Where to stay · Luang Prabang · Laos
Where to stay in Luang Prabang
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Old Town centre. Temples, the Royal Palace and the night market along Sisavangvong Road. Best alternatives — families: Mekong riverfront; budget: Mekong riverfront.
Key facts
- First visit
- Old Town centre
- Families
- Mekong riverfront
- Budget
- Mekong riverfront
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Old Town centre | Temples, the Royal Palace and the night market along Sisavangvong Road |
| Families | Mekong riverfront | Guesthouses, cafés and sunset terraces facing the Mekong |
| Couples | Old Town centre | Temples, the Royal Palace and the night market along Sisavangvong Road |
| Budget | Mekong riverfront | Guesthouses, cafés and sunset terraces facing the Mekong |
| Luxury | Across the Nam Khan | Riverside resorts and villages on the far bank, linked by bridges |
| Food lovers | Nam Khan riverside | Smaller river, bamboo bridges and garden cafés on the peninsula's eastern side |
| Solo travellers | Around Wat Visoun | Budget guesthouses and local life south of Mount Phousi |
| Shopping | Old Town centre | Temples, the Royal Palace and the night market along Sisavangvong Road |
| Quiet stays | Xieng Thong end of the peninsula | Quiet lanes, monasteries and river views at the tip where the Nam Khan meets the Mekong |
Luang Prabang neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, shopping and culture
Old Town centre
The middle of the peninsula, along Sisavangvong and Sakkaline roads, holds the Royal Palace Museum, Wat Mai, the foot of Mount Phousi and the night market. Guesthouses and boutique hotels occupy restored colonial houses, and everything — cafés, tour agencies, the alms route — is a few minutes' walk away.
- Good
- Walk to almost everything; Alms giving passes the door; Wide choice of heritage hotels
- Watch out
- Rooms are pricier than outside the centre; Night-market crowds in the evening
- Nearby
- Royal Palace Museum, Mount Phousi, Wat Mai, Night market
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and culture
Xieng Thong end of the peninsula
The north-eastern tip of the peninsula around Wat Xieng Thong is the most atmospheric part of town, with narrow lanes between monasteries, small guesthouses and cafés overlooking the confluence. It is a little away from the night-market traffic and very quiet after dark.
- Good
- Most peaceful part of the old town; River views; Alms route on the doorstep
- Watch out
- Fewer restaurants; 10-minute walk to the night market
- Nearby
- Wat Xieng Thong, Nam Khan confluence, Wat Sene
$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, budget and families
Mekong riverfront
The riverside road on the Mekong side of the peninsula is lined with guesthouses, restaurants and bars on wooden terraces, many with views of the boats and the hills of Chomphet opposite. Boats to Pak Ou and sunset cruises leave from the landings below.
- Good
- Sunset views over the Mekong; Easy access to boat trips; Good mid-range choice
- Watch out
- Road traffic along the river; Can be dusty in the dry season
- Nearby
- Mekong boat landing, Royal Palace Museum, Wat Xieng Thong
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and food lovers
Nam Khan riverside
The road along the Nam Khan side of the peninsula is quieter than the Mekong front, with boutique hotels, garden restaurants and steps down to the seasonal bamboo bridge. Views look across to the green far bank and the hills beyond.
- Good
- Calm and green; Good restaurants overlooking the river; Short walk to the centre
- Watch out
- Mosquitoes by the water; Limited budget options
- Nearby
- Bamboo bridge, Mount Phousi, Wat Xieng Thong
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and food lovers
Around Wat Visoun
South of Phousi, the streets around Wat Visoun and towards Dara Market are less polished than the peninsula, with family-run guesthouses, noodle shops, the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre and the herbal sauna near Wat Visoun. It is a 10-minute walk to the night market.
- Good
- Lower prices; Local noodle shops; Walkable to the old town
- Watch out
- Busier roads; Less heritage character
- Nearby
- Wat Visoun, Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, Dara Market
$$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and luxury
Across the Nam Khan
The far bank of the Nam Khan has resort-style hotels in gardens, weaving villages and local restaurants, reached by the old bridge or the seasonal bamboo bridge. It feels rural while being about 10 minutes from the old town by tuk-tuk or bicycle.
- Good
- Space, gardens and pools; Village life and views back to the town
- Watch out
- Bicycle or tuk-tuk needed in the evening; Seasonal bridge washed away in the rains
- Nearby
- Bamboo bridge, Nam Khan, Ban Xang Khong paper village
$ · Best for quiet stays, budget and culture
Chomphet
Chomphet, on the opposite bank of the Mekong, is reached by a small passenger ferry and has dirt lanes, village monasteries such as Wat Long Khoun, cave shrines and a handful of guesthouses and homestays. Staying here means very quiet nights and views back to the old town.
- Good
- Village atmosphere; Very low prices; River views back to town
- Watch out
- Depends on the ferry; Few restaurants or services
- Nearby
- Wat Long Khoun, Mekong ferry landing
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town centre | $$$ | Royal Palace Museum, Mount Phousi, Wat Mai, Night market |
| Xieng Thong end of the peninsula | $$$ | Wat Xieng Thong, Nam Khan confluence, Wat Sene |
| Mekong riverfront | $$ | Mekong boat landing, Royal Palace Museum, Wat Xieng Thong |
| Nam Khan riverside | $$$ | Bamboo bridge, Mount Phousi, Wat Xieng Thong |
| Around Wat Visoun | $ | Wat Visoun, Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, Dara Market |
| Across the Nam Khan | $$$ | Bamboo bridge, Nam Khan, Ban Xang Khong paper village |
| Chomphet | $ | Wat Long Khoun, Mekong ferry landing |
Getting to your hotel
Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ) is about 4 km from the old town, a 10–15 minute ride. Taxis and minivans at fixed prices are booked at a counter in the arrivals hall, and many hotels offer pickups.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Luang Prabang for first-time visitors?
Old Town centre. The middle of the peninsula, along Sisavangvong and Sakkaline roads, holds the Royal Palace Museum, Wat Mai, the foot of Mount Phousi and the night market.
+Where should families stay in Luang Prabang?
Mekong riverfront: Sunset views over the Mekong.
+Which area of Luang Prabang is best for a budget stay?
Mekong riverfront ($$): Guesthouses, cafés and sunset terraces facing the Mekong.