Patan is a one of the largest cities in Nepal and is located just across the Bungamti river from Kathmandu. Like its larger neighbor, Patan also boasts a Durbar Square full of temples, statues, and palaces and, in addition, has the must-see attraction of Patan Museum. As a traditional center of handicrafts, Patan is a great place to purchase jewelry, Buddha statues and masks.

Get in

• Rickshaws from Thamel or Durbar Square in Kathmandu
• Taxis are a more expensive option
• It is possible to walk from Kathmandu, though the pollution and heat makes it seem longer than the 90 minutes to 2 hours it actually takes.

Get around

• The city and its sites are best seen on foot.

See

• The best site to visit is Patan Durbar Square.The buildings in the square are made in the pagoda style.Patan durbar square is located in the centre of Patan.

Do

Buy

Eat

• Cafe de Patan - a pleasant, centraly located restaurant and cafe (see 'sleep' section)
• Patan Museum Cafe
• Kidz: The food station - great place to eat small pizzas, sandwiches, footlongs, wraps, sundaes, mocktails and gourmet coffee. They also have the most correct (by Irish standards) Irish coffee in Kathmandu Valley.
• Downtown - one of the best value restaurants in Patan - great food.
• La soon - a small restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating set in a nice garden and serving a mixed menu with daily specials. I can recomend the La Soon Plate & the La Soon Platter, one of which is vegetarian. They also do nice chocolate brownies. It's very good value and well worth a visit.
• Summit Hotel - good on a Friday night as they have a barbecue by the Pool.

Drink

Patan, unlike Kathmandu, shuts down just after dark, and so nightlife is restricted to hotel bars and restaurants.

Sleep

• Cafe de Patan, Patan Durbur Square, Mahapal Mangal Bazaar, Tel:537599, 530208, [1]. A centrally located guesthouse in a traditional Newari house. There are great views over the temples of Durbar square, and the dinning room is a very pleasant area of foliage blended with stylish Newari decor. Standard (common bath room) - Single: 300Rs, Double: 400Rs. Deluxe (attached bathroom) - Single: 500Rs. Double 600Rs.
• Himlayan Hotel is a four star hotel with swimming pool and several other facilities.

Get out