Old Town (Ban Ko Lanta) on the island's east coast is the most atmospheric spot on Koh Lanta — a row of wooden shophouses built over the water on stilts, with fishing boats tied up below and cats sleeping in the shade. The architecture dates from the late 19th century, when this was a prosperous trading port settled by Chinese merchants and sea gypsies.
The main street is now lined with small cafes, art shops, and galleries catering to visitors who come specifically to escape the beach scene on the west coast. There's a Muslim fishing community here alongside the Chinese-Thai shophouses, and the evening light over the eastern strait is beautiful. Come in the late afternoon, walk the boardwalk, eat at one of the waterfront restaurants, and watch the sun going down — on the east coast it goes behind the mountains of the island, which is atmospheric in its own way.