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The five-tiered Nyatapola Temple on its stepped plinth in Taumadhi Square, Bhaktapur

Photo: shankar s., CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Bagmati Province, Nepal

Things to do in Bhaktapur

A living medieval Newar city just east of Kathmandu — car-free brick lanes, temple squares, master potters and the famous juju dhau king curd.

Bhaktapur is the best-preserved of the Kathmandu Valley's three royal cities — a maze of brick-paved lanes, temple-lined squares and craft workshops, mostly closed to traffic and easy to explore on foot.

Just 13 km east of Kathmandu, it makes an easy day trip or a peaceful overnight base. Wander Bhaktapur Durbar Square, look up at the towering Nyatapola Temple, watch potters at work in Pottery Square, and try a bowl of juju dhau. Below are our picks for where to stay and what to do.

Where to stay in Bhaktapur

The courtyard of a restored Newari heritage hotel in Bhaktapur, with marigolds and a stone spout
Hotel

The Best Hotels in Bhaktapur

A heritage hotel room in Bhaktapur with brick walls, carved window frames and a temple view
Hotel

Heritage Hotel Grand, Bhaktapur

A guesthouse room in a traditional Newari brick house in Bhaktapur, looking onto the old square
Hotel

Peacock Guest House, Bhaktapur

A guesthouse rooftop terrace in Bhaktapur at dawn, looking over old rooftops to Nyatapola Temple
Hotel

Where to Stay in Bhaktapur

Where to eat in Bhaktapur

A Newari khaja set of beaten rice, choila, bara and pickles on a brass plate in Bhaktapur
Food & cafes

Bhaktapur Newari Food Guide

What to do in Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur Durbar Square in afternoon light, with the Golden Gate, palace and Vatsala temple
Things to do

The Best Things to Do in Bhaktapur

The Nyatapola Temple lit at night above Taumadhi Square, Bhaktapur
Things to do

Bhaktapur at Night

A woodcarver chiselling a lattice panel in a Bhaktapur workshop, with carved peacock panels and masks
Things to do

Bhaktapur Crafts, Squares & Festivals

A traveller walking a narrow brick lane in Bhaktapur toward the Nyatapola Temple
Things to do

Bhaktapur Day Trip from Kathmandu

The brick expanse of Bhaktapur Durbar Square with its palace colonnade and temple roofs
Things to do

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

A rooftop restaurant terrace over Taumadhi Square in Bhaktapur at golden hour
Things to do

Bhaktapur: Food, Stay & Visiting Tips

A potter shaping clay on a wheel in Pottery Square, Bhaktapur, with pots drying in the sun
Things to do

Bhaktapur Pottery Workshops

The two-tiered Changu Narayan Temple, Nepal’s oldest Hindu temple, on its hilltop above Bhaktapur
Things to do

Changu Narayan Temple

Dattatreya Square in Bhaktapur, with the Dattatreya Temple and old Newari houses around the paving
Things to do

Dattatreya Square

The carved dark-wood balcony of the 55-Window Palace on Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Things to do

The 55-Window Palace

The five-tiered Nyatapola Temple above its stone stairway of guardian figures, Bhaktapur
Things to do

Nyatapola Temple

The carved wooden Peacock Window of Bhaktapur, a masterpiece of Newari woodcarving
Things to do

The Peacock Window & Bhaktapur Woodcarving

Pottery Square
Things to do

Pottery Square

Siddha Pokhari, the large walled pond on the edge of Bhaktapur, at dusk
Things to do

Siddha Pokhari

Taumadhi Square in Bhaktapur seen from a rooftop, with the Nyatapola and Bhairabnath temples
Things to do

Taumadhi Square

The gilded Golden Gate (Sun Dhoka) of the royal palace on Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Things to do

Top Things to Do in Bhaktapur

Festivals & events in Bhaktapur

Crowds packing the steps of Nyatapola Temple during Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur
Festival

Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur

Nepali cuisine in Bhaktapur

A clay pot of juju dhau, Bhaktapur’s sweet set yoghurt, held up in the street
Food & dishes

Juju Dhau: Bhaktapur's King of Yoghurt

Getting around in Bhaktapur

A local bus and taxi on the road into Bhaktapur, with the old brick city gate ahead
Getting around

How to Get to Bhaktapur from Kathmandu

Plan your trip in Bhaktapur

A traveller buying a ticket at the brick entrance booth of Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Travel tips

Bhaktapur Entry Fee and Visiting Tips

Sunrise over Bhaktapur Durbar Square, with the Golden Gate and the 55-Window Palace
Travel tips

Bhaktapur Itinerary: A Perfect Day Trip

Frequently asked questions

How do you get from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur?+

Bhaktapur is about 13 km east of central Kathmandu. A taxi takes roughly 45 minutes depending on traffic, while a local bus from Ratna Park is the cheapest option. Foreign visitors pay an entry fee to the old city.

How many days should you spend in Bhaktapur?+

One full day covers Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square and Pottery Square at a relaxed pace. Stay overnight to enjoy the car-free old town in the quiet early morning and evening after the day-trippers leave.

What is Bhaktapur famous for?+

Its remarkably preserved medieval Newar architecture, the five-storey Nyatapola Temple, traditional pottery, woodcarving and juju dhau — a thick, sweet 'king curd' served in clay bowls.

Nearby destinations