Louang Phabang airport is 2km northeast of the city. If you're arriving on an international flight, you can get a fifteen-day visa on arrival here . There are also exchange facilities and an immigration checkpoint, where you'll need to get your passport stamped. Tuk-tuks (4000K) and guesthouse touts will ferry you into town.

Louang Phabang has three bus stations , all served by shared tuk-tuks which round up passengers heading to similar destinations in town (2000K). Buses from Vientiane, Vang Viang and other points south along Route 13 pull into the Southern Bus Station , 3km south of the centre, while buses from Xainyabouli terminate at the nearby Pakkhon depot. Buses and sawngthaews from Oudomxai, Nong Khiaw and all other points north arrive at the Northern Bus Station , 4km north of town.

Slow boats dock at the Navigation Office landing behind the former Royal Palace in the old city, an easy walk from most guesthouses. Speedboats dock at a separate landing in the village of Ban Don, 7km north of the city (6000K by tuk-tuk).