Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel treatment in clinical practice, which has been widely employed to treat skin cancer, liver cancer and cholangiocarcinoma, etc. PDT can significantly enhance the quality of life of patients. It utilizes high absorption of photosensitizer by tumors to make the photosensitizer concentration in tumor cells higher than that of surrounding tissues. Under the irradiation of visible light, photo-redox reaction occurs, which induces the death of tumor cells. The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma is on the rise in China. Most cholangiocarcinoma patients have no symptoms at the early stage. As the disease progresses, patients suffer from unexplained fatigue, lack of appetite and weight loss, and bile duct obstruction and jaundice will occur at the advanced stage, which reduces the quality of life of patients. Surgery and other therapies yield low efficacy. PDT, as a novel treatment, has positive therapeutic value for cholangiocarcinoma. In this article, the prospect of PDT and its combination with alternative therapies was illustrated, aiming to provide theoretical basis for clinicians.