Comparison · Bangkok vs Siem Reap · Thailand / Cambodia
Bangkok vs Siem Reap
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Bangkok for Grand Palace, Street food and free sights; choose Siem Reap for Angkor Wat, Bayon faces and lower day-to-day costs. Siem Reap is generally less expensive, and the two are about 365 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 365 km
- Less expensive
- Siem Reap
- Best time for Bangkok
- November–February
- Best time for Siem Reap
- November–February
Side by side
| Bangkok | Siem Reap | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Thailand | Cambodia |
| Known for | Grand Palace, Street food and Buddhist temples | Angkor Wat, Bayon faces and Ta Prohm tree roots |
| Best time to visit | November–February | November–February |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $90–$180 | $60–$130 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Very affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 35°C (95°F) | April, 36°C (97°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 31°C (88°F) | December, 30°C (86°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | BKK, DMK | SAI |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bangkok for…
Grand Palace, Street food and free sights. Bangkok is a sprawling, humid megacity on the Chao Phraya River where gilded temples, canals and street-food stalls sit beside glass malls and rooftop bars. The old royal island of Rattanakosin holds the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, with Wat Arun across the…
Choose Siem Reap for…
Angkor Wat, Bayon faces and lower day-to-day costs. Siem Reap is the small riverside town that serves the Angkor Archaeological Park, whose temples — Angkor Wat, the faces of the Bayon, the tree-gripped Ta Prohm — begin about 6 km north of the centre. Most visitors spend two to four days touring the temples…
Top sights compared
| # | Bangkok | Siem Reap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew | Angkor Wat |
| 2 | Wat Pho | Bayon and Angkor Thom |
| 3 | Wat Arun | Ta Prohm |
| 4 | Chatuchak Weekend Market | Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King |
| 5 | Chao Phraya Express Boat | Baphuon |
Food compared
| Bangkok | Siem Reap |
|---|---|
| Pad thai | Fish amok |
| Tom yum goong | Lok lak |
| Som tam | Khmer noodles |
| Khao man gai | Pork and rice |
Which is cheaper?
Siem Reap is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $60–$130 per person there, against $90–$180 in Bangkok (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Siem Reap on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Bangkok and Siem Reap are about 365 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Bangkok and 3 in Siem Reap.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bangkok or Siem Reap cheaper?
Siem Reap is usually less expensive: about $60–$130 a day mid-range against $90–$180 (estimates).
+Is Bangkok or Siem Reap better for a first trip?
Pick Bangkok for Grand Palace, Street food and free sights, or Siem Reap for Angkor Wat, Bayon faces and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Bangkok from Siem Reap?
About 365 km in a straight line.