Kathmandu from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Kathmandu, when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 26 Oct 2026.
Plan my Kathmandu tripDay to day in Kathmandu, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £5 | £10 |
| A balanced mix | £11 | £16 |
| Mostly restaurants | £19 | £24 |
- Local transport: about £5 a day. Taxi: £0 to start, then £0.25 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £4 a day for food.
- Tipping: about 10% where service is good.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: livingcost.org, en.wikivoyage.org, thehimalayantimes.com; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
16°F
20°M
24°A
29°M
30°J
29°J
26°A
26°S
25°O
23°N
20°D
17°
The most pleasant months are October to May. November is the driest month (3 mm of rain) and July the wettest (280 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Visa for British travellers
A visa on arrival (Nepal Tourist Visa)
Fee: $50 a person.
Official source: ru.nepalembassy.gov.np, checked 2026-10-26. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Kathmandu
Pashupatinath Templetemple · a couple of hoursNepal's holiest Hindu site on the Bagmati; evening aarti ceremony. Be respectful at the cremation ghats.
Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)temple · a couple of hours365 steps up the east side; sunset views over the valley. Watch the monkeys.
- Boudhanath Stupatemple · a couple of hours
Walk clockwise with the pilgrims at dusk; rooftop cafés ring the stupa.
- Kumari Ghar (House of the Living Goddess)palace · a couple of hours
Carved courtyard on Durbar Square; no photos of the Kumari if she appears at the window.
Kathmandu Durbar Squaresquare · half a dayGo early morning when offerings are made; swap the single ticket for a multi-day pass at the site office.
Thamelneighbourhood · a couple of hoursTrekking gear, pashminas, rooftop bars and live music; bargain everywhere.
- Garden of Dreamsgarden · a couple of hours
An oasis at the edge of Thamel; Kaiser Café inside for lunch.
Patan Durbar Square and Patan Museumsquare · half a dayAcross the Bagmati, 7 km from Thamel; the museum ticket is included in the square entry.
Bhaktapurold town · a full dayMedieval Newari city 12 km east; Nyatapola temple, pottery square and juju dhau yoghurt.
- Everest mountain flightexperience · a couple of hours
One-hour scenic flight along the Himalaya at dawn; everyone gets a window seat and a turn in the cockpit.
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Kathmandu cost?
Food and getting around come to about £10 a person a day eating street food, £16 with a balanced mix and £24 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Kathmandu?
The most pleasant months are October to May. November is the driest month (3 mm of rain) and July the wettest (280 mm); daytime highs run from 16 to 30 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for Nepal?
A visa on arrival (Nepal Tourist Visa), $50. Checked on ru.nepalembassy.gov.np on 2026-10-26; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Kathmandu?
Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Boudhanath Stupa, Kumari Ghar (House of the Living Goddess), Kathmandu Durbar Square.
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