Kathmandu Durbar Square
Place · Kathmandu Durbar Square
Go at opening, before the tour groups; 75 minutes among old palace courtyards and temples, some still fenced after the 2015 earthquake.
- Malla palaces and temples
- Kumari Ghar next door
- Post-2015 rebuilding
- Go at opening
- Bring cash
- Shoes off inside
- Queue: switch at 15 min
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Thamel's inner lanes are crowded, uneven and shared with …
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Nepal ↗Get visa information only from the Department of Immigration; visa-service lookalike sites charge extra, and the rules differ by nationality.
- Nepal ↗At stupas walk clockwise; at temples and homes remove shoes where there is a rack or a raised floor; cover shoulders and knees.
- Nepal ↗Carry Nepalese rupees in small notes: many stalls, taxis and tea shops are cash-only, and shops rarely take foreign notes.
- Nepal ↗Strikes (bandh) and protests can close roads without notice: check the news and your hotel the night before any airport or highway day.
- Kathmandu Valley ↗In the dry season (Nov–Apr) the valley fills with haze and dust: viewpoints often show nothing after 09:00, so go at dawn or skip.
- Kathmandu ↗Thamel's inner lanes are crowded, uneven and shared with motorbikes: taxis stop at the edge, so large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Kathmandu ↗Dust and smoke haze is worst around Feb–Apr and can linger in winter: carry a mask rated for fine particles on walking days and move long walks to the clearest morning.
More
Map & directions
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Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
Last entry: Desk estimate: daylight hours; ticket office closes late afternoon; confirm.
- Crowds
Quietest around 06:00 · go at opening
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Fri · busiest Sat, Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: About NPR 1,000 (2026 estimate)
- Time to spend
- 75–100 min · up to 150 min if you linger
Best time to go
Tour groups 10:00–14:00; quietest at opening.
Queue rule: switch if the queue passes 15 min; come back when under 5.
By weekday: quietest Mon–Fri, busiest Sat, Sun.
Opening hours
- Last entry
- Desk estimate: daylight hours; ticket office closes late afternoon; confirm.
- Note
- Opening and ticket hours differ by season; not printed until verified.
- Hours note
- Desk estimate: daylight hours; ticket office closes late afternoon; confirm.
Which month is quietest
- Janbusy
- Febbusy
- Marbusy
- Aprbusy
- Maybusy
- Junlight
- Jullight
- Auglight
- Sepbusy
- Octpacked
- Novpacked
- Decheavy
Quietest Jun–Aug · busiest Oct–Nov.
Estimate: desk reasoning from season and weekend patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Taxi to the Basantapur side of the square
- Ticket
- on site · official site · bring cash
- Stairs
- Not recorded
- Shoes
- Shoes off at shrines where signed.
Accessibility
- PartialStep-free entrance
- NoLifts
- NoAccessible toilet
- PartialWheelchair
- PartialStroller · caution
Sensory load
- Sensory load3/5 Medium
- Peak crowd5/5 Very high
Exposure: high
What to bring and the rules
- Cash · The ticket desk is likely to take cash only.
- Clothing that meets the dress rule · Modest; shoulders and knees covered; shoes off where signed.
- Footwear that suits the rule · Shoes off at shrines where signed.
- A small bag · Bags are not usually checked; keep them in front.
- Water, a hat and sun or rain cover · Rated high exposure: little shelter while you walk.
- Modest; shoulders and knees covered; shoes off where signed.
- Bags are not usually checked; keep them in front.
- Lockers or cloakroom (no) None; go light.
- Allowed in the open square; ask before photographing worshippers and priests.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- heat: Café near Basantapur (AC or shade)
- rain: Covered temple porches around the square
Nearest rescue anchor: B — Basantapur square edge (benches, ticket booth) (field-verify)
Problem
Red lines
- Do not climb on temple plinths or touch offerings.
- Follow the fenced routes around restoration work.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Know before you go
- Go at 07:00–08:00 for soft light and few tour groups.Go at 7:00 AM–8:00 AM for soft light and few tour groups.
- Buy your ticket at the official office; the ticket is checked in places.
- Restoration after 2015 is ongoing; a few monuments are fenced.
- Guides are optional; agree the price and the length in advance.
Best time of day
Go at opening. Plan 75–100 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; add one level on weekends and public holidays
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Buy at the entrance on the day.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- Bring cash; cards may not be taken (check).
- Dress code
- Modest; shoulders and knees covered; shoes off where signed.
- Bags & lockers
- Bags are not usually checked; keep them in front.
- Lockers or cloakroom (no) None; go light.
- Photos
- Allowed in the open square; ask before photographing worshippers and priests.
- What's closed
- Festival dayscheckIndra Jatra and other processions close parts of the square.
- RestorationcheckSome monuments are fenced or under repair; check what is open.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Foreigner entry ticket | About NPR 1,000 (2026 estimate) | Check the current price; carry your passport or a copy. |
| Registered guide | NPR 1,500–3,000 (2026 estimate) | Agree a price for the hour before you start. |
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
45min
Worthwhile
75min
Typical
100min
p95
150min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (100 min).
With the other 20 min, these are a walk away (their own visit time is on their page):
- Kumari Ghar2 min on foot · 18 min spare
- Tea and sweets at Basantapur3 min on foot · 17 min spare
- Dal bhat lunch, Thamel20 min on foot · 0 min spare
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Inside, in order
Basantapur entrance and ticket
10 minBuy the foreigner ticket at the office.
Hanuman Dhoka royal palace courts
25 minCarved wooden courtyards, some open and some closed.
Taleju temple and the square’s temples
20 minMulti-tiered temples on stepped plinths.
Kasthamandap and the pavilion area
10 minA rebuilt wooden pavilion that gave the city its name (check status).
Kal Bhairab and the lanes
10 minA large stone figure and side streets.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: partly · partly
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: no · no
- Wheelchair: partly · partly
- Stroller: partly · partlycaution
Cobbles, plinths and steep steps around the temples; a flat central path.
Step-free route
- 1A flat central path crosses the square; the temple plinths are stepped.
- 2Rickshaws can bring you to the edge; ask at the ticket office about the easiest route.
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | yes | Public toilets near the square (small fee). |
| Lockers or cloakroom | no | None; go light. |
| Café or food | yes | Rooftop cafés around the square. |
| Seating | limited | Temple steps and café seats. |
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| History travellers | good | The best single view of Malla-era architecture in the city. |
| Photographers | good | Carved wood and morning light. |
| Families | ok | Crowds and steps; short visits work. |
Skip it if
- You have already seen Patan and have only a few hours.
- It is a festival day and you dislike crowds.
With kids
- with kids
- Pigeons, colour and a rickshaw nearby hold attention; the steps and crowds are the difficulty.
- child price
- check
Combine with
Combine with
- 2 minKumari Ghar
- 3 minTea and sweets at Basantapur · eat
- 20 minDal bhat lunch, Thamel · eat
Walk the Kathmandu Durbar Square area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
| Spot | When | Rule on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| The Maju Deval temple steps | Early morning | Do not sit on the steps during ceremonies. |
| Carved windows and doorways | Morning | Ask before photographing people. |
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
How long do I need?
About 75–90 minutes.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is it worth the fee?
Yes for the range of temples and the atmosphere; the interior spaces are limited.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Can I take photos?
Yes in the open; not inside Kumari Ghar’s inner rooms and not of the goddess.
What was damaged in 2015?
Several temples collapsed or cracked; many have been rebuilt or propped.
Photos
Photos
Kathmandu Durbar Square Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0
Deep dive
Sources
- officialNepal Tourism Board
- secondaryWikivoyage — Kathmandu
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Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The quietest window written into this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.