AMAZING Things To Do In Kathmandu For 3-5 Days

If you plan to be in Kathmandu for a short stay of 3-5 days, here are my recommendations to get the most out of your short time in Kathmandu! 

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Dodge Monkeys at Swayambhunath Stupa

There are so many wonderful things to see and do in the Nepalese Capital. Dodge Monkeys stupa is one of them.

This stupa is located on the outskirts of Kathmandu and is accessible by Uber. You can experience the local way of transportation by taking an Uber motorbike and also get a cheaper fare.

This stupa is not called dodge monkeys for nothing. Indeed, even before entering the stupa, you can see a lot of them. After walking hundreds of steps you will be at the top of the mountain. From there you will have a view of the city. On the top, you can see the stupa and the monks.

You can burn some incent and just sit there to observe the view and the atmosphere.

Thamel area- Kathmandu city center

The Thamel area is located in the Kathmandu town center, is where you shop and hand out. If you plan to bring some souvenirs, you will be at the right spot. If you don’t know what to bring back home to your friend and family, I listed some of the things you can buy as gift. The list below contains things that does not take too much space on your luggage and are typically from Nepal:

Durbar Square is the center of the city. It is surrounded by temples. The main temples are Chyasin Dega and Jagannath temple. Devoted to the God Shiva and Taleju Temple devoted to the Taleju God. Taleju Temple is open only once time in a year and the rest is only for the king and the royal family. It is the most impressive with its 36 meters high and its 3 roofs that can be seen in the whole city.

Experience the Nepalese food

Being in Kathmandu is an opportunity to try the Nepalese food. It is a beautiful mix between Chinese and Indian cuisine, you should at least try the listed foods below:

  • Momos: chinese dumplings filled with vegetables or chicken and served with a spicy sauce
  • Dal bhat : the traditional meal by excellence, served almost everywhere;  Dal Bhat is composed of rice served along with lentil soup (dhal) and vegetable curry (depends on the season) or chicken. Healthy warm and fulfilling this meal is a must try! I am actually craving it just by talking about it 😛
  • Chatamari: eaten like a snack, it is a rice flour crepe cooked with mainly coriander, minced meat, eggs, chopped onions and chilies
  • Thukpa: a noodle soup wich can be with vegetables or meat (goat, chicken, lamb or even yak)!

Enjoy a hike on the outskirts of Kathmandu: Chisapani-Nagarkot Trek

Most of the people who come to Nepal are searching for nature and a good hike. Even if you do not have a lot of time there but you still want to enjoy a good hike it is possible! As a plus you will have a beautiful landscape in the Himalayas, it is possible! I recommend Chisapani-Nagarkot Trek.

This trek takes you to the outskirts of Kathmandu. On this trek you can discover lush hills to the banks of beautiful rivers. You can also get a chance to have a spectacular views of mountains, sunrises, and sunsets. It is a short, easy, and accessible trek. Chisapani is the highest elevation on this trek and is only at 2000m. After you go through the beautiful shiv puri national park.

If you are lucky, you can catch a glimpse of rare species of local flora and fauna. On your journey I recommend you to stay at the End of the Universe. The food there is tasty and the view amazing.

Nepal in a Nutshell

Cost of life: the local currency is the Nepalese rupee (differs from the Indian rupees); 1€= X rupees; 1$= X rupees and 1£=X rupees (as of 13.06.2023 bear in mind that the exchange rate is constantly fluctuating; One basic meal = 380 rupees A bed on a hostel = 10 €
Communication: I recommend buying a sim card on Ncell or NTC which covers the majority of Nepal (except the area that is high)
Traveling: you can use Uber almost everywhere or there as taxis available as well as tuk-tuk drivers (cheaper price but less comfortable)
Visa: 30-115 € depending the duration of your journey (from 15 to 60 days)
Health: if you go high on the mountain be careful you can catch the high sickness (above 3000m and can lead in the most serious cases to death) so be aware of the symptoms before going on a trek; for the medium to expert trek always have health insurance which covers the helicopter transportation otherwise you can risk that no one will rescue you if they are not sure to be paid for the service
Security: Always trek with a guide; Do not go high on the mountains with children below 7 years old and if you are pregnant/ if you have had any neurologic, heart, or lung issues on the past.

If you are planning to travel to India and its capital, check my post on the 10 things to do in New Delhi!

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