Where to stay · Pokhara · Nepal
Where to stay in Pokhara
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Q-lieb-in, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Lakeside. Guesthouses, cafés, trekking shops and bars along Phewa Lake's eastern shore. Best alternatives — budget: North Lakeside.
Key facts
- First visit
- Lakeside
- Families
- Lakeside
- Budget
- North Lakeside
- Nightlife
- Lakeside
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Lakeside | Guesthouses, cafés, trekking shops and bars along Phewa Lake's eastern shore |
| Families | Lakeside | Guesthouses, cafés, trekking shops and bars along Phewa Lake's eastern shore |
| Couples | Damside | Older, quieter tourist area by the Phewa dam with views of Machhapuchhre |
| Budget | North Lakeside | Quieter, greener stretch of guesthouses and yoga retreats beyond the main strip |
| Nightlife | Lakeside | Guesthouses, cafés, trekking shops and bars along Phewa Lake's eastern shore |
| Food lovers | Lakeside | Guesthouses, cafés, trekking shops and bars along Phewa Lake's eastern shore |
| Solo travellers | North Lakeside | Quieter, greener stretch of guesthouses and yoga retreats beyond the main strip |
| Quiet stays | North Lakeside | Quieter, greener stretch of guesthouses and yoga retreats beyond the main strip |
Pokhara neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, families, nightlife and food lovers
Lakeside
Lakeside (Baidam) stretches for a couple of kilometres along the eastern shore of Phewa Lake and holds most of Pokhara's hotels, restaurants, bakeries, trekking agencies, gear shops and live-music bars. The lakefront path is good for walking, boats for Tal Barahi leave from the shore, and many rooms have mountain views from their roofs.
- Good
- Everything within walking distance; Huge choice of rooms at every price; Lakefront walks and boats
- Watch out
- Commercial and busy in peak season; Traffic on the main Lakeside road
- Nearby
- Phewa Lake, Tal Barahi Temple, Basundhara Park
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and quiet stays
North Lakeside
North of the main Lakeside strip around Khahare, the lakeshore becomes more relaxed, with cheaper guesthouses, organic cafés, yoga studios and paddy fields between the buildings. Long-stay travellers and trekkers waiting for permits often base themselves here, a 15–20 minute walk from the centre of Lakeside.
- Good
- Lower prices; Calmer than central Lakeside; Lake views from many guesthouses
- Watch out
- Walk or taxi to the main strip; Fewer restaurants at night
- Nearby
- Phewa Lake, Sarangkot trail, Pame
$ · Best for quiet stays, budget and couples
Damside
Damside (Pardi), at the south-eastern end of Phewa Lake by the dam, was Pokhara's original travellers' area before Lakeside grew. It is quieter, with long-established hotels, Tibetan restaurants and clear views of Machhapuchhre, and it is close to Davis Falls, Gupteshwor Cave and the path up to the World Peace Pagoda.
- Good
- Peaceful; Close to the southern sights; Good mountain views
- Watch out
- Fewer cafés and bars; Twenty minutes' walk to central Lakeside
- Nearby
- Davis Falls, Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, World Peace Pagoda
$$ · Best for couples and quiet stays
Sarangkot
Sarangkot sits on a ridge above the north side of Phewa Lake, with lodges and small hotels facing the Annapurna range and Dhaulagiri. It is the launch site for most paragliding flights and the classic sunrise viewpoint. Staying overnight means waking up to the view without the pre-dawn drive.
- Good
- Mountain views from your room; Sunrise on the doorstep; Cool, clean air
- Watch out
- Busy with sunrise crowds; Few restaurants after dark
- Nearby
- Sarangkot viewpoint, Paragliding launch, Phewa Lake
$ · Best for culture, budget and solo travellers
Old Pokhara
The old town around Bhairab Tole, Bhimsen Tole and the Bindhyabasini Temple has traditional Newar brick houses with carved wooden windows, local shops and markets, and almost no tourists. It shows the trading town Pokhara was before tourism, and is a short taxi ride from Lakeside.
- Good
- Everyday Nepali life; Local prices; Historic temples
- Watch out
- Few hotels for visitors; No lake or mountain views from most streets
- Nearby
- Bindhyabasini Temple, Bhimsen Temple, Seti River gorge
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and families
Begnas Lake
Begnas Lake and neighbouring Rupa Lake are calmer alternatives to Phewa, with a few resorts and guesthouses, boat hire, fish restaurants and walks on the ridge between the two lakes. It feels rural and is reached by local bus or taxi in about 30–40 minutes from Lakeside.
- Good
- Rural calm; Fewer visitors; Lake-fish restaurants
- Watch out
- Far from Lakeside's services; Limited evening options
- Nearby
- Begnas Lake, Rupa Lake, Begnas ridge
$ · Best for quiet stays and solo travellers
Pame
Pame lies where the Harpan Khola enters Phewa Lake, with rice fields, small lodges and cafés along the road west from North Lakeside. It is popular with cyclists and long-stay visitors who want a rural setting while staying within a short ride of town.
- Good
- Countryside setting; Lake and hill views; Good cycling
- Watch out
- Need a bike, scooter or taxi; Few services
- Nearby
- Phewa Lake, North Lakeside, Sarangkot
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeside | $$ | Phewa Lake, Tal Barahi Temple, Basundhara Park |
| North Lakeside | $ | Phewa Lake, Sarangkot trail, Pame |
| Damside | $ | Davis Falls, Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, World Peace Pagoda |
| Sarangkot | $$ | Sarangkot viewpoint, Paragliding launch, Phewa Lake |
| Old Pokhara | $ | Bindhyabasini Temple, Bhimsen Temple, Seti River gorge |
| Begnas Lake | $$ | Begnas Lake, Rupa Lake, Begnas ridge |
| Pame | $ | Phewa Lake, North Lakeside, Sarangkot |
Getting to your hotel
Pokhara International Airport (PKR), on the eastern side of the city, is about 15–20 minutes by taxi from Lakeside. Flights to Kathmandu take about 25 minutes and are often delayed or cancelled by cloud, especially in the monsoon. Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) handles most international arrivals.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Pokhara for first-time visitors?
Lakeside. Lakeside (Baidam) stretches for a couple of kilometres along the eastern shore of Phewa Lake and holds most of Pokhara's hotels, restaurants, bakeries, trekking agencies, gear shops and live-music bars.
+Where should families stay in Pokhara?
Lakeside: Everything within walking distance.
+Which area of Pokhara is best for a budget stay?
North Lakeside ($): Quieter, greener stretch of guesthouses and yoga retreats beyond the main strip.