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Phnom Bakheng, Siem Reap

With kids · Siem Reap · Cambodia

Siem Reap with kids

Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.

Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team

Photo: Satdeep Gill, CC BY-SA 4.0

Quick answer

Children usually love the tree roots of Ta Prohm, the giant faces of the Bayon and the Phare circus, but heat and steep stairs make temple days tiring. Short morning visits, a pool in the afternoon and a tuk-tuk ride between sites keep everyone happy. Top picks: Ta Prohm, Bayon and Angkor Thom and Phare, The Cambodian Circus. Families usually base themselves in Road to Angkor (Charles de Gaulle Boulevard).

Key facts

Family picks
6
Best area for families
Road to Angkor (Charles de Gaulle Boulevard)
Rainy-day options
2
Busiest months
December–January

Best things to do with kids

Ta Prohm, Siem Reap
Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote . Feel free to use any of my images, but plea, CC BY 4.0

Religious site · Angkor Archaeological Park

1.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. Wooden walkways guide visitors through the collapsed courtyards, and several corners became famous after the film Tomb Raider was shot here.

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

Time needed
1–1.5 hours
Cost
Mid-priced
  • Iconic
  • Kids
  • Nature
  • Photo spot
Bayon and Angkor Thom, Siem Reap
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

Religious site · Angkor Thom

2.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. At its centre the Bayon carries more than 200 serene stone faces on its towers, and its outer galleries show scenes of battles, markets and daily life.

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.

Time needed
2–3 hours
Cost
Mid-priced
  • Iconic
  • History
  • Kids
  • Photo spot
  • Architecture
Phare, The Cambodian Circus, Siem Reap
Photo: Sven Brinkhoff, CC BY-SA 3.0

Experience · Siem Reap town

3.Phare, The Cambodian Circus

Phare's evening shows combine acrobatics, theatre, live music and dance to tell Cambodian stories, performed in a big top by graduates of the Phare Ponleu Selpak arts school founded in Battambang in 1994. The shows are energetic and family-friendly, and ticket income supports the school.

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

Time needed
1–1.5 hours
Cost
Mid-priced
Book ahead
Shows can sell out in the December–February high season; reserve a day or two ahead.
  • Kids
  • After dark
  • Couples
  • Rainy day
  • Art
Angkor National Museum, Siem Reap
Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote . Feel free to use any of my images, but plea, CC BY 4.0

Museum · Road to Angkor (Charles de Gaulle Boulevard)

4.Angkor National Museum

A modern, air-conditioned museum on the road to the temples that explains the Khmer Empire, its kings, religions and architecture before you visit the sites. Its best-known room, the Gallery of 1,000 Buddhas, holds rows of small statues from across the Angkor period.

Visit on your first afternoon to make sense of the temples, or use it as a midday break from the heat.

Time needed
1.5–2 hours
Cost
Mid-priced
  • History
  • Rainy day
  • Art
  • Kids
West Baray, Siem Reap
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain

Waterfront · West of Angkor Thom

5.West Baray

This 11th-century reservoir, about 8 km long, is still full of water and is where Siem Reap families come to swim and picnic at weekends. Bamboo platforms with hammocks line the southern shore, and boats can take you to the West Mebon temple ruins on an island in the middle.

Rent a hammock hut on the southern shore, order grilled fish and fruit, and watch the sunset over the water.

Time needed
2–3 hours
Cost
Low cost
  • Kids
  • Outdoors
  • Off the beaten path
  • Food
Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King, Siem Reap
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

Historic site · Angkor Thom

6.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. The Terrace of the Elephants is carved with life-size elephants and garudas, while the Terrace of the Leper King hides a narrow inner passage lined with layers of carved deities and nagas.

Walk the hidden inner corridor of the Leper King terrace, where the carvings are crisper because they were buried for centuries.

Time needed
45 minutes
Cost
Mid-priced
  • History
  • Kids
  • Architecture

Rainy-day ideas

  • Angkor National Museum — Visit on your first afternoon to make sense of the temples, or use it as a midday break from the heat.
  • Phare, The Cambodian Circus — Book a seat near the front for the acrobatics; arrive early to eat at the on-site café.

Where families should stay

$$$ · Best for families, luxury and first-timers

Road to Angkor (Charles de Gaulle Boulevard)

Charles de Gaulle Boulevard and the roads around it run north from the Angkor National Museum towards the Angkor Pass checkpoint. This is where the big resort hotels sit, with large grounds, pools and kids' facilities, and it is the closest place to stay for early sunrise starts at Angkor Wat.

Good
Shortest ride to the temples; Big pools and family rooms; Quiet at night
Watch out
Little within walking distance; Tuk-tuk needed for dinner in town
Nearby
Angkor National Museum, Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng

Family travel tips

  • Plan temple visits from early morning to about 11am, then retreat to the hotel pool until late afternoon.
  • Carry water, hats and sunscreen; there is little shade on some temple terraces.
  • Children under 12 enter the Angkor park free with their passport; check the current rules when buying passes.
  • Steep stairs at Angkor Wat's upper level and Pre Rup are hard for small children; skip them if in doubt.
  • A boat trip to Kampong Phluk's stilt village is a memorable half day for children in the wet season.

Day trips for families

  • Phnom Kulen (About 1.5 hours by car) — The sacred plateau where Jayavarman II proclaimed the Khmer Empire in 802 has a large reclining Buddha carved into a boulder at Preah Ang Thom, riverbed carvings and a waterfall with a swimming pool beneath.
  • Tonle Sap floating villages (About 45 minutes by road, then a boat) — Southeast Asia's largest lake swells massively in the wet season, and villages such as Kampong Phluk stand on stilts up to several metres high, surrounded by flooded forest.

When to go with children

The best months overall are November–February. December–January are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.

Questions travellers ask

+Is Siem Reap good for kids?

Children usually love the tree roots of Ta Prohm, the giant faces of the Bayon and the Phare circus, but heat and steep stairs make temple days tiring. Short morning visits, a pool in the afternoon and a tuk-tuk ride between sites keep everyone happy.

+What can kids do in Siem Reap?

Ta Prohm, Bayon and Angkor Thom, Phare, The Cambodian Circus, Angkor National Museum and West Baray.

+Where should families stay in Siem Reap?

Road to Angkor (Charles de Gaulle Boulevard): Large resort hotels with big pools on the avenue leading to the temples.