There are 33 temples in Luang Prabang with gold spires, stunning murals, and beautiful architecture. Some are very old whilst others have been rebuilt more recently after being burnt down during conflicts. They all have one thing in common though: they’re insanely beautiful.
You can’t visit the spiritual and cultural capital of Laos without stepping into (at least a few of) the stunning Luang Prabang Temples. But which ones should you prioritise? Having had a few weeks to explore the many temples of this amazing city, we’ve picked out some of our favourites for you to visit and are sharing what you should expect. The majority are free to enter though some of the more famous temples charge a small entrance fee.
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Tips for visiting ANY temples in Luang Prabang
The temples of Luang Prabang aren’t just beautiful buildings. They’re religious and spiritual places where the monks and novices are also working. So it’s important to be respectful at all times, whether you are Buddhist or not.
- Dress respectfully: Cover your shoulders, knees, and cleavage. We recommend sticking with lightweight, floaty clothes so the extra layers don’t feel suffocating in the heat. Or carry a scarf, sarong, or shirt that you can throw on when you visit the temples. That way, you can take it back off when you leave.
- Remove your shoes: Before going inside, make sure to take off your shoes and leave them by the entrance. If the idea of walking around in your bare feet gives you the ick, pop some socks in your bag.
- Be respectful of the monks: Keep your distance, silently observe, and never touch the monks (especially on the head).
- Bring cash: Whilst it’s free to visit most of the Luang Prabang temples, some charge a small fee. You’ll need to pay in cash and ideally with as small notes as possible.
Wat Xiengthong
Built in the 16th century, Wat Xiengthong (meaning ‘Temple of the Golden City’) is the most impressive temple complex in Luang Prabang. It’s in remarkably good condition, especially after some restoration work in the 20th century.
It plays an important role in Laos’ history as, until 1975 when the LPDR was formed, the country was ruled by the royal family. Here, at Wat Xiengthong, the new kings were crowned.
If you’re taking a self-guided walking tour of LPB, don’t miss this temple! Give yourself time to slowly wander round the complex. You could be here anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Take in the insanely intricate murals, gold stencilling, and a reclining Buddha that dates back to the temple’s construction.
It’s popular with the tour groups so it can get very busy. But if you find yourself there at the same time as one, like we did, you can wait around 20 mins and they’ll be off to their next stop and you can view the temple in more peace.
Entrance fee: 30,000 kip (around $1.30)
Location: The entrance and exit are in different places and a little confusing! To get in, go to Sakkaline Road then you’ll exit on the other side of the complex, towards the river
Wat Sen
Also known as Wat Sensoukharam, this complex was built in the 18th century and restored in the 1950s. It’s believed to have been built with 100,000 stones from the Mekong River. The name literally means ‘100,000 treasures’. (Though there is also a legend that says it cost 100,000 kip to build back in the day.)
Despite being on the main street in Luang Prabang old town, it’s relatively quiet. We loved the incredibly detailed gold stencilling on the door of the sim and standing Buddha statue draped in a saffron robe in the courtyard.
The sim (Lao name for the main hall) is usually closed to visitors. However, you can walk around the outside and admire the intricate details.
Entrance fee: Free
Location: On the main street, Sakkaline Road, very close to 2 of our favourite cafes in Luang Prabang – LuLaLaos and Le Benneton
Wat Manorom
Founded in either the 14th or 15th century, Wat Manorom has been destroyed and rebuilt several times but is no less impressive for it. The outside is painted with stunning murals depicting Buddha’s life and the bronze Buddha in the nave dates from the 15th century.
This is a little out of the old town but it’s well worth spending half an hour admiring. We went on our way to the UXO museum – another activity you should take the time to do in Luang Prabang.
Entrance fee: Free
Location: A short walk from the Old Quarter (around 15-20 minutes from where the night market is held) on Manomai Road
Wat May Souvannapoumaram
One of the largest and most ornate temples in Luang Prabang, Wat May Souvannapoumaram is another that gets the day tours pouring in. Partly because of the intricate details and partly because of its location on the main street.
Intricate carvings, gold leaf stencils, and incredible murals decorate the inside and outside of the sim. It’s one of the few that survived the Chinese invasion in 1887 intact and was one home to Laos’ most venerated Buddha image, Phra Bang Buddha image, which can now be found at the Royal Palace Museum just along the road.
You can get lucky and have this place almost to yourself if you time it right in the morning or are willing to brave the afternoon heat. If you see a tour group all filing in then maybe grab a coffee and wait for them to leave to make the most of the impressive sim more peacefully.
If you ask a local about this temple, they will likely call it just ‘Wat Mai’ (meaning ‘New Temple’) – the full name is a bit of a mouthful!
Entrance fee: 20,000 kip (around $0.90)
Location: On the main Sisavangvong Road, just down from the night market and beside the Royal Palace Museum. Outside this temple is a popular spot for tourists to sit and partake in the morning alms ceremony too
Wat Pha Pai
An unassuming temple down a side street, Wat Pha Pai is famous for its stunning murals on the sim depicting every day life in Laos. It’s one of the smaller Luang Prabang temples and was originally built in 1645 as a monastery retreat in the forest. The name literally translates as ‘monastery of the bamboo forest’ – a name that’s shared by many temples in this part of the world.
As it’s easily missed by most, and skipped entirely by the tour companies, you can usually enjoy these murals by yourself. There was no one around on either occasion we visited in both January or June.
An excellent refuge away from the hustle of peak season Luang Prabang.
Entrance fee: Free
Location: Tucked away on Savang Vatthana road. It’s easy to miss as the entrance is often obscured by an overgrown bougainvillea
Wat Nong Sikhounmuang
With a 3 tiered roof that resembles the temples in Bangkok and a wonderful bronze Buddha statue, Wat Nong Sikhounmuang is worth a little detour while you’re wandering the old quarter of LPB.
One of the largest temples in Luang Prabang, it was destroyed not long after being built in the 18th century by a fire.
We used the co-working space right across the road from this temple and it makes for a wonderful backdrop.
Entrance fee: Free
Location: On the corner of Kounxoau Road, across from The Desk (Luang Prabang’s co-working space)
Wat Pa Phon Phao
If you’ve hired a bike, motorized or regular, then Wat Pa Phon Pao is worth a visit.
It’s name translates as the ‘Peacefulness Temple’ and it’s easy to see why. Situated at the top of a hill just to the south of the old town of Luang Prabang, the golden stupa sites amongst the forest and is often used for forest meditation retreats. As the golden roof is so distinctive, you can also see it from the top of Mount Phousi.
With beautiful murals, and some fairly brutal ones depicting hell, its an interesting temple to visit as it’s so different to most of the others.
We walked out to it but its definitely better if you have some form of wheels. If you do walk, Google Maps has the pin in the middle of the forest but doesn’t know there’s a path up to it. So you have to walk along the main road (there’s no pavement so make sure you tuck yourself in at the side) until you find the winding road with big gate at the top. It’s hard to miss if you’re looking out for it.
Entrance fee: Free
Location: Southeast of Luang Prabang’s Old Quarter, closer to the airport
Wat Wisuranat (Visoun)
Built in 1513, then rebuilt in the late 19th century. Wat Wisuranat (Visoun) is the oldest operating temple in Luang Prabang.
It features a Sinhalese style stupa, the only one in this style in Laos which is known locally as the “watermelon stupa”. The sim features murals of Hindu deities on the outside and a seated Buddha.
Located just behind Phousi, it’s very close to the old town and well worth the short walk out to it, especially since its nearly always very quiet.
Entrance fee: Free
Location: A 10 minute walk from the Nam Khan entrance to Mount Phousi
Wat Siphoutthabath
Situated at the base of Mt Phousi just back from the street. You have to walk into the complex a little to find the stunning ordination hall. The name means “Buddha’s Footprints” and as well as the beautifully decorated exterior, it has murals on the inside. These murals depict the Buddha’s path to enlightenment and his teachings. There is also a school for monks here. The school is the center for learning for monks in Luang Prabang.
Further up the trail to the top of Phousi is Buddha’s footprint and a sacred cave. This is a less popular way to get to the top of Phousi but is nice to do it in one direction if you’re planning to see both. Entrance to Phousi is 30,000 kip.
Entrance fee: Free
Location: Ounheun Road, a side street off the Nam Khan River
Final Thoughts
Evening spending a month in the city, we didn’t quite make it to all of the Luang Prabang temples. These are just a few of our favourite ones. We recommend taking a couple of hours to wander a few of the amazing temples and maybe even observe evening prayers. It’s the perfect way to understand the deep spiritual connection to Buddhism throughout the city.
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