Itineraries
Where to stay
The old town peninsula for first-timers on foot; the Nam Khan side for quieter lanes; around Phousi and TAEC for a central base near the market streets.
The areas: Old town peninsula, Nam Khan side, Around Phousi and TAEC.
Where to stay in Luang Prabang: areas and adviceHotels in Luang PrabangPlaces to see
All things to do in LaosNeighborhoodAlms giving on Sakkaline RoadMonks collect sticky rice from kneeling residents along the old town's main street at dawn.Entry: Free to watch
NeighborhoodBan Xang HaiMekong village on the way to Pak Ou where families distill lao-lao rice whiskey in clay jars.Entry: Free to visit
FoodCarpe Diem restaurant, Kuang SiRestaurant inside the Kuang Si waterfall area at Ban Tha Pene, open from 9 AM to 5 PM.Entry: Pay as you go
MuseumHeuan Chan Heritage HouseHistoric wooden house showing Lao textiles, Buddhist customs and family life, with a short documentary.Entry: Check the fee at the door
NatureKuang Si Butterfly ParkButterfly garden and research project started in 2014, 300 m before the Kuang Si entrance.Entry: LAK[fee]
NatureKuang Si WaterfallTiered waterfall over 70 m high with blue-green pools, in the forest about 30 km from town.Entry: LAK[fee]
TransportLuang Prabang International AirportInternational airport 4 km from the town center, with flights to Vientiane, Bangkok and Hanoi.Entry: Pay as you go
MarketLuang Prabang Night MarketAbout 250 craft stalls fill Sisavangvong Road each evening, with food stalls in the side lanes.Entry: Pay as you go
TransportLuang Prabang Railway StationLaos-China Railway station outside town, with trains south to Vang Vieng and Vientiane.Entry: Pay as you go
TransportMekong boat landingMekong riverbank in the old town, where boats leave upstream for Pak Ou and across to Chomphet.Entry: Pay as you go
ViewpointMount PhousiHill in the old town with 328 steps to the Wat Chomsi stupa and wide sunset views.Entry: LAK[fee]; 328 steps
MuseumNational Museum (Royal Palace)Royal palace built from 1904 to 1909, with throne rooms, royal cars and the Phra Bang shrine.Entry: LAK[fee]; closed at lunch
TemplePak Ou CavesTwo caves in a Mekong cliff, filled with thousands of Buddha statues left by devotees.Entry: LAK[fee]; pay at the cave
FoodSisavangvong Road restaurantsThe old town's main street, with restaurants and cafés around the National Museum.Entry: Pay as you go
MuseumTraditional Arts and Ethnology CentreMuseum at the foot of Phousi on the dress, crafts and beliefs of the ethnic groups of Laos.Entry: LAK[fee]
MuseumUXO Visitors CentreFree exhibition on the bombing of Laos from 1964 to 1973 and the unexploded bombs left behind.Entry: Free to visit
TempleWat MaiTemple built in 1796 with a four-tiered roof and gilded reliefs of the Vessantara legend.Entry: LAK[fee]
TempleWat VisounTemple founded in 1512, with the rounded That Makmo stupa of 1514 in its grounds.Entry: LAK[fee]
TempleWat Xieng MenSixteenth-century temple across the Mekong, modeled on Wat Xieng Thong, with old French floor tiles.Entry: LAK[fee]
TempleWat Xieng ThongTemple built around 1560 with a sweeping Luang Prabang roof, glass mosaics and a royal chariot hall.Entry: LAK[fee]; pay at the gate