3 days in Siem Reap

Day by day

1. Day 1: Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm

   Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and Phnom Bakheng, then Phare, The Cambodian Circus in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Ta Prohm

      Arrive soon after the temples open or late in the day; by mid-morning tour groups queue for photos at the best-known tree.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fish amok

      Khmer restaurants around the Old Market and Wat Bo; most cooking classes in town teach it.

   4. Afternoon

      Phnom Bakheng

      A late-9th-century temple on a hill between Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, reached by a 15–20 minute walk up a forest path.

   5. Evening

      Phare, The Cambodian Circus

      Book a seat near the front for the acrobatics; arrive early to eat at the on-site café.

2. Day 2: Bayon and Angkor Thom and Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King

   Bayon and Angkor Thom, Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King and Baphuon, then Pub Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bayon and Angkor Thom

      Visit the Bayon in the early morning or late afternoon, when side light brings out the faces; climb to the upper terrace to stand among them.

   2. Late morning

      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.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Lok lak

      Almost every Khmer restaurant menu in town, from Pub Street to local canteens.

   4. Afternoon

      Baphuon

      Walk round to the western side to make out the reclining Buddha, which is easy to miss from the front.

   5. Evening

      Pub Street

      The pedestrianised strip of bars and restaurants by the Old Market, loudest after 9pm, with long happy hours on draught beer.

3. Day 3: Banteay Srei and Preah Khan

   Banteay Srei, Preah Khan and Neak Pean, then The Alley in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Preah Khan

      Enter at the east and walk the full axis to the west gate; ask your driver to wait at the far side.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Khmer noodles

      Morning stalls in Psar Chas and Phsar Leu, and the row of noodle stalls at Preah Dak village on the road to Banteay Srei.

   4. Afternoon

      Neak Pean

      A small shrine on a circular island in the middle of the Jayatataka reservoir, surrounded by four ritual pools believed to have had healing powers.

   5. Evening

      The Alley

      The narrow lanes beside Pub Street, known as Alley West and Alley East, hold smaller cocktail bars and restaurants with outdoor seating.

Before you go

• Angkor Wat: Buy your Angkor Pass online or at the official ticket centre before the first morning; it carries your photo and is checked at temple entrances.
• Phnom Bakheng: Numbers on the summit are capped at sunset; arrive well before sunset if you want to get in.
• Phare, The Cambodian Circus: Shows can sell out in the December–February high season; reserve a day or two ahead.

If it rains

• Swap in Angkor National Museum (Road to Angkor (Charles de Gaulle Boulevard)): Visit on your first afternoon to make sense of the temples, or use it as a midday break from the heat.
• Swap in Artisans Angkor (Old Market and Pub Street): Take the free workshop tour before shopping; prices are fixed and higher than the market, but quality is consistent.
• Swap in Cambodia Landmine Museum (Road to Banteay Srei): Read the personal stories on the walls; they make the visit more meaningful than the hardware alone.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Old Market and Pub Street keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Kandal Village ($$$) suits couples, shopping and food lovers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 12–16 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.3 hours in December to 12.9 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Siem Reap
• 2 days in Siem Reap

Questions travellers ask