Venture past Thamel and Kathmandu Valley - the tourists on Freak Street, the hipsters in the bars, and guided tours to the Central District - and you’ll find Bhaktapur, an otherworldly city that gives visitors a picture of what the old Nepal may have been just 12 kilometers (7.4 miles) from the capital.
Bhaktapur is known by many names. It has been called Nepal’s Cultural Gem, A City of Devotees, and an open museum. This includes not just tangible built heritage, but everything that involves intangible practices that have been passed on from generation to generation. At Bhaktapur, you’ll be able to join colorful festivals, traditional dances, and the continuing life of the Newari community.
While you’re here, take advantage of the many cultural excursions. Luckily, there are also hostels, bed and breakfasts, and guesthouses that can already plan this for you or make it part of your stay. Here are some accommodations that try to integrate the Bhaktapur Newari culture to their guest experience:
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on April 04, 2024.
1. Homecooked meals at Pradhan House - Home Stay (from USD 23)
This homestay is run by the Pradhan Family, who all pitch in to operate this accommodation. The homestay is found just 100 meters (328 feet) from Dattatraya Square and 500 meters (1,640 ft) from Durbar Square. In the homestay there’s also a terrace and a seating area so you can interact with fellow travelers at breakfast or at the end of the day. They also have a shared lounge and shops onsite. If you like cooking your own meals, they have a shared kitchen where you can do that. But better yet, just order a simple meal from them. They always offer a nice variety of local selections from breakfast to dinner.
Pradhan House - Home Stay with Garden
Address: Dattatrya Square, Gachhen, Way to Nawadurga Temple
801 meters (0.5 ft) from Bhaktapur Durbar Square
2. The architectural grandeur of Milla Guesthouse Bhaktapur (from USD 91)
This guesthouse is a 5-minute walk from the World Heritage Site, Dattatraya Square. This is on the quieter side of the city, so you can take refuge from the noise of the square after a busy day. The guest house was built by Gotz Hagmuller, the same architect of the Patan Museum and Garden of Dreams in Kathmandu. It’s a charming combination of brick and wooden ceilings, timber floors and terracotta tiles. The establishment opened in 2013 with solar-voltaic electricity, a solar hot water system, and gas room heating.
Milla Guesthouse Bhaktapur
Address: 4 Devli Square, near Dattatraya Square Milla Guesthouse
537 meters (0.4 ft) from Bhaktapur Durbar Square
3. The historic Golden Gate Guest House (from USD 11)
Golden Gate Guest House is a facility just a minute’s walk away from Durbar Square. It was one of the first accommodations in the area (the guest house started in 1988) and is owned by a local from Bhaktapur. The room have a great view of the mountain ranges and the pagoda temples. It also serves as a gateway to the fifty-window palace, once part of the Malla Dynasty in the 15th-century. The hotel, like many new establishments in the area now, has a solar water heating system. Their website also mentions that they believe in “health, spirituality, and peace of mind over the developing aspect of the human race that concludes the advancement of technology and blind our relationship with the natural environment.”
Golden Gate Guest House
Address: Durbar Square 11
95 meters (312.8 ft) from Bhaktapur Durbar Square
4. A view of the city at Bhaktapur Guest House (from USD 30)
Just a three-minute ride or kilometer (0.6 mi) walk to Bhaktapur proper, Bhaktapur Guest House offers its guests a lovely view of the city and the Himalayas. The countryside where it’s located allows for a beautiful view of the sunset, fresh air, birds singing, and peace and quiet. They also have a beautiful garden which serves as a great respite after a day of trekking. Suman, the owner, also goes out of his way to do small errands for his guests such as picking them up from town or arranging a day tour for them.
Bhaktapur Guest House
Address: Chundevisthan, Katunje
1.42 km (0.9 mi) from Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur Tour Guide
Dinesh Thapa Magar
Meet Dinesh, your go-to guide for an unforgettable Nepal experience. With years of expertise, he seamlessly blends city charm with mountain thrill. Let Dinesh unveil Nepal's secrets, from vibrant streets to towering peaks, creating memories that linger far beyond the journey.
Bhaktapur Tour Guide
Krishna Gautam
Namaskar (Hello)!Greetings from the land of discovery and adventure! I'm Krishna Gautam, a dedicated tour guide and travel planner for Nepal's breathtaking natural beauty and rich heritage of culture. I come with a Profound educational background and bring an original perspective to the journey. I received a master's degree in Rural Development and am currently pursuing an MPhil in Buddhist Stu... Read more
5. Humanitarian exposure with Star View Guest House (from USD 12)
The Star View Nepal Guest House is found in the ancient temple village outside of Bhaktapur called Changu Narayan. The guest house has a great view of the valley and the peaks of the Himalayas. The rooms are decorated with thangka paintings and Nepali artwork. There’s also a rooftop patio so you can check out the hustle and bustle below. Star View Guest House is also affiliated with an NGO called Kay Garnay for Nepal (KGN) founded to help the people of the Chanunarayan village recover from the earthquake through livelihood projects like carpet weaving and knitting. Ask the owners and receptionist about it if you’re interested.
Star View B & B and Retreat Centre
Address: Changunarayan Road
4.95 km (3.1 mi) from Bhaktapur Durbar Square
6. People watch at Nyatapola Guest House (from USD 12)
The guest house is located just 100 meters (328 ft) away from Pottery Square on a busy street, and 200 meters (656 ft) away from the famous Nyatapola Temple. Each room has a seating area, and a private bathroom with a hot shower (a luxury in Nepal). It also has a shared lounge, a ticket service, and a tour desk. And if you’d like you can cook your own meals, or request for an add-on for breakfast so the owners can cook you some Nepali delicacies. You can also request for room service. If you’re the type who likes to people watch in the morning, this is the right place for you. The place will wake you up at 5 am as Bhaktapur’s commercial area wakes up as well.
Nyatapola Guest House
Address: Pottery Square
228 meters (0.2 ft) from Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Accommodations in Bhaktapur, Nepal
If you are in Nepal for the heritage sites, Bhaktapur actually has more temples per square foot than Patan or Kathmandu. Part of the fees from entering the temples and the like go to the restoration and preservation of the sites. Even your accommodations are part of the experience, so be sure to take full advantage of the local perspective offered in your place of stay.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to