The old city is best explored on foot. The historic core — Durbar Square, the Golden Temple, Kumbheshwar — is compact enough to cover in a half-day walk. Streets in the old town are narrow and mostly free of through traffic.
For travelling between Patan and Kathmandu or reaching sites further out, taxis are the practical option. Rickshaws operate near Durbar Square for short hops. Electric three-wheelers (safa tempos) run along fixed routes through the main roads.
Cycling is feasible; bicycle rental is available in Thamel and at a few shops in Patan itself. The roads between the Valley's three Durbar Squares (Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur) can be ridden in a long day, though traffic on the main roads is heavy.