Is Kathmandu a Walkable City? (2024)
Are you travelling to Kathmandu and wondering if Kathmandu is a walkable city?
You’ve come to the right place as I live in Kathmandu and always liked to explore places on foot.
So, is Kathmandu a walkable city? The short answer is that Kathmandu is a walkable city but it comes with its own set of challenges.
Some of the touristy places (Thamel, Patan, Bhaktapur) can be easily discovered on foot. But what about Kathmandu as a whole? You can still walk around but you will have to be careful of the traffic, lack of sidewalks, electricity poles and air pollution.
If you are not sure what to expect, read below my tips and tricks for walking in Kathmandu.
Is Kathmandu a Walkable City?
Yes, Kathmandu is a walkable city but there are a few things to be careful about when it comes to walking in Kathmandu.
Kathmandu can be discovered on foot but you have to be mindful that the roads are narrow, there aren’t sidewalks everywhere, and you have to watch out for the traffic and electricity cables.
The air quality in Kathmandu can also be very unhealthy. Thinking of going for a walk or a run? Sometimes the air quality can be so bad in Kathmandu that it is better to stay indoors than to go outside. If you want to go out for a run or walk, it is best to go early in the morning around 6 am.
Clean Energy Nepal conducted a study in 2012 about walkability in Nepal. The result of the survey was that Kathmandu is the least walkable city in Nepal. More than 10 years has passed since then, but I have not been able to find a more updated research.
Urbanization of Kathmandu
If you look at the infrastructure of Kathmandu, it is important to understand Nepal’s history and its urbanization process.
There was a civil war in Nepal between 1996-2006 and during this time, a lot of people moved from the countryside to Kathmandu.
The urbanization in Kathmandu happened so fast that the development of infrastructure of the city could not keep up with it.
If you look at photos of Kathmandu from the ‘70s and 80s, you will see a Kathmandu Valley which consist of mainly fields.
The challenges of infrastructure and walking in Kathmandu comes from this rapid urbanization of the city.
Challenges of Walking in Kathmandu
Sidewalks in Kathmandu
The first challenge of walking in Kathmandu is that there aren’t sidewalks everywhere. Also in many places, the sidewalks have ditches, so you always have to look at where you step (the moment you don’t watch your step, you will probably end up stumbling around).
The roads are also narrow and if you add the lack of sidewalks, many times you will find yourself walking on the road. Be careful as the roads are full of traffic (cars, motorbikes, buses and minivans).
Pedestrian Crossings in Kathmandu
You might be wondering if there are pedestrian crossings in Kathmandu. The answer is that there are pedestrian crossings in a few places but it is not too common in Kathmandu. Even if there pedestrian crossings, they are not really respected by vehicles.
If I am honest, in practice, it does not matter whether you try to cross the road at a pedestrian crossing or any other part of the road.
💡 Tips for crossing the road: the traffic can be busy and chaotic in Kathmandu so be careful when crossing the road. Usually, you can signal with your hands that you will be crossing the road and than the drivers slow down for you. If you’re in doubt, just wait until someone else starts to cross the road and join them.
Crossing the road might seem chaotic at first but if you are careful, you will see that the drivers are used to people crossing the road and slow down once you are crossing the road. There is a system to it, even if it does not seem like it at first.
Air Quality in Kathmandu
Kathmandu can have a lot of dust and high levels of pollution. Sometimes, they say it is healthier to stay indoors than to go outside. It is true, so if you go outside, it is good to wear a face mask.
You will see a lot of people in Kathmandu walk around in the surgical masks we wore during Covid-19, in Kathmandu you now have to wear it to protect you from the pollution.
To be honest, if you only stay in Kathmandu for a short while, you will not feel the pollution. Foreigners who stay long-term in Kathmandu often start to suffer from dust allergy after a while. So, if you will be staying in Kathmandu for a while, it is good to have a mask on when you are outside.
Download the IQAir App (Apple, Google) to follow the level of air quality in Kathmandu.
Rainwater Drains in Kathmandu
The rainwater drains tend to overflow during heavy rains, mostly during the monsoon season (June-August).
It is just in a few places in Kathmandu and usually the touristy places (Thamel, Bhaktapur, Patan) are not affected by it.
Narrow Roads in Kathmandu
Kathmandu has many narrow roads. Often the roads are so narrow that it could only fit one-way traffic, but then it functions as a two-way street. So, just always be careful of the traffic when walking on narrow roads.
Places to Explore on Foot in Kathmandu
Despite the challenges of infrastructure in Kathmandu, Kathmandu is a great city and is fun to explore it on foot. Walking around Kathmandu is a much better way to explore the city.
Here are some routes that you can easily walk around on foot:
Thamel:
Thamel is where most tourists stay and in general, it can be easily discovered on foot.
Thamel is small, it is full of restaurants, cafes, hotels, trekking and souvenir shops and is nice to walk around.
Although the streets are narrow with a lot of traffic, so always look out for motorbikes and cars.
Thamel to Swoyambhu Stupa (Monkey Temple):
The Swoyambhu Stupa is about 30 minutes’ walk from Thamel and is a good exercise to walk there. A lot of people also come to the Swoyambhu Stupa in the morning to exercise.
I once had a friend who used to walk to the Monkey Temple every morning for a month to work out before going to trek to the Everest Base Camp. (Walking up the stairs by the Monkey Temple is a good exercise for the knees!)
Thamel to Ason:
Ason is one of the oldest markets in Kathmandu. It is very close to Thamel and you can walk down there in about 10 minutes.
Ason is a great place to buy spices and or tea to take back home for friends and family.
Thamel to Kathmandu Durbar Square:
The Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of the 7 World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley and it is also very close to Thamel. You can walk there in about 15 minutes.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square:
Bhaktapur is about 1 hour away from Kathmandu. You will need to take a taxi or bus to get to Bhaktapur.
The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is also a World Heritage Site and once you are in Bhaktapur, it is a great place to discover on foot.
Patan Durbar Square:
The Patan Durbar Square is another World Heritage Site in Kathmandu. You can get to Patan by bus or taxi.
Apart from the Patan Durbar Square, there are many other temples in Patan that are great to explore on foot.
Pros and Cons of Walking in Kathmandu
Pros:
- Walking is a great way to explore new places
- It helps to observe and understand everyday life in Nepal
- Some places you can discover on foot: Thamel to Swoyambhu Temple, Thamel to Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur, Patan.
Cons:
- High levels of air pollution
- Be prepared to cross ditches, puddles, road constructions and muddy roads
- If the temperature is high (June-August): use plenty of sunscreen
Tips for Walking in Kathmandu
- Watch out for traffic
- Be careful when crossing the roads
- Have a face mask on (to protect against air pollution)
- Be patient
- Better to not to listen to music with earphones on when walking: traffic can get really busy and chaotic so you will not be able to hear if a car/motorbike comes or honks
Taxis in Kathmandu
Taking a taxi is always more comfortable and faster. The taxi is also very affordable in Nepal.
There is no Uber or Grab in Nepal but there are other taxi apps that work great in Nepal. To get around Kathmandu by taxi you can use Pathao or InDrive taxi apps.
Check out my post on the best taxi apps in Kathmandu here!
Public Transport in Kathmandu
Taking the public transport can seem chaotic at first. There is not much information available online but once you get the hang of the public transport in Kathmandu, it won’t seem so chaotic anymore.
If you feel like taking the public transport in Kathmandu, you can read my guide on how to take the public bus in Kathmandu here.
Some of the public bus routes are easy to use (e.g. Kathmandu to Bhaktapur, Kathmandu to Patan) to get around Kathmandu.
FAQ: Is Kathmandu a Walkable City?
Is Kathmandu Walkable?
Yes, Kathmandu is a walkable city however, there are a few things you have to watch out for when walking in Kathmandu:
- Be careful of the traffic: the roads are narrow and there isn’t a pavement everywhere
- Be careful when crossing the road: there are not really any pedestrian crossings in Kathmandu, so you have to be careful when crossing the road
- Wear a facemask to protect against air pollution: this is the most important if you stay in Kathmandu long-term. If you only visit Kathmandu for a short time, you will be fine without a facemask.
Where to walk around in Kathmandu?
There are some places that can be easily discovered on foot in Kathmandu. Check out these routes:
- Thamel
- Thamel to Swoyambhu Temple
- Thamel to Kathmandu Durbar Square
- Thamel to Ason Market
- Bhaktapur
- Patan
How do you get around Kathmandu?
To get around Kathmandu, you can either walk, take a taxi or use the public transport.
If you stay in Thamel, some of the places you can walk to are the Swoyambhu Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square and the Ason market.
If you take a taxi or bus to Bhaktapur or Patan, once you get there, they are also great places to explore on foot.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kathmandu is a walkable city, however, you have to be careful of a few things when walking in Kathmandu.
Walking in Kathmandu is safe and you do not have to worry about theft.
However, some recommendations when walking outside include paying attention to the traffic, using a face mask to protect against the air pollution, watch out when crossing the road and be careful about ditches and puddles.
