Hotels in Kathmandu: prices and the best time to book
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal and the main base for treks into the Himalayas, a city of UNESCO landmarks such as the Boudhanath and Swayambhunath stupas. Stays here are mostly hotels, hostels and guesthouses, from cheap lodges in tourist Thamel to heritage hotels in the Newari style. Prices are quoted in Nepalese rupees, and a stay usually runs five nights, as many guests pair sightseeing with a trek. Our list covers 961 properties. Below you will find real nightly rates, the cheapest dates and a short guide to the districts.
When to book for the lowest price
Prices in Kathmandu are set by the weather in the Himalayas. It is cheapest in winter, in January, off the trekking season, when rates drop by up to two thirds against the peak. It is priciest in autumn, in October, when the post-monsoon sky gives the best mountain views and the city fills with expeditions. A second peak falls in spring, from March to May. The monsoon summer, from June to August, brings fewer visitors and lower prices. Across the week, Tuesday and Thursday come out cheapest, and Sunday and Saturday priciest. For autumn and spring it pays to book ahead, ideally about ten weeks before you arrive.
How much a stay in Kathmandu costs by property type
Most of it comes down to the standard and the district. A hostel bed or a simple guesthouse room starts at a few hundred rupees a night, a mid-range hotel costs more, and boutique and heritage hotels run the most. The rates below are real starting prices per night in Nepalese rupees.
| Property type | Price per night (from) |
|---|
| Hostels and cheap guesthouses | from approx. NPR 900 |
| Mid-range hotels | from approx. NPR 5,000 |
| Boutique and 4-star hotels | from approx. NPR 8,700 |
| Heritage and 5-star hotels | from approx. NPR 20,000 |
Indicative nightly rates in Nepalese rupees, dependent on the dates. Autumn and spring run clearly higher than the monsoon summer. Check exact prices and availability by selecting your dates in the search above.
Which stay suits whom
- Families. Families praise roomier hotels and apartments with a view, and among the child-friendly sights the Garden of Dreams and the botanical gardens work well. A family room comes out reasonably priced here.
- Couples. For a quiet break, couples pick boutique hotels in the calmer corners of Thamel and the elegant Durbar Marg area, with terraces and gardens away from the street bustle.
- With breakfast. If a good breakfast matters, hotels such as Everest Boutique Hotel or Fairfield by Marriott Kathmandu Thamel are praised for including the morning meal.
- By the airport. Close to Tribhuvan Airport (KTM), properties with a free shuttle are handy for a late arrival off a connection or an early departure for a trek.
Sample hotels in Kathmandu with prices
Here are a few properties from different brackets, from a hostel to a heritage hotel. Prices are starting rates from current offers, in Nepalese rupees, shown to compare the order of magnitude.
| Property | Category | Price per night (from) |
|---|
| Happy Stay Boys Hostel | hostel | from approx. NPR 914 |
| My Second Home | cheap guesthouse | from approx. NPR 2,715 |
| Hotel Yambu Kathmandu | budget hotel | from approx. NPR 4,936 |
| Fairfield by Marriott Thamel | chain hotel in Thamel | from approx. NPR 6,353 |
| Oasis Kathmandu Hotel | mid-range hotel | from approx. NPR 8,678 |
| Hotel Thrive | boutique hotel | from approx. NPR 11,621 |
| Baber Mahal Vilas | heritage hotel | from approx. NPR 20,409 |
| Hotel Yak & Yeti | 5-star hotel | from approx. NPR 25,464 |
Where to stay
The most popular base is Thamel, the tourist heart of the city with hostels, trekking shops and restaurants along narrow lanes. Those after quiet and a higher standard pick the elegant Durbar Marg or the diplomatic Lazimpat with its gardens. Neighbouring Patan tempts with its heritage Durbar Square and crafts, and for a Himalayan sunrise you head to the Nagarkot hill just outside the city. You get around Kathmandu by taxi, microbus and tempo, and this is where expeditions to Pokhara and the Annapurna set off.
When Kathmandu is more expensive
The season in Kathmandu is set by the rhythm of trekking and festivals. It is priciest and busiest in autumn, from September to November, when the post-monsoon sky gives the best mountain views, and in spring, from March to May. This is also the time of the great Dashain and Tihar festivals. It is cheapest and quietest in the monsoon summer, from June to August, when the rains put some visitors off, and in winter, off the expedition season. High demand in the trekking months lifts prices across the whole city.
2.57 km from center
