Travel guide · Cambodia
Siem Reap travel guide
Gateway town to Angkor Wat, the Bayon and the temples of the Khmer Empire
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Willuconquer, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
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 by tuk-tuk, bicycle or car with a driver, then return to town for Khmer food around the Old Market, the Phare circus and evening drinks on Pub Street. The Tonle Sap lake, with its stilt villages, lies to the south, and remote temples such as Beng Mealea and Koh Ker make longer day trips. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are November–February.
Key facts
- Country
- Cambodia
- Best time to visit
- November–February
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- SAI
- Mid-range daily budget
- $60–$130 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Angkor Wat, Bayon faces, Ta Prohm tree roots and Temple sunrises
Why visit Siem Reap
- Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei are all reachable within an hour of your hotel, on one multi-day Angkor Pass.
- Sunrise over Angkor Wat's five towers, reflected in the pools in front of the western entrance, is one of Asia's classic travel moments.
- Khmer food — fish amok, lok lak, num banh chok noodles — is easy to try at markets, roadside stalls and cooking classes.
- Hotels, guides and tuk-tuks are inexpensive compared with most heritage destinations, especially in the May–October green season.
- Stilt villages on the Tonle Sap and jungle temples like Beng Mealea add variety beyond the main circuits.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 19 things to do.
Religious site · Angkor Archaeological Park
Angkor Wat
Built in the first half of the 12th century under King Suryavarman II and originally dedicated to Vishnu, Angkor Wat is the largest monument of the Khmer Empire and appears on Cambodia's flag.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Couples
Religious site · Angkor Thom
Bayon and Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom was the walled capital of King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century, entered through gates such as the South Gate, where rows of gods and demons line the causeway holding a giant serpent.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Architecture
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Religious site · Angkor Archaeological Park
Ta Prohm
Founded by Jayavarman VII in 1186 as a Buddhist monastery, Ta Prohm was deliberately left partly to the jungle when the temples were cleared, so silk-cotton and strangler fig roots pour over its galleries and doorways.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
Historic site · Angkor Thom
Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King
These two long stone platforms at the heart of Angkor Thom served as royal viewing stands over the city's parade ground.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Architecture
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Religious site · Angkor Thom
Baphuon
This 11th-century temple mountain just north of the Bayon was dismantled by French archaeologists and then left as a jumble of numbered stones when war stopped work; the reassembly was finally completed in 2011.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Religious site · About 35 km north-east of town
Banteay Srei
Dedicated in 967 and built by courtiers rather than a king, Banteay Srei is small but carved in pink sandstone with the finest decoration at Angkor: deep, lace-like lintels and pediments showing scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
- Time needed
- 1 hour plus about 45 minutes each way
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- History
Where to stay
Old Market and Pub Street is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, budget and solo travellers
Old Market and Pub Street
The tourist core: Psar Chas market, bar-lined Pub Street and dozens of Khmer restaurants
$$$ · Best for couples, shopping and food lovers
Kandal Village
Hup Guan Street's design shops, cafés and boutique hotels, a few minutes from the Old Market
$$ · Best for budget, couples, quiet stays and food lovers
Wat Bo
Guesthouses, pool hotels and local restaurants east of the river around Wat Bo pagoda
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and quiet stays
Royal Gardens and Riverside
Colonial-era hotels, the Royal Residence and shady gardens along the Siem Reap River
What to eat
- Fish amok — Cambodia's signature dish: freshwater fish steamed with kroeung (a lemongrass, galangal and turmeric paste), coconut milk and egg until it sets into a soft, fragrant custard, served in a banana-leaf cup with rice.
- Lok lak — Stir-fried cubes of beef in a savoury sauce, served on lettuce and tomato with rice and a dipping sauce of lime juice, salt and black pepper; it often comes topped with a fried egg.
- Khmer noodles — Fresh rice noodles topped with a light green fish curry made with lemongrass and turmeric, and heaped with raw banana flower, cucumber, herbs and beans.
- Pork and rice — Thin slices of pork marinated in coconut milk and garlic, grilled slowly over charcoal and served on broken rice with pickled vegetables and a small bowl of clear soup.
- Khmer red curry — A mild coconut curry with chicken, sweet potato, long beans and aubergine, served with rice or a baguette for dipping.
- Stirring soup — A thick, earthy soup of green papaya, pumpkin, green banana, toasted ground rice and kroeung, flavoured with prahok fermented fish paste.
When to go
The best time to visit Siem Reap is November to February, the cool dry season, when skies are clear and temple days are comfortable; December and January are the busiest and most expensive. March and April are very hot. The May–October green season brings afternoon rain but lush scenery, full moats, quiet temples and lower prices, and the Tonle Sap villages are best seen from about August to November.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cool dry season | November–February | Sunny days around 30–32°C with cooler mornings — ideal for touring the temples, but also peak season with the biggest crowds and highest room rates. |
| Hot season | March–April | Temperatures often above 35°C, dusty landscapes and a low Tonle Sap; temple visits are best kept to early morning and late afternoon. Khmer New Year falls in mid-April. |
| Early wet season | May–July | Short, heavy afternoon storms, green rice fields and quiet temples, with good-value hotels and mornings that are usually dry. |
| Late wet season | August–October | The wettest months, with occasional flooding in town in September, but full reservoirs, dramatic skies and the lake at its highest for floating-village trips. |
Getting there and around
Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI), which replaced the old airport beside town in 2023, lies roughly 40–50 km east of Siem Reap. Allow about an hour by taxi or pre-booked hotel transfer; shuttle buses also connect the airport with the town centre.
Siem Reap town is small and walkable, while the temples begin about 6 km north and spread over more than 400 square kilometres. Most visitors hire a tuk-tuk and driver by the day for the temples, use ride-hailing apps in town, and take a car with driver for remote sites.
Plan your days
Two full days covers Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm on the small circuit plus one sunrise. A third day adds Banteay Srei and the grand circuit temples; four or five days leave time for Beng Mealea, Phnom Kulen or the Tonle Sap villages.
Practical information
- Currency
- KHR
- Language
- Khmer
- Plugs
- Type A, C and G sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; bottled and filtered water is cheap, and many cafés and hotels offer refills.
- Emergency number
- 117 police, 118 fire, 119 ambulance
- Tipping
- Tipping is not traditional but has become common in tourism.
Siem Reap is relaxed for visitors, but bag snatching from passing motorbikes and overcharging by touts at the floating villages are the common problems. Heat and dehydration are the main risks at the temples, especially from March to May. At remote sites such as Koh Ker, stay on marked paths.
Flights to Siem Reap
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Siem Reap?
Two full days covers Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm on the small circuit plus one sunrise. A third day adds Banteay Srei and the grand circuit temples; four or five days leave time for Beng Mealea, Phnom Kulen or the Tonle Sap villages. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Siem Reap?
The best time to visit Siem Reap is November to February, the cool dry season, when skies are clear and temple days are comfortable; December and January are the busiest and most expensive. March and April are very hot. The May–October green season brings afternoon rain but lush scenery, full moats, quiet temples and lower prices, and the Tonle Sap villages are best seen from about August to November.
+What is Siem Reap known for?
Angkor Wat, Bayon faces, Ta Prohm tree roots, Temple sunrises, Khmer cuisine, Pub Street and Tonle Sap floating villages. Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei are all reachable within an hour of your hotel, on one multi-day Angkor Pass.
+Is Siem Reap expensive?
Siem Reap is very affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $60–$130 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Siem Reap?
No. Tuk-tuks, ride-hailing apps and bicycles cover the town and main temples, and a car with driver is easy to arrange for distant sites; self-drive hire is uncommon for visitors.