25 Best Things to Do and Places to Visit in Nepal!

Looking for the best things to do and places to visit in Nepal? Here are the must-see attractions and places to visit in Himalayan country of Nepal!

It is strange how well I remember the first time I came to Nepal and travelled through the busy streets of Kathmandu from the airport to my hotel. That was in early 2015 and I didn’t know it then but I would keep coming back to Nepal almost every year.

Nepal can be many things at once. It can be the busy streets, trekking trails, Himalayan views, long bus rides, jungle safaris, cable car rides, quiet rainy days, getting full on momos and dal bhat, staying in remote villages, bucket showers and power cuts – but overall it is home to some of the kindest people you will ever meet.

So then, what are the best things to do in Nepal? Here are the top 25 must do activities in Nepal!

25 Best Things to Do and Places to Visit in Nepal

1. Go Trekking

Nepal is most known for the Himalayas and its breath-taking trekking routes. If you are visiting Nepal and have at least 2 weeks in the country, going on a short 4-5 days trek is a great option.

Although the trek to Everest Base Camp takes around 2 weeks, there are many other trekking routes that can be completed in a much shorter time. 

The best time for trekking in Nepal is from October to mid-December and mid-February to May. The weather patterns can be unpredictable but generally these times are considered the best for trekking in Nepal.

Popular Trekking Routes in Nepal

• 4-5 days trekking routes: Poon Hill, Pikey Peak
• 5-7 days trekking route: Langtang Valley Trek
• 7-8 days trekking routes: Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal
• 14 days trekking route: Everest Base Camp

2. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Kathmandu is the city of temples and there is an old saying that in Kathmandu there are more temples than houses.

Although by now, there are more houses than temples, the concept remains. There are so many temples and stupas scattered around the city, that even if you just go on a random walk around town, you will eventually end up by a temple. 

One of the best things to do in Kathmandu is visiting the 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The heritage sites show incredible architecture of stone and woodcarving and you get to learn more about the history of Nepal as well.

The 7 World Heritage Sites are the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan, Boudhanath Stupa, Swoyambhu Temple (also referred to as the “Monkey Temple”), Pashupathinath Temple and the Changu Narayan Temple.

Although visiting these places are can be very touristy, they are still some of the best places to explore in Kathmandu.

3. Watch the Sunrise Over the Himalayas

Watching the sunrise and sunset over the Himalayas is truly mesmerizing. If you go on a trek, you will surely see the sunrise or sunset at one point.

However, if you only spend a short time in Nepal or do not go trekking, you can still see the sunrise or sunset from various places.

Here is a list of places from where you can get beautiful sunrise and sunset views of the Himalayas:

• Near Kathmandu: Nagarkot, Dhulikhel (both can be reached by public transport or taxi and no hiking required for the views)
• Near Pokhara: Sarangkot (can be reached by a cable car or a short hike), Australian Camp (3-4 hours hike from Pokhara)
• Bandipur: Thani Mai Temple (30 minutes hike from Bandipur town centre)
• Gorkha: Gorkha Durbar (30 minutes of going up on stairs)

4. Go on a Jungle Safari

In Nepal, you can go trekking, rafting, paragliding and even go on jungle safaris.

Chitwan National Park is one of the most popular destinations for a jungle safari as it is relatively easier to access from Kathmandu.

In recent year, Bardia National Park has also become more and more popular as it provides a more remote, authentic jungle experience. Bardia is further from Kathmandu and is not as commercialized yet as Chitwan.

🐅 Feel unsure about where to go on a jungle safari? Check out Pros and Cons of Chitwan vs Bardia National Park to help you decide!

Whether you go to Chitwan or Bardia, you are most likely to spot the following animals: elephants, rhino, tiger (although it is rare), crocodiles, deer, birds, snakes and lizards.

Usually, you can pick between various types of safaris: half day, full day, jungle walk, jungle tour with a jeep, one day or multiple day safaris.

If you go on a safari for multiple days, they will take you further into the jungle with a higher chance of spotting wildlife. If you only go for a half day trip, than you will not go that far in the jungle and there is much less chance of spotting elephants, tiger or rhinos. 

⭐ Get your binoculars now and spot wildlife like a pro!

Best time to visit Chitwan and Bardia: February and March (during this time the locals cut the grass and there is better visibility to spot animals. After the monsoon season, the grass has grown too high to spot wildlife).

5. Chill at the Fewa Lake in Pokhara

Pokhara is a popular tourist destination in Nepal and is also the starting point to many trekking routes into the Annapurna Region. It is a popular place for both domestic and foreign tourists, and there are lots of restaurants, cafes, museums and activities that you can do.

Above all, Pokhara is really just a nice place to relax and chill. There are many restaurants around the Fewa Lake where it is easy to spend a couple of hours just chilling. 

6. Spend a Day in Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur is located in the Kathmandu Valley and is one of the three towns that make up Kathmandu (Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur).

Bhaktapur is also referred to as a “living museum” as the temples have become part of everyday life. Once you arrive in Bhaktapur, you can immediately feel its uniqueness. 

The Bhaktapur Durbar Square boasts beautiful Newari architecture with red bricks and wooden carved windows. There are also many house preserved in the traditional Newari architecture all around the city.

Bhaktapur is also a great place to try Newari cuisine such as samay baji, juju dhau (king curd) or bara.

7. Taste Nepali and Newari Cuisine

The two most popular and traditional Nepali dishes are the dal bhat and momos.

The dal bhat is a staple dish in Nepal and it is eaten 1-2 times a day in most households. The dal bhat is made of rice, lentil soup, and comes in vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

Momo is like a steamed dumpling filled with minced meat or vegetables. It is a beloved dish in Nepal and if you ask any Nepali what their favourite dish is, they will say buff momo.

🥟 Want to learn to make Nepali food? Sign up to a cooking class here! (Rated 4.8/5 ⭐ on 72 reviews)

However, the cuisine in Nepal goes much further than dal bhat and momos. For example, one of the ethnic communities, the Newari people, also have their own unique dishes.

Newari cuisine is very spicy and typically involves a lot of different types of meat.

Some of the popular Newari dishes include: samay baji (like the Newari dal bhat), choila (spicy, marinated meat), bara (lentil pancake), chatamari (Newari pizza), and yomari (sweet dessert).

Best Newari Restaurants: 

• Kathmandu: Harati Newari Restaurant
• Kirtipur: Newa Lahana
• Patan: Nandini Food Court, Honacha
• Bhaktapur: Newa Lahana, Amako Bara Pasal

8. Visit Lumbini, the Birthplace of Buddha

They say that Buddha was born in Nepal and Lumbini is considered as the birthplace of Buddha.

The Maya Devi Temple is one of the best places to visit in Lumbini and it has the Marker Stone inside which signifies the birthplace of Buddha.

Apart from the Maya Devi Temple, the best things to do in Lumbini include visiting the Sacred Garden, Bodhi Tree, Lumbini Monastic Zone, Eternal Peace Flame and the Lumbini World Peace Pagoda.

Lumbini is a small town and most visitors are able to explore all the attractions in Lumbini in one day. Depending on how much time you have, Lumbini can be a quick stop.

9. Go on a Day Hike

Whether you have already gone on a multi-day trek or just have a short time in Nepal, going on a day hike can be great to spend time in the nature and also to have get some views of the Himalayas.

There are many day hike options, where you can start early morning and get back to your accommodation by afternoon/evening.

Best Day Hikes:

• Day hikes near Kathmandu: Phulchowki Hill, Jamacho Gumba
• Day hikes near Pokhara: World Peace Pagoda, Sarangkot, Dhampus

10. Explore the Newari Town of Bandipur

Bandipur is a charming town about half-way between Kathmandu and Pokhara. In recent years, it has become more and more popular for domestic and foreign tourists to make a stop here while travelling between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The inhabitants of the Bandipur have made efforts to preserve the Newari architecture of the town and even closed down the main street from traffic.

A lot of people say that when they visit Bandipur, it feels like they are not even in Nepal anymore. Having a coffee or food on the main street of Bandipur feels like sitting in an outdoor restaurant in France or Belgium. 

Apart from chilling in Bandipur, the town has much more to offer. Some of the best things to do in Bandipur include sunrise hike to the Thani Mai Temple, hike to Ramkot village and visiting Nepal’s largest cave, the Siddha Gufa.

11. Go on a Yoga, Singing Bowl or Meditation Retreat

Looking for yoga or meditation retreats in Nepal? There are many places where you can immerse yourself in Buddhism, go on yoga retreats or take singing bowl sessions.

Two of the most popular places where you can take meditation courses in Nepal are the Dhamma Shringa Centres for Vipassana Meditation or the Kopan Monastery for classes on Buddhism.

Dhamma Shringa Vipassana Meditation Centre

The Dhamma Shringa Centres are all around the world and provide a 10-day Vipassana Meditation course for beginners. The 10-day courses are a lot of hard work but if you are interested in Vipassana, Nepal is a great place to try.

🧘 Want to know more about Vipassana in Nepal? Read my experience of taking a 10-day Vipassana course in Nepal!

Kopan Monastery

The Kopan Monastery is located in Kopan, the outskirts of Kathmandu and is a popular place to learn about Buddhism.

Courses at the Kopan Monastery include ‘Introduction to Buddhism’, ‘Compassion in Everyday Life’, ‘Emotional Balance’, and ‘Meditation and Mind Training’.

Singing Bowl Sessions in Kathmandu

• Nepal Singing Bowls and Healing Centre: FREE. Everyday: 9:45 am, 4:30 pm
• Nirvana Singing Bowl: DONATION-BASED. Everyday: 10 am, 5 pm

12. Spend Time in a Nepali Village

The best way to experience authentic Nepali everyday life is to spend time in a village. The more remote village you go to, the more authentic experience you will have.

You will probably be eating a lot of dal bhat, have bucket showers but see motivated Nepali kids walking 2 hours every day just to get to school.

If you have the time to stay in a village for a longer period of time, it will give you a new perspective about life in Nepal.

13. Go Paragliding

Pokhara is a heaven for paragliding. Usually, you can get deals for a 30-minute paragliding session for about Rs. 7,000-8,000.

You may be able to negotiate a lower price during the low season (winter) or if you have good bargaining skills in general.

Most of the paragliding sessions start in Sarangkot which is also a popular spot for watching the sunrise. 

14. Take a Nepali Cooking Class

Ever wondered how they make the momo or dal bhat? You will find these delicious dishes in restaurants all over Nepal and what’s better is that you can also learn how to make them!

Dal bhat is like the national dish and usually made with rice, lentil soup and various veggies. Momo is similar to dumplings and it come in vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

There are many cooking classes in Kathmandu and Pokhara that you can sign up to. The Nepali cooking classes usually last between 2-3 hours and costs around USD 20-40.

🥟 Looking for a place to learn to cook Nepali dishes? Check out the best cooking classes in Nepal here!

When you sign up to the class, you can decide which dish you’d like to make and if you would like to make it vegetarian or non-vegetarian. The best part is that after the class, you get to eat everything you cooked.

15. Support the Welfare of Elephants

Chitwan is a popular place for jungle safaris and relaxing by the Rapti River but it has had a bad reputation for the treatment of elephants.

A few years ago, an NGO, Stand Up 4 Elephants, was established in Chitwan to support the welfare of elephants. They are also looking after 2 elephants that were freed and organize information sessions every day.

If you are in Chitwan and curious, you can sign up to one of the information sessions. You can sign up at the Shantiko Kitchen in Sauraha 1 day before you want to go for the session.

16. Go Out in Thamel

Thamel is the “tourist capital” of Kathmandu. Most of the travellers stay here and you can find lots of hotels and shops selling souvenirs and trekking gear.

Apart from the shops, it is also full of nice restaurants and bars. If you are looking for pubs, Sam’s Bar and Tom and Jerry are two of the oldest pubs in Thamel.

Check out Purple Haze for live music, mostly alternative bands. The bars are especially busy on the weekends when also many Nepali come to Thamel to have a drink.

• Pubs: Tom and Jerry, Sam’s Bar, Everest Irish Pub
• Live Music: Purple Haze, Supper Club

17. Shop at a Market

There are some truly local markets in Kathmandu where you can browse and shop for spices, tea, souvenirs, household items or veggies.

The Asan Bazaar is one of the oldest and biggest markets Kathmandu where they sell a wide range of items. Asan is very close to Thamel and you can reach it in 10 minutes by walk.

If you walk further south from Asan, you will reach New Road, which is full of shops selling electronic gadgets. In this area, you will also find lots of clothes shops selling clothes and shoes at a cheap price.

Apart from the local markets, there are also some farmers’ markets in Kathmandu.

Check out these two farmers’ markets for the best cheese, bread, salami and handicrafts:

• Le Sherpa Farmers Market: Lazimpat, Saturdays: 7:30 am-12:30 pm
• Yellow House Farmers’ Market: Sanepa, Sundays: 8-11 am

18. Ride a Cable Car Up the Mountains

Cable cars in Nepal? Yes! Nepal has 4 great cable car routes going through scenic mountain, river and lake views.

Most of the cable cars take about 10 minutes each way and can get pretty steep on the way. It can get a bit scary if you are afraid of heights but the views you get are totally worth it.

Going on the cable cars can be a great day trip activity from Kathmandu or Pokhara. In most destinations, once you get to the top, you also get great mountain or hill views.

Check out the 4 Best Cable Cars in Nepal:

• Chandragiri Cable Car: Best for views of Himalayas and Kathmandu Valley
• Annapurna Cable Car: Best for sunrise views of Himalayas (Pokhara)
• Manakamana Cable Car: Best for visiting the Manakamana Temple
• Kalinchowk Cable Car: Best for visiting the Bhagawati Temple

19. Learn to Make a Thangka Painting

The Thangka paintings originate from 2,500 years ago and depict the teachings if Buddha. ‘Thang’ means ‘cotton’, and ‘ka’ means ‘images’, so together ‘thangka’ means ‘images made on cotton’. 

Depending on the complexity of the thangka painting, the completion of a painting can take anywhere between 1 day to months or even 2 years.

If you are curious to learn about thangka paintings, there are a couple thangka painting classes in Kathmandu Valley. The classes usually run between 1-5 days but you can discuss the length with the school and they will tailor the length to how much you want to learn.

• Thangka Painting School in Bhaktapur: Lama Thanka Painting Centre
• Thangka Painting School in Kathmandu: Tibetan Lama Thangka Painting School (Thamel)

20. See the Beautiful Janaki Temple in Janakpur

Janakpur is home to many important Hindu temples and it is mainly a popular destination for Nepali and Indian tourists. While, it remains a less visited destination for other foreign tourists.

Janakpur has some beautiful temples, among them the Janaki Mandir (Janaki Temple) which stands out with its colourful Mithila paintings.

Apart from the Janaki Mandir, the best things to do in Janakpur include visiting the Ram Mandir, ancient ponds, having Indian street food and shopping for Mithila paintings.

Janakpur also has Nepal’s only railway station which is quite small in comparison to other railway stations, however, it’s only 15 minutes’ walk from the city centre if you are curious to check it out.

21. Visit Gorkha, a Less Touristy Destination in Nepal

Gorkha is a historically important place. Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of the Gorkha Kingdom was the person who initiated the unification of Nepal.

Despite its historical significance, Gorkha remains less visited by foreign tourists. Some of the best activities in Gorkha include visiting the Gorkha Durbar for sunrise views, Gorkha Durbar and Museum, Bhimsen Thapa Park and go hiking.

22. Spot Wildlife in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is mostly known for its habitat of arna (wild water buffalo) and winter migratory birds. If you like to see different types of birds, visiting Koshi Tappu betwen December-February is the best time.

Koshi Tappu is located in the South-East of Nepal, close to the border with India. It is 340 km from Kathmandu and takes about 12 hours to get there by bus.

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve remains much less visited than Chitwan or Bardia National Park in Nepal. If you want to go bird watching in Nepal, it is the best place to do so!

Apart from its arna and bird habitat, some of the most common animals to spot in Koshi Tappu are elephants, crocodiles, dolphins and deer.

If you don’t have much time, you can spend one day in Koshi Tappu and go on a day tour to spot wildlife. Generally, you can book a guide or a tuktuk driver for a day on the spot through your accommodation. 

23. Visit Rani Mahal, the “Taj Mahal of Nepal”

Rani Mahal is in the Palpa District of Nepal and is often referred to as the “Taj Mahal of Nepal”.

The construction of Rani Mahal has a similar story to that of the Taj Mahal in India. Rani Mahal was built by a politician who dedicated the building to his wife who passed away at a young age.

Visiting the Rani Mahal is one of the best things to do in Tansen. What makes it tricky is that there are no public buses going there, so the options of getting there are limited.

One option is to go on a 3-4 hours hike from Tansen to the Rani Mahal. It is a strenuous hike if you plan to hike both ways in one day. There are some basic camping sites by Rani Mahal, so it is an option to spend the night there and hike back to Tansen the next day.

It is also possible to hire a scooter or taxi to take you to Rani Mahal, which is a much faster and easier way to get there.

24. Visit Siddha Gufa, Nepal’s Biggest Cave

Siddha Gufa is Nepal’s biggest cave and the second biggest cave in South Asia. It is located near Bandipur so most people visit the Siddha Gufa while staying in Bandipur.

It takes about 1.5 hours of downhill hike from Bandipur to reach the cave. The hike to the cave is pretty adventurous and if you set out in the morning, it will still be pretty foggy.

Inside the cave, you can actually go pretty far deep in. Getting through the cave with ropes and ladders, so it’s very adventurous.

As you will be climbing up and down in the cave with the help of ropes, it is best if you wear something you don’t mind getting dirty. Also, it is good if you have a headlamp with you.

💡 Get your headlamp now and explore Nepal’s caves like a pro!

They do give you a torch when you pay for the entry ticket but as sometimes you will have to use both of your hands to climb with the ropes, it is better if you have a headlamp.

25. Hang Out in Patan

Patan is south of Kathmandu and is mostly known for the Patan Durbar Square. The Patan Durbar Square is one of the 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley.

Visiting the Patan Durbar Square and the Patan Museum (inside the durbar square) is a great half-day activity. There are so many temples in Patan that it feels like wherever you, you will accidentally end up by a temple or stupa.

Patan is located in the Lalitpur district and it has many great restaurants and bars. If you are in Patan, make sure to check out some restaurants such as Moksh, The Yellow House, or Base Camp.

FAQs: Best Places to Visit in Nepal

Which is the most visited place in Nepal?

The most visited place in Nepal is Pokhara. Pokhara is has become the most popular tourist destination in Nepal and is a great place to relax, go sightseeing, see the Himalayas and go trekking or hiking.

How many days do you need in Nepal?

You need at least 2 weeks in Nepal that enables you to visit the best attractions, towns and also go on a short 4-5 days trek.

If you have less time, you can still visit Nepal however, you will be very limited in the amount of activities you can do.

I say the best is to spend 3 weeks in Nepal which gives enough time to visit Pokhara, go on a jungle safari and also go on a 5-day trek.

There are flights operating in Nepal but if you plan to take the tourists buses, just be aware that it can take 10-12 hours to go go from one place to another.

Which month is best to visit Nepal?

The best time to visit Nepal is in the Autumn (October-November) and Spring (March-April). During these times, the weather is the best for travelling and trekking in Nepal.

The weather patterns can be unpredictable but generally Autumn and Spring are considered the best time to visit Nepal.

Is Nepal a city of India?

No, Nepal is not a city in India. Nepal is a country in South Asia and has borders with India.

What is Nepal’s famous food?

The two most popular and traditional dishes in Nepal are the dal bhat and momos. Momos as like dumplings and is filled with meat (buffalo, chicken) or vegetables.

Dal bhat is the main Nepali dish and it is made of rice, lentil soup, meat and various vegetable side dishes.

What are the best things to do in Nepal?

Some of the best things to do in Nepal include going trekking, visiting Pokhara, going on a jungle safari in Chitwan or Bardia, exploring the world heritage sites in Kathmandu, go paragliding, go on day hikes and spending time in remote villages.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Nepal is a unique country where you can find many activities from trekking in the Himalayas to going on a jungle safari.

From exploring caves to paragliding, from riding cable cars to taking cooking classes, from farmers’ markets to white water rafting – Nepal has it all.