Top places to visit in Siem Reap

• Angkor Wat

  temple · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 $37 (≈ ₹3,530)

  Sprawling, less-crowded monastic temple near Srah Srang.

• Angkor National Museum

  history · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Modern museum contextualising the Khmer empire and its temple art.

• Phnom Bakheng

  temple · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry $37 (≈ ₹3,530)

  Hilltop temple-mountain famed for its sunset view toward Angkor Wat.

• Preah Khan

  temple · 4.8 rating · about 1.3 h · entry $37 (≈ ₹3,530)

  Atmospheric labyrinthine temple-monastery left partly to the jungle.

• Pre Rup

  temple · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · entry $37 (≈ ₹3,530)

  Brick-and-laterite temple-mountain prized for its sunset glow.

• Artisans Angkor

  craft · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  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 to Siem Reap

Airport: Siem Reap (Siem Reap-Angkor Intl) (SAI)

How visitors arrive in Siem Reap

• Flight to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport By air from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Phnom Penh · common

  The new airport, well outside town, has direct international flights and domestic flights from Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus from Phnom Penh By road from Phnom Penh · common

  Buses are a common way to arrive, with Phnom Penh the most frequent route; others come from Battambang, Sihanoukville, Vietnam and Laos. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Shared taxi from Poipet By road from Poipet (Thai border) · possible

  Shared cars run from the Poipet border crossing; Thai bus services into Cambodia have been suspended since 2025. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Boat from Battambang By ferry from Battambang · possible

  Boats cross Tonle Sap Lake from Battambang to Phnom Krom port; Phnom Penh ferries are suspended. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Shared minibus from Siem Reap Angkor Airport unconfirmed

  Seats are sold individually on shared minibuses. The new airport is well outside town, so the ride is longer than from the old airport. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Private minivan transfer unconfirmed

  A whole vehicle can be booked as a direct transfer to your hotel in town. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• The airport is far from town, so arrange your hotel transfer or a seat on a shared minibus in advance. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bicycle

  Bicycles can be rented from shops and some guesthouses in Siem Reap, and are used for riding out to Angkor Wat.

• Scooter Rental

  Scooters and motorbikes can be rented by the day in Siem Reap, with rental places typically asking for a deposit or your passport.

• Tuktuk

  Tuk-tuks are hailed on street corners or booked through apps such as Grab and PassApp, and are used around town and out to the Angkor temples.

  Get Grab (Cambodia)

• Walking

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

• Jan 34°C
• Feb 36°C
• Mar 37°C
• Apr 36°C
• May 34°C
• Jun 33°C
• Jul 33°C
• Aug 32°C
• Sep 32°C
• Oct 31°C
• Nov 31°C
• Dec 32°C

More in Cambodia

• Phnom Penh
• Sihanoukville
• Battambang
• Sen Monorom
• Kep
• Kratie

Frequently asked questions about Siem Reap

How many days do you need in Siem Reap?

A typical trip to Siem Reap is 3 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Siem Reap?

The highest-rated places in our Siem Reap guide are Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan, Angkor Thom.

Where should I stay in Siem Reap?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Siem Reap: Old Market & Pub Street, Angkor Archaeological Park Area, Slorkram North / Kandal Village.

How do I get around Siem Reap?

Ways to get around Siem Reap covered in our guide: Bicycle, Scooter rental, Tuk-tuk, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Siem Reap?

Scams reported to us for Siem Reap include Gem shop tuk-tuk commission tour; Fake monk donation hustle; Counterfeit Angkor passes sold outside gates. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Siem Reap?

Average daytime highs in Siem Reap run from 31°C in Nov to 37°C in Mar.

Which airport is nearest to Siem Reap?

The nearest airport to Siem Reap has the code SAI.