Where to stay · Kathmandu · Nepal
Where to stay in Kathmandu
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Thamel. The traveller quarter of guesthouses, trekking shops, bars and rooftop cafés.
Key facts
- First visit
- Thamel
- Budget
- Thamel
- Nightlife
- Thamel
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Thamel | The traveller quarter of guesthouses, trekking shops, bars and rooftop cafés |
| Couples | Lazimpat | Embassy quarter with leafy grounds and quieter hotels north of Thamel |
| Budget | Thamel | The traveller quarter of guesthouses, trekking shops, bars and rooftop cafés |
| Luxury | Lazimpat | Embassy quarter with leafy grounds and quieter hotels north of Thamel |
| Nightlife | Thamel | The traveller quarter of guesthouses, trekking shops, bars and rooftop cafés |
| Food lovers | Jhamsikhel and Sanepa | Expat and NGO district of cafés, bakeries and garden restaurants |
| Solo travellers | Thamel | The traveller quarter of guesthouses, trekking shops, bars and rooftop cafés |
| Shopping | Durbar Marg | Wide avenue of international hotels, airline offices and brand shops |
| Quiet stays | Lazimpat | Embassy quarter with leafy grounds and quieter hotels north of Thamel |
Kathmandu neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, solo travellers and nightlife
Thamel
A grid of narrow lanes about 15 minutes' walk north of Kathmandu Durbar Square, Thamel has the city's densest choice of hotels, from hostels to boutique courtyards, plus trekking-gear shops, travel agents, live-music bars and restaurants serving everything from dal bhat to wood-fired pizza. It is convenient and sociable but noisy and very commercial.
- Good
- Every traveller service in one area; Huge range of places to stay and eat; Walk to the old city
- Watch out
- Noisy and crowded; Touts and souvenir sellers; Feels removed from local life
- Nearby
- Garden of Dreams, Asan Tole, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Narayanhiti Palace Museum
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and luxury
Lazimpat
Lazimpat, home to several embassies, is a calmer alternative to Thamel a 10–15 minute walk away. Larger hotels set in gardens, a few good cafés and restaurants, and less traffic noise make it a good base for longer stays or for a rest after a trek.
- Good
- Quieter nights; Walk to Thamel's restaurants; Hotels with gardens
- Watch out
- Fewer budget options; Main road can be busy by day
- Nearby
- Thamel, Narayanhiti Palace Museum, Durbar Marg
$$$ · Best for luxury, first-timers and shopping
Durbar Marg
Kathmandu's upmarket boulevard runs south from the gates of the Narayanhiti Palace Museum, with established hotels such as the Yak & Yeti nearby, airline offices, banks and restaurants. It is central and walkable to Thamel and the Garden of Dreams.
- Good
- Central and well connected; Larger, full-service hotels; Short walk to Thamel
- Watch out
- Busy traffic; Less atmosphere than the old city
- Nearby
- Narayanhiti Palace Museum, Garden of Dreams, Rani Pokhari
$ · Best for budget, culture and solo travellers
Freak Street and Durbar Square
Jhochhen, better known as Freak Street, was the end of the overland hippie trail in the 1960s and 1970s. Today it has simple guesthouses and cafés right beside Kathmandu Durbar Square, putting you among the old city's temples, markets and morning rituals rather than in Thamel's traveller bubble.
- Good
- Old-city atmosphere; Low prices; Walk to Durbar Square before the crowds
- Watch out
- Basic accommodation; Few restaurants open late
- Nearby
- Kathmandu Durbar Square, Kumari Ghar, Basantapur
$$ · Best for culture, quiet stays, solo travellers and couples
Boudha
Staying near Boudhanath means joining the kora around the stupa at dawn and dusk with monks, pilgrims and prayer wheels. Monastery guesthouses and mid-range hotels surround the square, rooftop cafés look onto the dome, and Kopan Monastery is a short ride north. It is about 6 km east of Thamel and close to the airport.
- Good
- Calm and spiritual mornings and evenings; Close to the airport; Excellent Tibetan food
- Watch out
- A taxi ride from Thamel and the old city; Little nightlife
- Nearby
- Boudhanath, Kopan Monastery, Pashupatinath Temple
$$ · Best for culture, couples and quiet stays
Patan (Lalitpur)
Across the Bagmati River, Patan's old town centres on its Durbar Square and the Patan Museum, surrounded by courtyards (bahals) where metalworkers still cast Buddhist statues. Heritage guesthouses in restored Newar houses let you experience the square at dawn and after the day visitors leave.
- Good
- Beautiful, walkable heritage town; Calmer than central Kathmandu; Craft workshops
- Watch out
- A taxi ride to Thamel and Boudha; Limited accommodation choice
- Nearby
- Patan Durbar Square, Patan Museum, Golden Temple (Kwa Bahal), Jhamsikhel
$$$ · Best for food lovers, quiet stays and couples
Jhamsikhel and Sanepa
On the western side of Patan, Jhamsikhel (often called 'Jhamel') and neighbouring Sanepa are home to many international organisations and their staff. The streets are lined with cafés, wine bars and international restaurants, and serviced apartments suit longer stays.
- Good
- Good restaurants and cafés; Residential and calm; Walk or short ride to Patan
- Watch out
- Few sights in the area; Spread out without much street life
- Nearby
- Patan Durbar Square, Patan Museum
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Thamel | $$ | Garden of Dreams, Asan Tole, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Narayanhiti Palace Museum |
| Lazimpat | $$$ | Thamel, Narayanhiti Palace Museum, Durbar Marg |
| Durbar Marg | $$$ | Narayanhiti Palace Museum, Garden of Dreams, Rani Pokhari |
| Freak Street and Durbar Square | $ | Kathmandu Durbar Square, Kumari Ghar, Basantapur |
| Boudha | $$ | Boudhanath, Kopan Monastery, Pashupatinath Temple |
| Patan (Lalitpur) | $$ | Patan Durbar Square, Patan Museum, Golden Temple (Kwa Bahal), Jhamsikhel |
| Jhamsikhel and Sanepa | $$$ | Patan Durbar Square, Patan Museum |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Kathmandu for first-time visitors?
Thamel. A grid of narrow lanes about 15 minutes' walk north of Kathmandu Durbar Square, Thamel has the city's densest choice of hotels, from hostels to boutique courtyards, plus trekking-gear shops, travel agents, live-music bars and restaurants serving everything from dal bhat to wood-fired pizza.
+Which area of Kathmandu is best for a budget stay?
Thamel ($$): The traveller quarter of guesthouses, trekking shops, bars and rooftop cafés.