How to Get from Kathmandu to Nagarkot (By Bus, Taxi)
Want to know how to get from Kathmandu to Nagarkot?
You’ve come to the right place! I live in Nepal and Nagarkot is a really nice place to visit from Kathmandu.
Nagarkot is a popular destination near Kathmandu for a short trip and is famous for its sunrise views over the Himalayas.
Nagarkot is 30 km from Kathmandu and you can get there by taking a local bus or taxi. The taxi takes 1.5 hours and costs around Rs. 3,000. While, the bus from Kathmandu to Nagarkot takes 3-4 hours and costs Rs. 110-120 in total.
So, here is everything you need to know on how to get from Kathmandu to Nagarkot!
How to Get from Kathmandu to Nagarkot
Kathmandu to Nagarkot Distance
Nagarkot is 30 km from Kathmandu and can be reached by public buses or taxis. The bus takes about 3-4 hours in total, while it takes 1.5 hours by taxi.
Kathmandu to Nagarkot Bus
There is no direct bus from Kathmandu to Nagarkot, so you will have to take 2 buses.
The first bus takes you from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur, and then in Bhaktapur you have to change to another bus to Nagarkot. The whole journey takes about 3-4 hours from Kathmandu.
Kathmandu to Nagarkot Bus Route
Bus Route: Kathmandu to Bhaktapur to Nagarkot
Step 1: Take the Bus from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur
The bus to Bhaktapur leaves from the Bhaktapur Bus Park (Bagbazaar) in Kathmandu.
The Bhaktapur Bus Park is close to Thamel, so if you are staying there, you can walk to the Bhaktapur Bus Park in about 10-15 minutes.
Once you get to Bhaktapur, the bus will drop you around Siddha Pokhari (pond).
The bus journey from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur takes about 1 hour 15 minutes and costs Rs. 40.
Step 2: Take the Bus from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot
Once you arrive in Bhaktapur, walk over to the Nagarkot Bus Park. Here, you will find the buses going to Nagarkot.
The bus trip from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot will take about 1 hour and cost Rs. 75.
Kathmandu to Nagarkot Bus Fare
The bus fare from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur is Rs. 40, while the bus fare from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot is Rs. 75. Thus, in total, it costs Rs. 115 to go from Kathmandu to Nagarkot by public bus.
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Kathmandu to Nagarkot Taxi
If you want to save time, getting a taxi to Nagarkot is also an option. The taxi takes around 1.5 hours to get from Kathmandu to Nagarkot and it is a fast and comfortable option to get there.
There are many taxis in Kathmandu that you can hail and negotiate the trip with the driver. The Nepali taxi apps only work within Kathmandu so you won’t be able to book Pathao or InDrive all the way to Nagarkot.
Kathmandu to Nagarkot Taxi Fare
The price of the taxi from Kathmandu to Nagarkot costs around Rs. 3,000. You may be able to negotiate a lower price but usually, this is the approximate taxi fare from Kathmandu to Nagarkot.
When the driver drops you, they usually also ask if you would like to book them for a return trip. You can take their number, just in case, though there are many other taxis in Nagarkot.
For your return trip, there are also buses every hour going back to Bhaktapur, from where you can take another bus back to Kathmandu.
Hotels in Nagarkot
Not sure where to stay in Nagarkot? Here are the top 3 hotels for every budget:
📍Budget Hotel: Hotel Village View Nagarkot
📍Mid-Range Hotel: Everest Manla Resort
📍High-End: Hotel Mystic Mountain
Things to Do in Nagarkot
Nagarkot is the most popular place near Kathmandu for a short trip and to see the sunrise.
The best places to visit in Nagarkot include the Nagarkot Geodic Survey Tower/View Tower, Nagarkot Panoramic Sunrise View Point, Nature Walk and the Panoramic Hiking Trail, Buddha Peace Park, Tudhi Jharna and hiking to Dhulikhel or Sundarijal.
Kathmandu Transport Guide
Looking for information about public buses in and around Kathmandu? Check out my Kathmandu transport guides:
- How to Get Around by Public Transport in Kathmandu
- Best Taxi Apps in Kathmandu
- How to Get from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur
- How to Get from Kathmandu to Patan
- How to Get from Kathmandu to Dhulikhel
- How to Get from Bhaktapur to Dhulikhel
- How to Get from Kathmandu to Chandragiri
- How to Get from Kathmandu to Godawari
FAQs: How to Get from Kathmandu to Nagarkot
How to get from Kathmandu to Nagarkot?
There are two options to reach Nagarkot from Kathmandu: you can either take a local bus or go by taxi. The taxi is a faster, more comfortable way to travel and gets you to Nagarkot in about 1.5 hours.
If you take the bus, first you will have to take a bus from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur, and change to another bus there to Nagarkot.
How much is the bus fare from Kathmandu to Nagarkot?
The bus fare from Kathmandu to Nagarkot in total is around Rs. 115.
The breakdown of the fare is: Kathmandu to Bhaktapur bus fare is Rs. 40 + Bhaktapur to Nagarkot bus fare is Rs. 75.
How much is the taxi fare from Kathmandu to Nagarkot?
The taxi fare from Kathmandu to Nagarkot is around Rs. 3,000. Taxi apps (like Pathao or InDrive) do not operate outside of the Kathmandu Valley, so to get a taxi to Nagarkot, you will have to hail a taxi.
There is always a possibility to negotiate the price with the driver. If you travel in a group, it will also be cheaper as you can share the total cost.
How far is Nagarkot from Kathmandu?
The distance between Kathmandu and Nagarkot is 30 km by road.
Although, the distance in km is not that far, the roads in Kathmandu can have bad traffic and the road from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot is in a hilly area, so the bus cannot go too fast.
For these reasons, consider it will take about 3-4 hours by bus and 1.5 hours by taxi to get to Nagarkot from Kathmandu.
Conclusion
Nagarkot is a popular destination near Kathmandu for the sunrise and sunset views of the Himalayas.
Nagarkot is 30 km from Kathmandu and you can get there by taking a local bus or taxi.
The taxi takes 1.5 hours and costs Rs. 3,000. While, the bus from Kathmandu to Nagarkot takes 3-4 hours and costs Rs. 110-120 in total.
In conclusion, getting to Nagarkot is fairly easy and quick, thus it provides a nice getaway to spend time in the nature and nice views.
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Nepal Quick Guide
Can I get a Visa on Arrival for Nepal?
Yes! Almost all nationalities can get a ‘Visa on Arrival’ once landing at the Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu (check eligibility here). Getting a Visa-on-Arrival for Nepal is quick and easy. Read here my full guide on getting a Visa on Arrival for Nepal.
Should I get a Nepali SIM card?
Yes! Once you arrive in Nepal, it is recommended to get a Nepali SIM card.
SIM cards in Nepal are cheap and easy to get. There are daily, weekly or monthly data plans – all at an affordable cost. For more information, check how to get a SIM card in Nepal here.
Are there any useful mobile apps I can use in Nepal?
Yes! There are a couple of mobile apps that come handy when travelling in Nepal, including taxi apps, offline maps for trekking, booking accommodation and travel cards.
Check out my list of the most useful mobile apps to have in Nepal.
Can I exchange money in Nepal? What about ATMs?
Yes! Thamel (where most tourists stay) has many money exchange shops as well as ATMs.
There is also a currency exchange shop at the airport but the rates are better in Thamel. Read here all about currency exchange and ATMs in Nepal.
Is it safe to travel by bus in Nepal?
The roads are dangerous but generally yes (best to travel by a tourist bus)!
I would say road travel in Nepal is generally dangerous due to the road conditions. The roads are narrow and go through mountainous areas. The tourist buses in Nepal have the best safety, so if possible, make sure to book tourist buses when travelling in Nepal.
Overall, the roads might look dangerous but the drivers are used to the road conditions in Nepal so the tourist buses are a safe choice. Here is everything you need to know about bus travel in Nepal.
Can I drink the tap water in Nepal?
No, you cannot drink the tap water in Nepal.
The tap water is unsafe for drinking in Nepal. It is not only foreign tourists that should not drink the tap water in Nepal, even Nepali people who were born and raised in Nepal do not drink the tap water.
Can I book bus tickets online in Nepal?
Yes! It is possible to book bus tickets online in Nepal however, I recommend it for those staying in Nepal for 3+ months.
It is not possible to book bus tickets online using an international bank card but only through registering on a Nepali digital payment app eSewa. If you are staying long-term in Nepal, read here my step-by-step guide on how to book bus tickets online using eSewa.
Do they speak English in Nepal?
You might wonder “Do they speak English in Nepal?” It depends on where in Nepal you are. In big cities (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Sauraha/Chitwan) or trekking routes (Annapurna, Everest) that have many tourists, you will easily get by speaking English.
If you are in remote Nepal where not many tourists go, people usually will have little or no English. Here is a quick list of useful Nepali phrases to know while travelling in Nepal.
