How to Get from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur (By Bus, Taxi)
Bhaktapur is one of my favourite places to visit near Kathmandu. It is one of the places that I keep returning to every time I have the chance. It is full of history and culture, and walking down the narrow streets feels like going back in time.
Bhaktapur is famous for its temples, Newari architecture and food. The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is one of the seven World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley and is a must-see when visiting Bhaktapur.
The best ways to get from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur is to take a taxi or local bus. The bus to Bhaktapur can get crowded but have always felt safe on it (even as a solo female traveler). There is a bus stop near Thamel, so it’s a good option for travelers.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO BHAKTAPUR
🏠 Where to Stay in Bhaktapur: The Nanee
🤩 Best Activity: Guided Tour of Bhaktapur
📞 eSIM for Nepal: Holafly
Kathmandu to Bhaktapur Distance
Bhaktapur is 14 km from Kathmandu and it is easy to reach both by public bus or taxi.
Bhaktapur is close to Kathmandu but there are lots of traffic jams, plus the road conditions are not so good, so it can take at least one hour to get there.
Usually, whenever I visit Bhaktapur by public bus, it takes around 1 hour due to traffic jams. The taxi is a bit faster, at best, 45 minutes, but can also get stuck in the traffic jams.
How to Get from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur Bus
The public bus goes to Bhaktapur from the Bhaktapur Bus Park located in Bagbazaar, Kathmandu. The Bhaktapur Bus Park is near Thamel, where most travelers stay, and if you too are staying in Thamel, you can even walk there in 10 minutes.
The Bhaktapur Bus Park is not a big bus station but can be very busy as lots of people take the bus to Bhaktapur. The bus park consists of a couple of buses on a small side street off the main road in Bagbazaar.
Once you get to the Bhaktapur Bus Park, there are bus helpers who call out “Bhaktapur” for the next departing bus. When bus helpers see foreigners, they also ask if they are going to Bhaktapur and then point you to the right bus.
The name “Bhaktapur” is written in Nepali on the front of the bus, so for foreigners, it is difficult to read and understand it. If you arrive at the bus stop and you don’t see any of the bus helpers calling out “Bhaktapur”, then it is best to ask someone on the bus if it is going to Bhaktapur.
Even though I have now learnt to read and write Nepali, if I happen to take the bus to Bhaktapur, I still always ask the bus helper, driver or people nearby to confirm which bus goes to Bhaktapur.
Kathmandu to Bhaktapur Bus Schedule
There is no set timetable for the buses going to Bhaktapur but they leave every 10-15 minutes. This means that you can show up at the Bhaktapur Bus Park anytime and you won’t have to wait long before one of the buses leave for Bhaktapur.
Usually, the buses leave once they fill up with passengers but you never wait longer than 10-15 minutes before the bus departs.
Kathmandu to Bhaktapur Bus Fare
The bus ticket price from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur is Rs. 50 (USD 0.30) one-way. The bus helper usually collects the fare towards the end of the journey, and it best is to have the exact change to pay for your fare.
The bus helper collects the fare from each passenger, and most of the time, they have plenty of change, in case you don’t have the exact amount.
I prefer to pay the exact change ready as I have heard that bus helpers often try to cheat foreigners, asking foreigners to pay a higher fare than what the actual price is.
Where Does the Bus Drop you in Bhaktapur?
The bus drops people near Siddha Pokhari (pond) in Bhaktapur. From here, it takes around 5-10 minutes to walk to the Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
Many buses terminate here in Bhaktapur but some other buses continue further on. The bus helpers know that any foreigner on the bus is most likely going to the Bhaktapur Durbar Square and they will let you know when to get off.
You can also tell the bus helper to tell you when to get off for Bhaktapur Durbar Square to make sure you don’t miss your stop.
Sometimes it can get so chaotic on public buses in Kathmandu that when I get on the bus, I always tell the bus helper my destination even if I had been on that route many times before. This way, they always call me when we arrive at my stop.
Kathmandu to Bhaktapur Taxi
As Bhaktapur is close to Kathmandu, the easiest is to take a taxi. You can book a taxi through a ride sharing app or hail a regular taxi.
You will get the best prices if you book the taxi through Nepali taxi apps like Pathao or InDrive. There is no Uber in Nepal but Pathao and InDrive work just the same.
I use Pathao most of the time, but many of my friends like to use InDrive. InDrive has slightly lower prices and you have the chance to set a lower fare than on Pathao.
However, I found that whenever I take InDrive (even if I set the normal, recommended fare), the drivers ask for more money at the of the ride. Due to this, I prefer to take Pathao even if it has slightly higher prices.
Pathao
InDrive
Kathmandu to Bhaktapur Taxi Time
It takes around 45 minutes to get from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur, however, it can take longer if the traffic is bad.
Many times, I had gotten in pretty bad traffic on the road between Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, especially on the return trip when I am coming back from Bhaktapur to Kathmandu.
Kathmandu to Bhaktapur Taxi Fare
The price of the taxi from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur costs around Rs. 1,000 (USD 7) if you book it through Pathao or InDrive. If you hail a regular taxi, the price may be a bit more.
Things to Do in Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur is one of the best day trips from Kathmandu. It’s close to Kathmandu so it is easy to go there and come back in a day.
The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is one of the 7 World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley, and within the Durbar Square, there are many temples and you can also see well-preserved Newari architecture with buildings built with red bricks and wood-carved windows.
My favourite places to visit in Bhaktapur are the four main squares: Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square, and Pottery Square. On Pottery Square, you can also learn how to make pottery.
Hotels in Bhaktapur
Many people visit Bhaktapur just for a day and return to Kathmandu by the evening. But Bhaktapur has so much more to offer and it is easy to spend 2-3 days there.
I used to visit Bhaktapur as a day trip all the time, but once I stayed for 3 days, and it was so great to take some time off from being in Kathmandu. Plus, there is plenty to do in Bhaktapur, and if you stay longer, you don’t feel like you are rushing through the sites.
If you are looking for hotels in Bhaktapur, these are my top recommendations for every budget:
HOTELS IN BHAKTAPUR:
➡️ Budget Hostel: Hostel Swastik
➡️ Mid-Range Hotel: Hotel Rupakot and Rooftop Restaurant
➡️ High-End Hotel: Mila Guesthouse Bhaktapur
Restaurants in Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur has lots of great restaurants, and it is one of the best places to have Newari food. Once you are in Bhaktapur, you should also try the local dessert, Juju Dhau (King Curd).
- Amako Bara Pasal – best affordable Newari snacks (they are famous for the dish ‘bara’ which is a snack made out of lentils)
- Newa Lahana – best for Newari food (dishes to try: samay baji, choila. Newari food is very spicy and I always found it was hard on my stomach. It is best to order a small portion and ease into spicy food gradually)
- Alphabet Pizzeria – best for pizza
FAQs: How to Get from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur
How to get to Bhaktapur?
Bhaktapur is close to Kathmandu and the best way to get to Bhaktapur is either by taking a bus or a taxi. The bus costs Rs. 50 (USD 0.30) and takes a bit over an hour, while the taxi costs Rs. 1,000 (USD 7) and gets to Bhaktapur in around 45 minutes.
How far is Bhaktapur from the airport?
Bhaktapur is 11 km from the Kathmandu Airport (Tribhuvan International Airport). There are many taxis at the airport so if you plan to go straight to Bhaktapur, you will easily find a taxi.
The price of the taxi from the Kathmandu Airport to Bhaktapur is around Rs. 800 (USD 5.50). The taxis are usually a bit more expensive at the airport but if you walk outside the airport area (by Ring Road), you can get a taxi for Rs. 800 (USD 5.50).
How do I get to Bhaktapur from Patan?
Patan is 13 km from Bhaktapur and you can take a taxi or public transport between the two places.
If you go by public transport, first, you have to take a bus/minivan from Patan to Maitighar. Then, once in Maitighar, change to another bus going to Bhaktapur.
If you take a taxi, the taxi costs around Rs. 900 (USD 6) from Patan to Bhaktapur.
My Final Tips on Getting to Bhaktapur
The easiest and fastest way to get to Bhaktapur is to go by taxi. If you hail a regular taxi, they tend to charge more. So, I recommend booking a taxi through one of the Nepali taxi apps, Pathao or InDrive, for the best prices. The prices on the apps are fixed, so you know the price before you start the journey.
Taking the public bus to Bhaktapur is also an option. I used to take the bus often, and it is a good alternative if you are on a budget. The buses can get crowded so watch out for your valuables. I have taken the bus many times in Kathmandu as a solo female traveler and always felt safe, but you should always watch out for your belongings.
If you visit Bhaktapur for a day, the best is to go in the morning after an early breakfast, and come back to Kathmandu late afternoon. In case you have more time, you can even spend 3 days in Bhaktapur so you can explore the city without it feeling rushed.
Read Next:
- Best Places to Visit in Bhaktapur
- Best Restaurants in Bhaktapur
- Best Hotels in Bhaktapur
- Taxi Apps in Kathmandu
- How to Get Around Kathmandu by Public Transport
- How to Get from Bhaktapur to Dhulikhel
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