After a day of exploring this stunning UNESCO World Heritage Town, there is nothing more magical than sitting at one of the best sunset spots Luang Prabang has to offer. Grab a BeerLao and watch the orange hues dance across the sky.
Seriously, the gorgeous architecture, two rivers and surrounding mountains mean Luang Prabang was built for sunset views. The city’s orientation means the sun sets over the Mekong river offering breathtaking scenes (and photo ops) almost every day.
We spent a few weeks scoping out the best places to get an incredible sunset view in Luang Prabang. One that fully captures the magic of the city. Use our Google Maps pins to find them easily.
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Sunset Map
Save this to the Google Maps account you’re currently signed into by pressing the star beside the map title ‘Sunset Spots in Luang Prabang’.
When you’re out exploring and want to see where to eat, click on ‘ You’ at the bottom of your Google Maps app, scroll to the bottom and click on ‘ Maps’ to open all your saved maps and toggle on/off what you want to see.
Mount Phousi
Lets start with the most popular… but also our least favourite:
Mount Phousi rises above the Royal Palace in the Old Quarter. From the top you get stunning 360° panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside. It’s actually pretty awesome for BOTH sunrise and sunset for this reason, if you get up early enough.
The downside is *everyone* knows this is an awesome sunset spot so it gets super crowded. And there’s not that much space in the first place.
There’s a flat section on the far left as you look towards the Mekong. Here, you’ll find a mass of people stretching to hold their camera above the crowds and with zero shame in body slamming you to get their shot. People arrive by the bus load for sunset so even if you go early to stake out your spot, you won’t hold onto it for long.
Our only tip is be extremely tall!
Katie is usually the one with the camera but at only 5’2 (157cm) and slightly claustrophobic, we took one look at the crowds and didn’t stick around.
Whether you go at sunset or prefer it when it’s quieter, climbing Mount Phousi is a top activity to do in Luang Prabang. It’s 30,000 kip to enter which includes access to the temple at the top.
Opposite “Taste of Ceylon”
Directly across from Taste of Ceylon, there are some stairs and a little bamboo gate you can go through to get to a small area beside a pier with a couple of wooden benches.
This is our favourite sunset spot in Luang Prabang, especially in the dry season. At this time of year, all the boats that dock here are usually out taking people for sunset cruises. So you can get close to the water for an uninterrupted view. It’s also the time of year that the sun sets directly behind the mountain so you can get amazing sun beam reflection shots.
There is a platform slightly higher up that is currently unused (as of July 2024) where you can also get great photos. I’m sure the space will be snapped up for a bar or cafe soon enough which will be an epic spot to relax with a drink.
When you’re finished, grab dinner at Taste of Ceylon if you’re looking for a break in Lao food in Luang Prabang – they sell tasty Sri Lankan dishes.
Sunset 360 Café
If you fancy a beer with your sunset view then Café 360 is right next door to the previous viewpoint. Their deck also offers some great views of the sunset. They sell soft drinks, coffee and beers at closer to regular Laos prices than the more expensive bars in town.
There’s also frequently tiny cats running around. So it’s obviously one of our favourite cafes in Luang Prabang for this reason alone.
Opposite Saffron Coffee
You have two options here: grab a coffee from Saffron and enjoy it on their patio. They have seating directly facing the river which, if there’s space, is a great spot for sunset views.
Or, with your back to Saffron Coffee, there’s a viewing platform to the left. Or walk slightly further right to the pier that the boats leave from to get to Pak Ou Caves. There’s some concrete steps here that lead right to the edge of the water and you can get an amazing view down the river as the sun dips over the mountains.
Again this is better in high season as the boats will probably be out on the water and not blocking your view. But you can always adjust the number of steps up you stand to really nail that angle if they’re docked.
Sunset Viewpoint
This is a real pain to get to and we’re not convinced its worth it since the bamboo bridge doesn’t exist anymore. But if you want a quiet spot where it will likely just be you and a few locals with a picnic, head down here.
It’s on the across the Nam Khan river, at the point where the two rivers meet. You can walk down a narrow path and perch on a rock right on the corner to take photos straight down the river.
Honestly, we didn’t think it was substantially better than the viewpoints in the Old Quarter. Since there’s fewer boats around here there isn’t the same foreground interest for a great photo either.
Plus its super awkward to get to compared to the other options so we wouldn’t bother unless you’re staying out this way anyway.
On the Mekong
To make a whole experience out of it, take a sunset cruise down the Mekong to get some great sunset photos. Some even include meals on board or drinks, depending how bougie you’re feeling.
In dry season the river is teeming with boats all milling around for the best angles for that perfect orange sun and colourful sky.
One thing to note is many don’t stay out long enough to truly get the stunning colours in the sky. And being on a moving boat as the light levels drop can make getting sharp photos a challenge.
These are great for phone photos or experienced photographers comfortable shooting in low light settings.
SaSa Sunset Cruises is one of the most popular options and costs 245,000 kip including a drink and snack.
Final thoughts
There’s no denying that this is an absolutely stunning city. Most of what makes these sunset spots Luang Prabang boasts so special is the incredible foreground. Whether it’s photos with the beautiful temples and colour streaked sky or locals taking their boats across the river. The slow pace of daily life are the true sense of the city, not just the mountains and river.
That’s why we prefer seeing sunset from Luang Prabang’s Old Quarter rather than heading out onto the river itself.
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