Dalat, spelled Đà Lạt in Vietnamese, is a popular tourist destination in the highland center of Vietnam. The city is known for its mild weather, impressive waterfalls, cool cafes, winding slopes, and flowers.
Dalat is one of my favorite places to visit in Vietnam. I have visited this city of flowers several times, so in this first-timers travel guide about Dalat, I will show you how to get to Dalat, get around, good areas to stay and top things to do in Dalat.
How to get to Dalat and get around?
You can easily take buses from popular cities such as Ho Chi Minh, Mui Ne, or Nha Trang. I took a sleeper bus from Mui Ne to Dalat. It was a 5 hour ride and it cost me 200,000VND.
To get around and visit popular attractions, you can take a guided tour, walk, rent a motorbike, or use Grab. I took a guided tour to visit 3 waterfalls which include Datanla Waterfall, Pongour Waterfall, and Elephant waterfall. The tour also took me to a coffee plantation, silk factory, and Linh An pagoda.
Grab was easy to find at popular places in the city center as well as at Dalat Cable Car Station, but there are less Grab drivers outside of the city center. It took me a few attempts to be able to have a driver from Linh Phuoc pagoda to Dalat Railway Station.
I explore several attractions in the downtown area on foot. Whenever I feel tired I just call the Grab driver. If you are a confident driver, you can rent a motorbike. Just remember Dalat has lots of winding slopes, so I don’t recommend driving if you haven’t had any driving experience in Vietnam.
What is the Best time to visit Dalat?
December to March is the best time to visit Dalat because this is the dry season where you can enjoy outdoor activities and visit popular attractions on a sunny day.
I visited Dalat in the beginning of May when the rainy season started. I was worried about the rain, but I have one full sunny day, and other days like sunny in the morning, and rains in the afternoon. You can still enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing. Just carry umbrellas and raincoats with you.
Many local people also said that the weather in the rainy season is usually sunny in the morning, and rain in the afternoon (unpredictable after 11am), so plan your day accordingly. On a rainy day, I started my day from 7.30 to take a cable car, visit Truc Lam monastery, and Linh Phuong pagoda, then in the afternoon explore the city center. I spent the sunny day taking 3 waterfall tours.
How many days in Dalat is enough?
I personally think 2 full days and 3 nights is the minimum amount of time to stay in Dalat. This will allow you to see major sights, enjoy the nightlife, the food, the coffee, and the pleasant climate.
If you want to explore the city at a slower pace, you can see all popular points of interest in 3 to 4 days. If you come to Dalat for just relaxing, you can spend as much time as you want.
See more: 2 to 3 Days in Da Lat Itinerary
Where to stay in Dalat for first-timers?
In my opinion, Dalat city center is the best area to stay in Dalat for the first time. This area has high concentrations of accommodations, restaurants, bars, and cafes, so you will have plenty of choices to choose from. You’ll also be within easy walking distance to major attractions like the night market, Xuan Huong Lake, Bao Dai Palace, and Crazy House.
There are clusters of hotels and guest houses around Dalat night market, offering prime locations to explore the city. Accommodations on main roads near the night market such as Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street can be noisy due to its high traffic as well as live street music performances at night. So I recommend staying away from this area if you want a peaceful stay.
You can find accommodations nestled among small windy slopes but still walking distance to the action if you want a quiet stay. I had a wonderful 3 nights at Felix Dalat Homestay. It is in a quiet location within a few minutes walking to the night market, many nice restaurants, cafes, and bars.
I stayed in 2 rooms at Feliz Dalat Homestay including room 104 and room 202. Both rooms are clean and comfortable with a double bed, basic facilities, and a fan. Most accommodations in Dalat don’t have air conditioning which is fine for me as the weather is very mild.
There were plenty of delicious and reasonable price breakfast options on the stalls just outside the hotel. I tried popular local food for breakfast such as bun bo Hue, hu tieu, banh can, and xoi.
It was a bit hard for me to navigate locations the first time in Dalat by using Google maps. It took me 15 minutes to walk around and look for a restaurant that is located only 4 minutes walk from my hotel. But when you get used to it, it is easy to navigate.
For families who travel with kids, I suggest look at the La Fleur Premium Central Apartment Hotel. For luxury resorts, I recommend looking at Tuyen Lam area ( a bit far from the city center though). For a luxury stay in the heart of Dalat, why not choose Dalat Palace Heritage Hotel.
You can see more detail about neighborhoods in Dalat in this article on best areas to stay in Dalat.
Top things to do in Dalat for first-time visitors
Dalat night market
Dalat night market is one of the top things to see in Dalat. It is centrally located in the heart of the city center, within walking distance of Xuan Huong Lake and many major attractions.
The night market is a great place to hangout at night. You can take a stroll around the market, browsing many stalls and shops selling street food, clothes, Dalat specialities, and souvenirs.
As many other markets in Vietnam, it is recommended to bargain when buying stuff here. It can be crowded, especially during the weekend, so take extra care of your belongings to avoid pickpockets.
Xuan Huong lake
Xuan Huong Lake is a huge lake and an iconic attraction in central Dalat, located only a short walk from Dalat Night Market. You can take a leisurely stroll, paddling a swan-shapers boat, cycling, or take a horse carriage ride around the lake.
There are many attractions around the lake including Lam Viên Square, the night market, and the flower park. You can enjoy coffee and enjoy the lake view at one of the cafes around the lake.
Dalat cable car
Taking the Dalat cable car is one of the must-try experiences in Dalat. It is located in the city center of Dalat on Robin Hill and connects to Truc Lam Monastery. I took a Grab bike from Feliz Homestay Dalat to the cable car station for 30,000VND.
Dalat cable is open daily, from 7:30 to 4:30, but it has lunch break for some days so check before you go. You can buy a ticket onsite at the entry gate and it costs 80,000/round trip.
Truc Lam Monastery is free to visit, you can explore its complex and walk through the pine forest to reach Tuyen Lam lake. You can stop by at one of the nice cafes with a lake view along the lake to enjoy.
Lam Vien Square
Lam Vien Square is a large square located on the bank of Xuan Huong lake, offering breathtaking views of the lake. You can admire the architecture of the two massive buildings on the square or just sit on the staircase and enjoy the lake views. The square often hosts many shows, festivals, and events.
Da Lat Diocese Cathedral
Da Lat Diocese Cathedral, also known as Dalat Chicken Church, is located within 15 minutes walking distance from Lam Vien Square. It was built from 1931 to 1942 and is the oldest Catholic church in Dalat. The cathedral is free to enter and you can admire its architecture style.
Crazy House
Crazy House is one of the top attractions in Dalat, located on Huynh Thuc Khang Street, 15 minutes walk from Da Lat Diocese Cathedral. As I was tired of walking, I decided to book a Grab bike and only ride for 5 minutes. The ticket is 80,000 VND/adult. You can buy a ticket at the entry gate.
You can admire its weird architecture, enjoy the views of the city and valleys in its surroundings. You can book a stay here if you want to stay overnight here. It can be sold out sometimes, so plan in advance.
Bao Dai Palaces
There are 3 Bao dai Palaces in Dalat including Place I, Palace II, and Palace III. During my time in Dalat, I visited Bao Dai Palace III. It was the summer place where King Bao Dai and his family stayed and worked from 1938 to 1954.
Bao Dai Palace III is located in the city center of Dalat, so it is easily reachable by walking, or taking Grab. The entry ticket is 40,000VND/adult. This Palace has French architecture with a beautiful European style garden. You can visit 26 rooms and learn about the living styles of the last King of Vietnam.
Dalat railway station
Dalat railway station is an interesting place to see in Dalat. It was built by the French and used to connect Dalat to Nha Trang and Saigon. Now you can buy a ticket to take this heritage train from Dalat city center to Linh Phuoc pagoda. The entry fee is 5000 VND/person, and if you want to take a ride on it, you can buy another separate train ticket.
Linh Phuoc pagoda
Linh Phuoc pagoda is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit in Dalat. It is located 7km from Dalat Train Station. You can take the heritage train from the city center to Trai Mat to visit this pagoda. I didn’t know this option, so I took a Grab bike and it cost me 70,000VND/way.
Linh Phuoc pagoda has beautiful architecture and is home to Asia’s largest flower Budda statue. You can spend an hour here to explore the complex. It is free to enter and as it is a very popular touristy place, I recommend always taking care of your belongings to avoid pickpocketing.
Enjoy local food
I love food in Dalat, everything is fresh and yummy from local street food to dine dining restaurants. For breakfast, I just tried local foods from stalls just outside of my hotel. There are some local dishes to try such as bun bo Hue, Banh can, Hu Tieu, and Xoi.
For dinner, I tried rice at Goc ha thanh restaurant, or Nem nướng Phượng on Nguyen Trai street. You can also try many hotpot or grill restaurants, which are also popular in Dalat.
Check in nice cafes and visit a coffee farm
Dalat and the highland center of Vietnam is the land of cafes. There are many nice cafes to check in such as An CaFe Global, cafes near Dalat cable car station, or cafe at Me Linh Coffee Farm. You can enjoy delicious coffee and have stunning views of the surrounding mountains, valleys, and cities.
Mê Linh Coffee Plantation is a popular stop on a guided tour in Dalat. You can try weasel coffee, buy their coffee products and accessories from the shop.
Datanla Waterfall
Dalat is home to many breathtaking waterfalls including Datanla Waterfall, Pongour Waterfall, and Elephant Waterfall. You can consider taking a guided tour as well as rent a motorbike and explore them at your own pace.
Datanla Waterfall is one of the most popular waterfalls to visit in Da Lat. It is located only 5 km from the city center and easily accessible by Grab. You need to buy a ticket for entry as well as an additional ticket if you want to take a ride on the alpine coaster. I suggest walking one way and taking the roller coaster 1 way.
Pongour Waterfall
Pongour Waterfall is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The waterfall is situated 50km south of Da Lat City in the Duc Trong district.
When coming down to the waterfall from the parking lot, you can take a shortcut way by walking down through staircase steps, and when coming back to the parking lot, I suggest following the longer road which is easier than walking back to the steep staircase.
Elephant Waterfall
Elephant Waterfall is a majestic waterfall in Dalat, 30m high and 15m wide. It is also a peaceful place to relax, enjoy the scenery and the views of the beautiful Budda statue nearby.
Linh An Pagoda
Linh An Pagoda is one of the biggest lady Buddha statues in southern Vietnam. It is located very close to Elephant waterfall and is a peaceful place to visit. You can climb up to the shoulder of the statue, and view the beautiful garden, hall, and many other Buddha statues in the complex.
Cricket Farm/ The Silk Factory
If you are taking the guided tour, the tour will take you to Thien An cricket farm where you can learn how the farmer raises crickets, drink rice wine, and eat meals made with crickets. I personally think it is a good stop on the tour, and not worth it if you are exploring it by yourself.
Mr. Cuong’s silk weaving factory is a nice place to visit to learn the silk making process from cocoon to fabric.
Van Thanh flower village
Dalat is known as the city of flowers, you can see beautiful flowers everywhere you go. Van Thang flower village is the largest flower village in Dalat. You can see different kinds of flowers here.
See more:
- How many days in Da Lat is enough?
- Where to stay in Da Lat
- Best Time to Visit Da Lat
- Mui Ne Travel Guide for first-timers
You can watch my youtube video about things to do in Da Lat here:
These are my travel guides in Dalat for first-time visitors. I hope you found some useful information about how to get to Dalat, how to get around, where to stay, things to do, and places to eat in this beautiful city of central highland of Vietnam.