What to Wear in Kathmandu: Layers, Slip-Off Shoes and Temple Dress

At 1,400 metres in the Himalayan foothills, Kathmandu experiences a fifteen-degree temperature swing between sunrise and early afternoon during the dry months from October to April. Dressing in peeling layers rather than a single heavy coat keeps you comfortable from a cool dawn climb at Swayambhunath to a sunny midday rooftop lunch overlooking Boudhanath.

Footwear for uneven brick squares and temple steps

The historic cores of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur are paved in handmade red bricks, stone thresholds and sunken water-spout steps, and you will slip your shoes off whenever you enter a Buddhist monastery shrine hall (gompa) or step onto a Hindu temple platform:

• Cushioned closed-toe walking shoes or trail trainers that slip on and off easily: ideal for keeping street dust off your feet while handling the 365 stone steps of Swayambhunath.
• Thick cotton or merino socks: essential when walking barefoot across cool stone temple courtyards or cold monastery timber floors in winter.

Modest temple attire, warmth and street dust

Nepali society is relaxed and welcoming toward visitors, yet respectful modest dress is expected across all religious sites and traditional Newari neighbourhoods. Both men and women should wear tops that cover the shoulders and trousers or skirts that fall below the knee when visiting Durbar Squares, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath. From November to February, because very few Kathmandu guesthouses or courtyard cafes have central heating, pack a warm fleece or packable down jacket (or buy one at a fraction of Western prices in the outdoor gear shops of Thamel) along with thermal base layers for evening dinners. Finally, tuck a lightweight cotton scarf, Pashmina shawl or neck buff into your daypack: it serves simultaneously as a wrap for breezy stupa rooftops, a temple shoulder cover and a handy filter against dry street dust when crossing the Ring Road. Check seasonal weather and temple customs.