Getting around Kathmandu: public transport, passes and taxis

Kathmandu has no metro or tram. Your real choices are walking, ride-hailing apps, metered-or-negotiated taxis, local buses and microbuses, and the odd tempo (shared electric three-wheeler) on some routes. Distances look short on a map but the valley's traffic and dust make 6 km a 30–60 minute trip at peak times.

Prices below are 2026 estimates in Nepali rupees. Apps quote a fare before you confirm, which is the main reason to use them.

Pathao and InDrive are the two apps most travellers use in Kathmandu. You enter the pickup and drop-off, see a fare, and pay cash or by wallet. That removes the negotiation that makes street taxis tiring. Bike rides are cheaper and faster through jams; cars are better with luggage or in the rain.

Street taxis rarely use the meter even when one is fitted. Agree the price before you get in, in rupees, and confirm it covers your whole group. At Tribhuvan airport there is a fixed-price taxi counter inside the terminal — pay there and keep the slip. If you are arriving late, pre-booking through your hotel is the calmest option.

Two practical habits: screenshot the app's pickup pin, because drivers often call to confirm the exact gate or alley, and keep small notes, since change for NPR 1,000 can be a problem early in the day.

Local buses and microbuses run everywhere and cost NPR 30–1,000 depending on distance and vehicle. They are the cheapest way to move along the main corridors — Ring Road, the airport road, the Pokhara and Bhaktapur highways — but they are crowded, stop constantly, and the parent country guidance is to avoid night services. For a short visit, the saving rarely beats the time lost.

Tempos, the shared electric three-wheelers, still cover some fixed routes at low fares; ask at your guesthouse which routes are running, as coverage changes. Fares on buses and tempos are paid in cash to a conductor or driver; keep small change.

There is no single city transit card or visitor pass that pays off for a typical stay. Pay per trip.

Walking is the best way to see Thamel, Asan and the old lanes of Patan, and it is often faster than a car over 1–2 km. Sidewalks are patchy, motorbikes use them, and dust and exhaust are real in the dry season, so a mask helps in spring. Cross with locals and watch for scooters coming the wrong way.

Plan around the peaks: roughly 08:00–10:00 and 16:00–19:00. A trip that takes 20 minutes at 11:00 can take 45 at 17:00. Saturday is the weekly holiday, so government offices and many businesses close, but roads stay busy. Strikes (bandh) can shut roads and buses at short notice; on those days stay close to your hotel and check with staff before setting out.

A sightseeing day using apps for three or four cross-city hops lands around NPR 1,200–2,500 per person, less if you share a car. A day-hire car with driver for the valley is US$100–150 including driver, which is better value for two or more people doing Patan, Bhaktapur and Boudhanath in one loop. Buses cost a fraction of that but eat the day.

Budget separately for entry tickets at Durbar Squares and stupas, and for the airport run, which is a fixed counter price rather than an app fare. Tipping a driver for a full day is normally Rs 500–1,000.