Top places to visit in Patan (Lalitpur)

• Patan Durbar Square

  durbar_square · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The finest concentration of Newari palace architecture in Nepal, facing the royal palace of the Malla kings of Patan with the Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen and Vishwanath temples. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Patan Museum

  art_museum · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Housed in a restored wing of the royal palace, one of South Asia's finest museums of traditional sacred art — Hindu and Buddhist bronzes beautifully displayed with a courtyard café.

• Golden Temple (Hiranya Varna Mahavihar)

  buddhist_monastery · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A dazzling 12th-century Buddhist monastery of gilded metalwork tucked in the lanes north of Durbar Square, still an active vihara tended by young monks.

• Krishna Mandir

  hindu_temple · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  An exquisite 17th-century shikhara temple carved entirely from stone, its 21 gilded finials and friezes of the Mahabharata and Ramayana making it Patan Durbar Square's signature monument.

• Mahabouddha Temple

  buddhist_temple · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The "Temple of a Thousand Buddhas", a terracotta shikhara hidden in a courtyard, its surface covered in tiny clay Buddha images — inspired by Bodh Gaya in India.

• Kumbheshwar Temple

  hindu_temple · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of only two five-storey pagodas in the valley, a Shiva temple whose sacred pond is said to draw its water from the holy Gosaikunda lake; centre of the Janai Purnima festival.

• Central Zoo (Jawalakhel)

  zoo · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Nepal's only zoo, in Jawalakhel, home to native species including one-horned rhino, Bengal tiger, red panda and Himalayan wildlife around a central pond — a family favourite.

• Rudra Varna Mahavihar

  buddhist_monastery · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  An ancient, richly ornamented Buddhist monastery near Durbar Square whose courtyard brims with donated statues, bells and coronation regalia of the Malla kings.

• Jawalakhel Handicraft Center

  handicraft · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A Tibetan refugee cooperative in Jawalakhel where you can watch carpets being hand-knotted and dyed, and buy directly from the weavers.

Things to do

• Patan Heritage & Craft Walk Cultural · 3 h · from NPR 2,000 per person
• Patan Metalwork Craft Workshop Cultural · 2.5 h · from NPR 2,500 per person
• Patan Newari Food Tasting Tour Food · 2.5 h · from NPR 2,200 per person
• Patan Museum Guided Tour Cultural · 2 h · from NPR 1,500 per person

Where to stay in Patan (Lalitpur)

• Patan Durbar Square about NPR 6,000 per night

  The historic core of Patan around its exquisite Durbar Square, ideal for art lovers with boutique heritage stays in restored Newari homes.

• Jhamsikhel & Jawalakhel about NPR 7,000 per night

  A leafy, cosmopolitan neighbourhood famed for its restaurants and cafés, with mid-range hotels and the Central Zoo nearby.

Hotels

• Café de Patan Guest House 2-star · NPR 2,000 to NPR 4,500 per night
• Traditional Homes Swotha 4-star · NPR 8,000 to NPR 15,000 per night
• The Inn Patan 3-star · NPR 5,000 to NPR 10,000 per night
• Hotel Himalaya 4-star · NPR 7,000 to NPR 13,000 per night

Where to eat

• The Village Café Newari, Nepali · about NPR 650 per person
• Café Swotha Cafe, Continental, Nepali · about NPR 900 per person
• Dhokaima Café Continental, Nepali, Cafe · about NPR 950 per person
• Honacha Newari · about NPR 400 per person
• Bricks Café Continental, Asian, Cafe · about NPR 900 per person

Getting to Patan (Lalitpur)

Nearest airport: Kathmandu (KTM), about 5 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.

How visitors arrive in Patan (Lalitpur)

• Bus, microbus or taxi from Kathmandu By road from Kathmandu · common · unconfirmed

  Patan adjoins Kathmandu to the south; city buses (e.g. Sajha Yatayat services via Lagankhel) and taxis link the two. Source: sharesansar.com

• On foot from Kathmandu Durbar Square By road from Kathmandu · possible · unconfirmed

  Rough Guides says walking from Kathmandu Durbar Square to Patan Durbar Square is a short day trip (article updated 2019). Source: roughguides.com

From the bus terminal to the centre

• Walk from Lagankhel to Durbar Square unconfirmed

  Buses terminate near Lagankhel; the old centre is a short walk or taxi away. Source: sharesansar.com

Getting around

• Taxi

  Taxis are available in Patan, and one option for reaching Durbar Square from Kathmandu alongside microbuses and Ring Road buses.

• Walking

Best time to visit Patan (Lalitpur)

• Jan 18°C
• Feb 21°C
• Mar 26°C
• Apr 30°C
• May 31°C
• Jun 30°C
• Jul 27°C
• Aug 26°C
• Sep 25°C
• Oct 24°C
• Nov 21°C
• Dec 19°C

More in Nepal

• Kathmandu
• Pokhara
• Bhaktapur
• Sauraha (Chitwan)
• Lumbini
• Nagarkot

Frequently asked questions about Patan (Lalitpur)

How many days do you need in Patan (Lalitpur)?

A typical trip to Patan (Lalitpur) is 1 day.

What are the main places to visit in Patan (Lalitpur)?

Places covered in our Patan (Lalitpur) guide include Patan Durbar Square, Patan Museum, Golden Temple (Hiranya Varna Mahavihar), Krishna Mandir, Mahabouddha Temple.

Where should I stay in Patan (Lalitpur)?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Patan (Lalitpur): Patan Durbar Square, Jhamsikhel & Jawalakhel.

How do I get around Patan (Lalitpur)?

Ways to get around Patan (Lalitpur) covered in our guide: Taxi, Walking.

What is the weather like in Patan (Lalitpur)?

Average daytime highs in Patan (Lalitpur) run from 18°C in Jan to 31°C in May.

Which airport is nearest to Patan (Lalitpur)?

The nearest airport to Patan (Lalitpur) has the code KTM.