landmark
Boudhanath Stupa
One of the world's largest Buddhist stupas (40m). UNESCO. Free entry. Walk the kora clockwise around the base with Tibetan monks. Best at sunset.
Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) · Nepal
3-Hour Layover in Kathmandu: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 3-hour layover in Kathmandu?
Entry
Nepal visa-on-arrival USD 30/50/125 for 15/30/90 days at KTM for most nationalities. SAARC nationals visa-free. Bring USD cash + 2 passport photos.
Into town
Pathao / Tootle ride-share: 20–40 min, NPR 300–600 (€2–4).
Time outside
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
Times from KTM arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
Top Kathmandu: Where to Go
The sights in Kathmandu worth leaving the airport for.
2Pashupatinath Temple
Sacred Hindu temple + UNESCO site on the Bagmati River. Non-Hindus can't enter the main temple but can watch cremation rituals on the ghats. NPR 1,000 entry.
Photo: Bijay Chaurasia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
neighbourhood
Thamel tourist district
Backpacker + trekking gear hub. Cobbled lanes + cafes + bookshops. Free walking. Best for trekking gear shopping before Everest trips.
4Durbar Square + Patan (UNESCO)
Royal palace squares — Kathmandu Durbar Square (NPR 1,000) + Patan Durbar (NPR 1,000). Both UNESCO. Allow 2-3 hours each.
Photo: Zulufive, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Itinerary ideas for Kathmandu
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
3 hours
You are here3 hours in Kathmandu
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
Insider tip
KTM is 5km from Thamel — Pathao (Nepal's Uber) is the cheap fast option (NPR 300-600 / €2-4). Hotel transfers are slightly more expensive but stress-free. Kathmandu valley sits at 1,400m — drink water + avoid alcohol on arrival day. For Everest trekkers: arrive 2-3 days before flight to Lukla for permits + acclimatisation.
Into Kathmandu
Getting to Kathmandu City Centre
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pathao / Tootle ride-share | NPR 300–600 (€2–4) | 20–40 min |
| Taxi (negotiate before) | NPR 600–1,200 (€4–8) | 20–40 min |
| Pre-arranged hotel transfer | NPR 800–1,500 (€5–10) | 20–40 min |
Eat like a local
Eat Like a Local in Kathmandu
Momo (Tibetan dumplings) at Yangling Tibetan. Dal bhat (lentil + rice) at any local restaurant. Newari food at Honacha (Patan). Yak cheese pizza at Fire and Ice.
3 hours in Kathmandu
3-Hour Itinerary
1
0–30 min
Stay airside and find your departure area
With 3 hours, leaving Tribhuvan International Airport is risky: passport control, the trip into Kathmandu and security on the way back take most of the time.
2
30–120 min
Eat, rest or use a lounge airside
Check the departures board for your gate before you settle in.
3
120–180 min
Go to your gate
Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
Your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a 3-hour layover in Kathmandu?
Nepal visa-on-arrival USD 30/50/125 for 15/30/90 days at KTM for most nationalities. SAARC nationals visa-free. Bring USD cash + 2 passport photos. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Is 3 hours enough to leave Tribhuvan International Airport?
Stay airside — 3h is too tight. Getting into Kathmandu by Pathao / Tootle ride-share takes 20–40 min each way.
How do I get from Tribhuvan International Airport to Kathmandu centre?
Pathao / Tootle ride-share: 20–40 min, NPR 300–600 (€2–4). Taxi (negotiate before): 20–40 min, NPR 600–1,200 (€4–8). Pre-arranged hotel transfer: 20–40 min, NPR 800–1,500 (€5–10).
Getting out of Tribhuvan International Airport
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Also useful for your Kathmandu trip
Airlines that fly to Kathmandu
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from KTM.
Buddha Air route mapGorkha Airlines route mapNepal Airlines route mapSaurya Airlines route mapShree Airlines route mapSita Air route mapAir Arabia route mapAir Arabia Abu Dhabi route mapAir China route mapAir India route mapAirAsia route mapBatik Air Malaysia route mapBhutan Airlines route mapBiman Bangladesh Airlines route mapCathay Pacific route mapChina Eastern route mapChina Eastern Airlines route mapChina Southern route map
Airport lounges at Tribhuvan Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Kathmandu travel deals
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
How a layover in Kathmandu works
01
Check you can leave
Nepal visa-on-arrival USD 30/50/125 for 15/30/90 days at KTM for most nationalities. SAARC nationals visa-free. Bring USD cash + 2 passport photos.
02
Head into town
Pathao / Tootle ride-share: 20–40 min, NPR 300–600 (€2–4).
Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.
03
Back in time for your flight
Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
Ready for Kathmandu?
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.