Nagarkot is about 32 kilometres east of Kathmandu, a journey that takes between one and two hours depending on traffic and road conditions. The road winds steeply up through terraced fields and small villages — public buses run from Bhaktapur's old city bus park and take around 45 minutes from there, making Bhaktapur a natural stopping point on the way up or down.
Taxis from Kathmandu cost around NPR 2,000–3,000 one way; agree on the fare before departing. Some guesthouses in Kathmandu can arrange a shared taxi at lower cost if you are flexible on timing. Many visitors come up by taxi in the afternoon, spend the night for the sunrise view, and then walk down to Changu Narayan and take a bus from there back to Bhaktapur or Kathmandu — this is the most satisfying way to experience the area.