The nearest hill station in Kathmandu, Nagarkot, is located about 32 km east of the capital. Almost no tourists miss this beautiful landmark during their visit to Nepal. Travel options between these two cities are always in high demand in travelers’ forums, with many asking how to get to Nagarkot from Kathmandu. In this article, I will break down all the options for reaching Nagarkot from Kathmandu. Those include a local bus, a tourist bus, and a private car or taxi.
Kathmandu to Nagarkot by Private Car
The easiest way to reach Nagarkot is to rent a private car or taxi, but it is also reachable by local bus. We suggest arranging in advance if you would like to use a private car or hire a taxi for getting to and from Kathmandu. If you are lucky, you might be able to get a taxi back to Kathmandu from Nagarkot, but the cost is likely higher than you expect. Also, there is no fixed taxi stand in Nagarkot. If you wish to travel by private car, you should book in advance. Nagarkot is one of the most popular side trips from Kathmandu. The Kathmandu, Nagarkot, and Bhaktapur Tour is the iconic destination for any traveler. If you wish to make it all of them, including Changunarayan, in 2 nights and 3 days, using a private car, the cost will not exceed USD 150.
Kathmandu to Nagarkot by Local Bus
Trekker’s traveling around from Bouddhanath and Pashupatinath, Nagarkot is reachable from the cultural world heritage sites. The Boudhanath and Pashupatinath, which are near the ring road. From there, you could take a bus to Bhaktapur, then transfer to another bus to Nagarkot. To be sure, you can ask the bus driver about your final destination and directions.
Traveling from Around Thamel and the Durbar Square Area
If you live close to the city center or around Thamel, then you should go to the Bhaktapur Bus Park (terminal), which is within walking distance from Thamel. Buses depart every 10-15 minutes to Bhaktapur. The journey is roughly a 45 to 1-hour bus ride. If your main destination is Nagarkot, you’ll have to change buses again. Buses to Nagarkot depart from the same destination you end your journey at, Kathmandu, and continue to Bhaktapur.
Traveling from Kathmandu Airport to Bhaktapur and Nagarkot
Just go outside the Kathmandu Airport Arrival Gate. Again, it is past the roundabout and by the main road. From there, you will see a bus station on the left side of the main exit. Make sure you listen well, as they will only call out their destinations. Look out for buses calling to “Bhaktapur”. Or the easiest would be to simply ask locals where to find buses to “Bhaktapur,” and they will easily give you the bus number and company name. Just catch the bus to Bhaktapur and get off at the last station. and catch the next bus again to Nagarkot.
Kathmandu to Nagarkot by Tourist Bus
I was asked multiple times by my readers, “Is there a tourist bus between Kathmandu and Nagarkot?” If you look for an answer online, you will find mixed results, mostly from 2010-2018. As of today (12 January 2026) I am here with some recent information about tourist bus service between Kathmandu and Nagarkot.
There is no longer a tourist bus service between Kathmandu and Nagarkot. A majority of tourists would visit Nagarkot as a day trip from Kathmandu, along with other cultural world heritage sites such as Bhaktapur and Changunarayan. At the same time, a different visitor has their own uniqueness. “One stone, two birds.” They would probably prefer to include additional activities, such as day hiking or an overnight sunrise-sunset hike. Due to various factors, there are perhaps too few tourists who would like to go to Nagarkot and return to Kathmandu. In 2019, this service was no longer available. As I suppose, the company didn’t run very well.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I get from Nagarkot to Kathmandu?
The only convenient way to get to Kathmandu from Nagarkot is by a private car. There are local bus routes between Nagarkot, Bhaktapur, and Kathmandu for budget travelers. However, you may need to change buses to get back to Kathmandu. There is no tourist bus on this route and no permanent taxi stand.
2. How far is Nagarkot from Kathmandu?
The distance and travel time between Kathmandu and Nagarkot depend on where you live. If you are in the central tourist town of Thamel, it is about 26.9 km away, and the travel time is about 1.5 hours. Due to the road conditions, it might take longer to reach Nagarkot than the distance suggests.
3. How far is Bhaktapur from Kathmandu?
The distance and travel time between Kathmandu and Bhaktapur depend on where you live. If you are in the central tourist town of Thamel, it is about 15.8 km away, and the travel time is about 45 minutes. Depending on traffic and travel time, it might take longer to reach Bhaktapur than the distance suggests.
3. Can I see Everest from Nagarkot?
Yes, on a clear day, Mount Everest can be seen from Nagarkot. Remember, Mount Everest is about 143 km by air distance from Nagarkot. So, the shape of the mountain view might be very small. However, Nagarkot offers some of the closest views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Manaslu, and the Everest Range.
4. What mountains can I see from Nagarkot?
On a clear day, 8th of the eight-thousand-meter mountains, including Everest (8,848m), Cho Oyu (8,188m), Mount Shishapangma (8,027m), Mount Manaslu (8,163m), Mount Annapurna (8,091m), and Mount Dhaulagiri (8,167m), can be seen from Nagarkot. You will also have a chance to view many other mountains below 8,000 meters, such as Numbur Peak (6,958 m), Melungtse (7,200 m), Gauri Shankar (7,134 m), Dorje Lakpa (6,966 m), Langtang Ri (7205 m), Phurbi Chyachu (6,722 m), Ganesh Himal(7,422 m), Himalchuli (7,900m), Gur Karpo Ri (6,874 m), Gyaltzen Peak (6,705 m), etc.
5. How is the road condition between Kathmandu and Nagarkot?
The road condition between Kathmandu and Nagarkot is well-cemented. The highway up to Bhaktapur is wide enough, but once you reach the mountainside, the road becomes narrow and winding. It only has one lane that requires sharing with oncoming traffic.
6. How to reach Nagarkot by bike from Kathmandu?
Biking to Nagarkot is another excellent alternative way to reach Nagarkot for an adventure lover. However, it is not an easy task. Until Bhaktapur is flat and smooth, but the about 12-15km road is stright uphill until you reach Nagarkot on the windy mountain road. If you are one of those who like to burn calories while ascending and enjoy the downhill ride around Nagarkot and other neighboring villages, Mountain biking to Nagarkot might be the ultimate choice.
7. Can I hire a car from Kathmandu to Nagarkot?
For someone who likes to take a day tour to Nagarkot or an overnight sunrise tour, renting a car might be an easy option. You can hire a car for Nagarkot for about USD 50-80 per day in Kathmandu.
8. Where is the bus route from Kathmandu to Nagarkot?
There are several routes, depending on where you live. If you live near the ring road, you can catch a bus coming from New Bus Park, going to Bhaktapur, and take another bus to Nagarkot. Or anyone near Thamel can walk to Ratnapark or Bagbazar, from where you can take the bus to Bhaktapur and then to Nagarkot.
9. How much is the taxi cost from Kathmandu to Nagarkot?
Depending on how well you make a deal with a taxi driver, it is reasonable to pay NPR 3,000 to up to 3,500. If you want to take the same taxi back, remember they might charge an additional fee while you are sightseeing or waiting. Also, keep in mind that there is no regular taxi stand in Nagarkot unless you find someone who just drops off a customer. It is ideal to arrange in advance if you are planning to take a taxi back and forth.
10. How much is the taxi cost from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot?
NPR 1,500 or less for the taxi fare is ideal for the route from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot. It might be slightly cheaper to go both ways, since most taxis return to the city for their business. As I said earlier, it depends on the taxi driver and on you two how well you make a deal.
Conclusion
If you wish to travel to Nagarkot comfortably, you must take a private car, or the budget option is a local bus. If you are interested in a private trip to Nagarkot and Bhaktapur from Kathmandu, it costs USD 50-80 for up to 4 people in one car. Besides, if you like to add a night in Nagarkot, it will be roughly 40 for a one-night, two-day tour. You can also tailor-make your plan, including a hike, guide, accommodation, etc. If you require additional information about the private, please do not hesitate to contact us at nestadventure@gmail.com.
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