Boudhanath

Peaceful spiritual area centered on the massive stupa and Tibetan Buddhist culture. Good for meditation, yoga, and cheap authentic Tibetan food. Gets dark and quiet at night, and you're isolated from other areas - taxis add up if you're moving around the city.

The massive white stupa dominates this area - one of the largest in the world - where monks and pilgrims walk clockwise spinning prayer wheels at sunrise and sunset. Tibetan refugees settled here in the 1950s, creating a small Tibet with monasteries, Tibetan restaurants, and shops selling singing bowls and prayer flags. The energy is contemplative - you'll hear monastery chanting and see monks in maroon robes more than backpackers. Rooftop restaurants overlooking the stupa serve cheap, authentic Tibetan food (momos, thukpa). Most visitors here are into Buddhism, yoga, or meditation rather than nightlife. Sitting alone in cafes reading or journaling for hours fits the vibe. English works at most restaurants and guesthouses since international Buddhist practitioners come through regularly. The stupa area feels safe during the day and early evening when pilgrims and tourists are around, but surrounding streets get dark and empty after 9pm. You're 20 minutes by taxi from Thamel, so it's peaceful but isolated. Good for escaping city stress, bad if you want nightlife or easy access to other areas.