Kathmandu Weather and Climate - Best Time to Visit Kathmandu
22 September 2022 Last updated at 16:38
Kathmandu (coordinates: 27°42′N, 85°20′E) - the capital and the biggest city in Nepal is located in northwest Kathmandu Valley of central Nepal at an elevation of about 1370m (4495ft) above sea level. Standing southern of Himalaya Mountains, the plain city has a humid subtropical climate all year round, because it faces warm current from the Indian Ocean and is isolated from cold wind from north while northern mountains snow a lot and the southern part is hot in summer and cold in winter. The pleasant climate brings Kathmandu an average temperature of 20℃ with lots of sunshine and abundant vegetation in four seasons of the year.
Kathmandu Monthly Temperatures - Select a Month to Visit Kathmandu
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When is the Best Time to Visit Kathmandu
Kathmandu is a city full of historical and cultural sites, thus you can visit there all year round. If you want to make your trip more pleasant with comfortable weather or extend your tour to other parts of Nepal, here are two most recommended visiting periods in a year.
One of the best time to visit Kathmandu is September - November, the start of the dry season when the weather is balmy, the air is clean and rains little. It’s also the right time for some local Nepalese festivities, so there is a lot of gaiety in the air to add tourism atmosphere in Kathmandu. From December, the cold sets in and lasts till the end of January. So this winter time maybe avoidable.
The second best time is March - Mid-June, the tail end of the dry season and the beginning of summer, when the weather is bright, the air is fresh with the flowers bursting into bloom and again this is a lovely time to travel in Kathmandu. In May the monsoon comes and rainfall increases - this intermittent rain goes on till September. During this time, you may need a light raincoat but you can still have a good tour around Kathmandu to the temples various characteristic architectures in Durbar Square. Besides, the best trekking time is in October - November and March - April.
Kathmandu Four Seasons - Seasons to Go
Spring (March, April, May)
❀ Average Temperature: 8℃ ~ 29℃, warm, comfortable
Spring is one of the best seasons to tour Kathmandu for its temperate weather. It is not too cold or hot and there is not much rainfall, very suitable for sightseeing and trekking. The weather is generally cool, but will be a little hot in late spring. In May, the temperature sometimes will reach 30°C. In addition, you can celebrate the colorful Holi festival and joyful Nepalese new year with tourists and local residents.
• What to Wear & Pack: In the daytime, it is recommended to wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers. When it gets cold at night, you can add a coat or jacket. Because of the long sunshine hours and strong UV, sunscreen cream is recommended.
Popular Kathmandu Tour: ☞ 4 Days Classic Kathmandu Valley Tour <
Celebrate Holi Festival to Welcome Spring
Kathmandu Weather in Marh
- High Temperature: 24°C / 75°F
- Low Temperature: 8°C / 46°F
- Sunshine Hours: 11h
- Rainfall: 10 mm
- Rainy Days: 4 days
- Sunrise: 5:55am-6:28am
- Sunset: 18:04pm-18:20pm
- UV Index: 9
Kathmandu Weather in April
- High Temperature: 28°C /83°F
- Low Temperature: 12°C / 54°F
- Sunshine Hours: 12h
- Rainfall: 29 mm
- Rainy Days: 6 days
- Sunrise: 5:25am-5:54am
- Sunset: 6:21pm-6:37pm
- UV Index: 12
Kathmandu Weather in May
- High Temperature: 29°C / 84°F
- Low Temperature: 15°C / 58°F
- Sunshine Hours: 11h
- Rainfall: 70 mm
- Rainy Days: 12 days
- Sunrise: 5:12am-5:29am
- Sunset: 6:43pm-7:00pm
- UV Index: 12
Summer (June, July, August)
☂ Average Temperature: 17℃ ~ 29℃, humid and rainy
For most people, the impression of Kathmandu in summer is constant rain, which is true and about half the days in summer are rainy. At the same time, it is the season when the UV is the strongest throughout the year and temperature is climbing up to about 30°C, so people may feel a little bit sultry.
• What to Wear & Pack: It is recommended to travel light with quick-dry shirt and hiking shoes/sandles. Wear sunhat, sunglasses, and sun block cream to prevent yourself from the strong UV. Bring a light raincoat or umbrella as it is the rainy season.
Popular Kathmandu Tour: ☞ 8 Days Nepal Buddhist Shangri-la Tour
Majestic Boudhanath Stupa in Summer
Kathmandu Weather in June
- High Temperature: 29°C / 84°F
- Low Temperature: 17°C / 62°F
- Sunshine Hours: 11h
- Rainfall: 129 mm
- Rainy Days: 17 days
- Sunrise: 5:07am-5:11am
- Sunset: 6:54pm-7:03pm
- UV Index: 12
Kathmandu Weather in July
- High Temperature: 27°C / 80°F
- Low Temperature: 18°C / 64°F
- Sunshine Hours: 7h
- Rainfall: 325 mm
- Rainy Days: 23 days
- Sunrise: 5:11am-5:25am
- Sunset: 6:53pm-7:03pm
- UV Index: 12
Kathmandu Weather in August
- High Temperature: 27°C / 80°F
- Low Temperature: 18°C / 64°F
- Sunshine Hours: 7h
- Rainfall: 239 mm
- Rainy Days: 22 days
- Sunrise: 5:26am-5:41am
- Sunset: 6:26pm-6:53pm
- UV Index: 12
Autumn (September, October, November)
☀ Average Temperature: 9℃ ~ 27℃, warm
In September, there is still much rainfall in Kathmandu and it enters the dry season in October. Autumn is another comfortable season to travel Kathmandu with rainfall decreasing, and temperature dropping. What’s more, you will have a chance to see the living Goddess (not allowed to take pictures) on Indra Jatra in September. There will be many celebrations you can join in.
• What to Wear & Pack: It is recommended to wear long-sleeved shirt and long skirts for the day time, and extra layers like thin sweaters and jackets for the night. If you come in September, don't forgrt a light raincoat or umbrella .
Popular Kathmandu Tour: ☞ 5 Days Kathmandu Pokhara Leisure Tour (by Flight)
Kathmandu Durbar Square in Autumn
Kathmandu Weather in September
- High Temperature: 27°C / 80°F
- Low Temperature: 17°C / 63°F
- Sunshine Hours: 8h
- Rainfall: 175 mm
- Rainy Days: 15 days
- Sunrise: 5:42am-5:55am
- Sunset: 5:51pm-6:24pm
- UV Index: 11
Kathmandu Weather in October
- High Temperature: 25°C / 77°F
- Low Temperature: 14°C / 57°F
- Sunshine Hours: 10h
- Rainfall: 67 mm
- Rainy Days: 4 days
- Sunrise: 5:56am-6:13am
- Sunset: 5:20pm-5:50pm
- UV Index: 8
Kathmandu Weather in November
- High Temperature: 22°C / 72°F
- Low Temperature: 9°C / 47°F
- Sunshine Hours: 9h
- Rainfall: 7 mm
- Rainy Days: 1 day
- Sunrise: 6:13am-6:35am
- Sunset: 5:08pm-5:20pm
- UV Index: 6
Winter (December, January, February)
☃ Average Temperature: 2℃ ~ 19℃, cool, dry
Kathmandu in winter is usually dry and sunny with clear sky. It is not that cold but there is a sharp temperature difference in the daytime and at night. Sometimes at noon the temperature will get as high as 20°C and then drops to nearly 0°C at midnight. Therefore, you are supposed to pay attention to the weather forecast and dress accordingly.
• What to Wear & Pack: Thin sweaters, windbreakers, jackets, and sneakers will be sufficient to pass the winter. If you are going to take a hike on the mountains, a down coat is needed. Facial cream and handcream are recommended to protect your skin from the dry weather.
Popular Kathmandu Tour: ☞ 9 Days Kathmandu Valley with Chitwan & Pokhara Tour
Breathtaking Himalaya Range in Winter Seen from Nagarkot at the Edge of Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu Weather in December
- High Temperature: 18°C / 65°F
- Low Temperature: 4°C / 38°F
- Sunshine Hours: 9h
- Rainfall: 8 mm
- Rainy Days: 1 day
- Sunrise: 6:36am-6:54am
- Sunset: 5:08pm-5:18pm
- UV Index: 5
Kathmandu Weather in January
- High Temperature: 17°C / 62°F
- Low Temperature: 2°C / 36°F
- Sunshine Hours: 9h
- Rainfall: 13 mm
- Rainy Days: 2 days
- Sunrise: 6:51am-6:55am
- Sunset: 5:19pm-5:43pm
- UV Index: 5
Kathmandu Weather in February
- High Temperature: 19°C / 67°F
- Low Temperature: 4°C / 39°F
- Sunshine Hours: 10h
- Rainfall: 14 mm
- Rainy Days: 3 days
- Sunrise: 6:29am-6:50am
- Sunset: 5:44pm-6:03pm
- UV Index: 7
Kathmandu Travel Dressing Tips:
With an average temperature of 20°C in Kathmandu throughout the year, summer and autumn clothing: single layer, long-sleeve shirt, thin sweater, a coat and long pants and a pair of sturdy shoes is the most common choice of travelling to Kathmandu. On hot days, travelers can wear shorts sleeves and do adequate sun protections. Clothes that can cover your knees and shoulder are recommended when you pay a visit to the temples. In addition, some standby ventilated comfortable long sleeves are very necessary for large temperature difference between day and night. If you will trek around Kathmandu or other high altitude destinations in Nepal, check the real-time weather before you pack, better prepare some warm clothes like winter jacket, fleece jacket and essential sunscreens. As some parts of Nepal are still under construction after the terrible earthquake in 2015, you can wear a face mask to avoid the dust in the air.
Tourists Arrive at Kathmandu Tribhuvan Airport
How to Plan a Nepal Tour
Best time to visit Nepal: March to mid-June and mid-September to November
How to get to Nepal: overland driving from China (Tibet) and India, flights from China (Tibet, Chengdu…), India (Delhi/Mumbai/Kolkata/Bengaluru...), Bangladesh (Dhaka), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Thailand (Bangkok), Singapore, etc.
Nepal Visa: you can get Nepal Visa on arrival at Kathmandu Airport and border entry ports, or apply for it from Nepal Embassy abroad before departure, which takes about 1 to 3 working days.
Tourists always start a Nepal tour from Kathmandu - the capital city and tourist distribution center. 4 days is enough to enjoy the world heritage sites and Himalayan views in Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur and Nagarkot). For those travelers who won’t want to miss the most astonishing nature of Nepal, spend 1 or 2 more days visiting lakeside Pokhara. For more experience, Chitwan is a good choice to offer Nepal’s oldest wildlife (various mammal and birds species) as well as a variety of excursions in 2 days usually. If you are a Buddhist follower or fan, travel Lumbini and other Buddhist sites in 3~4 more days. If you are a trekking enthusiast, there is a bucket of trekking routes, like Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Circuit, Poon Hill, etc.
☞ 4 Days Classic Kathmandu Valley Tour
☞ 5 Days Kathmandu Pokhara Leisure Tour (by Flight)
☞ 8 Days Nepal Holiday Tour (Kathmandu - Pokhara - Chitwan)
Travel with Us
Traveling with Himalayas Discovery, you are assured to use our high-quality travel services, including vehicles, professional tour guide and experienced driver, well-organized itinerary, assistance of visa and permits application and other travel related services. We will settle all arrangements in advance to make sure you always enjoy a worry-free journey.
Adam's Family from USA visited Kathmandu with Himalayas Discovery
Kathmandu Travel Guide
Nepal Travel Guide
Most Recommended Kathmandu Tour Packages
Following are 3 most recommended Kathmandu tour packages that you may be interested in. All tour packages are customizable to meet your personal requirements. You can also contact us to customize a trip if you want.
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8 Days Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Highlights Tour
Kathmandu / Nagarkot / Pokhara / Chitwan / Kathmandu
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