Koh Lanta Old Town - 7 Things to Do

Koh Lanta doesn’t just have beautiful beaches. On the quiet east coast, the island feels completely different, especially in Lanta Old Town. Instead of beach bars, beaches, and stunning sunsets, you’ll find old wooden stilt houses and Old Town’s small main street lined with lots of shops and restaurants. Still, with our Lanta Old Town tips, you can discover a few great things.

Our Tips for a Trip to Lanta Old Town

Lanta Old Town is a really nice day trip or half-day trip on Koh Lanta. You can stroll through the Old Town at an easy pace, take a short break at the pier, check out temples and shrines, and wrap it up with the best view at Rareview. Definitely a great spot on Koh Lanta that you shouldn’t miss.

Accommodation on Koh Lanta – Our Hotel Tip

The Lanta Sand Resort & Spa is located directly on the popular Long Beach and offers a beautiful beachfront location. Rooms and bungalows are modernly furnished and equipped with everything you need – from air conditioning, TV, refrigerator, to free Wi-Fi. The rooms have either a terrace or balcony, some even have their own plunge pool or direct access to one of the swimming pools.

Our recommended hotel features a total of four swimming pools, a playroom for children, a small fitness center, and a spa for massages. Sand Restaurant serves a diverse breakfast buffet in the morning, and The Sand Sunset Bar offers delicious drinks in the afternoon and evening to enjoy the sunset.

Additionally, there is a 24-hour reception that is happy to assist, absolutely friendly staff, and a tour desk at the reception. Nearby, you’ll also find a few dining options if you’re on foot. We felt completely comfortable and would choose the resort again for a stay on Koh Lanta.

If you prefer to stay at another beach on Koh Lanta, there is a large selection here on the island.

1. Old Town Pier (and a Trip to Koh Por)

The Koh Lanta Old Town Pier is the perfect starting point for exploring Old Town on foot. There’s even parking for cars here if you’re traveling with a rental car. Stroll along the pier and immediately soak up the quiet atmosphere of the Old Town. On your left, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Old Town’s stilt houses. On your right, you’ll see the half-sunken boat and the landscape, and straight ahead you’ll spot the small island of Koh Por. A lovely short walk with ocean views.

Tip: If you’ve set aside the day to visit Lanta Old Town, you can also combine it with a trip to Koh Por. It’s even quieter there than on Koh Lanta. On the island, you can take a short walk through the village with views of rubber plantations, relax on the beach, swim, or go kayaking. There isn’t much more to do on Koh Por but sometimes that’s exactly what you want.

The boats depart directly at the end of the pier. By longtail boat, it takes about 20 minutes from Lanta Old Town Pier to reach the small island. The price is 100 baht per person. It’s best to agree on a time for the return trip with your driver right away so you won’t run into any issues getting back.

2. Lobster Monument

The lobster monument might seem a bit odd at first glance. We felt the same. But this huge, bright blue lobster is kind of the village’s mascot, which is why it’s part of our Lanta Old Town tips. If you come to Old Town Pier (see point 1), you can’t miss it.

A long time ago, Old Town was the hub for trade and fishing on Koh Lanta. The lobster became the symbol of that, and it still fits perfectly today because you can get fresh seafood at many of Old Town’s restaurants. By the way, as a little extra, depending on the water level, you can also spot a half-sunken boat from here.

Honestly, the lobster monument isn’t a must-see, but it might be fun for kids. And if you’re already at the Old Town pier, you’ll automatically walk right past it anyway.

3. Playground by the Pier

If you’re traveling with kids on Koh Lanta, there’s a small playground right by the Old Town Pier that works well as a quick stop. If you visit the pier, you’ll pass it anyway. But don’t expect a huge, modern playground. It’s small and there are a few pieces of equipment, but at least my son rarely skips a playground.

4. Walk Through Old Town

The main street through Koh Lanta’s Old Town is the best part of our Lanta Old Town tips. It runs parallel to the water, and on both sides you’ll find some beautiful old buildings. Right from the start, you get that classic Old Town vibe. There are small souvenir shops, as well as restaurants and cafés, often with sea views.

Koh Lanta Old Town is actually pretty simple, but that’s part of its charm. You can start your walk at the small roundabout with the shrine by the pier. Take your time, Lanta Old Town isn’t particularly big. We’d also recommend having lunch here, for example at Rareview (see the next point). But there are plenty of other options as well.

5. Rareview Coffee and Restaurant

Rareview is one of the best spots in Old Town for us. The restaurant is right on the main street that runs through the Old Town, on the side facing the water. Rareview doesn’t just offer great photo opportunities but also really delicious food. One recommendation is the fried Khao Soi with flying noodles. It looks amazing, and it tasted fantastic.

The view with the swing is definitely a highlight, and the restaurant is perfect for a lunch break. The staff there is very friendly, and my son immediately got something to play with, which made him happy too. You can sit covered in the shade, feel the light sea breeze, and enjoy your meal. We felt completely comfortable at Rareview and would visit again. By the way, it’s open daily from 09.00 AM to 09.00 PM.

6. Maha Katyayana Shrine

The Maha Katyayana Shrine (also known as the Phra Sangkajai Shrine) is a lovely little stop and therefore part of our Lanta Old Town tips. It’s located right on a narrow pier above the water. On the main street in Old Town, you’ll find it on the side facing the water. Then you walk across the walkway, where you’re greeted by two golden dragons. At the end, the shrine stands in bold red and gold and is really hard to miss.

What makes this place so special? It sits right by the sea, smells of incense, and has a completely different atmosphere. You’ll usually see a few offerings, and above all the Chinese influences that still shape Lanta Old Town today. Many residents have Chinese roots, after all.

7. Wat Koh Lanta

The most important and basically the only Buddhist temple on the island is Wat Koh Lanta. Most of the island is more strongly influenced by Islam. You can easily combine the temple with a trip to Lanta Old Town, because while it’s not directly on the water, it’s also not far away, further inland within the village.

The Buddhist part of the population comes to the temple regularly, and there are also a few monks who live on site. According to the Thai description, the temple emerged from a monastery area in the 1930s. You can take a look at the ubosot, the ordination hall, and other buildings, such as the small bell tower. The temple is also being expanded further, so there will be even more to see in the future.

Conclusion About Koh Lanta Old Town

We think Koh Lanta Old Town is definitely worth a visit because it really stands out from the rest of the island. Old stilt houses, a quiet atmosphere, great views, and delicious food at the local restaurants. Plus, it’s simply something different from another beach day or Koh Lanta National Park. We can only recommend a visit, even though we think half a day is plenty to see everything at a relaxed pace and maybe even buy a few souvenirs.

Koh Lanta: Tours and Tickets

Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know Koh Lanta in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for Koh Lanta.

How to Get to Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta does not have its own airport, which is why the best way to arrive by plane is via Krabi International Airport. Various airlines, such as AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Thai Air and more, fly to Krabi from within the country and Qatar Airways or AirAsia from abroad. For more information on flights and times, kindly check Skyscanner.

Further arrivals can be made either by bus or minivan from Krabi. Another option would be to reach Koh Lanta by ferry from e.g. Ao Nang, Phuket or Koh Phi Phi. There are daily connections to Koh Lanta in both variants. Prices, times and tickets can be found on 12go.asia.

Have you ever visited Koh Lanta’s old town? Do you have any other tips for Lanta Old Town that we may have missed? We look forward to your feedback.