Getting Around Pokhara
Pokhara is a mid-sized city spread along the shore of Phewa Lake, and its layout shapes how you move around it. The main tourist hub, Lakeside, sits by the water, while the old market and the area around the old airport lie further inland. Because the city is compact enough to cross by cycle, car, or bike, most visitors find they can mix walking with short, cheap rides rather than relying on any single mode of transport.
Rail, Metro and Trams
Pokhara has no rail, metro, or tram network for visitors to use. Getting around the city is done entirely by road and on foot, so you can plan your trip without worrying about train timetables or transit passes.
Buses and Public Transport
Buses and minivans operate on most of the popular routes in and around Pokhara. They are the cheapest way to travel, though they tend to be crowded and uncomfortable. Fares are low, and student discounts may be offered. A useful example for visitors: the city bus passes the airport and costs a fraction of a taxi, and if a long-distance bus drops you at the "old bus station" near the old airport, you can take a city bus from the road to Lakeside for a small fare.
- Buses and minivans cover most popular routes.
- Expect crowded, basic conditions in exchange for a very cheap fare.
- Student discounts may be available.
- The city bus passes the airport and runs toward Lakeside.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Comfortable taxis are available for hire around the city. For a more modern option, you can use the InDrive app to hail a taxi or a motorbike. Negotiating the fare in advance is worthwhile, particularly for airport runs, where agreeing a price ahead of time keeps the cost down.
Walking, Bicycles and Motorbikes
Walking is a practical way to get around, and in fact it is necessary to reach places where vehicles or bicycles cannot go. For longer hops along Lakeside and beyond, two-wheeled transport is popular and easy to arrange.
- On foot: Walking is essential for reaching spots that vehicles and bicycles can't access.
- Bicycles: Hire shops are plentiful in Lakeside, with a wide range of daily rates. Check the seat before you ride — make sure it isn't too hard, and adjust it so it slopes down rather than tilting uphill.
- Scooters and motorbikes: Also available for hire in Lakeside, starting from a modest daily rate. You'll need to buy petrol separately. Note that an automatic scooter or motorbike cannot manage the steep uphill roads to Sarangkot or the World Peace Pagoda — choose a manual gear model if those are on your itinerary.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Pokhara's airport is served by both taxis and the local city bus. A taxi from the airport to Lakeside is affordable if you negotiate the price in advance, while the city bus that passes the airport is by far the cheapest option. If you arrive by long-distance bus at the old bus station near the old airport, simply catch a city bus from the road toward Lakeside.
- Taxi: Comfortable and convenient; agree on the fare before you set off.
- City bus: Passes the airport and costs a fraction of a taxi — the budget choice.
- From the old bus station: Take a city bus from the road to Lakeside.
Arriving from Kathmandu and Beyond
Most visitors reach Pokhara overland or by air from Kathmandu. Tourist buses and local buses/microbuses run the route throughout the day, with night buses also available (though the ride is uncomfortable). Greenline runs a convenient morning service linking Thamel in Kathmandu with Lakeside in Pokhara, and Swift operates comfortable tourist buses with reclining, extra-wide seats on morning and evening departures. The road is winding with many switchbacks but offers fine views of hills and rural life. Be aware that road construction between Kathmandu and Pokhara has left many sections broken up or reduced to a single lane, making the journey longer, bumpier, and prone to traffic snarls — during this period, flying may be the more sensible choice. Flights from Kathmandu are short and offer mountain views, though they are frequently delayed and afternoon departures risk cancellation.
From the Indian border at Sunauli, buses are available to Pokhara, and travelling first to nearby Butwal gives you more onward options. A shared vehicle from Butwal to Pokhara is also possible. From the Siddharth Nagar rail station, travellers can cross at Kakrahwa border, continue to Bhairahawa Bus Park, and then take a bus toward Pokhara or Lumbini.