mistakes?

Most first-day mistakes cost a little money, and a few can hurt you.

• Taking the first taxi price: Travelling Mandala reports opening quotes of NPR 1,500 to 2,000 in the car park.
• Believing “your hotel has closed”: this can be a way to steer you to a hotel that pays commission, according to Airport Transfer Portal.
• Changing all your money at the airport: Thamel’s rates are better, so change only what you need.
• Riding a motorbike taxi: the CDC advises avoiding them, even though apps offer them.
• Walking alone after dark: the UK says robberies are more likely in poorly lit areas at night.
• Leaving a drink unattended: the UK warns of drink spiking, and of methanol poisoning you can’t detect by taste or smell.
• Taking the wrong photos: Canada says photos of military sites, checkpoints or personnel are prohibited. Never photograph the Kumari, the girl worshipped as a living goddess.

Once you’ve slept, decide how many days to spend in Kathmandu and choose what to see first.