Getting around · Kathmandu · Nepal
Getting around Kathmandu
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sumitbhatt222, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Kathmandu has no metro or tram, and traffic is slow and congested. The old city and Thamel are walkable, while Boudha, Pashupatinath, Patan and Bhaktapur are a taxi or app ride away. Plan around traffic: a 6 km journey can take 40 minutes at rush hour. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- KTM
- Need a car?
- No
Ways to get around
Walking
Thamel, Asan, Indra Chowk and Kathmandu Durbar Square are linked by a 15–20 minute walk through the old city; Swayambhunath is about 30 minutes on foot from Thamel.
Taxi
Small taxis can be hailed anywhere; agree the fare before getting in, as meters are rarely used for visitors.
Ask your hotel what a fair fare is for common routes before setting off.
Ride-hailing
Ride-hailing apps such as Pathao and inDrive offer cars and motorbike taxis at prices set in the app, which avoids bargaining.
Bus
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.
Car
A car with driver for a day is the easiest way to combine Bhaktapur, Changu Narayan and Nagarkot, and hotels and agencies arrange them readily.
From the airport
Tribhuvan International Airport is about 6 km east of Thamel; the drive takes about 20–40 minutes depending on traffic. A prepaid taxi counter operates in the international arrivals hall, and the domestic terminal for Pokhara and mountain flights is a separate building nearby.
Do you need a car?
No. Driving in Kathmandu is chaotic and mountain roads are demanding; use taxis, apps and a hired car with driver for valley excursions.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Bhaktapur | About 45 minutes to 1 hour by road | Taxi, app ride or local bus |
| Nagarkot | About 1.5 hours by road | Taxi or car with driver |
| Changu Narayan | About 1 hour by road | Taxi, often combined with Bhaktapur or Nagarkot |
| Dhulikhel and Namobuddha | About 1.5–2 hours by road | Car with driver |
| Bungamati and Khokana | About 45 minutes by road from Thamel | Taxi or bicycle via Patan |
| Kirtipur | About 30 minutes by road | Taxi or local bus |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Kathmandu?
No. Driving in Kathmandu is chaotic and mountain roads are demanding; use taxis, apps and a hired car with driver for valley excursions.
+How do you get from the airport to Kathmandu?
Tribhuvan International Airport is about 6 km east of Thamel; the drive takes about 20–40 minutes depending on traffic. A prepaid taxi counter operates in the international arrivals hall, and the domestic terminal for Pokhara and mountain flights is a separate building nearby.
+What is the best way to get around Kathmandu?
Walking: Thamel, Asan, Indra Chowk and Kathmandu Durbar Square are linked by a 15–20 minute walk through the old city; Swayambhunath is about 30 minutes on foot from Thamel.