Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, is a living museum in the world, where culture and tradition combine with nature. Ancient temples, Magical Stupas, Typical Markers, prayers in each house and corner of the valley. The high hills offer stunning Mountain vistas, a surrounding atmosphere, and forests. The royal squares are the place to witness the history and life of the Kathmandu valley. If you are travelling here, Kathmandu offers many things to do in Kathmandu.
As a traveller can feel and observe the depth and authenticity of the region, not only the urban experience. Kathmandu not only offers sightseeing and exploring, but it will also engage you, challenge you, and invite you to learn and earn about the history and culture of ancient Nepal. Whatever you do in Kathmandu is a lifetime experience and a learning experience of antiquity.
Whatever your purpose is to visit Kathmandu, culture, tradition, exploration, cuisine, or spirituality. Kathmandu delivers its authentic beauty with every turn and move around it. Here is the ultimate guide to the top things to do in Kathmandu, with its highlights.
1: Kathmandu Durbar Square – Explore the heart of Kathmandu.
When you get into the Kathmandu Durbar Square, it will reflect the history of Nepal and the valley. A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE – This magnificent site is home to a complex of palaces, courtyards, and temples. As it was one of the Royal Palaces, it had a history in the Kathmandu Valley.
Why visit Kathmandu Durbar Square
- To understand the history of Nepal
- Touch and experience the ancient rituals
- Take a profound understanding of the art and Architecture of Nepal.
Start your tour early in the morning to avoid the crowds and see the cultural significance. Also, the evening is a perfect time, but it will have lots of people, including locals. Don’t miss climbing the 9-tale Durbar to witness the city view, the museum, the art gallery, and Kumari House to have a glimpse of the living goddess Kumari.
Note for better experience- hire a licensed holder tour guide to get in touch with the inside stories, legends, history, and beyond.
2: Visit Swyambhu Stupa (Monkey Temple) – Kathmandu’s Spiritual Crown.
The self-created land is one of the focal points of the Himalayan Buddhism and Kathmandu’s most religious sites of the local Newar communities and Buddhist followers. The Swyambhu stupa is popularly known as the Monkey Temple among foreigners. This auspicious land is the best example of religious harmony in Nepal.
Why visit Swyambhu Stupa
- One of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Understand the Importance of Buddhism and the elements of Buddhism.
- Have a panoramic view of the entire Kathmandu valley.
- Hawk-eyed Monkeys jumping across the stones and the stupa area.
Climbing up the stone stairs is almost a mini expedition for trekkers and hikers. Also, it offers the culture and religious beliefs because each step is lined with shrines, bells, and small ventures.
3: Visit Pashupatinath Temple – A living Cultural Ritual.
Pashupatinath Temple is one of the sacred pilgrimage sites of the Hindu followers across the world. Where every day thousands of pilgrims will pray, worship, and show their devotion. This UNESCO World Heritage site is located on the bank of the holy Bagmati River, where a daily open cremation ceremony will continuously go on. It’s the place to feel alive with life, rituals, prayers, and sometimes devoted spirituality. Unfortunately, non-Hindus are not allowed to get into the main Temple satchen because it is a lifelong tradition and culture of this place.
Why visit Pashupatinath Temple?
- To see the roaming Buddhist nuns and monks.
- Feel the peace and companionship
- Follow the way to Nirvana and get Moksha.
- To know the value of life and death
- Understand the Hindu devotion and its deep roots.
- Observe the cultural and traditional beauty of the country.
Visiting Pashupatinath Temple is not only a sightseeing – this is observing life, and it’s bare, unfiltered forms.
4: Taste Kathmandu – Experience the local foods to remember
Nepal, the home of multicultural and multi-traditional communities, where foods also offer their own unique flavor and history. Kathmandu is the capital city where all the multi-ethnic groups live, and they serve their cuisines as well. Among those you shouldn’t miss, these foods are worth tasting while you are in Kathmandu.
Momos- Momo is very popular as an unofficial snack in Nepal; it is served in small alleys and also at the 5-star hotels and resorts. You can taste different flavors and different ingredients, usually it comes in Veg and Meat. Steamed to fried and Kothe (half Fried after steaming) to Jhole and Chilly Momo – you can eat it as you like.
Dal Bhat – A hearty traditional food served with lentil soup, rice, seasonal vegetables, pickle papadam, and green salad. This is the heavy food for the whole day.
Dal Bhat Power 24 hours is the slogan in the trekking routes of Nepal.
Newari Delights – While you are in Kathmandu, one of the things you should do is try to eat Newari Food. Newari foods are the food of the Newar community, who are an ethnic group from Kathmandu.
Not only can you taste these foods in Kathmandu, but you can also taste different cuisines from different ethnic groups.
5: Spirituality of Buddha Stupa – Must do things in Kathmandu.
Buddha Stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world. Which is one of the significant holy sites of the Himalayan Buddhist pilgrims from all over Nepal and the world. This giant stupa is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kathmandu, which you can visit while staying in Kathmandu. Here you will get to know the way to Nirvana and the meditation tool Mandala.
Why you should visit Bouddha?
- To see the roaming Buddhist nuns and monks.
- Feel the peace and companionship
- Follow the way to Nirvana and get Moksha.
Hire a Local guide to share the inside story, legends, and history of this magnificent Buddhist Stupa.
6: Sunrise and Sunset at Nagarkot – Window view of Mt. Everest.
Nagarkot Hill, 2100m above sea level, is located 32km east of Kathmandu. Offers the spectacular sunrise, sunset, and giant mountain peaks, including Mt. Everest, 8848 meters. So Nagarkot is a very famous junction for Hiking routes such as Chiapani Nagarkot Trek, Changunarayan Nagarkot Hike, and Shankhu Nagarkot Hike.
In Nagarkot, there are various types of accommodation available, from normal tea houses to luxury resorts. Mountain view room to a luxury royal facilities room from where you can enjoy the high snow-capped peaks, including Mt. Everest, Annapurna, Manaslu, Langtang range, and many more.
Visit Nagarkot during the spring, Autumn, and Winter seasons for the best Nagarkot experience.
7: Absorb History at Patan Durbar Square
Patan Durbar Square is just a short drive from central Kathmandu and another UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nepal. This ancient city is the youngest kingdoms of Kathmandu after Bhaktapur and Kathmandu. Patan is popular for its Durbar Square, Temples, and Palaces, also for its delicate metalwork, painting, and stone carvings.
Don’t miss it when you are there?
- The Museum of Patan
- Royal Palace and its courtyards.
- Golden Temple and Khumbesowre Temple
- Mahabouddha Temple and surroundings.
Take a full day to explore each alley of Patan, the doors of the Temple, and Bihara, Stupas, and local foods.
8: Bhaktapur – The ancient kingdom of the Kathmandu valley.
Bhaktapur is also known as Bhadgaun, or the local people call it the Khopa as well. This is one of Nepal’s most elegant preserved medieval cities and the home of the Newari Community. It is located in the east of the Kathmandu valley and will take around 30 to 45 minutes by taxi or Bus.
Bhaktapur has four main squares to visit: Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Taumadi Square, Pottery Square, and Dattatraya Square. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nepal, which is an enormous courtyard, with sky-high Temples, grand Pagodas, and traditional wood carving art, Thanka Painting, and many more.
Must try when you’re in Bhaktapur
- Eat Juju Dhau (king of curd)
- Try to make a pot at Pottery Square
- Visit the art museum in Bhaktapur.
- Interact with local people.
- Visit Siddhi Pokhari and other ponds.
9: Meditation, Yoga, and Wellness Journey.
Nepal is a Holy Land where spiritual practices are in every home and corner, each morning and evening. Kathmandu offers a number of Yoga studios, meditation centers, and retreats, which are beginner-friendly to the deeply transformative.
What kind of Yoga and Meditation offers
Yoga- Kundalini, Hatha, Vinyasa,
Meditation – Vipasana and other ancient styles
Sound healing (Singibowls) and Mantra Chanting.
Even a few hours or a few sessions for a couple of days of Yoga and meditation can shift your mindset – Kathmandu has a proper way of doing that?
10: Wander Around Thamel – The Backpacker Buzz
Thamel, the tourist hub and backpacker buzz – this chaotic, energetic, colourful, and impossible to ignore as a tourist. A labyrinth of narrow lanes lined with hotels, restaurants, lodges, trekking gear shops, souvenir shops, and many more. And Thamal is the area where most of the travellers first land.
What to do in Thamel
- Shop for Pashmina, Singing Bowls, Thank Painting, Handcrafted jewellery, and trekking gear.
- Drink a cup of coffee in a cozy cafe
- Enjoy nightlife (Clubbing, Dance bar, Live Music)
- Enjoy various cuisines at local favorites
Definitely, Thamel is a touristy – but it’s where you can meet with many travelers and make friends and enjoy your holiday in Kathmandu.
11: Take Street Photography Walks
Kathmandu’s streets are narrow but full of colours and local beautybecause small vendors, colourful lights, and stairways appear to frame life in lyrical details. The city glimmers and changes fast – be ready to capture the golden hour in the Swyambhu stupa, the Durbar Squares, the small alleys of Ason Bazar, vivid lights of the night of Kathmandu valley.
- Small streets and traditional colourful buildings.
- Hindu and Buddhist shrines are in every corner of the town.
- Capture the movement of every person and their daily rituals they follow.
- Be at the festive time and enjoy the tradition and culture of the locals.
12: Rikshow Nights Explore
The downtown of Kathmandu still offers the typical activities like Rickshaw, tuk-tuk, and traditional activities. Exploring the city with a Rickshaw ride in the evening will give you a glimpse of spiritual Kathmandu. This is one of the most popular activities to do in Kathmandu while visiting Nepal.
13: Day Hiking around Kathmandu.
Kathmandu Valley is surrounded by hills, and those hills offer beautiful hiking routes such as the Jamacho Gumba Hike, Shivapuri Peak Hike, Champadevi Hike, Tarebhir Hike, Phulchoki Hike, etc. These hikes are day hikes that offer stunning Mountain views, the surrounding areas’ views, and dramatic landscape views.
Hiking is the best medicine to cure your stress, anxiety, and mental health. So if you have a short time and want to be in nature, then go hiking on one of these hiking routes near Kathamdnu.
Why visit Kathmandu?
Kathmandu Valley is not only the Capital city of Nepal but also a gateway to the Himalayas. This is a destination and a land of rich history, spirituality, art, architecture, and daily rituals that have continued for centuries and centuries.
The main key reasons to visit and explore Kathmandu are.
- Home of the 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- Gateway to various trekking destinations and day hikes nearby.
- Cultural junctions of Buddhism and Hinduism.
- Authentic local foods and typical markets
- Friendly people and a welcoming atmosphere.
Final Thoughts: Why Kathmandu Should Be on Your Bucket List.
Kathmandu, the capital city, vibrant city and a spiritual garden that reveals itself slowly. It is not glossy or perfect – but that’s exactly its magic. From ancient temples, monasteries, and sacred rituals to lively arteries and warm hospitality, Kathmandu offers a memorable travel adventure.
