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Luang Prabang is a charming Lao city full of culture, history, and natural beauty. Known for its chill vibe and stunning landscapes, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a favorite among travelers seeking a slower pace and authentic experiences. From beautiful temples and turquoise blue waterfalls to the vibrant night markets and sunset cruises, there are so many things to do in Luang Prabang. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Luang Prabang and see why it’s well worth the addition to your Laos itinerary!
Things to Do in Luang Prabang: FAQs
Why should I visit Luang Prabang?
The perfect mix of chill yet exciting, Luang Prabang stands out as one of Laos’ best destinations. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its unique blend of ancient temples, French colonial architecture, and relaxed atmosphere. Whether you want to spend your day chasing waterfalls, temple hopping, exploring museums, or chilling by the river with a coffee, there’s something for you in Luang Prabang. Easily accessible via its local airport and the new Laos-China Railway, it’s never been easier to visit. This is great news if you visit soon, but part of the charm of Luang Prabang is that it hasn’t been overrun by tourism – yet. Soon, Luang Prabang will be far more discovered, so there’s no better time to visit than now!


When should I visit Luang Prabang?
The best time to visit Luang Prabang is the dry season, from November to February. These months are cool and dry, making it pleasant to enjoy all of Luang Prabang’s outdoor attractions. Most of the top things to do in Luang Prabang require nice weather to fully enjoy, so try to plan accordingly.
Unfortunately, something else that you might want to consider is the burning season, when farmers burn leftover vegetation after harvest. During this time, the air quality drops greatly, which can affect visibility and pose health concerns. There are no set dates for this, but it’s usually in March and April.
Where should I stay in Luang Prabang?
The best place to stay in Luang Prabang is in the Old Quarter, where everything is in walking distance. You’ll be surrounded by restaurants, cafes, and shopping while being close to the top attractions.
As a budget backpacker, I loved my stay in La Casa Hostel! It’s a chill yet social place with nice dorm rooms, a friendly owner, and a good location. The free family dinners give you a chance to meet other travelers without having to spend anything on a meal. And if you don’t want to stay in a dorm, don’t worry, because they also have private rooms.
$$$: 3 Nagas Luang Prabang MGallery by Sofitel
$$: La Nuit de Laos Guest House
How to get around Luang Prabang?
If you stay in the Old Quarter as suggested, you can walk everywhere! You usually won’t be walking more than 15 minutes as a time to get around. You can easily get a tuk tuk on any corner if you need to go farther. It’s also easy to rent a bicycle or motorbike if you’d prefer to get around that way, but unless you’re leaving the Old Quarter, you don’t need one.
How many days do I need in Luang Prabang?
You could pack most of the best things to do in Luang Prabang into two days, but I recommend taking three days to slow down and enjoy. Many of Luang Prabang’s attractions are nice to enjoy at a slower pace, such as hanging out at riverside cafes and strolling through temples. It’s a great place to chill, so embrace it!
For help planning the rest of your Laos trip, including three days in Luang Prabang and stops in Vang Vieng and Vientiane, check out my one-week Laos itinerary.
Is Luang Prabang good for solo travelers?
Yes, Luang Prabang is an interesting and safe place for solo travelers. Laos is a popular country for backpackers and solo travelers to include in their Southeast Asia trip, so you won’t have a hard time meeting other people. This also means that there have been many solo travelers before you, so the town is very easy to navigate alone. There are lots of hostels and everything is in walking distance if you stay in the Old Quarter.
As for safety, I never felt unsafe in Luang Prabang, even at night. You should always take standard safety precautions like avoiding dark roads at night and keeping your belongings close, but you shouldn’t have any problems. Luang Prabang is a chill town with lots of backpackers and friendly locals, so I instantly felt welcome and safe.

Why aren’t elephant sanctuaries and the Alms Giving Ceremony on this list of things to do in Luang Prabang?
Many other lists of things to do in Luang Prabang include elephant sanctuaries and the Alms Giving Ceremony. I’ve left these off of my list because of concerns over ethics. I can’t recommend these activities when there’s debate over whether they are ethical or not. This isn’t to say that there are not ethical ways to experience them, and if you want to try, I highly recommend you do lots of research to ensure you’re being a responsible and respectful tourist. Any elephant sanctuary that allows visitors to ride elephants is NOT ethical, even if you don’t ride them yourself. If you choose to go to the Alms Giving Ceremony, please read up on how to be respectful as the town has had issues with tourists disturbing the ceremony.
Best Things to do in Luang Prabang
Temple hop
COST: many temples are free, but the more popular ones range from 10-30,000 LAK ($0.50-1.50)
With over 30 temples throughout Luang Prabang, you could spend days exploring them all. Each temple is unique in its design, age, and size, but they’re all beautiful in their own ways. As you walk through the Luang Prabang Old Quarter, you’ll stumble upon temples on every block. It’s fun to wander the streets and explore whatever temples you find. However, Wat Xiengthong is the most famous and significant temple and definitely worth an intentional visit! Other temples worth checking out are:
- Wat Winsunnarat & Wat Aham (next to each other)
- Wat Sensoukharam
- Wat May Souvannapoumaram
- Haw Pha Bang (on the grounds of the National Museum, more on that later)



Cafe hop
The Old Quarter of Luang Prabang is a charming town with a mix of Buddhist and French colonial architecture, lush greenery, and historic buildings. You’ll find intriguing cafes on almost every corner, from delicious bakeries and upscale roasteries to riverside hangouts and quaint tea houses. Whether you need a caffeine fix, a sugar rush, or just want to chill in a nice environment, there’s no shortage of picture perfect cafes. Some of the best include:
- Saffron Coffee: local coffee with riverside seating, the upstairs is good for working
- Formula B: rustic aesthetic and delicious cakes
- Maison Sam San: tea house with a scenic rooftop
- Two Little Birds Cafe: smoothie bowls and vegetarian local dishes
- Luang Prabang Cat Cafe: vegetarian cafe that supports the local animals (cat interactions not guaranteed, as they let the cats do what they want)
- Coffee Express: great coffee set next to a tranquil lotus pond


Kuang Si Waterfall
COST: 60,000 LAK ($2.75)
The color of the water at Kuang Si Waterfall is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s a bright, milky turquoise blue that cascades beautifully over four levels of falls. The forest trail takes you from level to level, where you can find natural pools for swimming before arriving to the final and most impressive falls. There are countless photo opportunities and many chances to swim in the chilly water, so you can easily spend a couple of hours here. You’ll also come across the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre at the beginning of the trail, where you can learn about saving the bears in Laos and observe the rescued bears.
Kuang Si Waterfall is about an hour away from the Old Quarter of Luang Prabang, and there are many ways to get there. If you’re confident on a motorbike, you can rent one and drive yourself. If not, you can hire a private tuk tuk, take a shared van (cheapest option), or join a guided tour to make a day of it.
After you’re done exploring the falls, I have the BEST lunch spot recommendation. Carpe Diem is a delicious Lao-Western restaurant set directly on a lower part of the falls. It’s private for Carpe Diem customers, so it won’t be too crowded. They even have a private natural swimming pool. It’s just a three minute walk from the entrance of the falls, so don’t miss it!


National Museum
COST: 60,000 LAK ($2.75)
Not only is this museum a great place to learn more about Lao history, but it’s set inside a former king’s palace. The grounds and the palace itself are impressive displays of architecture and landscaping, making it a beautiful place to walk around. Haw Pha Bang, one of Luang Prabang’s most impressive temples, is also located inside the grounds.


Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center
COST: 35,000 LAK ($1.50)
Laos is an extremely ethnically diverse country, with the government recognizing 160 ethnic sub-groups within 50 ethnic groups (although there’s said to be many more). The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center is a great place to learn about the four ethno-linguistic families, including their traditional clothes, crafts, and lifestyles. It’s a small museum but packs a big punch for those who want to learn more about Laotian culture.


UXO Lao Visitor Center
COST: free!
Did you know that Laos is the most heavily bombed country in history per capita? During the heavy aerial attacks in the Vietnam War, American forces dropped over 2 MILLION bombs on Laos. Unfortunately, these bombs have caused serious injury or death for over 20,000 innocent civilians since the war ended. Unexploded ordnances (UXOs) can harm and kill people living their daily lives who are unfortunate enough to stumble upon them, especially children who don’t know what they are. At the UXO Lao Visitor Center, you can read about the efforts being made to clear Laos of UXOs, educate children to avoid them, and help survivors of UXO accidents. It’s a small exhibition, but the documentaries are especially tragic and interesting.


Sunset river cruise
COST: starts around 300,000 LAK ($14)
One of the best things you can do to end your day in Luang Prabang is to watch the sunset, which is often very colorful and vibrant. Watching the sunset from a cruise on the Mekong River is a peaceful, beautiful experience. There are cruises from budget to luxury, but most include at least a free drink and snack. You can also find dinner cruises that include a meal. Sitting back on a lounge chair while watching the river go by and the sky change colors is the perfect way to end a day of exploring.


Phousi Hill
COST: 30,000 LAK ($1.50)
Phousi Hill, with its iconic golden stupa, towers over Luang Prabang and is the best place to get 360° views of the town, river, and mountains. It’s about 300 steps to the top, but the views make it well worth the effort. Along the way, there’s plenty of interesting sights and structures to stop at and take a break. There’s two ways to go up and down, but I recommend going up the Nam Khan River side and going down the Sisavangvong Road side so you’re climbing up the more scenic and interesting path. The most popular time to visit Phousi Hill is for sunset, when the sun disappears behind the mountains. It’s beautiful but very crowded, so consider going for sunrise instead if you’re a morning person!

Insider tip: If you decide to go for sunset, once you climb down the Sisavangvong Road side, you’ll conveniently be right at the Night Market when it’s starting to get lively!
Night Market & Morning Market
Whether you’re a night owl or early bird, there’s a market for you! The morning market is a local experience where Luang Prabang residents come to buy their groceries for the day, like we would do at a supermarket. You’ll find fruits, vegetables, spices, meats, and more. At the end of the day, the night market takes over the main road in the Old Quarter. This one isn’t as local of an experience, but it’s more lively and has more options for shopping. Souvenirs, clothes, and street food line the streets. Make sure to turn off the main street onto the side street lined with street food (labeled on Google Maps as “Street For Night Market food”) for the most authentic food.


Get a massage
Laos might not be famous for their massages like Thailand is, but the massages here can be just as high quality and even cheaper! I had an amazing massage at Silver Naga Spa in the Old Quarter for only 150,000 LAK ($8). It’s a no-frills place, but the cost is unbeatable. If you want a slightly higher end experience that’s still affordable, check out Green Jungle Massage.
Go bowling
COST: 40,000 LAK per person per game ($1.75)
You heard me right, one of the best things to do in Luang Prabang is to go bowling! I didn’t expect this before I visited, but it’s the top things to do at night. Luang Prabang doesn’t have much nightlife, so those who want to continue the fun after hours head to the Luang Prabang Bowling Alley. It’s usually crowded and lively, with music playing and backpackers drinking. It’s a ten minute drive outside of the Old Quarter, but any tuk tuk driver will know where to go.
With all of these amazing things to do in Luang Prabang, it’s no surprise why so many people include it on their Laos itinerary. From exploring temples, museums, and waterfalls to cafe hopping and watching the sunset, you can have as exciting or as chill of a day as you want. No matter which direction you go, you won’t be disappointed.
How about heading to Vang Vieng next, a small town with limestone karsts, scenic viewpoints, blue lagoons, and stunning sunsets with hot air balloons lining the skies? Check out my one-week Laos itinerary to continue your adventure.
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