Thamel

The main backpacker area with hostels, trekking gear shops, and restaurants all crammed together. Everything you need is here and English is widely spoken, but it's very touristy and can feel overwhelming with constant crowds and people trying to sell you things. Good first stop if you want convenience over authenticity.

Thamel packs trekking shops, travel agencies, restaurants, and bars into a maze of narrow streets. You'll see trekkers stocking up on gear, digital nomads in cafes, and locals hawking everything from prayer flags to knockoff North Face jackets. Bars stay open until around 1am, though enforcement of closing time varies. During the day it's chaos - motorbikes, touts, vendors everywhere - but that constant activity means you're never alone. Tourism drives the economy here so English is common. Sitting alone in cafes for hours is normal, and restaurant staff are used to solo diners. Pickpocketing happens in crowds, so keep your bag where you can see it. The Chaksibari Marg and Paryatan Marg intersection is where nightlife concentrates. Streets are well-lit at night with police around, though you should still pay attention to your surroundings. It's touristy and noisy, but that same busy energy makes it feel relatively safe.