Is Kathmandu a Walkable City? (+ 6 Places to Explore on Foot!)

Are you wondering “Is Kathmandu is a walkable city”?

You’ve come to the right place! I live in Kathmandu and always liked to explore places on foot. Although walking in Kathmandu can be challenging, it is still possible to explore places on foot.

So, is Kathmandu a walkable city? The short answer is that Kathmandu is a walkable city but you have to be careful as it is not completely pedestrian friendly.     

Some of the touristy places (Thamel, Patan, Bhaktapur) can be easily explored on foot. Although still, you have to be careful of the traffic, lack of sidewalks, electricity poles and air pollution.    

Here is how to explore Kathmandu on foot!

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 explored 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. 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.

6 Places to Explore on Foot in Kathmandu Valley

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 than taking a taxi for even short distances.

1. Thamel

Thamel is where most tourists stay and it can be easily explored on foot. Thamel is not too big and you will easily find your way around the place.

There are many restaurants, cafes, hotels, trekking and souvenir shops and even if you don’t shop, it is nice to walk around and check out the different places.

Some of the best things to do in Thamel include visiting the Kathmandu Durbar Square, Narayanhiti Palace Museum, Garden of Dreams, taking a Thangka painting and cooking class, or visiting the Asan Market.

The streets are narrow with a lot of traffic, so always look out for motorbikes and cars.

2. Thamel to Swoyambhu Stupa (Monkey Temple)

• Thamel to Swoyambhu Distance: 2.9 km, 30 minutes walk

The Swoyambhu Stupa is one of the 7 World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley and it is one of the must-see attractions in Kathmandu. It is not too far from Thamel and can be reached on foot.

It takes about 30 minutes walk from Thamel to Swoyambhu and is a good exercise to walk there. Once you get to Swoyambhu, there are a lot of stairs to climb up before reaching the stupa. A lot of people also come to the Swoyambhu Stupa in the morning to exercise.

There are a lot of monkeys around the temple so don’t carry any food with you as the monkeys will attack you and try to take the food from you.

3. Thamel to Ason Market

• Thamel to Ason Distance: 1 km, 10 minutes walk

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. It is really a short walk and from here you can continue onwards to the Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Ason is a great place to buy spices and or tea to take back home for friends and family.

4. Thamel to Kathmandu Durbar Square

• Thamel to Kathmandu Durbar Square Distance: 1.1 km, 15 minutes walk

The Kathmandu Durbar Square is also a World Heritage Site in Kathmandu and is also very close to Thamel. You can walk there in about 15 minutes.

If you are visiting Kathmandu, the Kathmandu Durbar Square is a must visit place. ‘Durbar’ means ‘royal palace’ and the buildings in the square include temples and former royal palace buildings.

5. Bhaktapur

• Kathmandu to Bhaktapur Distance: 15 km, 1 hour by bus

Bhaktapur is about 1 hour away from Kathmandu and you can get there by taking a bus or taxi. You can hail a regular taxi but for the best taxi prices, it is good to take a taxi through one of the Nepali taxi apps (like Pathao)

Once you get to Bhaktapur, it is a great place to explore on foot. The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is also a World Heritage Site and there are many temples you can check out.

Bhaktapur is famous for its Newari architecture and food, so here you can see traditionally built Newari buildings and try Newari food.

Some of the best things to do in Bhaktapur are exploring the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatrey Square, Pottery Square, learn to make potters, take a thangka paiting class and having Newari food.

6. Patan

• Kathmandu to Patan Distance: 4.7 km, 20 minutes by car, 1 hour walk

The Patan Durbar Square is another World Heritage Site in Kathmandu and is a must visit attraction. To get from Kathmandu to Patan, you can get to Patan by bus or taxi.

Many people walk from Kathmandu to Patan as a morning exercise but the best thing to do is to take a taxi to Patan and then just explore the place once you get there.

It is possible to walk from Kathmandu to Patan but if you do, by the time you get to Patan, you might be too tired to actually explore Patan.

The best places to visit in Patan are the Patan Durbar Square, Patan Museum, Mahaboudha Temple, Golden Temple, Ashoka Stupa, Kumbeshwar Temple, Pimbahal Pond, Mangal Bazaar and checking out museum exhibitions.

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 can be explored on foot: Thamel to Swoyambhu Temple, Thamel to Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur, Patan.

Cons:

• There aren’t sidewalks everywhere
• Few pedestrian crossings and cars don’t stop for you
• Narrow roads
• High levels of air pollution
• If the temperature is high (June-August): use plenty of sunscreen while outside

Tips for Walking in Kathmandu

• Watch out for traffic
• Be careful when crossing the road
• 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

Offline Map Apps for Walking in Kathmandu

There are 2 offline map apps that are great for navigation. Maps.me and Mapy.cz are best if you go trekking or hiking but you can also use them for city walks.

Before coming to Kathmandu, download one of these apps. To be able to use the offline map version, first you should select Kathmandu/Nepal and download its map.

After you download the map, you will be able to use it offline even if you are not connected to wifi or have your data turned off. It will help you navigate as you explore the tourist attractions without having to use internet.

Maps.me

• Maps.me on Google Play
• Maps.me on the Apple Store

Mapy.cz

• Mapy.cz on Google Play
• Mapy.cz on the Apple Store

Taxis in Kathmandu

In case you get tired of walking, there are many taxis in Kathmandu. You can either hail a regular taxi or book one through one of the Nepali taxi apps.

There is no Uber or Grab in Nepal but there are other taxi apps that work just as great. Some of the most popular taxi apps in Kathmandu are Pathao and InDrive.

Pathao

• Available: Kathmandu, Pokhara
• Pathao on Google Play, Pathao on the Apple Store

InDrive

• Available: Kathmandu, Pokhara
• InDrive on Google Play, InDrive on the Apple Store

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.

Kathmandu Valley Transport Guides

Looking for information about public buses in and around Kathmandu? Check out my Kathmandu transport guides:

• 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 Nagarkot
• 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

Nepal Transport Guides

Want to know how to get to other destinations in Nepal? Check out my Nepal transport guides:

• How to Get from Kathmandu to Pokhara
• How to Get from Pokhara to Kathmandu
• How to Get from Pokhara to Chitwan
• How to Get from Chitwan to Pokhara
• How to Get from Kathmandu to Chitwan
• How to Get from Chitwan to Kathmandu
• How to Get to Bardia National Park
• How to Get to Bandipur
• How to Get to Janakpur
• How to Get to Tansen (Palpa)
• How to Get to Lumbini
• How to Get to Gorkha
• How to Get to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

FAQs: 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:

1. Be careful of the traffic: the roads are narrow and there isn’t a pavement everywhere
2. 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
3. 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.

Can I use a stroller in Kathmandu?

If you are travelling to Kathmandu with kids and not sure if you can use a stroller, the short answer is that no, it is not possible to use a stroller in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu is not pedestrian friendly and there aren’t sidewalks everywhere – it is simply not possible to push a kid with a stroller. If you come to Kathmandu with small kids, it is better to get a baby carrier than to bring a stroller.

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.