Transfer Options from Kathmandu Airport to City

Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is the City of Temples. The city is saturated with charming, historic temples, monasteries, and stupas. The bustling and colourful tourist hub is located in the Kathmandu Valley and is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Visitors can explore the city’s World Heritage sites, wander the markets, and escape to the nearby mountains for some quality time with nature.

Kathmandu Airport is about 5 km from the city centre. After landing at the airport, you can reach Kathmandu by taxi or bus. Taking a taxi from Kathmandu Airport to the city is the most comfortable and quickest means of transportation. The journey takes 16 minutes by taxi, and the fare is estimated to cost €2.40 (NPR 305). You can also take a bus service from Kathmandu Airport to the city centre; the bus journey can take up to an hour and tickets typically cost €0.15 (NPR 20) per person.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Kathmandu at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS

OPTION	PRICE	DURATION	AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups	€19	16min	24/7	Book
Book
Taxi	€2.40	16min	24/7
Bus	€0.30	60min	–

How to get from Kathmandu Airport to the city centre by taxi

Taking a taxi from Kathmandu Airport to the city of Kathmandu is the easiest, most comfortable transfer option. Several taxi companies offer pre-paid rides from the airport to the city, and taxis are available 24/7. The trip from the airport typically takes 16 minutes.

Alternatively, you can book your Kathmandu taxi transfer in advance with an English-speaking Welcome Pickups driver for a flat rate with no additional charges.

Taxi fare from Kathmandu Airport to the city centre

If you are travelling from Kathmandu Airport, you can take a pre-paid taxi for a set rate. Otherwise, local taxi fares are negotiated with the taxi driver or are based on a metered rate.

Generally, you can estimate your fare by a base rate of €0.50 (NPR 60) and a per kilometre rate of €0.40 (NPR 49), but expect to pay higher fares at night. Kathmandu Airport to city taxi fares are estimated to be around €2.40 (NPR 305) during the day.

Another option for a competitive flat rate without any hidden charges is to book your Kathmandu Airport taxi in advance with a professional English-speaking Welcome Pickups driver.

Cost

€2.40

Trip Duration

16 min

Fares may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis at Tribhuvan International Airport are available 24/7.

Where do I get a taxi from?

After landing at Kathmandu Airport and gathering your luggage, you can head to the pre-paid taxi booth in the arrivals hall. There, you can pay for your ride, and you will then be directed to your taxi.

Convenience

Taking a taxi is by far the most comfortable and quickest way to reach wherever you are headed in Kathmandu. You will be dropped off right at the front door of your accommodation. You won’t have to lose any time waiting for the bus or walking to your destination after getting off the bus.

Editor’s Note

If you are taking a taxi in the city, the fare is not set. You will need to negotiate the fare with your driver ahead of time, or you can request that your driver uses the taximeter to determine the fare.

Useful Tips

Tipping is not required. But if you have a good taxi driver who is charging a fair rate for your ride, you may consider rounding up the fare or leaving a 10% tip.

Most taxis do not accept payment by card, however, if you book your ride in advance, you should be able to pre-pay for your ride with the debit or credit card of your preference.

How to get from Kathmandu Airport to city by Bus

You can also use Sajha Yatayat’s bus service from Kathmandu Airport to the city. There are several buses you can take to reach the city centre. Buses are easily recognizable by their green colour. The bus journey may take up to an hour to reach the city from the airport, and schedules vary.

How much is fare for the bus service from Kathmandu Airport to the city?

The bus fare for a single journey ticket costs around €0.15 (NPR 20). You can pay the driver for your fare in cash, ideally with the exact change.

Cost

€0.15

Trip Duration

60 Min

The Sajha Yatayat bus departs infrequently from Kathmandu Airport with the last service running at 18:00.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Bus schedules vary so to avoid long wait times, ensure you check the Sajha Yatayat website for the latest information before you travel.

Where can I find the bus?

You can find the bus stop just outside of the airport terminal. Buses are easily recognisable by their green colour. You can check with the driver to make sure they are going in the direction you need to go.

Convenience

Taking the bus from Kathmandu Airport to the city will save you some money. However, the bus schedules can vary and the journey can take over three times as long as taking a taxi. The local buses in Kathmandu can also get quite crowded so if you’re travelling with big luggage items or in a bigger group, it’s not a recommended means of transportation.

In any case, the taxis in Kathmandu are rather affordable, so it’s worth considering taking a cab to cover the Kathmandu Airport to city route and save yourself the hassle, uncertainty and long wait times. Moreover, the last bus departs at 18:00, so if your flight arrives later in the evening, you’ll need an alternative way to move around.

Timetables

Sajha Yatayat Buses

Mero Sajha App

Editor’s Note

Bus drivers will call out their destinations so you know which bus to board. You can take the bus going to Ratnapark or you can take a bus that stops at Jamal to be dropped off near Thamel in the city centre. If you are unsure of which bus to take or where to depart, the drivers will be happy to direct you.

Useful Tips

You may need to have the exact change in the local currency to purchase your fare on the bus.

The bus schedule varies. You can check the website nearer the time of your trip for the latest information, though you’ll receive the most accurate information upon landing by visiting the airport’s information desk.

You may download the Mero Sajha Mobile App for an easy way to track the exact bus location in real time and know where to get off the bus.

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

20 minute gap between transfers
Regular Car Sanitisation
Contactless ride
Sanitiser in every car

What’s the distance from Kathmandu city centre to Kathmandu Airport?

Kathmandu city centre is about 5 kilometres away from Kathmandu Airport and the journey by taxi takes approximately 16 minutes. If you take the bus, it may take you around an hour to reach the centre.

How do I get from Kathmandu Airport to the city centre?

You can either take a taxi or bus service to get from Kathmandu Airport to the city. A taxi ride will take 16 minutes and cost around €2.40 (NPR 305). Alternatively, the trip by bus takes around an hour, and costs just €0.15 (NPR 20) per traveller.

What’s the cost of a taxi from Kathmandu Airport to the city?

Pre-paid taxis are offered from the airport. Fares are set and can be found posted at the pre-paid taxi stand inside the airport. A standard taxi fare from Kathmandu Airport to the city centre is estimated to cost €2.40 (NPR 305), though that may vary unless booked in advance.

For a competitive set fare, you may wish to pre-book your ride with Welcome Pickups instead.

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How to get from Kathmandu Airport to the city centre by taxi

Taxi fare from Kathmandu Airport to the city centre

Cost

€2.40

Trip Duration

16 min

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis at Tribhuvan International Airport are available 24/7.

Where do I get a taxi from?

Convenience

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

How to get from Kathmandu Airport to city by Bus

How much is fare for the bus service from Kathmandu Airport to the city?

Cost

€0.15

Trip Duration

60 Min

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Bus schedules vary so to avoid long wait times, ensure you check the Sajha Yatayat website for the latest information before you travel.

Where can I find the bus?

Convenience

Timetables

Sajha Yatayat Buses

Mero Sajha App

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

Frequently asked questions

What’s the distance from Kathmandu city centre to Kathmandu Airport?

How do I get from Kathmandu Airport to the city centre?

What’s the cost of a taxi from Kathmandu Airport to the city?

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Transfer Options in Kathmandu

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