Free Things to Do in Kathmandu

A surprising amount runs on no cover charge. Gallery openings at spaces like the Nepal Art Council, Siddhartha Art Gallery and the Taragaon Museum are free and happen most weeks. Bookshop readings, poetry and open-mic nights around Jhamsikhel and Thamel are usually free or pay-what-you-want. Community markets — the Saturday farmers' market in Le Sherpa and pop-up craft bazaars in Patan — cost nothing to browse. And the daily kora (walking circuit) around Boudhanath stupa, busiest at dusk, is free and open to everyone.

Yes. Open mics and acoustic sets in Thamel and Pulchowk often have no entry fee — you only pay if you order something. Gallery late-openings, film screenings at cultural centres like the Alliance Française, and the evening aarti and butter-lamp lighting at Boudhanath and Pashupatinath are all free. For a quieter night, the lit-up stupa at Boudha after dark costs nothing and stays lively till late.

Truly free events have no ticket and no minimum spend — walk in and you're in. Low-cover events charge a small entry (often Rs. 200–500) or expect a one-drink minimum, common for band nights and some open mics. This page focuses on the genuinely free listings; if you don't mind paying a little, our paid and this-weekend pages widen the net.

Every event on Kata Jaam? shows its price up front, and this page only surfaces listings marked free by the organiser or our team. Tap any event to confirm the venue, time and whether there's a suggested donation before you head out — details are updated daily.