Tribhuvan Airport to Kathmandu: Taxi, Pickup & Transfer Costs (2026)

Your first hour in Nepal happens at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), and it sets the tone for the trip. The transfer into the city is short — the airport is only about 6 km from central Kathmandu — but the arrivals hall can be chaotic. Here's exactly how to get to your accommodation smoothly.

Your options

Pre-arranged pickup (easiest). Your apartment or hotel sends a driver who meets you at arrivals with a name board. You skip the taxi haggling entirely, the price is fixed in advance, and after a long-haul flight that's worth a lot. This is what we arrange for our guests — one less thing to think about at midnight.

Prepaid taxi counter. Inside the terminal, official prepaid taxi desks quote a fixed fare to your destination. You pay at the counter and hand the receipt to the driver. Slightly more than a street taxi, but no negotiation and no surprises.

Street/negotiated taxi. Drivers wait outside the terminal. Fares are negotiable — and inflated for arrivals who don't know the going rate. Agree the full price before getting in.

Ride-hailing (Pathao / inDrive). App-based cars can be much cheaper, but you'll need a working local SIM and data on arrival, and pickup logistics at the airport can be fiddly. Better once you're settled than at the moment you land.

Rough costs (2026)

A taxi from the airport to central Kathmandu (Thamel, Lazimpat, Durbar Marg) typically runs NPR 700–1,000 depending on your bargaining and the time of day. Prepaid counters sit at the higher end; a pre-booked hotel pickup is usually a flat, clearly-stated rate. Rides after midnight cost more.

Avoid the common arrival traps

• "Your hotel is closed/full — I'll take you somewhere better." A classic commission scam. Ignore it; go where you booked.
• Unofficial "helpers" who grab your bags for a tip. Politely decline.
• Money changers at the airport give poor rates — change just enough for the taxi, then use an ATM or a city exchange (see our money in Kathmandu guide).
• No working phone? Sort a SIM or eSIM before you leave the terminal, or arrange a pickup so you don't need one on arrival.

Our tip

If you're arriving late, jet-lagged, or it's your first time in South Asia, book the pickup. Walking straight past the taxi crowd to a driver holding your name — and stepping into a place where you already have the key — is the calmest possible start to a Nepal trip.

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Staying in Kathmandu? Our self-check-in serviced apartments in Lazimpat put you a short walk from the city's best cafés, restaurants and embassies — with fast Wi-Fi, a full kitchen and inverter backup power. See the apartments →