Comparison · Delhi vs Kathmandu · India / Nepal
Delhi vs Kathmandu
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Marcin Białek, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Delhi for Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and free sights; choose Kathmandu for Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath. Kathmandu is generally less expensive, and the two are about 802 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 802 km
- Less expensive
- Kathmandu
- Best time for Delhi
- February–March and October
- Best time for Kathmandu
- March–April and October–December
Side by side
| Delhi | Kathmandu | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | India | Nepal |
| Known for | Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and Qutb Minar | Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath and Durbar Squares |
| Best time to visit | February–March and October | March–April and October–December |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $60–$130 | $50–$120 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Very affordable |
| Warmest month | May, 40°C (104°F) | June, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 20°C (68°F) | January, 19°C (66°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 13 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | DEL | KTM |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Delhi for…
Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and free sights. Delhi is a capital built in layers: the sultanate ruins of Mehrauli and Hauz Khas, the Mughal city of Shahjahanabad with the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk, and the broad avenues of Lutyens' New Delhi around India Gate. Its three UNESCO World…
Choose Kathmandu for…
Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath. Kathmandu sits at about 1,400 metres in a bowl-shaped valley ringed by hills, and the valley's seven UNESCO monument zones — the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan — are all within an…
Top sights compared
| # | Delhi | Kathmandu |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Fort | Kathmandu Durbar Square |
| 2 | Jama Masjid | Swayambhunath |
| 3 | Chandni Chowk | Boudhanath |
| 4 | Khari Baoli spice market | Pashupatinath Temple |
| 5 | Humayun's Tomb | Patan Durbar Square |
Food compared
| Delhi | Kathmandu |
|---|---|
| Butter chicken | Momo |
| Dal makhani | Dal bhat tarkari |
| Chole bhature | Newari khaja set |
| Stuffed parathas | Bara |
Which is cheaper?
Kathmandu is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $50–$120 per person there, against $60–$130 in Delhi (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Kathmandu on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 802 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Delhi or Kathmandu cheaper?
Kathmandu is usually less expensive: about $50–$120 a day mid-range against $60–$130 (estimates).
+Is Delhi or Kathmandu better for a first trip?
Pick Delhi for Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and free sights, or Kathmandu for Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath.
+How far is Delhi from Kathmandu?
About 802 km in a straight line.