Shopping · Kathmandu · Nepal
Shopping in Kathmandu
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Kathmandu is good for Himalayan crafts — pashmina, singing bowls, thangka paintings, handmade lokta paper and cast-metal statues — and for trekking gear in Thamel. Bargaining is expected in markets and small shops. Best souvenirs: Pashmina shawls, Singing bowls and Thangka paintings.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Pashmina shawls
Where to shop
Thamel
Trekking gear, both branded and copies, plus pashmina, singing bowls, books and souvenirs.
Boudha
Tibetan prayer flags, incense, singing bowls, thangkas and monastic goods around the stupa.
Patan
Bronze and copper statues from Newar metal workshops, plus fair-trade craft shops near Kupondol.
Durbar Marg
Upmarket boutiques, jewellery and international brands.
Markets
Asan Tole
The old city's market crossroads for spices, dried fruit, utensils and fabrics.
Indra Chowk bead bazaar
Stalls selling glass bead necklaces (pote) and threads.
What to buy
Pashmina shawls
Fine cashmere wraps; quality and authenticity vary, so buy from established shops.
Singing bowls
Hammered metal bowls used in meditation, sold around Boudha and Thamel.
Thangka paintings
Buddhist scroll paintings, from quick souvenir pieces to detailed works painted over months.
Lokta paper
Handmade paper from the bark of a Himalayan shrub, sold as notebooks, cards and lampshades.
Dhaka cloth
Patterned handwoven cotton used for Nepali topi caps, scarves and bags.
Nepali tea
Black and green teas from the hills of eastern Nepal, such as Ilam.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Old City
Asan and Indra Chowk market walk
The diagonal market street from Thamel to Durbar Square passes Asan Tole, an ancient crossroads of spice, grain and utensil traders around a small temple to Annapurna, and Indra Chowk, where a bead bazaar sells glass necklaces worn by married women.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Photo spot
- History
Street · Freak Street and Durbar Square
Freak Street
Jhochhen Tole, the short lane leading south from Basantapur, earned its nickname as the end point of the 1960s and 1970s hippie trail.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
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Neighbourhood · Thamel
Thamel
Kathmandu's traveller district is a maze of lanes lined with trekking-gear shops, bookshops, singing-bowl stores and rooftop restaurants.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- After dark
- Food
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Bara, Yomari, Juju dhau and Sel roti. Newari snack shops in Patan and Bhaktapur and khaja houses in the old city. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Thamel | $$ | The traveller quarter of guesthouses, trekking shops, bars and rooftop cafés |
| Lazimpat | $$$ | Embassy quarter with leafy grounds and quieter hotels north of Thamel |
| Durbar Marg | $$$ | Wide avenue of international hotels, airline offices and brand shops |
| Freak Street and Durbar Square | $ | Old-city lanes and hippie-trail history beside the royal square |
| Jhamsikhel and Sanepa | $$$ | Expat and NGO district of cafés, bakeries and garden restaurants |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in NPR. Many tourist restaurants add a 10% service charge, so extra tips are optional. Tipping trekking guides and porters at the end of a trek is expected, and a small tip for taxi drivers and hotel staff is appreciated.
- Check whether menu prices include the 10% service charge and 13% VAT before ordering.
- Withdraw cash in larger amounts where possible; ATM fees per withdrawal add up and some machines run out during festivals.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in July; the busiest months are October–November.
- January: Maghe Sankranti — winter festival with special foods (usually mid-January)
- April: Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur — Nepali New Year chariot festival (usually mid-April)
- May: Rato Machhindranath chariot festival in Patan (spring, often stretching over weeks)
- October: Dashain — Nepal's biggest festival, with kites and family gatherings (usually October)
- October: Tihar — festival of lights (October or November)
- December: Yomari Punhi — Newar harvest festival with yomari dumplings (usually December)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for luxury, first-timers and shopping
Durbar Marg
Wide avenue of international hotels, airline offices and brand shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Kathmandu?
Pashmina shawls, Singing bowls, Thangka paintings and Lokta paper.
+Where is the best shopping in Kathmandu?
Thamel: Trekking gear, both branded and copies, plus pashmina, singing bowls, books and souvenirs.
+What are the best markets in Kathmandu?
Asan Tole and Indra Chowk bead bazaar.