Places to See in Kathmandu: The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary

Planning a visit to Nepal's capital city? This carefully curated 3-day itinerary will lead you to all of the top places to see in Kathmandu.

From temple hopping in the city's three UNESCO World Heritage-listed durbar (royal palace) squares to circumnavigating the 2,000-year-old Swayambhunath Stupa, witnessing a Hindu cremation ceremony at Pashupatinath Temple, and watching the sunrise with Mount Everest in the distance, your trip to Kathmandu is bound to be a memorable one.

Kickstart your 3 days in Kathmandu by diving right into the chaos of the city centre. Sure, you'll be bombarded by a cacophony of sights, sounds, and smells - but that's all part of the experience. Your first stop is Durbar Square, one of the most popular places to see in Kathmandu. 

This UNESCO World Heritage Site once served as the kings’ residence and contains over 50 temples, palaces, courtyards, and prayer buildings dating from the 12th to 18th centuries. Although many of the ancient structures were heavily damaged by the 2015 earthquake, the majority have now been painstakingly restored.  

While there is a lot to see here, some of the most important attractions in Kathmandu Durbar Square are the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, as well as the interesting museum inside; the Kumari Ghar, the residence of the living goddess; and the 16th-century Taleju Temple, which can only be admired from the outside by non-Hindus.

After you've finished temple hopping, take a 15-minute walk over to Thamel District, the tourist epicentre of Kathmandu. You could easily spend hours wandering around the narrow alleyways, shopping for cheap trekking gear and tourist trinkets, and sampling local eats from street food vendors. 

Once you're ready for lunch, pop into The Best Kathmandu Kitchen on Thamel Street for traditional Nepalese cuisine, including fresh momos and filling dal bhat sets. After that, make your way to the nearby Garden of Dreams. Built in the 1920s, this neoclassical garden is an unexpected oasis in the heart of Thamel. It's well worth taking some time to stroll around the manicured gardens and enjoy a reprieve from the chaos of Kathmandu. 

Take a 15-minute drive from Thamel to Swayambhunath Stupa, yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most popular things to do in Kathmandu is to climb the 365 steps to reach the top of the 2,000-year-old hilltop temple. Up here, you'll be rewarded with spectacular views of the sprawling city below. This is also a prime spot to watch the sunset, so try to time your visit accordingly.

Swayambhunath Stupa is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, and you'll see Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims circling the stupa, spinning prayer wheels, and giving offerings to deities. This place is also known as Monkey Temple due to the hundreds of monkeys who live here. They are not shy about grabbing phones, cameras, jewellery, or food, so be careful.

Day 2 of your 3-day Kathmandu itinerary takes you to Patan (aka Lalitpur), which is just 25 minutes from Kathmandu Durbar Square. Make your way to Patan Durbar Square, the former palace of the kings of Patan and a current UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are so many ancient architectural marvels here. But you'll, of course, want to check out the spectacular Royal Palace before popping into the Patan Museum to learn more about Nepal's culture and history. Other must-see attractions are the 12th-century Kwa Bahal Buddhist monastery (aka Golden Temple), the 17th-century Krishna Temple with its 21 golden spires, and the Sundari Chowk with its intricately carved Tusha Hiti stepwell and bath.  

Once you've finished exploring the square, take some time to meander around the surrounding alleyways. From art galleries to the city's famous metal workshops, you never know what you'll find. 

By now, you've probably worked up an appetite. Honacha restaurant is located right near Krishna Mandir and it's the perfect place to sample traditional Newari food. You can expect offerings like chatamari (Newari pizza), yomari (steamed dumplings), bara (lentil pancakes), and samay baji (a Newari version of thali).

Once you've had your fill, it's time to take a 30-minute drive to your next destination, Pashupatinath Temple. Found on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is another one of the most religious sites in the region. Dedicated to Shiva, this is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu and it's well-known as an important site for Hindu cremations.  

Many people wish to be cremated at this site because it is believed it will help the soul transition toward a better afterlife. While you can absolutely visit on your own, it is well worth paying for a guide to take you through the process, which includes witnessing the highly spiritual cremation process. 

After you've visited Pashupatinath Temple, you can take a 30-minute walk or a 5-minute taxi ride to Boudhanath Stupa. With a height of 36 metres and a diameter of 100 metres, this is one of the largest stupas in the world and one of the most important outside of Tibet. While you visit, you'll see plenty of monks and worshippers spinning prayer wheels as they travel in clockwise loops around the stupa. 

End your action-packed day at The Third Eye restaurant back in Thamel. This restaurant serves some of the most delicious Indian and Nepalese cuisine in Kathmandu. There's also a lovely rooftop area where you can enjoy dinner with beautiful views of the city. After dinner, head back to your Kathmandu hotel and get some rest. You'll have an early day tomorrow. 

You're going to start the final day of your 3-day Kathmandu itinerary off with a pre-dawn trip to the Kathmandu Valley. The small town of Nagarkot is located a 90-minute taxi ride from the city centre. But it's worth the effort to get out into the rural Nepalese countryside. 

From the Nagarkot View Tower, it's possible to glimpse the highest snow-capped peaks in Nepal – including Annapurna, Manaslu, and Everest – way out in the distance. This spot is famous for its sunrise views. Hence the early start. 

If you've got the energy, Nagarkot offers plenty of hiking trails that will lead you through the countryside. One of the most popular hikes is the 9.5-kilometre trail that leads to the 4th-century Changunarayan Temple, which is the oldest temple in Kathmandu and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Next on your itinerary is another one of the most famous Kathmandu attractions, Bhaktapur. The drive from Nagarkot to Bhaktapur takes around 40 minutes, but you'll still have plenty of time left in your day to explore. 

Start in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's brimming with Hindu and Buddhist palaces, temples, and statues.  

As with all of Kathmandu's durbar squares, you can easily spend hours here. But some of the top sights are the 55 Window Palace, the 5-story temple in Taumadhi Square, the potters in Pottery Square, the iconic 15th-century Peacock Window, and the Golden Gate. You'll also want to take some time to wander around the streets surrounding Bhaktapur Durbar Square to see what hidden gems you can find. 

End your 3 days in Kathmandu with a festive dinner at Walnut Bistro. This place is set in a lovely plant-filled garden in Panipokhari, just 10 minutes from Thamel District. With its unique ambience, excellent Indian and Nepalese dishes, and live music, it's the perfect way to end your trip to Kathmandu.

Located just 4 kilometres from the airport, Mercure Kathmandu Sukedhara Heights has everything you need for a comfortable stay. 

When you're not out exploring all of the famous Kathmandu attractions, you can go swimming in the rooftop pool, sip drinks with a spectacular view at the pool bar, take a steam in the sauna, keep up with your workout routine in the state-of-the-art gym, and dine on Indian food at the Zaiqa restaurant. 

And then there are the stylish rooms, which are outfitted with plush beds, 50-inch flat-screen TVs with Chromecast, minibars, and floor-to-ceiling windows. It's the perfect home base for your trip to Kathmandu.