City tour of Bhaktapur and Patan Durbar Square
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Love royal palaces? How about exotic temples? Then this is the perfect day excursion to see some of the finest of the ancient royal palaces of the Kathmandu Valley.
The adventure beings with the incredible city of Bhaktapur with its many temples, religious squares, and the royal palace. Then it is on to the city of Patan's Durbar Square which features some incredible architecture. Here enjoy the Museum with its world-class collection of Newari art. The trip includes private car, guide, and all entry fees.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please note that there has been significant damage to some of the sites visited on this tour due to the earthquakes in April and May 2015
What To Expect
Patan Durbar Square
This is a major destination on our tour, and you'll soon see why! Prepare to spend a few inspiring hours in Patan Durbar Square, a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site globally renowned as the "City of Fine Arts." This is not just a historic site; it's a living, breathing Newari cultural hub. Your guide will lead you through a stunning concentration of architectural marvels, including the old Royal Palace, which now houses the world-class Patan Museum—a "must-see" for its collection of sacred art. We'll marvel at the intricate stone craftsmanship of the Krishna Mandir and soak in the atmosphere of its many other temples. You'll have time to watch local devotees in prayer, observe the daily activities of the community, and witness a culture that has thrived here for centuries. It's an unforgettable immersion into Nepal's artistic soul.
Patan Museum
This is an absolute "must-see" highlight of your Patan Durbar Square tour. Prepare to enter the Patan Museum, widely acclaimed as one of the finest museums in all of South Asia. The museum's setting is as stunning as its collection—it is housed within the meticulously restored former royal palace of the Malla kings. As you enter the magnificent Keshav Narayan Chowk courtyard, you'll be immersed in a masterpiece of Newari architecture. Inside, your guide will lead you through galleries filled with a priceless collection of sacred Hindu and Buddhist art. Marvel at the intricate cast-bronze statues and gleaming gilt-copper masterpieces, crafts for which Patan is famous. This is the definitive place to understand the deep history and artistic traditions of the Kathmandu Valley.
Options
Full Day Tour
Kathmandu City Tour: Kathmandu easy day tours including Bhaktapur and Patan Durbar Square. It is about 7-8 hrs with local tour guide. Pickup included
What‘s Included
Pick up drop from hotel inside ring road including Boudha area.
Professional guide
Transport by private vehicle
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Entry Fee (~USD 20/30 PP)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
21 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Perfect way to take in the sites of Patan and Bukhatphur
Clair G,Apr 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Perfect way to see both Patan and Bukhatphur. The experience was well paced, taking in all the relevant sites. Tej was a great guide, good English speaking guide. The photographs Tej took were very much appreciated, going above what we expected- really nice touch.
All right.
Carlosdad,Nov 16, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00It was a rather tiresome full-day excursion through the Valley’s two most important cities after Kathmandu. It allowed us to know the squares that have the largest temples and learn more about the Hindu religion
Amazing tour to Patan and Bhaktapur
helderberlin,Jun 10, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had the most amazing tour to the ancient cities of Patan and Bhaktapur today with Shanti, who’s been very kind, funny, and most of all very knowledgeable. These sites rank amongst the most impressive ancient places I’ve visited so far in Asia, and they really deserve to be part of the UNESCO world heritage. Thank you Shanti for this memorable day!
Day of temples!
Charlotte J,Apr 22, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00Thoroughly recommend this tour. My guide Kabita was super knowledgable in explaining everything we saw. Definitely recommend!
Do not recommend.
telsiea,Apr 10, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00We booked this tour through Viator with Himalayan Planet Adventures. Unfortunately, our tour guide (Som) was not up to par. His English was very poor. We did not understand him at all and had to ask him to repeat himself numerous times. After a while we gave up and just smiled and nodded. We missed a large part of the areas´ descriptions which I am sure would have made for a more enjoyable tour if the guide had spoken better English. Unlike other tours we took, this one had a small car and no water was offered during the three/four hours of the tour. Do not recommend.
Bhaktapur and Patan day trip
FrequentFlier560457,Oct 18, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I went to Bhaktapur and Patan with Himalayan Planet tours. My guide Shanti was very friendly and had a lot of knowledge about the different sites, buddhism and hinduism, so I learned a lot from her. I had a great day with Shanti in Bhaktapur and Patan, and I would really recommed this trip to others that would like to visit both Bhaktapur and Patan in one day.
Visit to Patan Square and Bhaktapur.
cherinep2022,Jul 11, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00The guide, Pankaj shared in advance what we were going to visit and his explanations and knowledge were quite good. We took our time as we wished, there was no rush. Pankaj is very nice, respectful of what we needed to do, like shopping alone or have a break to eat.
Shanti is a great guide. These 2 are must sees
Curious55794893166,May 25, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Shanti is flexible, personable, knowledgeable and friendly. I thought “another temple”. Yes and no. They are both loaded with insights and wonders. Lots of walking
Great tour
Suse M,Mar 11, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was my second tour (first: Kathmandu World Heritage Site) with Himalayan Planet Adventures Tours and Shanti and I was thrilled again. Shanti has an immense knowledge of all the sights in Patan and Bhaktapur and was a great tour guide. It was a great day and I can recommend it 100 percent.
History and Beauty Combined - Great Tour
WendyJoyPit,Mar 17, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I spent 3 days touring Kathmandu City and Kathmandu Valley with Himalayan Planet Tours. They were a wonderful group to see this city and area with. I did this tour on my second day. After the hustle and bustle of the city centre it was wonderful to get out to these two fabulous UNESCO World Heritage Sites!! We went to Patan first - it was wonderful ! Every angle was picture perfect - postcard scenes !! Then we went to Bhaktapur.... so beautiful that several weddings were being held there ! Again picture perfect !! My wonderful tour guide (Som B) shared a wealth of knowledge over 3 days and always answered my questions fully. I also want to commend my driver ( Suman T) who kept my possessions safe while I toured with Som and allowed me to feel safe in an area of thousands of hectic drivers!! These two were a great team who always arrived early and ensured my safe return at the end of each day - they went above and beyond. Special Note: I was touring when the Virus CoV19 changed the world and this team and the CEO of the Himalayan Planet (Nabaraj T) assisted getting me out of the country amid chaos and confusion. They went above and beyond providing me assistance. KNOW you are in GOOD HANDS when you tour with this company ! I would also suggest any travellers still in Nepal use this group to get yourselves out... I understand they are not doing tours during this crisis but I am sure you could pay them to assist you in exiting Nepal... if anyone can do it they can !
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