Kathmandu

Sightsee in the mornings - Kathmandu runs on an early rhythm: temples are liveliest with worshippers before 9am, the light is best, the air is cleanest, and the traffic has not yet thickened. Save museums, cafes, and shopping for the afternoons.

Use ride-hailing apps (Pathao or InDrive) instead of street taxis - fares are fixed upfront, cheaper, and there is no haggling. The motorbike-taxi option cuts through traffic at a fraction of car prices if you are traveling light.

Keep your Durbar Square ticket - the foreigner entry ticket is typically valid for re-entry the same day (and can be extended to your visa length at the site office with a photo), so you can return for the evening atmosphere without paying twice.

Walk the old town rather than driving through it - the lanes between Thamel, Asan, and Durbar Square are the real exhibit, and they are faster on foot than in traffic anyway. Keep to the side, watch for motorbikes, and let the detours happen.

Dress modestly at religious sites - shoulders and knees covered, shoes off in shrine rooms, and walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels. A scarf in your daypack solves most situations.

Drink only treated or bottled water (including for brushing teeth), and eat where the locals queue - busy lunch spots with high turnover are both the safest and the tastiest introduction to the city.