This province covers an area of 12,534 square kilometers. The provincial capital is approximately 100 kilometres south of Chiang Mai and 600 kilometres north of Bangkok. Lampang enjoys fame as the only Thai provincial capital in which horse-drawn carriages are an everyday mode of transport, and for its Elephant Conservation Centre some 35 kilometres north of the provincial capital. Each year, generally during February, the Centre organizes a fund-raising Elephant Satoke Fair.

The provincial capital contains several Burmese-style temples of note. Lampang's oldest temple. Wat Lampang Luang, entirely rebuilt during 1500s, is believed to be the sole remaining part of a fortressed city that thrived more than a millennium ago, and which was probably founded by Queen Chamma Thewi of the neighbouring Hariphunchai kingdom. The queen is believed to have had two sons, one of whom became the king of Lamphun, the other the king of Lampang. The temple is considered to be one of the finest examples of northern Thai religious architecture and contains fine examples of northern wood-carving.

Legend has it the temple was occupied more than 200 years ago by Burmese invaders, who were expelled when Thai soldiers crept through drains to surprise and overwhelm the enemy. The provincial, some 20 kilometres distant, is noteworthy for Burmese style temples which clearly illustrate the cultural influences Thailand's powerful neighbour had throughout Lanna Thai. Such enclaves include Wat Phra Keao Don Tao, whose multiroofed chapel dates from the late 1700s, and Wat Chedi Sao, where twenty white Burmese-style pagodas comprise major architectural features. The Kiu Lom Dam, some 38 kilometres from eh provincial capital on the Lampang-Ngao Highway, has a scenic reservoir with bungalow and raft accommodation. The 225 square kilometers Doi Khuntan National Park and Chae Son National Park offer scenic exhilaration and waterfalls and hot spa facilities respectively. Lampung is conveniently accessible by road, rail and air from Bangkok and Chiang Mai.