Start at Swayambhunath Stupa in Swayambhu, ideally around 8:00am, before the light becomes harsh and the hill gets busier. Allow about 1½ hours for the prayer wheels, monkeys, small shrines, and valley panorama; use the road-side entrance and gentler access rather than climbing all 365 steps, particularly for your father. Admission is usually around NPR 200 per person, and a taxi from central Kathmandu generally takes 20–35 minutes depending on traffic. Keep phones and snacks tucked away around the monkeys, and dress respectfully at the shrine areas.
Continue by taxi to Kathmandu Durbar Square in Basantapur, normally 15–30 minutes from Swayambhu. Spend roughly two hours wandering through the palace courtyards and temples, including Kumari Ghar; the ticket is commonly around NPR 1,000 for foreign visitors, though fees can change. Go slowly on the uneven brick paving, and take a short tea or lassi break around Basantapur rather than trying to see every courtyard at speed.
For lunch, take a taxi toward Patan Dhoka and settle at Yala Cafe, allowing about an hour. It is a relaxed choice for a family, with Newari favorites alongside familiar international dishes; budget approximately NPR 800–1,500 per person. After lunch, head back toward Kaiser Mahal and spend an unhurried hour in the Garden of Dreams. The garden is a useful pause from Kathmandu’s traffic and dust, with shaded seating and formal pavilions; admission is generally around NPR 400–500, and it is typically open from morning until the evening, though check locally before setting out.
Finish with an easy stroll through Thamel, starting around 4:30–5:00pm when the streets begin to feel lively but are not yet at their busiest. Browse handicrafts, trekking shops, bookstores, and small galleries, keeping valuables secure in crowded lanes. For dinner, choose a quieter side street rather than the main tourist strip, and ask the restaurant to keep spice levels moderate. Taxis are easiest to find at the edge of Thamel; for short rides, use Pathao or InDrive, or have your hotel arrange one, as traffic can make a seemingly nearby journey take 20–40 minutes.
Take a private taxi from Kathmandu around 7:00–7:30am via the Araniko Highway; traffic can make the 45–90-minute ride unpredictable, so an early start is worthwhile. Ask the driver to drop you near Bhaktapur Durbar Square, where vehicles are restricted and your group can begin on foot. Allow about two hours for the Golden Gate, Nyatapola Temple, Palace of 55 Windows, and the beautifully preserved brick lanes. The main heritage-area ticket is generally around NPR 1,800 for foreign visitors, with discounts or different rates sometimes applying to SAARC and Nepali nationals; carry cash and check the current board at the entrance.
Walk roughly 10 minutes east through the old quarter to Pottery Square late in the morning. This is a good place to slow down rather than simply take photographs: watch potters work at low wooden wheels, and look for vessels drying in the sun around the square. Continue another 10–15 minutes to Dattatreya Square, where you can visit the three-storey Dattatreya Temple and browse the nearby woodcarving workshops. Uneven paving and occasional steps make comfortable shoes helpful, particularly for your parents.
Have lunch at Newa Lahana, a convenient choice for trying Newari food without rushing between sights. Order a selection to share—bara, yomari if available, and buffalo dishes—expecting approximately NPR 700–1,400 per person depending on what you choose. Service may be leisurely, which suits the day; allow about an hour and ask about spice levels before ordering. After lunch, leave time for a relaxed wander through the surrounding lanes rather than adding another major sight.
In the late afternoon, take a short taxi ride or a 20–25-minute walk to Siddha Pokhari, near the old city’s eastern side. Its lakeside path is a welcome change from the crowded squares and makes an easy final stop for the family; allow around 45 minutes, especially near sunset. Taxis back to Kathmandu are easiest to arrange through your hotel or a ride-hailing app, while buses from the main road are cheaper but crowded and less comfortable. If you return by taxi, allow at least 1–2 hours for evening traffic and agree on the fare before setting off.
Arrive in Patan early and have your taxi drop you near Mangal Bazaar, just outside Patan Durbar Square. Allow about two hours to explore the brick-paved courtyards, carved window screens, and temples—especially Krishna Mandir. Go first to the ticket counter; entrance is typically around NPR 1,000 for foreign visitors, and the square is best before the midday heat. Take your time around Mul Chowk and Sundari Chowk, where the family can pause rather than trying to see every shrine at speed.
Continue directly to Patan Museum, within the same complex, for about an hour. It generally opens around 10:30am, though schedules can vary, so if you arrive earlier, linger in the square or have tea nearby. The restored palace rooms are cool and peaceful, and the collection’s bronze and stone images are particularly well presented. From here, a roughly 10-minute walk through the old lanes leads to Mahaboudha Temple; look closely at its thousands of small terracotta Buddha images, but keep the visit to around 30 minutes as the narrow surrounding lanes can feel crowded.
Take a short taxi ride—about 10–15 minutes, depending on traffic—to The Yellow House in Jhamsikhel for a relaxed lunch. This leafy neighborhood is a good break after the dense historic center; budget roughly NPR 1,200–2,500 per person, and allow 1½ hours. After lunch, take a taxi for about 10 minutes to Central Zoo in Jawalakhel. Spend up to two hours walking its shaded paths and gardens at an easy pace. It is a practical family stop rather than a major wildlife attraction, so bring water and expect uneven paths; the zoo usually closes in the late afternoon, commonly around 5pm, with last entry earlier. A taxi back to your Kathmandu hotel is easiest from the main Jawalakhel road, and keeping the late afternoon flexible will help if traffic slows the return.
Start early at Pashupatinath Temple, aiming to arrive around 6:30–7:00am. The complex is most atmospheric then, with pilgrims bathing and praying along the Bagmati River and the first temple activity beginning for the day. Allow about two hours to explore the ghats and courtyards; non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple, but the eastern viewpoint gives a clear look across the complex. Dress conservatively—shoulders and knees covered—and expect to leave large bags, food, and leather items outside. From Pashupatinath, walk or take a very short taxi ride to Guhyeshwari Temple, usually a quieter 30-minute visit; access and photography rules are stricter here, so follow the signs and ask before taking pictures.
A 10–15-minute taxi ride brings you to Boudhanath Stupa, where you can join the clockwise kora around the stupa and pause at the prayer wheels, rooftop viewpoints, and side lanes filled with Tibetan Buddhist shops and monasteries. The stupa area is open throughout the day, though the late morning is a good balance between devotional activity and manageable heat; entry is roughly NPR 400 per foreign visitor. Have lunch at Roadhouse Cafe Boudha, just off the stupa plaza, with pizza, salads, coffee, and a comfortable indoor setting—allow NPR 1,000–2,000 per person. After lunch, take a 15–20-minute taxi uphill to Kopan Monastery for a slower final stop, allowing about 1½ hours for the grounds and valley views. Visitor access can change around teachings, retreats, or religious ceremonies, so ask your driver or hotel to check before leaving Boudhanath; bring a light layer, as the hilltop is cooler and breezier.
Return to central Kathmandu by taxi from Kopan Monastery, allowing 30–60 minutes depending on Ring Road traffic. Keep the evening unplanned after this full eastern-valley circuit: eat near your hotel and rest rather than adding another major sight. For the return ride, arrange a taxi through your hotel or use Pathao/InDrive where available; agree whether the fare includes waiting time, since drivers may be reluctant to return downhill during the evening traffic peak.