Siem Reap, Cambodia: travel guide
Gateway to Angkor — a vibrant city serving as the base for exploring the magnificent UNESCO Angkor archaeological complex.
- Country
- Cambodia
- Currency
- KHR
- Time zone
- Asia/Phnom_Penh
- Nearest airport
- SAI
Top places to visit in Siem Reap
Angkor Wat
Temple · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry USD 37
The largest religious monument in the world and Cambodia's most iconic landmark. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, this UNESCO World Heritage Site features five lotus-shaped towers, a vast moat, and intricate bas-reliefs…
Bayon Temple
Temple · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · entry USD 37
The state temple of Angkor Thom, Bayon is renowned for its 54 towers adorned with 216 massive serene stone faces believed to represent the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. Built by Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century, its two galleries…
Ta Prohm
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · entry USD 37
Known as the Jungle Temple, Ta Prohm was intentionally left in its discovered state — giant strangler fig and silk-cotton trees growing dramatically through its walls and towers. Built in 1186 as a Buddhist monastery by Jayavarman VII, it…
Phsar Chas Old Market
Market · 4.2 rating · about 1 h
Siem Reap's most vibrant local market, Phsar Chas overflows with Cambodian silk scarves, Buddhist amulets, silver jewellery, spices, tropical fruits, and street food. The covered market blends a working local grocery with tourist-facing…
Angkor Thom
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · entry USD 37
The last great capital of the Khmer Empire, Angkor Thom is a 9 sq km walled city with five monumental gates each topped with giant stone faces. Within the walls lie Bayon Temple, the Baphuon, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the…
Tonle Sap Lake
Nature · 4.1 rating · about 2 h · entry USD 10
Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Tonle Sap reverses its flow twice a year — swelling from 2,500 km² in the dry season to over 16,000 km² during monsoon. Floating villages of Cham, Vietnamese, and…
Banteay Kdei
Temple · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · entry USD 37
Sprawling, less-crowded monastic temple near Srah Srang.
Angkor National Museum
Museum · 4.4 rating · about 2 h
Modern museum contextualising the Khmer empire and its temple art.
Phnom Bakheng
Viewpoint · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry USD 37
Hilltop temple-mountain famed for its sunset view toward Angkor Wat.
Preah Khan
Temple · 4.8 rating · about 1.3 h · entry USD 37
Atmospheric labyrinthine temple-monastery left partly to the jungle.
Pre Rup
Temple · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · entry USD 37
Brick-and-laterite temple-mountain prized for its sunset glow.
Artisans Angkor
Cultural · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h
Working silk-and-craft school reviving traditional Khmer arts.
Things to do
- Angkor Sunrise Tuk-Tuk Tour Cultural · 5 h · from KHR 176,000 per person
- Apsara Dance & Dinner Show Cultural · 2.5 h · from KHR 88,100 per person
- Khmer Cooking Class with Market Tour Cooking Class · 3.5 h · from KHR 123,000 per person
- Angkor Wat Full-Day Temples Tour Cultural · 9 h · from KHR 106,000 per person
- Tonle Sap Sunset Boat Cruise Boat · 2 h · from KHR 52,800 per person
- Village Cycling Tour around Angkor Cycling · 4 h · from KHR 70,500 per person
- Phare: The Cambodian Circus Cultural · 1.5 h · from KHR 63,700 per person
- Quad Bike Adventure to Beng Mealea Adventure · 5 h · from KHR 282,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Angkor Temples Full-Day Sunrise Tour 9.5 h · from KHR 212,000
- Khmer Cooking, Market & Village Cycling Combo 7 h · from KHR 191,000
- Tonle Sap Lake & Floating Village Half-Day 4 h · from KHR 106,000
Where to stay in Siem Reap
- Old Market & Pub Street about KHR 40 per night
Siem Reap's liveliest neighbourhood, centred on Phsar Chas (Old Market) and Pub Street. Dense with budget-to-mid-range guesthouses, street food stalls, souvenir shops, and bars. Tuk-tuks to Angkor depart right from…
- Angkor Archaeological Park Area about KHR 150 per night
The most exclusive staying zone in Siem Reap, with luxury resorts hugging the perimeter of the UNESCO-listed Angkor complex. Guests can walk or cycle to temple gates at sunrise before the crowds arrive, and return for…
- Slorkram North / Kandal Village about KHR 75 per night
Siem Reap's most refined neighbourhood, north of the Old Market along shaded lanes. A cluster of boutique hotels, art galleries, craft studios and farm-to-table restaurants that feel a world away from the Pub Street…
Hotels
- Jaya House River Park 5-star · USD 250 to USD 550 per night
- Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor 5-star · USD 250 to USD 600 per night
- Phum Baitang 5-star · USD 400 to USD 900 per night
- Park Hyatt Siem Reap 5-star · USD 180 to USD 500 per night
- Belmond La Résidence d'Angkor 5-star · USD 300 to USD 700 per night
- Viroth's Hotel 4-star · USD 90 to USD 220 per night
Where to eat
- Haven Restaurant Khmer, Western, Fusion · about USD 10 per person
- Mahob Restaurant Khmer, Cambodian · about USD 18 per person
- Sugar Palm Restaurant Khmer, Cambodian · about USD 16 per person
- Cuisine Wat Damnak Khmer, Modern Cambodian, French · about USD 65 per person
- Bugs Cafe Cambodian, Fusion, Street Food · about USD 15 per person
- Psar Leu Market Food Stalls Cambodian, Street Food · about USD 2 per person
- Marum Restaurant Cambodian · about USD 15 per person
- Malis Siem Reap Cambodian, Fine Dining · about USD 30 per person
Getting around
- Bicycle main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Scooter Rental main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Tuktuk main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Gem shop tuk-tuk commission tour
Angkor temple complex entrances
Driver offers a heavily discounted Angkor temple tour then routes you to gem or silk shops where he earns a 30–40 % commission. Temples are visited briefly; shops take hours.
How to avoid it: Book tuk-tuk via PassApp or Grab with map-tracked route. Agree on stops upfront; refuse any unscheduled shop visit.
Fake monk donation hustle
Angkor Wat causeway, Pub Street area
Men in orange robes approach tourists, present a "donation book" showing large sums from previous visitors, and guilt-trip into contributing. Robes are often costume; money rarely reaches any monastery.
How to avoid it: Genuine monks do not approach tourists for cash. Donate only at a temple donation box inside the complex.
Counterfeit Angkor passes sold outside gates
Ticket checkpoint area, guesthouse touts
Touts sell discounted "Angkor Archaeological Park" passes near the entrance. These are either expired, photocopied, or stolen. Guards scan passes and fake ones are confiscated with no refund.
How to avoid it: Buy passes only at the official Angkor ticket office on Airport Road (open 5 am – 5:30 pm). No authorised third-party sellers.
Fake charity schools seeking donations
Siem Reap guesthouses, tuk-tuk circuits
Drivers bring tourists to "orphanages" or "schools" to donate money or buy overpriced crafts. Many are staged operations; children may be rented from families. Donations rarely support education.
How to avoid it: Avoid orphanage tourism entirely. If you want to support education, donate to verified NGOs such as Friends International (thinkchildsafe.org).
Best time to visit Siem Reap
- Jun 33°C · MoWRAM/WMO WWIS 1982-2024 normal for June: 194.9 mm over 20 rain days (national station Siem Reap (WMO WWIS city id 347), 1.3 km from the stored city centre).
- Jul 33°C · MoWRAM/WMO WWIS 1982-2024 normal for July: 169.9 mm over 25 rain days (national station Siem Reap (WMO WWIS city id 347), 1.3 km from the stored city centre).
- Aug 32°C · MoWRAM/WMO WWIS 1982-2024 normal for August: 169.7 mm over 18 rain days (national station Siem Reap (WMO WWIS city id 347), 1.3 km from the stored city centre).
- Sep 32°C · MoWRAM/WMO WWIS 1982-2024 normal for September: 305.2 mm over 27 rain days (national station Siem Reap (WMO WWIS city id 347), 1.3 km from the stored city centre).
- Oct 31°C · MoWRAM/WMO WWIS 1982-2024 normal for October: 227.0 mm over 29 rain days (national station Siem Reap (WMO WWIS city id 347), 1.3 km from the stored city centre).