History · Kathmandu · Nepal
8 historic sites to see in Kathmandu
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sudan Shrestha, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath and Boudhanath. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 13–17 hours across 7 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 13–17 hours
- Areas
- Freak Street and Durbar Square, Swayambhu and Boudha
Historic sites in Kathmandu
Historic site · Freak Street and Durbar Square
1.Kathmandu Durbar Square
Highlights include the rebuilt Kasthamandap pavilion, the fierce Kal Bhairav relief and the Kumari Ghar, home of the Kumari, a girl worshipped as a living goddess who sometimes appears at her courtyard window.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Religious site · Swayambhu
2.Swayambhunath
The eastern stairway climbs about 365 steep stone steps, and the top looks across the whole valley.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
- Kids
Religious site · Boudha
3.Boudhanath
At dawn and dusk hundreds of people walk the kora, the clockwise circuit around it, spinning prayer wheels and chanting.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Photo spot
- Couples
- After dark
Religious site · Gaushala
4.Pashupatinath Temple
Only Hindus may enter the main pagoda, but visitors can explore the surrounding shrines, meet sadhus and watch, from the opposite bank, the open-air cremations on the riverside ghats. An evening aarti ceremony takes place by the river.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- After dark
Historic site · Patan (Lalitpur)
5.Patan Durbar Square
The surrounding lanes lead to the Golden Temple (Kwa Bahal) and workshops where artisans cast bronze statues.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Museum · Patan (Lalitpur)
6.Patan Museum
Its galleries and restored courtyard garden café are among the most rewarding in South Asia.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Street · Old City
7.Asan and Indra Chowk market walk
Tiny shrines are tucked into courtyards all along the way.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Photo spot
- History
Museum · Durbar Marg
8.Narayanhiti Palace Museum
Visitors walk through state rooms decorated with hunting trophies and gifts from foreign governments, and the grounds mark the site of the 2001 royal massacre.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Freak Street and Durbar Square | Kathmandu Durbar Square | 2–3 hours |
| Swayambhu | Swayambhunath | 1.5–2 hours |
| Boudha | Boudhanath | 2 hours |
| Gaushala | Pashupatinath Temple | 1.5–2 hours |
| Patan (Lalitpur) | Patan Durbar Square and Patan Museum | 2–3 hours + 1.5 hours |
| Old City | Asan and Indra Chowk market walk | 1–2 hours |
| Durbar Marg | Narayanhiti Palace Museum | 1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 1 free, 3 low cost, 4 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Kathmandu Durbar Square; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Freak Street and Durbar Square and Swayambhu): Kathmandu Durbar Square → Swayambhunath, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Boudha and Gaushala): Boudhanath → Pashupatinath Temple, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Patan (Lalitpur)): Patan Durbar Square → Patan Museum, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Old City and Durbar Marg): Asan and Indra Chowk market walk → Narayanhiti Palace Museum, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- July: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 24 rainy days, very quiet crowds. The wettest month, with heavy showers most days, often at night; the valley is green and quiet.
- January: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 1 rainy days, quiet crowds. Sunny, mild days and cold nights near freezing; many buildings are unheated, so bring warm layers.
- June: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 18 rainy days, quiet crowds. The monsoon arrives, usually mid-month; mountain views disappear and roads outside the valley may be hit by landslides.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Thamel — The traveller quarter of guesthouses, trekking shops, bars and rooftop cafés
- Lazimpat — Embassy quarter with leafy grounds and quieter hotels north of Thamel
- Durbar Marg — Wide avenue of international hotels, airline offices and brand shops
- Freak Street and Durbar Square — Old-city lanes and hippie-trail history beside the royal square
- Boudha — Tibetan Buddhist neighbourhood around the great stupa
- Patan (Lalitpur) — Newar old town of metalworkers and temple courtyards south of the river
- Jhamsikhel and Sanepa — Expat and NGO district of cafés, bakeries and garden restaurants
More of Kathmandu
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Kathmandu?
Kathmandu Durbar Square. The former royal square, also called Hanuman Dhoka after the palace guarded by a red-cloaked Hanuman statue, is a cluster of multi-roofed temples, palace courtyards and shrines.
+Which of these are free in Kathmandu?
Asan and Indra Chowk market walk.