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City guide · Kathmandu, Nepal · 2026

Kathmandu in 3 days: itinerary and top spots

Updated · 22 spots · open in 2025–26

Kathmandu, Nepal. From 22 spots whose locations we've checked, we picked a full 3-day route (not counting arrival and departure days) and the top 8 in each category. The areas you'll keep coming back to: Thamel · Bhaktapur · Basantapur.

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🗺️ A 3-day route

Each day: two sights, one meal, one hot spot and one evening stop, grouped by neighbourhood so you can walk from one to the next.

Day 1 about 6h 15m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    Kathmandu Durbar SquareBasantapur🏛️ Sight

    Old royal square; foreigners need a ticket, home of the Kumari's temple

  2. Lunch
    Yangling Tibetan RestaurantThamel🍜 Food

    Tibetan spot famed for momos and thukpa; locals queue at lunch

  3. Afternoon
    Garden of DreamsKaiser Mahal✨ Hot spot

    Paid neoclassical garden next to Thamel; a quiet café break

  4. Late afternoon
    Narayanhiti Palace MuseumDurbar Marg🏛️ Sight

    The last royal palace; no photos inside, bags checked, check closing days

  5. Evening
    Purple Haze Rock BarThamel🌙 Night

    Thamel's best-known live rock bar; many venues close around 11pm, go early

Day 2 about 6h 30m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    SwayambhunathSwayambhu🏛️ Sight

    Hilltop stupa; 365 steps on the east side, keep food away from monkeys

  2. Lunch
    Thamel House RestaurantThamel🍜 Food

    Restored Newari house serving dal bhat and Newari sets

  3. Afternoon
    Asan BazaarAsan Tole✨ Hot spot

    Lanes of spices, rice and goods; walk through on the way to Durbar Square

  4. Late afternoon
    Pashupatinath TempleGaushala🏛️ Sight

    Hindu shrine and riverside cremation ghats; main temple Hindus only, aarti ritual every dusk

  5. Evening
    BoudhanathBoudha🌙 Night

    One of Nepal's largest stupas; dusk butter lamps and pilgrims, dine on a rooftop

Day 3 about 8h 45m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    Patan Durbar SquareLalitpur🏛️ Sight

    Finest Newar architecture; don't miss the Patan Museum

  2. Lunch
    HonachaPatan Durbar Square🍜 Food

    Newari snack house by Patan Square; cheap bara pancakes and choila

  3. Afternoon
    Pottery Square, BhaktapurBhaktapur✨ Hot spot

    Square of potters at their wheels; try it or buy small pieces

  4. Late afternoon
    Bhaktapur Durbar SquareBhaktapur🏛️ Sight

    Medieval royal town; pricey ticket so make a day of it

  5. Evening
    ThamelThamel🌙 Night

    Backpacker hub; busy restaurants and bars at night, haggle for gear and souvenirs

🍜 Where to eat in Kathmandu: top 8

Specific restaurants, markets and food halls. Where there are queues, go right after opening.

  1. Bhojan GrihaDillibazar

    Nepali set dinner with folk dances in a 150-year-old mansion; book dinner

  2. Thamel House RestaurantThamelIn the route

    Restored Newari house serving dal bhat and Newari sets

  3. Krishnarpan, Dwarika's HotelBattisputali

    Fine Nepali tasting menu of 6 to 22 courses; book a day ahead

  4. HonachaPatan Durbar SquareIn the route

    Newari snack house by Patan Square; cheap bara pancakes and choila

  5. Yangling Tibetan RestaurantThamelIn the route

    Tibetan spot famed for momos and thukpa; locals queue at lunch

✨ Kathmandu hot spots: top 8

Trendy neighbourhoods, cafés, photo spots and complexes for the daytime.

  1. Asan BazaarAsan ToleIn the route

    Lanes of spices, rice and goods; walk through on the way to Durbar Square

  2. Garden of DreamsKaiser MahalIn the route

    Paid neoclassical garden next to Thamel; a quiet café break

  3. Pottery Square, BhaktapurBhaktapurIn the route

    Square of potters at their wheels; try it or buy small pieces

🌙 Kathmandu at night: top 8

Bars, izakaya and night views — one to end the evening.

  1. BoudhanathBoudhaIn the route

    One of Nepal's largest stupas; dusk butter lamps and pilgrims, dine on a rooftop

  2. ThamelThamelIn the route

    Backpacker hub; busy restaurants and bars at night, haggle for gear and souvenirs

  3. Purple Haze Rock BarThamelIn the route

    Thamel's best-known live rock bar; many venues close around 11pm, go early

🏛️ Top sights in Kathmandu

The places most first-timers don’t want to miss. Add a day in the app for the ones not in the route.

  1. Kathmandu Durbar SquareBasantapurIn the route

    Old royal square; foreigners need a ticket, home of the Kumari's temple

  2. SwayambhunathSwayambhuIn the route

    Hilltop stupa; 365 steps on the east side, keep food away from monkeys

  3. Pashupatinath TempleGaushalaIn the route

    Hindu shrine and riverside cremation ghats; main temple Hindus only, aarti ritual every dusk

  4. Patan Durbar SquareLalitpurIn the route

    Finest Newar architecture; don't miss the Patan Museum

  5. Bhaktapur Durbar SquareBhaktapurIn the route

    Medieval royal town; pricey ticket so make a day of it

  6. Narayanhiti Palace MuseumDurbar MargIn the route

    The last royal palace; no photos inside, bags checked, check closing days

  7. Kopan MonasteryKopan Hill

    Tibetan Buddhist monastery with calm gardens and valley views; dress modestly

  8. Chandragiri HillsChandragiri

    Hill reached by cable car; clear mornings show the Himalaya

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