Kathmandu Nepal 4 Day Itinerary

Two corrections before we get into this one, because I’ve seen both mistakes repeated across too many itineraries: there is no flight to Nagarkot, it’s a 1.5-2 hour road trip, and your visa on arrival is priced in US dollars, not Nepalese Rupees, 15 days for $30, 30 days for $50, 90 days multi-entry for $125. Get those right and four days in Kathmandu is genuinely one of the best-value trips going.

Day 1: arrival, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath

Handle that visa before baggage claim, crisp US cash since card machines are unreliable. The prepaid taxi counter into Thamel runs a fixed NPR 700-800, skip curbside touts quoting NPR 1,500 while grabbing your bags for leverage. Settle into your hotel, then head to Boudhanath Stupa, NPR 400, and walk the kora clockwise through the surrounding Tibetan Buddhist quarter. In the afternoon, Pashupatinath, NPR 1,000, the Hindu cremation site on the Bagmati. Non-Hindus can’t enter the inner pagoda but the complex and cremation ghats are fully visible from across the river, don’t skip it thinking there’s nothing to see, just stay respectful around grieving families. Dinner in Thamel is fine tonight, you’ll eat better tomorrow.

Day 2: durbar squares

Morning at Kathmandu Durbar Square, about NPR 1,000, mostly rebuilt since the 2015 quake with Kasthamandap reopened since 2023-24, a bit of scaffolding still around. Afternoon across the Bagmati at Patan Durbar Square in the separate city of Lalitpur, comparable price but better preserved and far less crowded, my clear pick between the two. Eat dinner in Patan too: Newa Lahana or Honacha serve genuine Newari thali, chhoila, and bara for NPR 500-1,200, a real step up from Thamel’s tourist restaurants.

Day 3: Nagarkot, done properly

Drive up to Nagarkot in the afternoon, that 1.5-2 hour road trip at 2,175 meters, and stay overnight to catch sunrise the next morning. Clear October-November or March-April conditions deliver genuine Himalaya views, Everest included, and the dawn payoff is exactly why this needs an overnight rather than a single flying visit. On the way back down, stop at Bhaktapur, a separate medieval town with entry around NPR 1,800-2,000 covering the whole entry-controlled town. The Nyatapola temple survived the earthquake standing, and the pottery square rewards a slow wander. Ideally give Bhaktapur its own dedicated time rather than squeezing it into a single afternoon, it deserves better than being an add-on.

Day 4: Swayambhunath and departure

Morning at Swayambhunath, NPR 200, climbing roughly 365 steps up the east side. This is the actual Monkey Temple, not Pashupatinath, a distinction worth nailing down before you leave since it trips up so many first-time visitors. Spend the afternoon grabbing last souvenirs and street food around Asan or Chhetrapati, then a farewell dinner before heading to Tribhuvan International.

Logistics

There’s no metro in Kathmandu, plan around taxis and ride-hailing apps instead. Meters are required by law and ignored in practice, agree fares up front or use Pathao or InDrive for locked pricing. Nepal uses Type D power sockets running 230V at 50Hz, worth checking your adapter before you land. Dress modestly at temples, remove shoes before entering, and keep police and ambulance numbers, 100 or 103 and 102 or 104, saved just in case. Best months remain October-November and March-April for the clearest mountain views, though monsoon season from June through September still has its charm if you don’t mind rain, fewer crowds and a genuinely lush green valley. If your dates land near Dashain in September or October, expect roughly two weeks of businesses closing as the whole country celebrates, and stick to bottled water throughout the trip regardless of season. A random storefront trekking booking on arrival is a false economy too, always worth the extra cost of a TAAN or NTB registered operator if you’re extending beyond these four days.