Getting around · Siem Reap · Cambodia
Getting around Siem Reap
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
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. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Tuk-tuk
- Airports
- SAI
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Angkor Pass
Ways to get around
Tuk-tuk
A tuk-tuk (remork) and driver hired for the day is the classic way to tour the temples, following the small circuit, the grand circuit or a custom route; drivers wait at each temple.
Agree the route, start time and price the evening before, including any extra charge for sunrise or Banteay Srei.
Ride-hailing
Ride-hailing apps such as PassApp and Grab book tuk-tuks and cars at fixed prices for trips around town, which avoids haggling.
Cycling
Angkor Wat is about 6 km from town on a flat road, so bicycles and e-bikes are a pleasant way to see the central temples; many guesthouses rent them.
Start early, carry plenty of water and keep to the shade in the middle of the day.
Car
An air-conditioned car with driver is the comfortable choice in the hot season and the practical one for Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean, Beng Mealea, Phnom Kulen and Koh Ker.
Walking
The centre — Pub Street, the Old Market, Kandal Village, the riverside and the Royal Gardens — is easy on foot; at the temples expect long walks and steep stairs.
Tickets and passes
Angkor Pass
The photo pass required for the Angkor Archaeological Park, sold as one-, three- or seven-day passes at the official ticket centre and online; Beng Mealea, Phnom Kulen and Koh Ker charge separately.
From the airport
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.
Do you need a car?
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.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Kbal Spean | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car with driver or tuk-tuk, often combined with Banteay Srei |
| Phnom Kulen | About 1.5 hours by car | Car with driver up the mountain road |
| Beng Mealea | About 1.5 hours by car | Car with driver; separate entry ticket |
| Koh Ker | About 2.5 hours by car | Car with driver; often combined with Beng Mealea |
| Tonle Sap floating villages | About 45 minutes by road, then a boat | Tuk-tuk or car to the jetty, then a boat tour |
| Battambang | About 3 hours by road | Bus, minivan or private car; seasonal boat when the lake is high |
Questions travellers ask
+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.
+How do you get from the airport to Siem Reap?
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.
+What is the best way to get around Siem Reap?
Tuk-tuk: A tuk-tuk (remork) and driver hired for the day is the classic way to tour the temples, following the small circuit, the grand circuit or a custom route; drivers wait at each temple.