Outdoors · Kathmandu · Nepal
5 best outdoor things to do in Kathmandu
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Irina Gelbukh, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Garden of Dreams, Kopan Monastery and Chandragiri Hills cable car. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 10–12 hours across 5 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 10–12 hours
- Areas
- Thamel, Boudha and Thankot
Outdoors in Kathmandu
Garden · Thamel
1.Garden of Dreams
Bring a book for an hour's escape from Thamel's traffic.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Religious site · Boudha
2.Kopan Monastery
Check the monastery's schedule for short meditation sessions open to visitors.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Thankot
3.Chandragiri Hills cable car
Go on a clear morning between October and March for the best mountain views; afternoons often cloud over.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Kids
- Outdoors
Nature · Budhanilkantha
4.Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
Start early from the Budhanilkantha entrance, carry water and lunch, and go with a companion or guide.
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- Views
Nature · Chobhar
5.Taudaha Lake
Combine it with the Chobhar gorge and the Newar villages of Bungamati and Khokana on a half-day loop.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Thamel | Garden of Dreams | 1 hour |
| Boudha | Kopan Monastery | 1.5 hours |
| Thankot | Chandragiri Hills cable car | Half a day |
| Budhanilkantha | Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park | Half to full day |
| Chobhar | Taudaha Lake | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 2 free, 2 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Chandragiri Hills cable car; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Thamel and Boudha): Garden of Dreams → Kopan Monastery, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Thankot): Chandragiri Hills cable car, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Budhanilkantha and Chobhar): Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park → Taudaha Lake, at least 4 hours.
The best months to be outside
- November: highs of 23°C (73°F), about 1 rainy days, very busy crowds. Sunny, stable weather and the clearest mountain views of the year; book treks and flights early.
- December: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 0 rainy days, moderate crowds. Dry and sunny with cold nights; a quieter month for valley sightseeing and lower-altitude treks.
- January: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 1 rainy days, quiet crowds. Sunny, mild days and cold nights near freezing; many buildings are unheated, so bring warm layers.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Thamel — The traveller quarter of guesthouses, trekking shops, bars and rooftop cafés
- Durbar Marg — Wide avenue of international hotels, airline offices and brand shops
- Boudha — Tibetan Buddhist neighbourhood around the great stupa
More of Kathmandu
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Kathmandu?
Garden of Dreams. A neoclassical garden of pavilions, fountains and lawns created in the 1920s for Field Marshal Kaiser Shumsher Rana and restored with Austrian support.
+Which of these are free in Kathmandu?
Kopan Monastery and Taudaha Lake.