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location.beaches.districts
location.beaches.districts_subtitle
Thamel
hotelsBackpacker central - narrow streets, trekking shops, restaurants, bars. Tourist hub since 1960s. Buy gear, book treks, meet travelers. Chaotic but convenient. Where everyone stays first.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
hotelsUNESCO World Heritage - ancient royal palace complex. Hindu temples, medieval architecture. Damaged in 2015 earthquake, being restored. Heart of old Kathmandu. Living heritage site.
Boudhanath
hotelsMassive Buddhist stupa - one of largest in world. Tibetan refugee community. Monks in robes, prayer wheels, incense. Most peaceful Kathmandu experience. Sunset kora (circumambulation) magical.
faq.title
faq.subtitle Kathmandu
Visa on arrival for most countries! 15 days $30, 30 days $50, 90 days $125. Bring passport photo and USD cash. Very easy process. Indian citizens visa-free. Can extend in Kathmandu.
Yes! TIMS card (~$20) and area permits vary by region. Everest region: national park fee $30. Annapurna: ACAP $30. Agencies arrange everything. Solo trekking now restricted in many areas - check current rules.
No! Kathmandu at 1400m - too low for altitude sickness. Good acclimatization base. Problems start above 2500m on treks. Drink water, ascend slowly when trekking. Kathmandu itself totally fine.
Not from city (too far, pollution). But! 1-hour mountain flight shows Everest and Himalayan peaks - ~$200, worth it! Or day trip to Nagarkot/Dhulikhel for clear mountain views. Best October-November.
Travel Tips
Useful tips for visiting Kathmandu
Visit Boudhanath at sunset - join locals and monks for kora (walking around stupa). Prayer wheels spinning, incense burning, golden light. Most spiritual Kathmandu experience. Entry 400 NPR.
Book treks through Thamel agencies - compare prices, check reviews. Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit most popular. October-November best season. Guides mandatory in many areas now.
Bring dust mask - air pollution serious, especially winter. N95 masks help. Worse than Delhi at times. Also useful for dusty streets and motorcycle exhaust.
Try momo (dumplings), dal bhat (lentils and rice - unlimited refills!), thukpa (noodle soup), Newari cuisine. Food cheap and delicious. Vegetarian paradise. ~$2-5 for full meal.
Weather
Average temperature by month
Now
8°
8°83%8 м/с
Today
21°8°
21°8°Tomorrow
19°8°
19°8°Thu19°9°
19°9°Fri20°9°
20°9°Sat21°9°
21°9°Sun22°10°
22°10°Mon23°11°
23°11°19°
2°Jan
21°
5°Feb
25°
8°Mar
28°
12°Apr
29°
16°May
29°
19°Jun
28°
20°Jul
29°
20°Aug
28°
19°Sep
27°
13°Oct
24°
8°Nov
20°
4°Dec
location.transport.title
location.transport.subtitle
location.transport.bus
—location.transport.taxi
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Prices
Cost of food, accommodation and services
Cafes & Restaurants
Budget meal
200 - 500 ₨
~350 $
Mid-range
800 - 2,000 ₨
~1,400 $
Fine dining
3,000 - 8,000 ₨
~5,500 $
Street Food
Local dish
50 - 200 ₨
~125 $
Drinks
Coffee
200 - 500 ₨
~350 $
Local beer
300 - 600 ₨
~450 $
Groceries
Water 1.5L
25 - 50 ₨
~37.5 $
Prices are approximate and may vary by season and area.
Accommodation
Hotels and rental prices
Hostel dorm
500 - 1,200 ₨ / night
~850 $
Guesthouse
1,500 - 3,500 ₨ / night
~2,500 $
Hotel 3★
5,000 - 12,000 ₨ / night
~8,500 $
Hotel 5★
15,000 - 50,000 ₨ / night
~32,500 $
Prices are approximate. Book in advance during high season.
location.payment.title
location.payment.subtitle
location.payment.accepted_cards
VisaMastercardUnionPayRuPay
location.payment.contactless_available
location.payment.atms
common
location.payment.mobile_payments
eSewaKhaltiIME PayUPI
location.payment.cash
Cash still dominant but UPI integration 2025 revolutionizing! From Jan 2026, cash transactions over Rs 500,000 BANNED! Digital payments growing fast with India UPI QR codes.
location.payment.currency_exchange
Rupee (NPR). DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION 2025-2026! UPI integration with India started March 2024 - momo stalls, tea vendors in Thamel accepting UPI QR payments! Lowers cash dependence, empowers merchants without costly POS. MAJOR: From Jan 15, 2026, transactions ≥Rs 500,000 MUST use digital banking - cash BANNED! Thamel tourist area has ATMs. Durbar Square cash-based. Mountains/trekking routes cash-only - withdraw before hiking! Change happening fast in capital!
location.payment.tipping
10%
Tipping appreciated 10% in restaurants. Trekking guides $10-15 per day, porters $8-10. Not mandatory but welcomed.
Safety
High safety level
Tourist area with low crime rate
Kathmandu is safe. Petty theft in tourist areas. Air pollution bad - bring mask. Altitude 1400m. Traffic chaotic, watch when crossing. Avoid political demonstrations. Very friendly locals.