When to Visit Kathmandu

Kathmandu's coldest nights, with lows dipping to around 2°C (37°F) and highs reaching only about 19°C (66°F). Rainfall is negligible at roughly 15 mm for the entire month, and the skies tend toward hazy rather than rainy. Tourist crowds are low, and the city has a quiet, local feel, though you'll want layers for those chilly mornings around Boudhanath and Durbar Square.

Warms slightly, with highs climbing to 22°C (71°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F). The air can still be dusty and a bit hazy in the valley, and rainfall stays minimal at about 23 mm. Crowds remain low, making it a decent window for visiting temples and heritage sites without the shoulder-season press. Rhododendron season begins at lower elevations toward month's end, hinting at the spring to come.

Marks the real shift into spring. Highs push toward 26°C (78°F), lows settle around 8°C (47°F), and rainfall picks up modestly to about 38 mm. Kathmandu's gardens and surrounding hillsides start greening up, and Holi typically falls in March, filling the streets around Basantapur with color. Crowds tick up to medium as trekkers arrive for the spring season.

Warm and increasingly humid, with highs near 28°C (83°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F). Rainfall roughly doubles from March to about 64 mm, and afternoon thunderstorms become a regular feature, though mornings are usually clear. This is prime spring trekking season, so Kathmandu fills with hikers staging for Annapurna and Everest Base Camp, and crowds are solidly medium to high.

The last gasp before the monsoon, and it feels like it. Highs hover around 29°C (84°F), lows reach 16°C (60°F), and rain increases sharply to about 130 mm. The humidity climbs noticeably, and pre-monsoon storms can be dramatic, with lightning cracking over the valley in late afternoon. Crowds thin as the trekking window narrows, dropping back to medium.

Brings the monsoon's arrival, typically by mid-month. Highs stay near 29°C (85°F) with lows around 19°C (66°F), but the real story is the rain, which jumps to roughly 241 mm. Kathmandu becomes lush and green almost overnight, and the surrounding hills that looked brown and dusty in winter turn impossibly vivid. Crowds are low, and the city has an intimate, rainy-season atmosphere, though getting around can be slow when streets flood.

Kathmandu's wettest month, with roughly 384 mm of rain. Highs ease slightly to 28°C (83°F) and lows sit around 20°C (68°F), making nights surprisingly mild. The rain tends to fall in intense afternoon bursts rather than all-day drizzle, so mornings can be unexpectedly pleasant. Crowds are at their lowest, and those who visit find a different, quieter city, though leeches on valley rim trails are a real consideration.

Mirrors July in many ways, with about 343 mm of rain, highs near 29°C (84°F), and lows around 20°C (68°F). The valley is at peak green, and rice paddies on Kathmandu's outskirts are flooded and photogenic. The monsoon can feel relentless by this point, though, and some travelers find the combination of rain, humidity, and occasional road closures tiring. Crowds stay low.

September watches the monsoon retreat. The first half still brings wet weather, with rainfall near 208 mm. Highs stay around 28°C (83°F) while lows dip to 18°C (65°F). By late month, rain turns intermittent. The valley dries. Crowds swell as trekkers arrive for autumn. Expect medium numbers.

October delivers Kathmandu at peak form. Highs hit 27°C (80°F), lows settle at 13°C (57°F), and rainfall crashes to 43 mm. Post-monsoon air is the year's clearest. On crisp days, the Himalayas show themselves from northern edges and hilltops like Nagarkot. Dashain energizes the city. Crowds are high.

November extends autumn's prime window. Highs hover near 23°C (74°F), lows at 8°C (47°F), with negligible rain around 8 mm. Late autumn light turns golden. Photographers chase it. Tihar, the festival of lights, arrives with oil lamps and marigold garlands. Crowds stay high through mid-month, then thin.

December brings real cold. Highs near 20°C (68°F), lows drop to 4°C (39°F). Rain stays minimal at 8 mm. Mornings bite. Valley haze builds as winter inversions set in. Tourist numbers fall to low. The city slows. Daytime cold is fine. Night cold surprises. Most guesthouses lack heat. Pack accordingly.