Season guide · Kathmandu · Nepal
Kathmandu in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Krish Dulal, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Dry, sunny days and near-freezing nights; fewer visitors, though high passes on long treks may be snowbound. Expect highs up to 21°C (70°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 3 rainy days across December–February. December is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 2°C (36°F) to 21°C (70°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 3
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19°C (66°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 1 | 10.6 h | 2/5 |
| February | 21°C (70°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 2 | 11.2 h | 3/5 |
| December | 20°C (68°F) | 3°C (37°F) | 0 | 10.4 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 20°C (68°F) against a yearly 25°C (77°F), and 3 of the year's roughly 109 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Maghe Sankranti — winter festival with special foods (usually mid-January)
- February: Losar — Tibetan New Year at Boudhanath (February or March)
- February: Maha Shivaratri — sadhus gather at Pashupatinath (February or March)
- December: Yomari Punhi — Newar harvest festival with yomari dumplings (usually December)
Good choices for winter
Museum · Patan (Lalitpur)
Patan Museum
Visit before exploring Patan Durbar Square; the displays will help you read the temples outside.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Durbar Marg
Narayanhiti Palace Museum
The royal palace at the top of Durbar Marg became a museum after Nepal abolished its monarchy in 2008.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Day trips in winter
- Nagarkot (About 1.5 hours by road) — 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.
- Changu Narayan (About 1 hour by road) — 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.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Kathmandu?
Yes: December is among the best months. Dry, sunny days and near-freezing nights; fewer visitors, though high passes on long treks may be snowbound.
+What is the weather like in Kathmandu in winter?
Highs of up to 21°C (70°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 3 rainy days over the season.