Everest Region
Thamel (Kathmandu)
Kathmandu Airport (Kathmandu)
Annapurna Region (Pokhara)
Basantapur (Kathmandu)
Essential Nepal travel tips from our Kathmandu team — visa on arrival fees, money and ATMs, SIM cards, travel insurance, getting around, packing and local etiquette — plus airport transfers you can book before you land.
The most-booked Travel Essentials experiences, ranked by travellers.
Private Kathmandu airport transfers to Thamel and any hotel in the city — fixed price per car, free flight tracking and a driver waiting…
Rent a private car with an English-speaking driver in Kathmandu by the hour or for a full day — one fixed price per car…
Day-by-day plans built from real trips, with bookable experiences for every stop.
🗓 1 Day✨ Culture & Heritage📍 Kathmandu1 Day in Kathmandu: The Perfect One-Day Itinerary (Best Things to Do)Spending 1 day in Kathmandu is enough to see the valley's greatest temples, walk through centuries-old squares and taste real Nepali food. The city is busy,…Trip highlights1Sunrise at Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)Morning2Kathmandu Durbar Square and the Old BazaarsMorning (late)+2 more stops📍 4 stopsView plan →
🗓 2 Days✨ Culture & Heritage📍 Kathmandu★ 5.0 (4)2 Days in Kathmandu: The Perfect 48-Hour Itinerary (2026)A tested 2-day Kathmandu itinerary: Swayambhunath sunrise, Durbar Square and the old bazaars on day one, then Patan, Boudhanath and the Pashupatinath aarati on day two. With timings, costs, food and transport tips.Day by day1Day 1: Old Kathmandu, Monkey Temple and ThamelDay 12Day 2: Patan, Boudhanath and the Pashupatinath AaratiDay 2📍 7 stops🎟️ 1 experienceFrom$ 10.00View plan →
🗓 3 Days✨ Culture & Heritage📍 Kathmandu★ 5.0 (4)3 Days in Kathmandu: The Complete Kathmandu Valley Itinerary (2026)A complete 3-day Kathmandu itinerary covering all three royal cities: Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, plus Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Changu Narayan and sunset over the Himalaya at Nagarkot. With fees, budget and transport.Day by day1Day 1: Old Kathmandu, Monkey Temple and ThamelDay 12Day 2: Patan, Boudhanath and the Pashupatinath AaratiDay 2+1 more day📍 11 stops🎟️ 1 experienceFrom$ 10.00View plan →
🗓 5 Days✨ First-Time Visitors📍 Kathmandu★ 5.0 (11)5 Days in Nepal: Kathmandu & Pokhara Itinerary (2026)The perfect 5 days in Nepal: Kathmandu's temples and royal squares, Patan, a short flight to Pokhara, Sarangkot sunrise over the Annapurnas, Phewa Lake and the World Peace Pagoda. With budget, hotels, flights and day-by-day timings.Day by day1Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu, Thamel and SwayambhunathDay 12Day 2: Durbar Square, Pashupatinath and BoudhanathDay 2+3 more days📍 15 stops🎟️ 2 experiencesFrom$ 10.00View plan →Everything to sort before and after you land — visa, money, SIM cards, insurance, permits, packing and local etiquette — from our team in Kathmandu.
Entry rules for most foreign visitors
Most visitors can get a tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport. Typical fees are:
You’ll need a passport valid for at least six months. To save time, fill in the online arrival form on the official Nepal Immigration website shortly before you fly, and carry the fee in cash (US dollars are easiest). Indian citizens do not need a visa, and citizens of other SAARC countries can usually get a free 30-day visa. Rules can change, so check the official Department of Immigration website before you travel. Landing soon? Read our Kathmandu airport arrival guide.
How to pay your way in Nepal
Stay connected for maps, ride apps and messages
Nepal’s two main mobile networks are Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell. Tourist SIM cards with data are cheap and available at the airport and in Thamel — bring your passport and a passport photo. Coverage is good in cities and on the lower trekking trails, but patchy at high altitude, where many lodges sell Wi-Fi cards.
Step-by-step advice: SIM card and internet in Nepal for tourists.
Stay safe on the road and the trail
From the airport to the mountains
Compare all options on our transport in Nepal page.
Essentials for cities and mountains
Trekking? Use our full trekking packing list.
Respectful travel in Nepal
Most foreign visitors need a tourist visa, which can be obtained on arrival at Kathmandu airport. Indian citizens do not need a visa, and other SAARC citizens can usually get a free 30-day visa. Check the official Department of Immigration website for your nationality.
Typical fees are US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days, paid in cash. Fees can change, so confirm before you travel.
Yes. You can complete the online arrival form on the official Nepal Immigration website shortly before your flight, which speeds up the process at the airport.
The Nepali rupee (NPR). Cards work in larger city businesses, but cash is needed for teahouses, small shops, taxis and entrance tickets.
Yes, many in Kathmandu and Pokhara. ATMs are limited on trekking routes, so withdraw enough cash before you start your trek.
Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell both offer affordable tourist data packs. Read our SIM card guide to choose the right one.
It is strongly recommended, and essential for trekking. Choose a policy that covers your maximum trekking altitude, helicopter rescue and medical evacuation.
Nepal is generally safe and welcoming, including for solo and female travellers. Take normal care with valuables, agree taxi fares in advance and trek with a licensed guide. The Tourist Police number is 1144.
No. Drink bottled, boiled, filtered or purified water. Many hotels and lodges offer refills for a small fee.
Nepal uses 230 V electricity with type C, D and M sockets. Bring a universal travel adapter.
October and November offer the clearest skies and most stable weather, followed by March to May. Winter is good for cities and lower treks, and June to August is the monsoon season.
Tipping is customary for trekking guides, porters and drivers. Many restaurants already add a 10% service charge to the bill.
The easiest way is a pre-booked, fixed-price transfer. Our airport to Thamel transfer includes flight tracking and a driver waiting with your name.
Really smooth experience with Axui in Kathmandu. The driver arrived on time, the car was clean, and the whole ride felt safe and comfortable. Booking was also very easy.
Private Alto Taxi in Kathmandu with Driver Used Axui for a few rides around Kathmandu and was impressed with the service. The driver was polite, knew the roads well, and got us to our destination without any hassle. Great option for getting around the city.
Private Alto Taxi in Kathmandu with Driver Very good ride service in Kathmandu. Our driver was friendly and arrived exactly when we expected. The ride was comfortable, the price was reasonable, and communication was easy. I would happily use Axui again.
Private Alto Taxi in Kathmandu with Driver Axui made getting around Kathmandu much easier for us. The pickup was straightforward, the driver was professional, and the vehicle was comfortable. A reliable service that I would recommend to other travellers visiting Nepal.
Private Alto Taxi in Kathmandu with Driver Book a private Suzuki Alto taxi in Kathmandu with an English-speaking driver. Airport pickup, hotel transfers,…
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Really smooth experience with Axui in Kathmandu. The driver arrived on time, the car was clean, and the whole ride felt safe and comfortable. Booking was also very easy.
Private Alto Taxi in Kathmandu with Driver Used Axui for a few rides around Kathmandu and was impressed with the service. The driver was polite, knew the roads well, and got us to our destination without any hassle. Great option for getting around the city.
Private Alto Taxi in Kathmandu with Driver Very good ride service in Kathmandu. Our driver was friendly and arrived exactly when we expected. The ride was comfortable, the price was reasonable, and communication was easy. I would happily use Axui again.
Private Alto Taxi in Kathmandu with Driver Axui made getting around Kathmandu much easier for us. The pickup was straightforward, the driver was professional, and the vehicle was comfortable. A reliable service that I would recommend to other travellers visiting Nepal.
Private Alto Taxi in Kathmandu with Driver No reviews match this filter.
