How to spend one day in Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal and Nepal has only 3 international airports. These three international airports are Gautam Buddha International Airport, Siddharthnagar, Pokhara International Airport, Pokhara, Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. So, you are likely to land at one of these airports. As Kathmandu airport is in operation for a longer time you are more likely to enter Nepal from this airport.

If you have limited time or only one day in Kathmandu, then You might have thoughts about how to spend your day in Kathmandu in the best way. There are many ways to spend one day in Kathmandu as per your interest like short treks, roaming around heritage sites, roaming local streets, etc.

First, let’s dig into what Kathmandu is popular about. So, you can plan to spend one day in Kathmandu in the best way:

1. Historic and Cultural Sites: Kathmandu has very popular heritage sites i.e. Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, and Bhaktapur Durbar Square listed on UNESCO heritage sites. These sites are connected with the medieval history of Kathmandu and the monuments, palaces, and architecture are still preserved. They are also the main attraction of Kathmandu.
2. Rich Buddhist and Hindu Heritage: Kathmandu is also known as the city of temples. As you roam in the town you will encounter many temples in the street. Kathmandu has the Pashupatinath temple as the biggest Hindu temple and Boudhanath Stupa the biggest stupa in the world as a Buddhist monastery. Other temples are Swayambhu Nath Temple, Krishna Temple etc.
3. Handicrafts and Souvenirs: Kathmandu is known for its vibrant markets, particularly in the tourist district of Thamel. Visitors can explore a wide variety of handicrafts, textiles, jewelry, and souvenirs, including traditional hand-woven carpets, metalwork, and wooden crafts.
4. Newari Cuisine: The city is famous for its unique Newari cuisine, which offers a variety of flavors and traditional dishes like momo (dumplings), bara (lentil pancakes), and kwati (sprouted bean soup), are popular among locals and tourists alike.
5. short treks: Kathmandu is surrounded by hills where you can hike in a day. Many popular hikes are Nagarkot hike, Champadevi Hike, Shivapuri Hike, Chandragiri Hill Hike, Phulchowki hike etc. This hike will provide you beautiful natural sights of Kathmandu nature.

Now, here is the total day plan for you to spend your only day in Kathmandu in the best way from the start of the day to the end of the day. In this plan we have covered all the famous and popular places of Kathmandu to make your limited one day memorable and worth. Here’s a suggested itinerary to make the most of your day in Kathmandu:

Morning:

Start your sunrise with cup of Nepali tea and head towards the Pashupatinath Temple directly without any delay and wasting your time. It is best to spend beginning of your day with spiritual scared places to keep your spirit up. And after this directly head to Boudhanath Stupa as it is a top 5 attraction places of Nepal. Boudhnath is the biggest stupa in the world this place will provide you meditating and calm atmosphere. It is one of the sacred Buddhist sites.

After exploring the Bouddhanath stupa take breakfast in nearby cafe, Nearby cafe will provide you with different nepali and tibetian cuisine. Take one restaurant which provides you the view of Boudhanath stupa from their restaurant. As you are in Nepal, so you have to try Nepal national food i.e. Dal bhatt tarkari which are boiled rice, lentils soup and set of curry respectively. You just order thakali khana set as it provides you variety of curries set. And choose the thakali khana set as per your choice veg or non-veg.

Mid-day:

As you finished your breakfast and having rest then go directly towards Kathmandu Durbar Square. Walk or take a short ride to Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the ancient palaces, temples, and courtyards that showcase the rich history and culture of the city. Don’t miss the Kumari Ghar, the residence of the Living Goddess, Kumari. Lunch at a Newari Restaurant: Newari cuisine is a must-try in Kathmandu because it is one of the popular foods in Nepal. Head to a local Newari restaurant to savor authentic dishes like Momo(dumplings), bara (lentils pancake), choila(buff spicy meat with spices) and Samay Baji. Enjoy the unique flavors and spices that define Newari cuisine.

Afternoon:

After your lunch and relaxation head directly towards the Swayambhunath stupa which is considered as one of the beautiful places in top 5 beautiful places near kathmandu.  Swyambhunath stupa is situated at top of the hills where you have to climb the stairs to reach it. You will encounter many monkeys in this Stupa. It is also called Monkey temple. When reach the top or Stupa you will get to see the breath-taking view of Kathmandu valley. You will see the Kathmandu city at a glance.

After that head towards the Thamel as Thamel is near to Swayambhu Nath. Thamel is Popular place among the tourists for various reason like accommodations, shopping, nightlife etc. You can spend your time in Thamel as you like. But we provide you advice for shopping in Thamel. Travelers can browse through a wide range of items, including traditional handicrafts, souvenirs, clothing, jewelry, trekking gear, and local artwork. The area is particularly known for its selection of Tibetan and Nepali handicrafts.

Evening

If you feel to spend your evening out of Thamel then head toward the place called Durbarmarg which is another best place for tourists and Popular place among locals and tourists to roam and enjoy the evening walk. Durbarmarg provides you top Clubs, Cafes, restaurant, shops etc.  Many restaurants in Durbarmarg offer cultural performances featuring traditional music, dance, and folklore. Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Nepal while enjoying a delicious meal.

This is how you can spend your day inside Kathmandu roaming the city streets, heritages, monasteries etc. But if you like to hike or short treks to see the natural sight of Kathmandu then you have also many options for hiking that you can complete in 6 hours.

Here are some of the best options for you to hike inside Kathmandu valley and alternative ways to spend one day in Kathmandu:

Nagarkot Hike: Nagarkot hike is located at east of Kathmandu. This hike offers you stunning view of sunrise and sunsets of kathmandu , Himalayas including Mt Everest in clear days. You can pick taxi, cab to reach there. you can complete this hike in 4-6 hrs. Pick morning to hike or evening to rest there for best sun scenes.

Champadevi Hike: A hill called Champadevi is situated southwest of the Kathmandu Valley. Hiking to Champadevi provides sweeping views of the valley, verdant forests, and historic settlements. Reaching the summit normally takes three to four hours on the climb.

Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park Hike: Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park is located north of Kathmandu and offers various hiking trails suitable for day treks. One popular route starts from the Budhanilkantha area and takes you through lush forests, past serene streams, and up to the Shivapuri peak or the Nagi Gompa (monastery). Along the way, you’ll have opportunities to spot wildlife and enjoy panoramic views of the Kathmandu Valley. The hike usually takes around 5-6 hours round trip, depending on the specific trail and your pace.

Chandragiri Hill Hike: On the southwest border of the Kathmandu Valley is Chandragiri Hill. A trek up Chandragiri provides amazing views of the Himalayas and the valley. If you would rather not hike both ways, there is also the alternative of taking a cable car. It takes 2-3 hours to reach top pf hill.

Phulchowki Hike: The tallest hill that encircles the Kathmandu Valley is  Phulchowki hill . A large variety of birds and wildlife can be seen on the climb to Phulchowki, which also gives expansive views of the valley and the Himalayas. Typically, the hike takes four to five hours total.

When you spend an entire day in Kathmandu, it is important that you make sure you spend your time wisely because if not then you will have just wasted it. Start with a short uphill walk early in the day taking in how beautiful countryside looks from above for seconds before heading back down again.

Later on tour around various places including old architectures or religious sites which all form parts of Nepalese culture richly embroidered by time itself while finishing with trying traditional dishes amid vibrant atmosphere of the downtown area and have appetizing local foods as well before winding up with leisurely walk down the streets in that part of town where no cars go by; or you can take the bus home too!