Blog
Notes from Kathmandu
Local food, getting around, what to skip, and what we're changing at Tiny Living. Written by the team that actually runs the apartments.
Kathmandu to Lumbini: Visiting the Birthplace of the Buddha
A guide to visiting Lumbini from Kathmandu — the sacred birthplace of the Buddha — how to get there, what to see in the monastic zone, and how long to give it.
Sep 9, 20267 min readKathmandu to Chitwan: Planning a Jungle Safari Add-On
How to add a Chitwan National Park safari to a Kathmandu trip — how to get there, what to expect on a jungle safari, and when to go.
Sep 5, 20267 min readSettling Into Kathmandu: A Practical Setup Guide for Long-Stay Visitors
Staying in Kathmandu for months, not days? A host's guide to getting set up — SIM, money, groceries, gyms, healthcare and finding your feet as a long-stayer.
Sep 2, 20268 min readNagarkot Sunrise: Chasing Himalayan Views from Kathmandu
How to see the Himalayas at sunrise from Nagarkot — day trip vs overnight, when to go for clear views, and how to combine it with Bhaktapur.
Aug 29, 20266 min readBhaktapur: Day Trip or Overnight? A Local's Honest Guide
Should you do Bhaktapur as a day trip from Kathmandu or stay the night? A host's honest take on the medieval city, plus how to get there and what to see.
Aug 26, 20266 min readNepali Food Beyond Momos: Dal Bhat, Newari Feasts and What to Eat in Kathmandu
A local's guide to eating well in Kathmandu beyond the momo — dal bhat, Newari specialities, thakali thali and where to find the real thing.
Aug 22, 20267 min readEarly-Morning Flight from Kathmandu? Where to Stay and How to Not Miss It
A host's guide to surviving a pre-dawn departure or a late-night arrival at Kathmandu airport — where to base yourself, taxi timing, and self check-in.
Aug 19, 20266 min readIndra Jatra in Kathmandu: A Festival Guide (and Where to Stay)
What Indra Jatra is really like — the masked dances, chariot processions and the living goddess Kumari — plus how to base yourself near Durbar Square for it.
Aug 15, 20267 min readStaying in Kathmandu for Medical Treatment: An Apartment Guide for Patients & Families
A practical, compassionate guide to serviced apartments for a medical stay in Kathmandu — near the major hospitals, with kitchens, quiet, and long-stay rates.
Aug 12, 20267 min readThe Serviced Apartment Checklist: What to Actually Look For in Kathmandu
A host's honest checklist for booking a serviced apartment in Kathmandu — the amenities that make or break a stay, and the questions to ask before you pay.
Aug 8, 20267 min readSeptember & October in Kathmandu: The Post-Monsoon Sweet Spot
Why autumn is the best time to visit Kathmandu — clear skies, festival season, mountain views — and how to book before the October rush fills up.
Aug 5, 20267 min read
The Best Rooftop Cafés & Views in Kathmandu
Kathmandu is a city best seen from above — here's how to find its best rooftop cafés for coffee, sunsets and mountain views.
Jul 29, 20264 min read
Romantic Kathmandu: Best Neighbourhoods & Apartments for Couples
Kathmandu for couples — the calmest neighbourhoods, the most romantic things to do, and why a private apartment beats a hotel room.
Jul 28, 20265 min read
Vegetarian & Vegan Kathmandu: Where to Eat, by Neighbourhood
Kathmandu is a dream for plant-based eaters — here is how to eat vegetarian and vegan across the city, by neighbourhood, plus the key phrases.
Jul 27, 20265 min read
Are Kathmandu Apartments Cold in Winter? A Heating Guide
Are Kathmandu apartments cold in winter? Yes, at night — here's how locals and smart guests stay warm indoors, and what to check before you book.
Jul 26, 20266 min read
Staying Healthy in Kathmandu: Water, Air Quality, Altitude & Clinics
Practical health advice for Kathmandu — safe water, the pollution season, altitude, and where to go if you get sick.
Jul 25, 20266 min read
Kathmandu with Kids: Family-Friendly Apartments, Activities & Safety
Travelling to Kathmandu with children — where to stay, what to do, and the practical safety and comfort tips that make family trips easy.
Jul 24, 20266 min read
Coworking vs Apartment Desk in Kathmandu for Remote Work
Coworking vs apartment desk in Kathmandu for remote work — real costs, Wi-Fi, power, commute, and the setup most long-stay nomads land on.
Jul 23, 20266 min read
Cooking in a Kathmandu Apartment: Groceries, Supermarkets & Safe Water
Cooking in a Kathmandu apartment — groceries, supermarkets & safe drinking water, from a local host. Where to shop, what to skip, and water done right.
Jul 22, 20266 min read
Serviced Apartment vs Hotel vs Hostel in Kathmandu: Which Should You Book?
An honest comparison of serviced apartments, hotels and hostels in Kathmandu — cost, space, privacy and who each suits best.
Jul 21, 20266 min read
Load-Shedding & Power in Kathmandu: What Travellers Should Know
Is load-shedding still a thing in Kathmandu? What to know about power cuts, backup, and choosing accommodation that stays on.
Jul 20, 20264 min read
Lazimpat, Kathmandu: The Best Base Neighbourhood Guide
Why Lazimpat is the best area to stay in Kathmandu — a calm, central base near Thamel, written by a local host who lives and works here.
Jul 19, 20266 min read
How to Rent a Monthly Apartment in Kathmandu (2026 Guide)
How to rent a monthly apartment in Kathmandu — serviced vs local Facebook flat, real costs, deposits, and what to check before you sign.
Jul 18, 20267 min read
How Many Days Do You Need in Kathmandu? An Honest Guide
How many days do you need in Kathmandu? 2–3 for the highlights, 3–4 relaxed, plus a plan for Kathmandu & Pokhara in 2 weeks.
Jul 17, 20267 min read
Kathmandu Air Pollution by Month: Is It Safe to Visit?
An honest local guide to Kathmandu air pollution month by month, the air quality you'll actually breathe, and whether it's safe to visit.
Jul 16, 20266 min read
Kathmandu With Kids: Apartment vs Hotel for a Week
Kathmandu with kids — apartment vs hotel for a week? Here's the honest, local take on space, meals, laundry and awkward flight times.
Jul 15, 20266 min read
10 Mistakes First-Time Visitors Make in Kathmandu (and How to Avoid Them)
The ten most common first-timer mistakes in Kathmandu — from airport taxis to over-packing your itinerary — and how to sidestep each one.
Jul 14, 20266 min read
Kathmandu Apartment Wi-Fi + Backup Power for Remote Work
Kathmandu apartment wifi + backup power, load shedding and remote work in 2026 — what actually works, and what to check before you book.
Jul 13, 20266 min read
Is Kathmandu Safe? Earthquakes & Building Safety Explained
Is Kathmandu safe? An honest local look at earthquake risk, building safety, and what travellers should actually know before booking.
Jul 12, 20267 min read
Where to Stay in Kathmandu Before and After Your Trek
Where to stay in Kathmandu before and after your trek, plus safe luggage storage during the trek — a local host's honest guide.
Jul 11, 20267 min read
Serviced Apartment vs Aparthotel vs Airbnb in Kathmandu
Serviced apartment vs aparthotel vs Airbnb in Kathmandu — which to book, what each really means, and how the fees actually add up.
Jul 11, 20266 min read
Staying in Lazimpat: The Ultimate Family-Friendly Guide to Kathmandu’s Safest Neighborhood
Why expat families bypass Thamel and head straight to Lazimpat — the embassy belt with patrolled streets, wide sidewalks for strollers, CIWEC travel medicine on your doorstep, the Bhat-Bhateni mega-supermarket within walking distance, and ground-floor apartments designed for travelling with kids.
Jun 15, 202612 min read
The Ultimate, Lived-In Guide to Getting a Nepal SIM Card (Physical & eSIM) for Tourists & Foreign Visitors
Ncell vs NTC, physical SIM vs eSIM, the 15-day MDMS phone-block rule nobody warns tourists about, exact documents to bring, airport kiosk hours and trekking-coverage realities — everything you need to land in Kathmandu and be online within an hour.
Jun 13, 202614 min read
Dashain in Kathmandu 2026: What's Open & What's Closed
A practical 2026 traveller's guide to Dashain in Kathmandu — when the festival falls (12–22 October), what closes (government offices, banks, most shops), what stays open (tourist restaurants, taxis, hospitals), how flights and tourist buses change, where to actually watch the ping swings and the etiquette around the tika and jamara blessings if a Nepali family invites you in.
Jun 13, 202610 min read
Monsoon in Kathmandu: The Direct-Booking Guest’s Apartment Playbook (June–September)
Power cuts, leaky taxis, flooded alleys and slow Wi-Fi: how the right Kathmandu apartment turns four months of monsoon into the best-value, quietest stay of the year — what to look for, what to avoid, and which neighbourhoods actually drain.
Jun 12, 202610 min read
Best Momo in Kathmandu by Neighborhood (Local Picks)
A neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood Kathmandu momo guide — steamed buff momo in Thamel, chicken jhol in Putalisadak, kothey in Patan, sadeko in Boudha, vegetable in Lazimpat and the regional specialities every long-stay traveller eventually finds. Honest local picks, no listicle filler, including which spots are open late and which take card.
Jun 12, 202611 min read
Cost of Living in Kathmandu 2026 (Digital Nomad Budget)
A lived-in 2026 cost-of-living guide for Kathmandu — what apartments, groceries, eating out, coworking, transport and utilities actually cost in NPR and USD. Three budget tiers (USD 700, USD 1,400, USD 2,500/month), comparison vs Bangkok and Bali, and the practical numbers digital nomads need before they book a one-way flight.
Jun 11, 202613 min read
Wake Up to the Himalayas: A Lived-In Guide to Kathmandu’s Best Mountain-View Airbnbs and Apartments
Why the right floor, the right neighbourhood and the right backup utilities decide whether you wake up to snow-capped Langtang views or your neighbour’s concrete wall — plus a lived-in shortlist (Raniban / Boudha / Patan) and the seasonal visibility window to book around.
Jun 10, 202612 min read
Nepal Visa Extension: Department of Immigration Guide
Step-by-step 2026 walkthrough of extending your Nepal tourist visa at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu — current fees (15/30/90 day extensions), what to bring, how to pay, photo requirements, online application process and the common mistakes that send people back to the bottom of the queue.
Jun 10, 202610 min read
Beyond the Teahouse: Why a Community Homestay in Nepal Will Ruin Regular Hotels for You
Swap your hotel keycard for a family home. A lived-in tour of the Community Homestay Network — Panauti tika welcomes, Kirtipur momo-folding, Barauli mud kitchens, Patlekhet leaf-plate weddings — and how 80% of your booking fee fuels women-led independence across rural Nepal.
Jun 9, 202614 min read
Kathmandu to Pokhara: Bus vs Flight vs Private Car
A lived-in 2026 guide to every way of getting from Kathmandu to Pokhara — tourist bus, micro-bus, 25-minute mountain flight or private car/jeep. Honest costs, journey times, comfort levels, which to pick for which type of traveller, and how to book without paying tourist mark-up.
Jun 9, 202612 min read
Backpacking Kathmandu: The Ultimate Lived-In Guide to Hostels, Budget Guesthouses, and Cheap Eats
A $20-a-day backpacker’s playbook for Kathmandu — the best Thamel hostels (Yakety Yak, Zostel, Alobar 1000, Flock, Holiday), peaceful Paknajol and Chhetrapati guesthouses, the dal-bhat-and-momo cheap-eats circuit, and the solar-hot-water, ride-share and stomach-bug realities that travel sites never mention.
Jun 8, 202615 min read
Trekking Permits in Nepal 2026: TIMS, ACAP, Everest Guide
Step-by-step 2026 guide to every Nepal trekking permit — TIMS, ACAP, Sagarmatha (Everest), Langtang, Manaslu, Upper Mustang. What each costs, where to apply, the new mandatory-guide rule, evacuation insurance, and how to do it all from one day in Kathmandu.
Jun 8, 202613 min read
The Digital Nomad’s Guide to Jhamsikhel & Sanepa: Where to Stay, Work, and Live in Lalitpur
How to base yourself in Lalitpur’s expat heart — Jhamsikhel and Sanepa — for a month of remote work: where to stay, fiber speed checks, inverter vs generator, the cafe + yoga circuit, and the right questions to ask a host before you sign a lease.
Jun 7, 202613 min read
Is Nepal Safe for Solo Female Travelers? A 2026 Guide
Honest 2026 safety playbook for solo women travelling in Nepal — the safest neighbourhoods (Lazimpat, Patan, Boudha, Thamel-Paknajol), reliable transport, dress code, the new trekking guide mandate and lived-in safety hacks from a local team.
Jun 7, 202611 min read
Finding Zen: The Ultimate Guide to Stays and Monasteries Near Boudhanath Stupa
A slow traveler's guide to Boudha — quiet monastery guest houses, stupa-view apartments, ROKPA's mission-driven sanctuary, and what the booking apps don't tell you about water, power and the kora.
Jun 6, 202612 min read
Sleeping in a 100-Year-Old Newari Heritage Homestay in Patan: A Lived-In Review
A 100-year-old Newari heritage homestay in Patan — what it is actually like to swap Thamel for low timber doorways, top-floor kitchens, family-cooked breakfasts and the quiet rhythm of a brick-paved gali.
Jun 5, 20269 min read
The Kathmandu Lodging Playbook: A Lived-In Guide to Neighborhoods, Homestays, and Hidden Courtyards
Thamel, Patan, Boudha, Jhamsikhel, Lazimpat and the surrounding valley — neighborhood-by-neighborhood, plus how hotels, Airbnbs and community homestays actually compare on water, power and warmth.
Jun 4, 202617 min read
The Self Check-In Revolution: Why Direct Booking in Kathmandu Beats Hotels and Airbnb
Smart locks, instant confirmations and a WhatsApp host in Kathmandu — how the new wave of direct-booking apartments quietly leapfrogged both budget hotels and Airbnb.
Jun 3, 20268 min read
Thamel vs. Patan: The Honest Neighborhood Guide for First-Time Visitors to Kathmandu
No sugarcoating, no generic travel brochure copy — the honest, lived-in reality of Kathmandu's two iconic neighborhoods, to help first-time visitors pick the right base.
Jun 2, 202611 min read