How to Spend a Day in Kathmandu: The Ultimate Itinerary

A Day in Kathmandu

Welcome to the ultimate guide on how to spend a day in Kathmandu!

You’re mistaken if you think Kathmandu is a small valley. My friend, let me surprise you: “Out of 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, there are 7 of them in Kathmandu.” Most tourists stop here as a point to stay at the beginning or end of the trek.

So, if you have limited time here, I would like to help you with the best 24-hour experience in Kathmandu.

Buckle up and walk with me; we have a day only!!

Your one-day itinerary:

• Early Morning Mountain Flight
• City view from Monkey Temple
• Local breakfast at Basantapur
• Kathmandu Durbar Square Sightseeing
• Heritage walk at Patan Durbar Square
• Local Newari Cuisine Lunch
• Pashupatinath Sightseeing
• Evening at Boudhanath Stupa
• Dinner with a View
• Nightlife at Thamel

This is how you spend a perfect day in Kathmandu.

Early Morning Mountain Flight

Let’s kick off your day with the most stunning view you will ever witness—board an hour-long mountain flight. Put on your seat belt and observe the world’s highest peak upfront. You will fly above the clouds and giant snow-capped peaks and view breathtaking mountain ranges. Viewing Mount Everest so close is hands-down the best experience you will have.

The flight starts at 06:15, so your vehicle will pick you up at 05:30 from your hotel.

City View from Monkey Temple

After your flight, you will be headed to Swoyambhunath Stupa. It is popularly known as the Monkey Temple among tourists. The stupa sits atop a hill overlooking the city. Usually, people take the stone staircase (with 365 steps) to reach the top. You can spend hours looking at the view and exploring the temple, its beautiful architecture, cravings, and prayer flags.

Local Breakfast at Basantapur

The morning ritual revolves around freshly boiled and brewed chiya, with or without milk, with enough sugar to kick start anyone’s heart. Sel roti, donuts, gwarmari, malpuwa, jeri-swari, haluwa, and many more are on the typical breakfast menu in Kathmandu. Here, breakfast may not be the most significant meal of the day or considered even a meal, but these are still enough to pull you out of bed. Combining this food with hot chiya is a delicious way to hold one over till lunch.

Kathmandu Durbar Square Sightseeing

After breakfast, you will walk around Kathmandu Durbar Square. It is the most beautiful, and Durbar Square is situated in the heart of the city. You will be amazed by its cultural importance. The square holds important significance in the history of Kathmandu. There is a living goddess (Kumari) in the square too. Spend about 1-2 hours exploring the square and taking in its intricate architecture and rich history. Check out Kumari Ghar and the Taleju Bhawani Temple. If you have time, take a stroll down Freak Street before catching a ride out to Patan.

Heritage walk at Patan Durbar Square

One of the ancient cities Patan, also known as Lalitpur holds a significant place in preserving and promoting the history and culture in the valley. Explore the alleyways of Old Patan, stopping by courtyards and temples along the way. Highlights include the Hiraṇyavarṇa Mahāvihāra (also referred to as The Golden Temple, but it’s neither gold nor a temple) and the Mahaboudha Temple, which has hundreds of little Buddha statues. There are many other architecture and buildings to see, but you cannot miss the splendid Krishna Mandir built in 1637 by Malla King. It is a Shikhara-style temple constructed from a carved stone. The Patan Museum displays information and artifacts relating to the Kathmandu Valley’s traditions and culture. It is considered to be the best museum in Nepal.

Local Newari Cuisine Lunch

The restaurant in the garden at the back of the museum sells excellent dal bhat (Nepali lentils, rice, and curry). Do as the locals do and enjoy a leisurely lunch. You can also enjoy the delicacy of Newari Cuisine. Some popular dishes in Newari cuisine include Chatamari, Yomari, Bara, Samay Baji, etc. Newari cuisine is widely popular among the Newars as well as people outside of the Newar community. Thus, many restaurants today include Newari cuisine in their menu. The aroma of spices will stay in your taste buds.

Pashupatinath Sightseeing

After your lunch, you will head to Pashupatinath Temple. It is the holiest Hindu site in Nepal. Hindus all around Nepal, India, and other countries visit this temple once in a lifetime. Many people come here to die, as they believe you go directly to heaven from here. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple. There are many other temples outdoor to explore. Temple is situated on the bank of the Bagmati River. There are many temples around and cremation ghats on the bank of the river. You can witness the dead body burning on fire as it is the ritual in the Hindu religion. You can cross the river and get a clear and closer view of the East Side of the Temple.

Evening at Boudhanath Stupa

For the evening you will head to Boudha. Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world. It is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists all around the globe. You will spend more than 2 hours here, taking in the stunning architecture, spinning the prayer wheels, and soaking up the peaceful atmosphere. You will visit many monks around the stupa. There are monasteries too nearby. You can visit those, meditate, and give yourself time for prayers. The stupa looks so amazing and the atmosphere gets more pleasant as time passes.

Dinner with a View

Won’t it be the best time to enjoy the dinner with that view?

There are many rooftop restaurants around the stupa for the view. The foods here are influenced by the Tibetan culture. The momo (dumplings), and spicy keema noodles are best found here in the town. You can also enjoy Nepali cuisine and other international cuisines with a close view of the stupa.

Nightlife at Thamel

After your dinner, it is time to enjoy the nightlife of Kathmandu. And what is better than going to a place which never sleeps?

A buzzing, visitor-friendly area, Thamel is the city’s main nightlife zone. Bars blast out live music by cover bands, and lively eateries serve Nepalese and international dishes. It is the perfect place to hold your drink, enjoy the music, and stroll around. You will find all sorts of pubs, bars, and clubs here to sit and enjoy. Bar Hopping is the new trend in the city. You can try this too and drink signature drinks from different bars of the Thamel.

Here you’re a single-day tour in Kathmandu ends.

Few places in Kathmandu stay open after midnight.

No problem if you are staying at a hotel in Thamel or any other place, taxis travel all over town, and traffic is also practically nonexistent late at night.

Do you have a half day to spare? I would love to take you to the stunning sunrise and beautiful Bhaktapur city.