Where to stay in Kathmandu, Nepal: hotels, guesthouses and hostels for every budget
Visiting Nepal and not sure where to stay in Kathmandu?
Discover the best budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation options with our comprehensive where to stay in Kathmandu list!
The main gateway to the incredible Himalayan mountains, steamy lowland jungles, stunning UNESCO world heritage sites, and of course some of the greatest hospitality on earth; Kathmandu is impossible to avoid if you journey to Nepal.
And while it might be a little polluted, incredibly chaotic, and a little exhausting, there's no denying Kathmandu is an enjoyable city to spend a few days in.
If you're planning to visit Nepal but spend minimal time in Kathmandu, we suggest you change your plans slightly. Trust us; as travellers who've spent almost four weeks in the city, we definitely think it's worth it at least four days, and likely more. You won't be short of things to do in Kathmandu, and nor will you be short of places to stay in Kathmandu.
Ranging from high-end to the barest-of-bare backpacker accommodation, we've personally stayed in MANY different hotels, hostels and guesthouses (upwards of 20!), we feel like we know all the possible options within the city.
So, if you're wondering where to stay in Kathmandu, or you may be worried about the accommodation options in the city, we've got you covered.
Here's our guide to where to stay in Kathmandu, including our personal options for budget to luxury stays.
WHERE TO STAY IN KATHMANDU: ACCOMMODATION TO SUIT EVERY BUDGET
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WHERE TO STAY IN KATHMANDU | ACCOMMODATION COSTS
Not sure where to stay in Kathmandu? Fortunately, the city has a huge range of accommodation options to meet any budget. Most properties are located centrally, primarily around the Thamel district.
Prices vary dramatically, depending on where you stay and when. The most common form of accommodation – guesthouses, will set charge between $5 – $35 per night. If you’re travelling outside of high season, prices can drop, so always ask if any discount is applicable.
On the whole, accommodation in Nepal is pretty standard. Most places have a range of rooms, from budget to doubles with en suite.
Beware, that cheaper accommodation is of a poor standard; if you’re backpacking, this might be okay, but otherwise, invest a few extra dollars for something nicer.
Average prices for accommodation in Kathmandu:
Bed in hostel dorm | NPR 800 - 1,500
Guest houses | NPR 400 - 2,500
3* double room | NPR 2,000 - 8,000
Luxury accommodation (4 - 5*) | NPR 15,000 - 25,000
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WHERE TO STAY IN KATHMANDU | THE BEST AREAS TO STAY IN KATHMANDU
THAMEL
Thamel is Kathmandu’s tourist hub, and most visited part of the city. There are literally hundreds of hotels, guesthouses, and hostels in town; therefore, if you’re a budget traveller or backpacker, you’ll likely stay in this part of town.
You will love spending time in Thamel; It’s a great place to hang out and meet fellow travellers, walk the streets and soak in the atmosphere that only really exists in this area.
It’s also right in the heart of town, close to all of the major things to do in Kathmandu.
BHAKTAPUR
The historic city of Bhaktapur, home to Bhaktapur Durbar Square, is located around 40mins from the centre of Kathmandu.
While it might be a little away from all the major sights within Kathmandu, it’s actually a great place to stay and explore the old city, which is well preserved and incredibly beautiful.
PATAN
Home to one of the famous Durbar Squares of the Kathmandu Valley, Patan is one of the most beautiful parts of Kathmandu.
Although there’s not a huge amount of accommodation in Patan, hotels here tend to follow Newari design and have a traditional feel.
If you’re looking for a more authentic location in which to stay, don’t miss Patan.
LAZIMPAT
Located just outside of Thamel is Lazimpat, home to numerous high quality and luxurious hotels. It’s also far more chilled out and quieter than Thamel, and therefore a little bit more comfortable.
Fortunately, it’s location in the centre of town is still close to all the main attractions and restaurants Kathmandu has to offer.
READ | The 21 best places to visit in Kathmandu
READ | The Garden of Dreams, Kathmandu’s garden oasis
READ | Our complete guide to accommodation in Nepal
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WHERE TO STAY IN KATHMANDU | TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION
If you’re worried about going without a bed in Kathmandu, don’t be - here are accommodation options literally everywhere - you’ll find everything from 5 star to basic.
Prices will vary quite substantially across the peak seasons and regions, but for the most part accommodation will set you back between $5 - $35 per night. If you’re travelling outside of high season, prices can drop, so always ask if any discount is applicable.
Below is an overview of accommodation in Kathmandu (read our Nepal accommodation guide for a more thorough overview!):
GUESTHOUSES
Almost all accommodation is referred to as ‘guesthouse’, and there are varying levels of guesthouse in Nepal, from extreme budget to very well appointed.
Guesthouses that cater to tourists are well organised: most innkeepers speak excellent English, and can arrange anything for you from laundry to trekking/porter hire (which comes in very handy).
Nepal, and especially in Kathmandu, may have daily power cuts (less than previously, but it still occurs quite regularly - read more in our in-depth Kathmandu guide).
This often means no hot water or electricity for up to eight hours, so we recommend checking whether your guesthouse of choice has a generator for constant hot water and continuous electricity.
BUDGET GUESTHOUSES
This is probably the best option for budget backpackers, and the type of accommodation we spent most of our time in.
Budget guesthouses in Kathmandu are generally cheap and cheerful, but with enough of the bare essentials to make life okay.
Most provide hot running water (if you’re lucky!), flush toilets, clean sheets and blankets.
If you go outside the main tourist areas, be prepared to do with a lot less, including hot water. But for the low prices, they’re generally worth it.
MID-RANGE GUESTHOUSES
Mid-range guesthouses are generally larger and better appointed (think fan/Aircon, TV).
Prices can be almost triple the price of budget guesthouses, however in many cases, such as after a long trek, it’s absolutely worth it.
To gain the cheapest prices, we definitely recommend doing some research on Booking.com before booking.
HOTELS AND RESORTS
If you're looking to splurge, there's a good range of very respectable hotels and resorts in Kathmandu.
While not of the standard of resorts in south-east Asia or Europe, hotels and resorts in Kathmandu are decent enough if you do your research.
Prices are far cheaper than many similar properties around the world, so if you have the budget, stay somewhere nice such as Dwarikas Resort in Kathmandu.
AIRBNB
A relative newcomer to the Kathmandu accommodation scene, Airbnb is available across the country, ranging from swish apartments in Kathmandu (honestly, we couldn't believe our eyes at how beautiful some were), through to authentic home stays in the countryside.
SEARCH | Search for your perfect Nepal accommodation on airbnb here.
BOOK | Use our Airbnb code for up to £30 off your first booking!
READ | Our guide to Airbnb (includes free booking code!)
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THE BEST PLACES TO STAY IN KATHMANDU
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Kathmandu has a huge range of accommodation options to meet any budget (we’ve written a complete guide to accommodation in Nepal to help you out - read it here!).
Most properties are located centrally, primarily around the Thamel district, or Lazimpat.
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BEST BUDGET HOTELS | THE BEST PLACES TO STAY IN KATHMANDU
We recommend the following budget accommodation options in Kathmandu:
HOTEL HOLY LODGE | The location, right in the heart of Thamel, massive rooms and great bang for your buck, makes Hotel Holy Lodge the best budget accommodation we’ve stayed at in Kathmandu (we’ve stayed in about 10 different places!). It can be a little hard to sleep at night, so ask for a room at the back of the property.
YAKETY YAK HOSTEL | In a city devoid of backpacker hostels, Yakety Yak is a welcome addition to Kathmandu’s accommodation scene. A new, modern hostel right in the heart of Thamel, it’s a little pricey for a hostel, but the vibe and modern rooms make it worth it.
ZOSTEL KATHMANDU | Relaxed hostel located in Thamel, including an awesome rooftop terrace. Rooms are nice, especially for the price, and has a really cool garden and bar which is a great place to meet fellow travellers.
ALOBAR 1000 HOSTEL | While not as comfortable and modern as Yakety Yak Hostel, Alobar1000 hostel is the perfect place to meet fellow travellers on their awesome rooftop. The staff are friendly, the vibe relaxed, and the prices fairly cheap. Also located in Thamel.
BOOK | Check prices and book Alobar100 Hostel
Or, search for budget hotels/guesthouses in Kathmandu here
the top places to visit in Nepal | 21 amazing things to do
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MID-RANGE HOTELS | THE BEST PLACES TO STAY IN KATHMANDU
NEPAL PAVILION INN
Pretty much our favourite place to stay in Kathmandu, the quaint, Newari-style Nepal Pavilion Inn hotel has beautiful rooms, is located in the heart of Thamel and has the most wonderful hosts.
BOOK | Nepal Pavilion Inn
HOTEL TRADITIONAL COMFORT
Large, clean rooms and a brilliant morning breakfast, Hotel Traditional Comfort is a really enjoyable place to stay at. Located just outside of Thamel, but it’s far quieter in the evening allowing for a good night’s rest.
BOOK | Hotel Traditional Comfort
KATHMANDU GUEST HOUSE | A beautiful location, stunning gardens and agreeable rooms - Kathmandu Guest House is an institution for a reason. While not the finest place we've stayed, it's the perfect mid-range guesthouse right in the heart of Thamel.
BOOK | Kathmandu Guest House
Or, search for mid-range hotels in Kathmandu here
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LUXURY HOTELS IN KATHMANDU | THE BEST PLACES TO STAY IN KATHMANDU
DWARIKA'S HOTEL
The best place we’ve ever stayed at in Kathmandu, Dwarika’s Hotel is a collection of former traditional heritage Nepali houses formed around a courtyard.
It feels like you're stepping back in time and absolutely worth the (very) expensive cost. Oh, and the restaurant is one of Kathmandu's best.
BOOK | Dwarika’s Hotel
HOTEL SHANKAR
Hotel Shankar is a historic luxury heritage hotel located in the Lazimpat district of Kathmandu. The hotel was opened in 1964 in a building dating to 1894, and is a truly unique place to stay in Kathmandu. Also, the pool is on another level!
BOOK | Hotel Shankar
CROWNE PLAZA KATHMANDU-SOALTEE
Located on 12 hectares just outside of Kathmandu, the Crowne Plaza Kathmandu-Soaltee is a truly 5* experience in Kathmandu. Although probably more for businessmen than hikers, it’s still a seriously deluxe hotel.
BOOK | Crowne Plaza Kathmandu-Soaltee
Or, search for luxury hotels in Kathmandu here
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AIRBNB IN KATHMANDU
What was a relative newcomer to the Nepal accommodation scene, Airbnb has quickly taken root in Kathmandu. Some very swish apartments (like this one) popping up across the city!
SEARCH | Search for airbnbs in Kathmandu here
BOOK | Use our Airbnb code for up to £30 off your first booking!
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NEPAL BACKPACKING ESSENTIALS
Travelling through Nepal comes with a unique set of needs.
To help you have a comfortable, happy journey, we recommend bringing the following items with you:
Reusable water bottle | We use the Grayl water purification bottles, which allows us to fill up from any water source, anywhere in the world (including train taps!).
Biodegradable Wet Wipes | Keep clean without destroying the planet!
Hand sanitiser | not something we’d actually recommend normally, but in Sri Lanka it can be a bloody great investment.
A spork | to cut down on unnecessary plastic usage at meal times
Power bank | power does drop out… often! Don’t get caught out without power for your devices buy purchasing this power bank
READ | check out our eco-friendly packing guide to travel through Nepal consciously and comfortably
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EXPERIENCE MORE OF NEPAL WITH THESE ESSENTIAL POSTS
NEPAL TRAVEL GUIDE | Nepal Travel guide, including what to see, know and do!
NEPAL TRAVEL TIPS | Everything you need to know before you visit Nepal
KATHMANDU CITY GUIDE | Our in depth guide to the chaotic Kathmandu
POKHARA | Our definitive guide to this backpacker paradise
THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT | Our comprehensive guide to hiking the Annapurna Circuit
TRAVEL INSURANCE | Don’t leave home without travel insurance (seriously, don’t!). Click here to get the best deals with World Nomads, our trusted travel insurance provider
PHOTOGRAPHY | Love our photography? Wondering what gear we use to get all of our photos around the world?
Click here to view our detailed photography gear guide, as well as our top travel photography tips!
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL | Responsible travel is important. REALLY IMPORTANT.
Learn our top responsible travel tips to help you, your family and friends travel more consciously around the globe
ECO FRIENDLY PACKING ESSENTIALS | Don’t leave home without our favourite eco-friendly travel essentials
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EXPLORE MORE OF NEPAL WITH OUR IN-DEPTH GUIDES!
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