Kathmandu Travel Risk — Elevated Risk (50/100)
Is Kathmandu safe to visit?
Elevated risk. Kathmandu has heightened risks. Plan carefully and follow the actions in the briefing.
Crime (score 45)
Environmental quality (score 65)
September 21, 2026
65%
Kathmandu, Nepal has a current Travel Risk Calculator composite score of 50 out of 100 (elevated risk tier); the highest-rated risk category is environmental quality at 65/100; the lowest-rated category is crime at 45/100; last updated September 21, 2026. This page is a baseline travel safety overview for Kathmandu, Nepal, covering crime, health, government travel advisory, political stability, natural disasters, transport, environmental quality, digital security, and money safety. Real-time conditions — including today's weather, official US State Department advisory, GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices, and recent news headlines — are shown in the Live conditions section below and refreshed multiple times per day.
Get a personalized assessment for your tripHow safe is Kathmandu to visit in 2026?
Kathmandu currently sits at 50/100 on our composite travel-risk index, which puts it in the elevated-risk tier. Travelers should plan more carefully than the global average — read the Actions section below before booking. The highest-rated risk category for Kathmandu is environmental quality (65/100), and the lowest is crime (45/100). This page was last updated on September 21, 2026; the baseline category scores are editorial estimates, layered with live conditions throughout the day. Live conditions — weather and air quality every 30 minutes, US State Department advisory every 6 hours, GDACS disaster alerts every 30 minutes, CDC health notices every 12 hours, and news every hour — are cached at the source and refreshed automatically when stale.
AI safety snapshot · refreshed Sep 20, 2026
Kathmandu currently faces an elevated safety risk with a baseline composite score of 50 out of 100. The U.S. State Department has issued a level 2 advisory, and the CDC warns of a global dengue risk at level 1. Recent headlines highlight concerns over flooding in the Himalayas, missing persons in flood events, and mixed messages from tourism delegations about safety.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Sep 21, 2026 02:29 UTC
What should I do now?
- Run a real assessment. Open the calculator for live data (weather, advisory, news) layered onto this baseline.
- Environmental quality (score 65/100): Check air-quality forecasts. If sensitive, pack a mask and adjust outdoor activity. Hydration is critical in heat.
- Transport safety (score 60/100): Use the safest available transit. For high-risk routes, prefer reputable carriers and avoid late-night driving.
- Check your country's advisory. The single most authoritative live signal. Linked at the bottom of every real assessment.
Safety by traveler type in Kathmandu
Computed from the category scores on this page plus general best practice — not personalized advice. For guidance tuned to your exact dates, transport, and profile, run a personalized assessment.
Solo travelers
Crime risk is moderate. Solo travelers should keep valuables out of sight, prefer well-lit routes after dark, and use registered taxis or ride-share.
Women traveling solo
General crime risk is moderate. Favor reputable accommodation, pre-book airport transfers, and keep to busier streets at night. We don't hold gender-specific incident data for Kathmandu, so also check the live official advisory above and local women-traveler communities.
Families with children
Health/disaster risk is elevated. Confirm medical-evacuation cover, identify hospitals near your accommodation, and check seasonal hazard (storm/heat/quake) before you book.
Senior travelers
Health/transport risk is elevated. Confirm medical-evacuation cover, plan rest between transfers, and locate English-capable medical care on arrival.
Business travelers
Digital/money risk is moderate. Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi, prefer contactless or one dedicated card, and keep a backup payment method separate.
LGBTQ+ travelers
Local laws and social attitudes toward LGBTQ+ travelers vary widely by country and are not captured in our category scores. The official advisory/political indicators are elevated. Read your government's LGBTQ+ travel guidance carefully and weigh trip purpose against current conditions.
Baseline scores
Source: AI-enriched 2026-09-09 (Ollama-grounded + Jina full text, cited; pending editorial verification) · Confidence: 65
Quick facts
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Airport risk | medium |
| Road safety | medium |
| Public transport | medium |
| Tourist scam risk | medium |
| Night safety | medium |
| Last updated | September 21, 2026 |
Live conditions in Kathmandu
Real-time data refreshed from public sources — weather and air quality from Open-Meteo, official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For an AI-synthesized briefing tailored to your specific trip, run a personalized assessment.
Official travel advisory
Level 2 · Exercise Increased Caution
Nepal - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Disaster alerts
No active GDACS disaster alerts matched Nepal as of the last successful refresh.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-09-03
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-03-09
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-09-20 16:08:04 UTC
Recent headlines
No recent news headlines were returned for Kathmandu. This is not evidence that conditions are quiet; check local and official sources.
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Kathmandu
The most weather-stable two-month window for Kathmandu is March–April, when typical daily temperatures run from about 11°C to 25°C and monthly rain averages 44 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include heavy rain season in May–September; monsoon in May–September. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Sep 5, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Practical safety map
Safety infrastructure nearby in Kathmandu
Kathmandu has 10 hospitals, 10 police stations, 5 embassies, 10 pharmacies and 3 fire stations within 7 km of the city center in the latest OpenStreetMap extract.
The interactive map loads when it approaches the viewport.
Facility list (works without JavaScript)
- Hospital: Grande City Hospital
- Hospital: Kathamandu Neuro and General Hospital
- Hospital: Kathmandu E.N.T. Hospital and Research Center
- Hospital: Kathmandu Model Hospital Dental Department
- Hospital: Somtala Patanjali Ayurvedic Center Pvt.Ltd
- Hospital: Swatha Parichyan
- Hospital: Swatha Parichyan
- Hospital: UNIVERSAL COLLEGE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES & UCMS COLLEGE OF DENTAL SURGERY
- Hospital: Valley Hospital (Putalisadak)
- Hospital: Valley Maternity Nursing Home
- Police: Unnamed police
- Police: Ason Police Booth
- Police: Community Police Naxal
- Police: Community Service Center, Naxal
- Police: Dillibazar Jail
- Police: Durbar Marg Police Station
- Police: Kamal Pokhari Police Station
- Police: Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s Office
- Police: Metropolitan Tourist Information Centre
- Police: Traffic Police Durbar Marg
- Embassy: Embassy of Austria
- Embassy: Honorary Consulate of Portugal
- Embassy: Honorary Consulate of Romania
- Embassy: Iran Embassy (Iranian Honorary Consulate)
- Embassy: Iran Embassy (Iranian Honorary Consulate)
- Pharmacy: Image Pharma
- Pharmacy: Naxal Pharma
- Pharmacy: Riwaj Pharma
- Pharmacy: Roshni Medical Pharma
- Pharmacy: Runo Pharmacy Pvt.Ltd
- Pharmacy: Sai Baba Ausadhi Pasal
- Pharmacy: Sai baba Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Shree Krishna Aausadhalaya
- Pharmacy: Shuva-Labh Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Siddharta Medi Pharma
- Fire station: Unnamed fire station
- Fire station: Mahanagar Fire Briged and Training Center
- Fire station: Phulchowk Fire Station
Map and facility data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Locations can be incomplete or outdated; confirm before relying on them. See this destination’s numbers or browse emergency numbers by country.
Emergency numbers (Nepal)
| Police | 100 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 102 |
| Fire | 101 |
| General | 112 |
See nearby hospitals, police, pharmacies, embassies, and fire stations on the safety map.
Medical access
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy access | medium |
| Emergency response | medium |
| English-speaking care | unknown |
| Evacuation complexity | high |
Kathmandu has several public and private hospitals, though quality varies and some have been linked to insurance‑fraud schemes; travelers should verify credentials and carry comprehensive travel insurance. Helicopter evacuations are available but can be costly and may involve complex verification, so plan ahead.
Common scam patterns
- Thamel Art‑Student Commission Walk. In Thamel, individuals pose as art students and invite tourists to join a commission walk that ends with a demand for payment for fabricated services or products. This high‑severity scam can leave travelers out of pocket quickly. Tip: Decline unsolicited invitations to join art‑student tours and avoid paying for unverified services.
- Fake trekking permits & inflated guide fees. Scammers operate fake trekking permit offices and charge tourists inflated fees for guides, especially targeting visitors arranging treks from the Thamel district. The schemes often involve bogus paperwork and unregistered operators. Tip: Book trekking only through Nepal Tourism Board‑registered agencies and verify their registration at ntb.gov.np.
- Gem & Pashmina Referral Commission Scam. Taxi drivers and hotel staff refer tourists to specific gem or pashmina shops, claiming they are the most authentic, while they receive a large commission for each sale. The recommended shops often overprice items and sell counterfeit goods. Tip: Shop for gems and textiles independently and compare prices before purchasing.
Area notes
- Thamel. The main tourist hub with many shops, restaurants and nightlife, but also the concentration point for most documented scams.
- Maharajgunj. Location of the U.S. Embassy; generally busy and well‑policed, but visitors should stay alert to petty theft.
- Kathmandu City Centre. The historic core features narrow streets, heavy traffic and occasional air‑quality spikes, requiring standard city‑travel precautions.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kathmandu safe to visit right now?
Kathmandu has heightened risks. Plan carefully and follow the actions in the briefing. Composite score: 50/100 (Elevated risk). Crime category sits at 45/100; pickpocketing in crowded tourist areas is the most common issue, but violent crime against tourists is uncommon. Last refreshed September 2026.
What is the current travel advisory for Kathmandu, Nepal?
The current US State Department advisory level for Nepal is shown in the Live conditions section above. Always cross-check your home country's foreign-ministry advisory — for many countries the tier differs from the US assessment. Real-time advisory text is fetched every 6 hours from the US State Department RSS feed.
How safe is Kathmandu for tourists?
Kathmandu has heightened risks. Plan carefully and follow the actions in the briefing. The biggest risk factor right now is Environmental quality (65/100). Travelers should specifically prepare for this area before arrival.
What is the biggest risk in Kathmandu?
The highest-scoring risk category is Environmental quality (score 65/100). Travelers should specifically prepare for this area before arrival. Full 9-category breakdown is in the Scores section of this page.
Is it safe to visit Kathmandu in September 2026?
For September 2026, the composite risk for Kathmandu is 50/100 (Elevated risk). Live weather, disaster alerts, and news shown in the Live conditions section above are refreshed every 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the source. For an AI-synthesized briefing for your specific trip dates and traveler profile, use the Travel Risk Calculator linked at the top of this page.
How are these travel risk scores calculated?
Each category is scored 0-100 based on government travel advisories (US State Dept), crime indices (Numbeo), Global Peace Index data, WHO/CDC health context, and curated regional knowledge. The composite is a weighted sum — see /methodology for the full weight breakdown. Live data (weather, advisories, news) is layered on top of every assessment.
How often is this page updated?
This page is updated daily: live weather, official advisories, disaster alerts, health notices and news refresh automatically multiple times per day, and an AI safety snapshot is regenerated on the first visit each day. The baseline category scores are editorial estimates reviewed periodically (see the Transparency & Sources section below).
Is this a substitute for an official travel advisory?
No. Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated risk information for planning purposes only. Always check your home country's official travel advisory and any health notices from your national health authority before traveling.
When is the best time to visit Kathmandu?
March–April is the most weather-stable two-month window in the stored 1991-2020 normals. The most weather-stable two-month window for Kathmandu is March–April, when typical daily temperatures run from about 11°C to 25°C and monthly rain averages 44 mm.
What is the rainy, hurricane, or severe-weather season in Kathmandu?
heavy rain season: May–September; monsoon: May–September.
Run a personalized assessment for Kathmandu
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Calculate my trip riskScore history
| When | Score change | Tier | Reason / source | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 9, 2026 | 0 → 0 | unknown | Auto-enrichment from Ollama-grounded AI (https://kakapo.travel/blog/city/is-kathmandu-nepal-safe | https://www.osac.gov/Content/Report/e2f3165d-d6c6-49e2-b43b-1c4d0973d346 | https://beforeyougotravels.com/destinations/kat) AI-enriched 2026-09-09 (Ollama-grounded + Jina full text, cited; pending editorial verification) |
50% |
| May 15, 2026 | — → 46 | moderate | initial snapshot Editorial baseline 2026-05-14 (round 2: Numbeo + WHO + State Dept + GPI + EPI references) |
65% |
Every editorial change to Kathmandu's composite score is logged here, with the source and reason for the change. Live data overlays (weather, advisories, disaster alerts, news) refresh continuously on their own cadences and are not recorded as score changes — see the Live conditions section above for current overlay state.
Transparency & Sources
We try to be honest about what we know, what we estimated, and what we don't have. Below is the audit trail for this page.
Review status
verified
Last reviewed
2026-09-09 02:37:07
Data confidence
65%
Sources used
- SimpleMaps World Cities (CC BY 4.0): Coordinates, region, population for Kathmandu
- Editorial baseline (Travel Risk Calculator): City-level threat scoring across 9 categories (crime, health, advisory, political, disaster, transport, environmental, digital security, money safety)
Live data overlays on this page refresh asynchronously on the source cadences shown above. Run an assessment to create a trip-specific briefing using your dates and traveler profile.
What is estimated
- Composite tier and category scores are an editorial baseline estimate, not a real-time measurement.
What is unavailable
- Transport-hub safety notes (airport, train stations).
Methodology · Data review process · Full data-source registry · Report a correction
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.