Planning a trip to Dalat and not sure how to spend three days? I’ve got you covered!
Dalat has SO much to do, from waterfalls and canyoning to quirky city sights. But while it’s one of Vietnam’s smaller cities, it’s quite spread out beyond the center, so having a plan will help you fit everything in without wasting loads of time getting around.
That’s where I come in! I spent three days exploring Dalat, and I think that’s a great amount of time for a first visit. I had time to explore the city and the surrounding countryside, and I even had time to go canyoning. So after an amazing trip, I’m sharing exactly how I spent my three days!
Don’t miss out!
My Top Choice
The tour I loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
My FAVORITE thing I did in Dalat was this canyoning excursion! This was a thrilling way to experience Dalat’s most beautiful waterfalls, rivers, and jungles, guided by experts.
Itinerary Overview
🍜Day 1: See Dalat’s Top Sights & Enjoy a Food Tour
Spend the day exploring Dalat City Center and visiting the Crazy House, before eating your way around the city on an evening food tour.
🧗🏼♀️Day 2: Canyoning Adventure & Maze Bar
Get your adrenaline pumping in the morning on a canyoning excursion, then spend a relaxed afternoon ticking off a few city sights before dinner and drinks at the famous Maze Bar.
🏍️Day 3: Take a Countryside Motorbike Ride
Head into the countryside on a full-day motorbike tour to see waterfalls and rural Dalat, then wrap up your trip with good food and a final nightcap.
*This itinerary was crafted around staying in Dalat City Center!
Where you stay makes quite a difference to your trip, but the City Center is generally the best choice for sightseeing. Colline Dalat is our favorite hotel in the area because it offers luxury without breaking the bank.
Day 1
Breakfast – Bánh căn Út Cưng
Start your first morning with one of Dalat’s most famous breakfasts: bánh căn! These little rice pancakes are cooked in small round molds, then topped with things like quail eggs or cuttlefish before being served with dipping sauce and fresh herbs.
I went to Bánh căn Út Cưng, which is right in the city center, but you’ll find plenty of bánh căn spots around Dalat. It might sound like an unusual breakfast if you’re used to something sweet in the morning, but it’s very local, and I really enjoyed it!
Morning – Explore Dalat City Center
I really enjoyed having a morning to explore Dalat at my own pace, because there’s quite a lot to see around the city center without needing to book a tour. I started at the Central Market, then made my way around Xuan Huong Lake and out towards the Flower Garden.
If you’re staying in the city center, this route works really well on foot, although you can always hop in a Grab if your legs get tired!
Central Market
Start at Dalat Central Market, which is the city’s main market. It’s quieter in the morning, so this is a nice time to browse the flowers and produce stalls before things get busier later in the day.
There’s plenty to buy here too, from local snacks to souvenirs. And if you spot something you like, don’t be afraid to haggle!
Xuan Huong Lake
From the market, head towards Xuan Huong Lake. I loved strolling along the waterfront here, and you’ll see plenty of locals doing exactly the same thing.
There are food vendors and restaurants dotted around the lake, and you can also rent a bicycle if you’d rather explore on two wheels. Or for something much more fun, hire one of the iconic swan boats and head out onto the water!
Dalat Flower Garden
Keep following the lake, and you’ll eventually reach Dalat Flower Garden, which is around a 30-minute walk from the city center.
The gardens were much bigger than I expected. I thought I’d only be here for about half an hour, but I ended up spending almost two hours here! Just take your time and enjoy snapping photos of all of the colorful displays before heading off to lunch.
Lunch – Bánh Căn Bánh Mì Xíu Mại Ngon Á
For lunch, we’re having another Dalat classic: bánh mì xíu mại. It’s a little different from the bánh mì you might already know, because instead of a stuffed sandwich, you’re served a baguette alongside a bowl of broth and meatballs. You tear off pieces of bread and dunk them straight into the broth, and it is SO good.
I recommend getting a Grab from the Flower Garden to Bánh Căn Bánh Mì Xíu Mại Ngon Á, which takes around 10 minutes. From there, it’s only about a five-minute walk to the Crazy House, so it fits really neatly into the itinerary. Plus, the food is absolutely delicious!
Afternoon – Crazy House
Next up is one of Dalat’s quirkiest attractions: the Crazy House. It was designed by Vietnamese architect Đặng Việt Nga, and the whole place feels like a cross between a giant treehouse and a surrealist art project. I had seen lots of photos of it on Instagram before I visited, but I promise, this is really the kind of attraction you have to go and check out for yourself.
It’s actually a working guest house, but you can pay around $3 USD to explore it during the day. I loved checking out all of its kooky features and hidden corners because it made me feel like a kid again! I think we spent between 2 and 2.5 hours here in total because we just kept finding new parts to explore.
Late afternoon – Coffee break
By the time you’re finished at the Crazy House, it should be around 3 pm, so this is a good point to enjoy a bit of downtime. You can head back to your hotel for a break, or make your way into the city center and stop for a coffee if you’re craving some caffeine.
Dalat has loads of coffee shops, so you won’t struggle to find somewhere nearby. And after a full morning of walking, Vietnamese coffee is exactly the kind of pick-me-up you need before heading back out for the evening! JENA Egg Coffee is a really cute spot if you want a warming cup of sweet, thick egg coffee, or Dear Tao makes a perfect iced one.
Evening – Discover Dalat’s incredible food scene with a local
One of my favorite things about Dalat was discovering how different the food is from elsewhere in Vietnam, and a lot of what I learned came from this street food tour. Dalat sits high in the Central Highlands and is surrounded by farmland, so fresh vegetables and herbs play a huge role in the food here.
The tour starts at 5:30 pm by the cathedral, then you’ll spend around three hours walking around the city with a local guide and trying different Dalat specialties. It was a great opportunity to learn about what makes the food here distinctive, rather than just turning up at restaurants and ordering dishes without really knowing what I was eating!
We also visited the Night Market, which is an experience in itself once the lights come on and the food stalls get going. One of the dishes you’ll try is Dalat-style pizza, or bánh tráng nướng, which is completely different from the kind of pizza you’re probably picturing! You’ll also come across bánh mì xíu mại again, which I’d already had for lunch, but it was fun to learn more about why it’s such a Dalat staple.
If you’re feeling particularly brave, you can also ask your guide for the “adventurous” version of the tour and try some less familiar local dishes. Either way, there’s loads of food included, so don’t make dinner plans afterward. And I wouldn’t stay out too late either, because tomorrow is a BIG day!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
Day 2
Morning/Afternoon – Go canyoning
Today is the big adventure day! This canyoning tour is one of the most popular things to do in Dalat, and it certainly ended up being one of the highlights of my trip.
I was really nervous beforehand because I’m not exactly fearless when it comes to heights, but the guides were great at talking me through everything and making me feel safe. You don’t need any canyoning experience either. Before heading to the waterfalls, you practice abseiling and learn how to control your speed on a smaller dry cliff, which definitely helped calm my nerves!
From there, the day gets progressively more adventurous. You’ll abseil down cliffs and waterfalls, zipline into the river, slide through the water, swim through the jungle, and eventually take on a huge 25-meter (82-foot) waterfall. There’s even a section nicknamed the “Washing Machine” because the water spins you around before pushing you away from the cliff!
It sounds intense, and it is, but you can skip sections if you don’t feel comfortable. I was scared going in and still had an amazing time, so I’d genuinely say give it a go even if this is outside your usual comfort zone.
Tours normally leave around 8-8:30 am and return at roughly 2-2:30 pm, with hotel pickup available. Lunch is included too, so just grab breakfast before you leave and come ready to get soaked!
Late afternoon – Your choice!
After a full morning of canyoning, you’re definitely going to want some time to head back to your hotel, take a shower, and rest up for a bit. Take your time, and then when you’re ready to head out again, you can choose one of the following stops to check out before dinner. They’re all pretty central and easy to explore, which is just what you’ll need after a very energetic morning.
- Visit Bao Dai Palace – This was the summer palace of Vietnam’s last emperor, Bao Dai, and it’s only a short Grab ride from the city center. The house itself is interesting, but I also really liked the grounds and the views over Dalat from the hill.
- Check out Dalat Railway Station – This historic station is one of the city’s best-known examples of French colonial architecture. It’s a quick stop, but it’s a nice way to squeeze in a little more history without doing anything too full-on.
- See Lam Vien Square – This is one of Dalat’s main public squares and is famous for its huge artichoke-shaped building. There are shops and cafés around here too, so it’s a nice place to wander around for a bit before dinner.
Dinner – MUỐI MÈ
For dinner, head to MUỐI MÈ, a stylish Vietnamese restaurant in the city center. The food feels a little more elevated than the street food you’ll have tried elsewhere in Dalat, but prices are still very reasonable. I highly recommend the Vietnamese chicken salad and the wok green beans with beef, but you can’t really go wrong here.
This is also a really nice spot for the evening because they often have live music, and the whole place has a buzzy atmosphere. I definitely recommend sticking around for a cocktail too, as the drinks menu is quite creative and the bar is a big part of the experience here. The Maze Bar is open until midnight, so there’s no rush!
Evening – Maze Bar
After dinner, walk about five minutes to Maze Bar, aka Dalat’s most famous bar. The best way to describe it is basically the Crazy House, but with drinks!
The Maze Bar is more of an attraction than a bar, really, but there’s no entry fee. You just buy a drink, and then you’re free to explore the labyrinth of tiny rooms and narrow staircases, all decorated in weird and wonderful ways.
I had SO much fun here. We were laughing basically the whole time as we squeezed through passageways and ducked into tiny rooms. Eventually, we somehow made our way up to the roof, then headed back down to grab another drink outside.
This is definitely the most unique bar I’ve ever been to. It’s weird and wonderful, and a total must while you’re in Dalat!
Day 3
Full day – Explore the countryside and waterfalls on a motorbike
For my final day in Dalat, I booked this full-day motorbike tour, and it was such a fun way to see the countryside. I didn’t have to drive either! You ride on the back of an experienced guide’s bike, so I could just sit back and enjoy the views as we left the city behind. It’s way more fun than traveling around in a car, let me tell you!
Pickup is around 8:30 am, and you’ll get back around 4:30-5 pm. It’s a busy day, but such a good one! I really loved how varied it was, because one minute we were riding through mountain scenery and tiny villages, and the next we were stopping at temples and coffee plantations. It gave me a much better sense of what life around Dalat is actually like, rather than only seeing the attractions in the city center.
Pongour Falls was one of the big highlights for me, but I also really enjoyed the smaller stops along the way. Dalat is famous for its flowers and coffee, so getting out into the areas where they’re actually grown made everything I’d seen in the city feel a bit more connected.
I also visited Tuyen Lam Lake, which is one of Dalat’s most popular Instagram spots, and Truc Lam Monastery to learn more about Buddhist traditions. I even got to see Elephant Waterfall, which is one of the area’s most dramatic and powerful waterfalls!
Dinner – Night Market or Le Alpi
For your final dinner in Dalat, you’ve got two very different options depending on what you’re in the mood for.
If you want to keep things casual and local, head back to the Dalat Night Market for street food. By now, you’ll already know your way around thanks to the food tour on Day 1, so this is a great chance to revisit anything you loved or try the dishes you didn’t have room for the first time!
Or, if you’re ready for a break from Vietnamese food, Le Alpi is a cozy Italian restaurant in the city center. After three days of bánh mì, street food, and local specialties, I definitely wouldn’t blame you for craving a big bowl of pasta!
Evening – Enjoy a nightcap
Cheers to your final night in Dalat! The city actually has a really fun bar scene, so if you’ve still got some energy left, why not finish the trip with one last drink?
Hoa Thông Brewing is just outside the city center and has a cozy farmhouse feel. It feels more North American than Vietnamese, and they have some great local beers on offer. It stays open until around 11 pm, so you’ve got time to try a few different brews if you fancy.
Or, if cocktails are more your thing, head to On the Rocks in the city center. It’s a popular late-night spot with a classy feel, and they make amazing craft drinks with local ingredients. I love the sound of the Kem Bo Thanh Thoi, which is made with jasmine rum, avocado cream, and cacao – yum!
Where to Stay in Dalat
Dalat is a hilly city, so staying in the right place can set the tone for your trip. I recommend staying in the city center, which will make walking to top sights and restaurants a breeze. Here are a few hotel recommendations for any budget:
Luxury – $$$
For a luxurious stay in the heart of Dalat, Quy Tai Premium Hotel is the clear choice. This five-star hotel boasts enormous rooms, and even some of the standard options come in at over 700 square feet!
The facilities are a HUGE selling point too. There’s an indoor swimming pool with a view, as well as a sauna, steam room, and hot tub, so it’s a great place to come back to after a busy day of sightseeing. I also like that there are some enormous family rooms and two-bedroom suites available if you’re traveling as a group. Plus, you’ll still be close to all of the restaurants, shops, and street food of central Dalat.
Rooms start from $150-$230 USD per night. Check availability and book Quy Tai Premium Hotel here!
Mid-range – $$
For location, Colline Dalat is VERY hard to beat. Dalat Market is practically on the doorstep, while Xuan Huong Lake and the Night Market are also within easy walking distance. Basically, it’s in a perfect location for sightseeing and street food, but it’s also a really nice property in its own right.
The hotel itself is modern and stylish, with a rooftop terrace and two restaurants. I love the warm, contemporary decor, and if you book one of the higher room categories, you can end up with gorgeous views over Xuan Huong Lake. All in all, I think this place is an unbeatable choice for your first trip to Dalat because you can walk to SO much from here.
Rooms start from around $125-180 USD per night, including breakfast. Check availability and book Colline Dalat here!
Budget – $
If you want somewhere affordable with a LOT more personality than your average budget hotel, I love Le Macaron City Center. This small boutique property is right in the heart of Dalat, with the Night Market and lots of cafés nearby.
The rooms here are decorated in a sweet, cozy style, with a charming little coffee shop downstairs. I love the big French windows and arched doorways, as well as the cute touches like floral pillows and potted plants. It matches Dalat’s vibe perfectly!
Rooms start from around $90 USD per night. Read the amazing reviews and book Le Macaron City Center here!
Related Read: Still deciding where to base yourself? Check out our complete guide to where to stay in Dalat for a closer look at the best areas and our favorite hotels for every budget!
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Thanks for reading!
Dalat is a breath of fresh air from Vietnam’s hot and humid climate – literally! You’ll love this city, not just for the climate, but for the unique and quirky sights, amazing food, and great outdoors.
Before you go, be sure to check out my other Vietnam blogs. There are plenty of resources to help you plan an epic trip, from more city itineraries to where to stay guides and my favorite things to do. Here are a few related blogs to get you started – cheers!
Where to Stay in Ninh Binh, Vietnam: 3 Best Areas & Hotels
Where to Stay in Nha Trang, Vietnam: 4 Best Areas & Hotels
Where to Stay in Sapa, Vietnam: 3 Best Areas & Hotels
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Britt is a Canadian-born adventurer who has spent years discovering the world, from backpacking through Europe and Southeast Asia to traveling across Central America and the South Pacific. Now based in New Zealand, she loves sharing her firsthand tips, unforgettable experiences, and inspiring itineraries to help others plan trips that balance adventure, culture, and relaxation!
