6 best day trips from Kathmandu

Day trips compared

The day trips

13 km · About 45 minutes to 1 hour by road

1.Bhaktapur

The best-preserved of the valley's royal cities, with three main squares, the five-tiered Nyatapola temple, Pottery Square where potters work in the open and streets largely closed to traffic. Stay into the evening to see the squares without day-trippers, and try juju dhau.

Getting there

Taxi, app ride or local bus

Best for

First-timers, Culture, Families

32 km · About 1.5 hours by road

2.Nagarkot

A hill village at around 2,000 metres on the valley's eastern rim, famous for sunrise views over a wide sweep of the Himalaya on clear days, mainly from October to March. Many visitors stay overnight and hike down to Changu Narayan the next morning.

Getting there

Taxi or car with driver

Best for

Couples, Quiet stays, Families

22 km · About 1 hour by road

3.Changu Narayan

The oldest temple in the valley, a two-tiered Vishnu shrine on a ridge with a stone inscription from the 5th century and superb early carvings. The small Newar village below has a museum and lunch spots.

Getting there

Taxi, often combined with Bhaktapur or Nagarkot

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays

35 km · About 1.5–2 hours by road

4.Dhulikhel and Namobuddha

Dhulikhel is an old Newar trading town with mountain views, and a road or day hike leads to Namobuddha, a hilltop stupa and large Tibetan monastery tied to a legend of the Buddha's compassion.

Getting there

Car with driver

Best for

Quiet stays, Culture, Couples

10 km · About 45 minutes by road from Thamel

5.Bungamati and Khokana

Two traditional Newar villages south of Patan, where woodcarvers work in Bungamati and Khokana is known for pressing mustard oil. Both were damaged in 2015 and are being rebuilt, offering a glimpse of rural valley life.

Getting there

Taxi or bicycle via Patan

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays, Solo travellers

6 km · About 30 minutes by road

6.Kirtipur

A hilltop Newar town on a ridge south-west of the city, with brick lanes, the Bagh Bhairab temple and Newari restaurants with valley views. It is rarely visited by tourists despite being so close.

Getting there

Taxi or local bus

Best for

Culture, Budget, Food lovers

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Crowded microbuses and public buses link the valley's towns cheaply but are hard to navigate without local help; the Sajha Yatayat buses are the most comfortable.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask