KathmanduCapital
Nepal · Country profile
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal, a crowded, ancient valley city where the temples, the palaces and the everyday chaos of the streets meet in a deep, dust-filled bowl below the great peaks of the Himalayas. The three royal squares of the valley, Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, hold the finest medieval architecture in the Himalayas, and the great stupas of the Swayambhunath and the Boudhanath draw the pilgrims of the Buddhist world. The city is the heart of the country’s trekking, its politics and its festivals, and its lanes, markets and temples carry the scent of the incense, the butter lamps and the days of the trade. Loud, sensory and deeply spiritual, Kathmandu is the gateway of the highest mountains on earth.
About Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. The city's documented population is around 1,000,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR) and Nepali is spoken; the dialling code is +977. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Tribhuvan International Airport.
The Durbar Squares, the Stupas and the Dust of the Valley
Kathmandu is a dense, ancient, wonderfully chaotic capital, and its life runs between the shrine of the great stupas, the medieval squares of the royal cities and the jostling lanes of the modern town. The valley’s three old capitals, Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, deliver some of the best architecture in the Himalayas, and the hill of the monkeys and the great stupa of the eyes are the classic views. The city is the base of the trekking industry, and the menus, the gear shops and the travel agencies line the tourist street of the Thamel. It is loud, dusty, deeply spiritual and endlessly photogenic, and it rewards the early mornings and the hearty stomach.
The Festival Lights, the Treks and the Clear Autumn Air
The best trekking seasons, the spring and the autumn, are also the best for the city, when the monsoon dust is gone and the mountains are clear; the summer is wet and the winter is cold and hazy. The valley’s three squares are the essential visits, and the day trips to the oldest of them, the Patan and the Bhaktapur, need the half-days each. The currency is the rupee, and cash is king outside the tourist street. The temple dress covers the shoulders and the knees, and the leather is forbidden at the sacred sites. The travel insurance matters for the trekking, and the bookings for the lodges and the flights to the mountains go early in the season.
The Temples, the Thamel and the Views of the Himalayas
The Thamel district is the tourist engine of the city, and its lanes hold the guesthouses, the gear shops and the travel desks of the whole Himalaya; the prices soften as the bargaining begins. The great staircases of the Swayambhunath, the monkey temple, give the best valley view, and the stupa of the Boudhanath, with its rings of the prayer wheels, is the Buddhist heart. The old square of the city glows with the lights of the festivals of the evenings. The traffic, the dust and the power cuts are part of the experience, so pack the mask, the torch and the patience. The city is the door to the treks, and the peace of the mountains waits beyond it.
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- Country
- Nepal
- Population
- 1,000,000
- Coordinates
- 27.6966, 85.3591
- Capital
- Kathmandu
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
- Languages
- Nepali
- Calling code
- +977
- Country code
- NP
Entry requirements for Nepal
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Nepal for tourism.
Getting to Kathmandu
Airports we list for Kathmandu:
Frequently asked questions
Is Kathmandu the capital of Nepal?
Yes — Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal.
What currency do I need in Kathmandu?
The local currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR). Languages spoken in Nepal include Nepali.
What is the dialling code for Nepal?
The international dialling code for Nepal is +977.
Which airport should I fly into for Kathmandu?
Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) is the airport we list for Kathmandu.
Do I need a visa to visit Nepal?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from India currently enter Nepal visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Kathmandu? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.