Top 10 Things to Do in Kathmandu

The most sacred Hindu temple in Nepal and one of the holiest Shiva shrines in the world, Pashupatinath on the banks of the Bagmati River is a living, breathing religious complex of extraordinary intensity. Cremation ghats line the riverbank below the golden-roofed temple, making this a place of profound confrontation with life's deepest mysteries.

The ancient royal palace square of old Kathmandu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with temples, courtyards, and the carved wooden architecture of the Malla dynasty that ruled for centuries. The square is still a vibrant social and religious hub, where sadhus, merchants, and pigeons compete for space around the Kumari Ghar — home of the living goddess.

Kathmandu's legendary traveler's quarter is a dense maze of guesthouses, trekking shops, restaurants, bookstores, and music venues that has been serving adventurers heading to the Himalayas since the hippie trail era of the 1960s. Despite its commercialism, Thamel retains a genuine bohemian energy that makes it endlessly entertaining to explore.

This ancient stupa perched atop a hill west of the city is one of Buddhism's most sacred sites, guarded by hundreds of rhesus monkeys who consider it their home. Climbing the 365 steps to the top rewards visitors with panoramic views of the Kathmandu Valley and a complex of shrines, prayer flags, and spinning wheels.

Of all the valley's palace squares, Bhaktapur's is considered the finest — a remarkably well-preserved medieval city whose intricate woodcarving, pottery workshops, and 55-Window Palace have survived centuries with extraordinary integrity. The town's pace is slower and its atmosphere more authentic than central Kathmandu.

Across the Bagmati River from Kathmandu, Patan (also known as Lalitpur) contains a Durbar Square of outstanding artistic refinement, home to the Patan Museum which houses the finest collection of Newari bronze and stone sculpture in Nepal. The city's metalworking tradition continues in surrounding workshops that have been producing statues for export across the Buddhist world for centuries.

This restored Edwardian neoclassical garden near Thamel is a serene, walled oasis of pavilions, ponds, and manicured lawns that offers a magical escape from Kathmandu's chaos. Built in the 1920s by Field Marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana, the garden was restored with Austrian funding and is now one of the most pleasant spots in the city for afternoon tea.

This hilltop village on the rim of the Kathmandu Valley, just 32 kilometers from the city, offers what many consider the finest panoramic view of the Himalayas accessible from Nepal's capital. Rising before dawn to watch the sunrise turn the peaks of Everest, Langtang, and Ganesh Himal to gold is a spiritual experience that draws visitors back time and again.

This ancient crossroads in the heart of the old city, presided over by the golden shrine of Akash Bhairab, is one of Kathmandu's most vibrant and atmospheric street life hubs, particularly during the Indra Jatra festival when the square comes spectacularly alive. The surrounding lanes are packed with bead sellers, thangka painters, and fruit vendors.

The most sacred Hindu temple in Nepal and one of the holiest Shiva shrines in the world, Pashupatinath on the banks of the Bagmati River is a living, breathing religious complex of extraordinary intensity. Cremation ghats line the riverbank below the golden-roofed temple, making this a place of profound confrontation with life's deepest mysteries.

The ancient royal palace square of old Kathmandu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with temples, courtyards, and the carved wooden architecture of the Malla dynasty that ruled for centuries. The square is still a vibrant social and religious hub, where sadhus, merchants, and pigeons compete for space around the Kumari Ghar — home of the living goddess.

Kathmandu's legendary traveler's quarter is a dense maze of guesthouses, trekking shops, restaurants, bookstores, and music venues that has been serving adventurers heading to the Himalayas since the hippie trail era of the 1960s. Despite its commercialism, Thamel retains a genuine bohemian energy that makes it endlessly entertaining to explore.

This ancient stupa perched atop a hill west of the city is one of Buddhism's most sacred sites, guarded by hundreds of rhesus monkeys who consider it their home. Climbing the 365 steps to the top rewards visitors with panoramic views of the Kathmandu Valley and a complex of shrines, prayer flags, and spinning wheels.

Of all the valley's palace squares, Bhaktapur's is considered the finest — a remarkably well-preserved medieval city whose intricate woodcarving, pottery workshops, and 55-Window Palace have survived centuries with extraordinary integrity. The town's pace is slower and its atmosphere more authentic than central Kathmandu.

Across the Bagmati River from Kathmandu, Patan (also known as Lalitpur) contains a Durbar Square of outstanding artistic refinement, home to the Patan Museum which houses the finest collection of Newari bronze and stone sculpture in Nepal. The city's metalworking tradition continues in surrounding workshops that have been producing statues for export across the Buddhist world for centuries.

This restored Edwardian neoclassical garden near Thamel is a serene, walled oasis of pavilions, ponds, and manicured lawns that offers a magical escape from Kathmandu's chaos. Built in the 1920s by Field Marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana, the garden was restored with Austrian funding and is now one of the most pleasant spots in the city for afternoon tea.

This hilltop village on the rim of the Kathmandu Valley, just 32 kilometers from the city, offers what many consider the finest panoramic view of the Himalayas accessible from Nepal's capital. Rising before dawn to watch the sunrise turn the peaks of Everest, Langtang, and Ganesh Himal to gold is a spiritual experience that draws visitors back time and again.

This ancient crossroads in the heart of the old city, presided over by the golden shrine of Akash Bhairab, is one of Kathmandu's most vibrant and atmospheric street life hubs, particularly during the Indra Jatra festival when the square comes spectacularly alive. The surrounding lanes are packed with bead sellers, thangka painters, and fruit vendors.