Things to do in Kathmandu

What are the best things to do in Kathmandu?

The ranking below is our own judgement of what rewards a first-time visitor most, inside the Kathmandu Valley and on its rim. We’ve weighed what you’ll see against how much time and effort it takes. Your order may differ, and that’s fine.

The numbers below match the ranks in this table, grouped by type of outing. The time column shows our suggested time on site, without travel. Fees are for foreign visitors. The Kathmandu entry fees page has other nationalities and the figures that are disputed.

Which UNESCO sites should you see first?

Boudhanath, Bhaktapur and Patan come first on our list, because they reward visitors with no background knowledge. All seven are worth seeing if you have time.

1. Walk around Boudhanath at dusk

Boudhanath is a Buddhist stupa (a dome-shaped shrine) in the north-east of Kathmandu, ringed by monasteries. Join the people walking clockwise around it as the day cools. It costs little, it’s easy on your feet and you don’t need a guide to enjoy it. See our Boudhanath page.

2. Spend a day in Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur is an old royal city about 14 km east of Kathmandu. In Your Pocket describes a largely car-free historic core, and lists Durbar Square, the Nyatapola Temple and the 55-Window Palace as highlights. Give it as long as you can.

3. Explore Patan Durbar Square and its museum

Patan Durbar Square is the royal square of Lalitpur, the city just south of the Bagmati River. Its ticket includes the Patan Museum, which Nepal Traveller describes as a former Malla-era palace wing. Published museum hours conflict, so check before you plan around it.

4. Climb to Swayambhunath

Swayambhunath is a hilltop stupa about 3 km west of Kathmandu, according to the Nepal Tourism Board. Visitors have called it the Monkey Temple since the 1970s. The main stairway is commonly given as 365 steps, though published counts run from 318 to 424. A road reaches almost to the top if you’d rather skip them.

5. Visit Pashupatinath, with care

Pashupatinath is a Hindu temple complex to Shiva on the Bagmati River. The main temple is for Hindus only, and non-Hindu visitors can use the grounds, ghats and nearby shrines. Cremations take place on the ghats, so please keep your distance and don’t photograph mourners. Aarti (the evening lamp ceremony) can be watched from the eastern bank, according to the temple trust. Published times conflict. Read our Pashupatinath temple Kathmandu page first.

6. See Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square is the old royal palace square in the centre of the city, with the Kumari Ghar at its edge. Rebuilding after the 2015 earthquake is still under way, so some buildings look newer than you might expect. Its ticket includes the Tribhuvan Museum. Our self-guided walking tour will help you find your way around.

What else is worth doing in the city?

Three of the best experiences in the city don’t involve a temple ticket. They suit a free afternoon or a jet-lagged first evening.

7. Walk through Asan market

Asan is a traditional bazaar in central Kathmandu. It sits on an old trade route running north-east from Kathmandu Durbar Square. Wikipedia lists foodstuffs, spices, textiles, electronics and bullion among its goods. It’s a working market, so stay alert for motorbikes and keep your bag close.

11. Taste local food

Newar food and street snacks are the most direct way into local life. Our local food in Kathmandu page explains what to look for. You can go on your own, or join our 3 to 4-hour Kathmandu Street Food Walk through Thamel and Asan.

12. Tour Narayanhiti Palace Museum

Narayanhiti is the former royal palace, turned into a museum after the monarchy ended. The museum website lists NPR 1,000 for foreign visitors and NPR 500 for SAARC and Chinese nationals, as of November 2026, and opening days of Thursday to Monday, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. Older listings give other days and lower fees, so our Narayanhiti Palace Museum page sets out who says what.

15. Rest in the Garden of Dreams

The Garden of Dreams is a garden about 350 metres from Thamel. Its own website lists NPR 400 for foreign visitors and opening hours of 9 am to 9 pm daily, as of November 2026. It’s a quiet place to escape traffic for an hour. Our Garden of Dreams Kathmandu page covers its history and rules.

What can you do on the valley rim?

The valley’s edge gives you views and fresh air, but it takes a longer drive. These all fit into half a day or more, and our best day trip from Kathmandu page compares them.

8. Watch sunrise from Nagarkot

Nagarkot is a viewpoint ridge on the eastern rim, about 32 km from central Kathmandu. In Your Pocket says the drive takes about 1.5 hours, and that clear skies are most likely in October and November. Mountain views are never guaranteed, so treat any view as a bonus.

9. Visit Changu Narayan

Changu Narayan is a hilltop temple to Vishnu above Bhaktapur, and one of the oldest temples in the valley. It pairs well with Bhaktapur, which is close by. Kathmandu.im lists hours of 6 am to 6 pm.

10. Visit Bungamati and Khokana

These are two Newar villages about 10 km south of Kathmandu. In Your Pocket says Bungamati is known for woodcarvers and the Rato Machindranath temple, and Khokana for mustard oil. People live and work here, so ask before you photograph them.

13. Ride the Chandragiri cable car

Chandragiri Hills runs a cable car from about 1,550 m to 2,551 m, in about 9 to 13 minutes. It’s the easiest high viewpoint from Kathmandu, and it suits people who don’t want a long walk. The operator lists a foreign return fare of US$23. See Nagarkot or Chandragiri for fares, hours and how the two compare.

14. Hike in Shivapuri

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park starts north of the city, past Budhanilkantha. The Nepal Tourism Board lists NPR 250 for foreign visitors, but newer blogs we saw in search results give NPR 1,000, so carry enough for the higher figure. Wonder Nepal says to bring your passport. Popular goals are the Nagi Gompa nunnery and Baghdwar, the source of the Bagmati River.

What can you do in Kathmandu at night?

We’d plan your sightseeing for daylight and keep evenings simple. Good options are dinner in Thamel or Patan, and the stupa at Boudhanath as the crowds thin out.

Closing times aren’t clear. Republica reported in September 2025 that the Thamel Tourism Development Council told small businesses and liquor shops to close by 10 pm, after the Gen Z protests. Authorities had allowed round-the-clock opening in April 2024. We couldn’t confirm which rule applies now, so ask your hotel. Take a pre-arranged taxi back if it’s late.

Which of these should you skip?

Skip anything that doesn’t suit your interests. If temples blur together after two days, drop Changu Narayan and do a hike. If you dislike early starts, skip the Nagarkot sunrise. If you won’t feel comfortable around cremations, stay on the far bank at Pashupatinath, or leave it out.

You don’t need a tour for any of this, but a guide adds the most at the squares and at Pashupatinath. The Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour covers four of the top six in one day. If you prefer Patan and Bhaktapur, try the Kathmandu Valley Day Tour: Patan and Bhaktapur.