Itineraries for Your Trip to Kathmandu
2 Days in Kathmandu for First Timers
I first moved to Kathmandu, sight unseen, to work at a local magazine more than 10 years ago. It was the start of my long relationship with Kathmandu, which is ancient and increasingly modern, beautiful and groaning at the seams.
My first days in Kathmandu were spent wandering the backstreets of Patan, the neighborhood I called home, checking out the medieval heritage sites and working out how to fit my normal daily activities around the hours of scheduled power cuts. Fortunately, the latter is less of an issue these days. Travelers will find a lively city emerging from political and tectonic setbacks with vigor. Here's how to see it in two days.
If you only have time for one thing, make it the Patan Durbar Square.
Visit Kathmandu between October and March, when the weather is clear and pleasant.
Rise early on your first morning in Kathmandu and head to the Boudhanath, the holiest Tibetan Buddhist site outside Tibet. Devotees gather early in the morning to pray and circumambulate the enormous white-domed structure with a golden pinnacle. (Don’t worry if you can’t get up early—Boudha is lively throughout the day!)
Enjoy a leisurely lunch of momos or thukpa (noodle soup) at one of the Tibetan restaurants overlooking the stupa. Then, take a taxi or walk about 30 minutes to the nearby Pashupatinath Temple on the bank of the Bagmati River. From Buddhism to Hinduism, Pashupatinath is the holiest Hindu temple in Nepal, and people travel from all over India and Nepal to visit, especially before the end of their lives. Non-Hindus can’t go inside the temple, but there’s plenty to see outside.
Rise early for a transfer to the airport to catch your Mt. Everest scenic flight. Several of the world’s tallest mountains are visible on the Kathmandu skyline on a clear day, but Mt. Everest isn’t one of them. To get a good view of the mighty mother mountain (Sagarmatha in Nepali), catch an early-morning flight with a guaranteed window seat. You’ll be dropped in Kathmandu in time for a late breakfast.
After refueling with a leisurely breakfast, take a taxi over to Patan in the afternoon. This southern suburb was once a separate kingdom, and the beautiful Patan Durbar Square and palace buildings contain an excellent museum showcasing Nepali architecture and religious art, the Patan Museum. Also, check out the nearby Golden Temple, Baglamukhi Temple, and the atmospheric alleys and courtyards of Patan.
Round off your stay in Kathmandu with live music, dancing, drinks, and good food in Thamel. Some travelers dismiss this neighborhood as “too touristy,” but it's a favorite hangout spot with young Nepalis and the best place to enjoy Kathmandu’s nightlife. If you’re after a quieter vibe (literally—the music in Thamel can be ear-splittingly loud), stay in Patan after dark for a relaxed dinner and drinks at an alleyway bar.
