The 10 Best Things to Do in Nagarkot, Nepal (2026)

Nagarkot is one of the most popular places for a short trip near Kathmandu. It is 30 km east of Kathmandu and is famous for its sunrise and sunset views over the Himalayas. As Nagarkot is close to Kathmandu, it makes it very easy to get there by public bus or taxi.

If you are short on time, Nagarkot can be visited on a short 1 night/2 days trip. If you have more time, it is easy to spend 3-4 days in Nagarkot. If you take the public bus to Nagarkot, I recommend staying at least two nights to make it worth it.

Some of the best things to do in Nagarkot include watching the sunrise, go hiking, relaxing, visiting the Nagarkot Suspension Bride, Nagarkot Waterfall and the Buddha Peace Park.

Best Time to Visit Nagarkot

The time best time to visit Nagarkot is between October to mid-December and February to May. You have the best chance for good weather and clear views during this time, however, the weather can be unpredictable, so sometimes you can’t get a clear view of mountains even during these times.

I remember the first few times I visited Nagarkot (now almost ten years ago), it used to have really nice sunrise views. In recent years, whenever I visited, it was cloudy and the views weren’t that great. It’s still nice to get away from Kathmandu and chill in Nagarkot, but the views may not be that good.

When you visit, don’t forget to pack some warm clothes, like a jumper or a jacket. Nagarkot is a hilly place, higher up than Kathmandu, and it tends to get cold at night.

1. Relax and Chill

If you are looking a getaway from Kathmandu and want to spend some time in nature, Nagarkot is one of the most popular places.

Sometimes, you just need to relax with a good book in hand in a peaceful environment. Nagarkot is great for its easy hiking routes and sunrise views. If you don’t feel like hiking or have seen many sunrises already, you can also just take it easy and chill in Nagarkot.

Some of the hotels also have a swimming pool which is great, especially when the weather is hot.

2. Watch the Sunrise over the Himalayas

The sunrise view in Nagarkot is so beautiful when the weather is clear. I have found lately that the view is often cloudy, but if you happen to be in Nagarkot when the weather is clear, the sunrise views are pretty nice.

The best is to book a hotel room that has a balcony, and then you can watch the sunrise straight from your balcony. It saves you time if you don’t want to wake up super early to go to one of the sunrise view point.

3. Watch the Sunrise from the Nagarkot Geodetic Survey Tower/View Tower

The Nagarkot Geodetic Survey Tower (also called as the “View Tower”) is around one hour walk from the town centre of Nagarkot. The walk to the tower is not too scenic as it follows a concrete road all the way to the tower.

If you feel too tired to walk to the tower for sunrise, you can also book a taxi beforehand to take you there. Make sure to arrange the taxi the day before as it could be difficult to get a taxi early in the morning.

The last time I was there, we visited the view tower in the afternoon. The views were cloudy and couldn’t see the mountains, only the hills. It’s better to come to the view tower in the morning as that’s when you have the best chance for a clear view.

4. See the View from the Nagarkot Panoramic Sunrise View Point

The Nagarkot Panoramic Sunrise View Point is actually on the way to the Nagarkot Geodic Survey Tower. Still, it takes about 45 minutes walk to reach on the same road that leads to the tower.

You can still get pretty great views from here, even if you do not walk all the way to the View Tower.

5. Hike the Nature Walk and the Panoramic Hiking Trail

The Nature Walk and Panoramic Hiking Trail make up one hiking trail in Nagarkot. Together it is about 11 km walk and can be completed in about 3-4 hours.

The Nature Walk starts closely from the main road in Nagarkot. It is an easy, 2.5 km long hike in a forest area. Once you reach the end of the Nature Walk, you will be on a concrete main road. Here you have to walk on the main road a little bit until the trail starts for the Panoramic Hiking Trail.

During the section of the Nature Walk, you will be walking through a forest so you will not have any views of mountains. However, during the section of the Panoramic Hiking Trail there will be really nice views of the Himalayas.

Make sure to take water and snacks with you. Also, I do not recommend this hike during monsoon season as the trails are full of leeches during monsoon.

6. Visit the Nagarkot Suspension Bridge

If you want to visit the Nagarkot Suspension Bridge, the easiest to get here is either by your own vehicle or by bus. The bus that operates between Bhaktapur and Nagarkot passes by the bridge, so they can drop you off here.

If you are planning to stay in Nagarkot and you have a lot of bags, it is better to go to Nagarkot first and then go back to the bridge with less items. There is also the Nagarkot Waterfall near the suspension bridge, so it’s a nice option to explore both places.

The Nagarkot Suspension Bridge and Nagarkot Waterfall are popular among Nepali and can get busy on Saturdays or public holidays, so the best time to visit is on weekdays when it’s not so busy.

7. Chill by the Nagarkot Waterfall

The Nagarkot Waterfall is near the Nagarkot Suspension Bridge. If you visit the suspension bridge, then from there you just have to walk down for about 5 minutes and you will reach the Nagarkot Waterfall.

The Nagarkot Waterfall is a cool place to visit if you in Nagarkot or if you have your own vehicle, you can also just go there from Kathmandu as a day trip.

It can get crowded on Saturdays or public holidays, so the best time to visit is on weekdays. You should be careful when walking around the waterfall and on the rocks, as it is slippery.

8. Visit the Buddha Peace Park

The Buddha Peace Park is about 30 minutes walk from the Nagarkot town centre. If you want to walk it, the path follows the Bhaktapur-Nagarkot hiking route. Some of the route is part of the main road leading to Nagarkot, so it is not such a peaceful walk.

The bus that operates between Bhaktapur and Nagarkot, also passes by the Buddha Peace Park, so you can also just catch the bus to get there.

The Buddha Peace Park includes a statue of Buddha and there is a restaurant next to it. The park is not so big but if you’ve been to Nagarkot many times, or if you are spending couple if days in Nagarkot, it can be an option to visit it.

9. Hike to Dhulikhel

Dhulikhel is another town famous for its sunrise and sunset views and it is located close to Nagarkot. The hiking trail between the two towns is 16 km (10 miles) and can be completed in about 4-6 hours.

I visited Dhulikhel a couple of times, and never got that great views, it was always somewhat cloudy. Still, Dhulikhel is a nice place if you want to escape the chaos of Kathmandu. It is less tourist than Nagarkot, and as it is close to Nagarkot, you can visit the two places in one trip.

10. Hike the Nagarkot – Chisapani – Sundarijal Trail

There is also a hiking trail between Nagarkot – Chisapani – Sundarijal. This route takes two days, with an overnight stay in Chisapani.

Once you get to Chisapani, there are hotels you can choose from and book your stay once you arrive. If you have a tent, there is also an area where you can pitch your tent for free. I recommend staying at one of the hotels and not carry a tent, as the weight of the tent makes your backpack way too heavy. We once carried a tent and it was not worth it.

I have hiked this route a few times and I really like the section between Sundarijal and Chisapani, but don’t like that much the section between Nagarkot and Chisapani.

The section between Chisapani and Sundarijal is in the nature and the hiking route follows a proper hiking trail. The section between Nagarkot and Chisapani follows a road and you are not much in nature.

This hike can also be completed from the other way around as well from Sundarijal – Chisapani – Nagarkot. If you are short on time, you can even just hike from Sundarijal to Chisapani and then take the bus back to Kathmandu. 

Where to Eat in Nagarkot

Berg House Cafe

The Berg House Cafe is one of the best restaurants in Nagarkot. It has both an inside and outside seating area. In the far end of the restaurant, there is also a balcony style seating area. The views are great from here.

Hotel at the End of the Universe

The Hotel at the End of the Universe functions both as a hotel and restaurant. It is a little bit further away from the main street of Nagarkot but its atmosphere and great selection of food and drinks definitely make it a place to stop by.

How to Get from Kathmandu to Nagarkot

Nagarkot is close to Kathmandu, and you can get to Nagarkot by taking a bus or a taxi. The bus is a good option if you are on a budget. I have taken the bus many times to Nagarkot and found it safe. The taxi is a great option if you want to save time and some more comfort.

• By taxi: the taxi from Kathmandu to Nagarkot costs around Rs. 3,000 (USD 20) and takes about 1,5 hours to get there.
• By bus: There are no direct buses from Kathmandu to Nagarkot. First you have to take a bus from the Bhaktapur Bus Park (Bagbazaar, Kathmandu) to Bhaktapur and then change to Nagarkot.

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