Siem Reap Travel Guide
For visitors to Cambodia’s Siem Reap or Temple Town as residents fondly call it, the main attraction is the magnificent, sprawling, compelling Angkor Empire ruins and its star sight, Angkor Wat. These days there’s much more to Siem Reap than history. Try hip hotels, a burgeoning art scene and chic boutiques brimming with fashion, jewellery and decor by local designers. Cafe culture is strong and restaurants serving creative Cambodian cuisine rival the best in Southeast Asia’s capitals. Explore the temples but also allocate time to experience the culture, cuisine and everyday life of this lively little city.
Siem Reap Itineraries
ONE DAY
Itinerary
TWO DAY
Itinerary
Stay in Siem Reap
Renting an Apartment in Siem Reap – Insider Guide to Siem Reap Apartment Rentals
Renting an apartment in Siem Reap can be challenging at the best of times. It’s currently a renter’s market and there’s an abundance of serviced apartments and short-term and long-term…
Best Siem Reap Hotel Swimming Pools – From Rooftop Infinity Pools to Treeline Views
The best Siem Reap hotel swimming pools include a monumental pool modelled on an ancient Khmer Empire royal baray at the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, a rooftop pool looking through…
Accomodation
Insurance
Eat in Siem Reap
Our Guide to the Best Siem Reap Markets – When to Go and What to Buy
Our guide to Siem Reap markets covers the liveliest local markets in the northern Cambodia city that’s the gateway to Angkor Wat. Rise at dawn to join the locals to…
Coolest Siem Reap Neighbourhood – Where to Stay, Eat, Drink and Shop in Wat Bo Village
Meet the coolest Siem Reap neighbourhood, Wat Bo Village on the east bank of Siem Reap River. Home to urban farm-to-table restaurants, convivial cafés and atmospheric bars, street food trucks…
Drink in Siem Reap
Coolest Siem Reap Neighbourhood – Where to Stay, Eat, Drink and Shop in Wat Bo Village
Meet the coolest Siem Reap neighbourhood, Wat Bo Village on the east bank of Siem Reap River. Home to urban farm-to-table restaurants, convivial cafés and atmospheric bars, street food trucks…
Best Cafes in Siem Reap – Where to Drink the Best Coffee in Temple Town
The best cafes in Siem Reap include everything from arty cafes in retro spaces serving all day breakfasts and heady espressos to minimalist cafés spinning vinyl and offering cold drip…
Explore Siem Reap
An Archaeologist’s Guide to Angkor Archaeological Park with Dr Damian Evans
Our archaeologist’s guide to Angkor Archaeological Park and what makes it special comes courtesy of Dr Damian Evans, a Cambodia based archaeologist behind some of the most groundbreaking research of…
Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park – A Detailed Insiders Guide
Our ultimate guide to Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park is an insider’s guide. We’ve lived in Siem Reap for 10 years, 15 minutes from Angkor Wat, and visit frequently,…
Experience Siem Reap
Ways Animal Lovers Can Help Animals in Siem Reap – Donate, Sponsor, Visit and Volunteer
Ways animal lovers can help animals in Siem Reap include everything from donating to local veterinary clinics and animal welfare groups to supporting NGOs that train hero rats and dogs…
How to Experience the French Side of Siem Reap – A Local Guide, Ooh La La!
How to experience the French side of Siem Reap is a question we get asked by French travellers and Francophiles on holiday in Cambodia. Siem Reap based French expat Christine…
Book Siem Reap Tours
Absorb Siem Reap
Siem Reap Circus is a Must Do When You’re in Cambodia and Here’s Why
Siem Reap circus is a must do when you’re in Cambodia’s Temple Town. Supremely entertaining, it provides an insight into everyday life in Cambodia that you won’t see at Angkor…
A Night at the Phare Cambodian Circus in Siem Reap is a Must-Do Experience
A night at Phare Cambodian Circus, Siem Reap, might seem like an odd way to spend an evening in the northern Cambodian city that’s famous for Angkor Wat temple and…
Shop Siem Reap
Our Guide to the Best Siem Reap Markets – When to Go and What to Buy
Our guide to Siem Reap markets covers the liveliest local markets in the northern Cambodia city that’s the gateway to Angkor Wat. Rise at dawn to join the locals to…
Coolest Siem Reap Neighbourhood – Where to Stay, Eat, Drink and Shop in Wat Bo Village
Meet the coolest Siem Reap neighbourhood, Wat Bo Village on the east bank of Siem Reap River. Home to urban farm-to-table restaurants, convivial cafés and atmospheric bars, street food trucks…
Siem Reap Festivals & Events
Cambodia Water Festival 2022 – How to Celebrate Bon Om Touk with the Locals
The Cambodia Water Festival or Bon Om Touk is traditionally celebrated with boat races in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, in Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat, and in…
Firecrackers, Marigolds, Lucky Money: Celebrating Chinese New Year, Tet and Lunar New Year
The pop and crackle of Chinese New Year firecrackers going off around our Siem Reap neighbourhood have punctuated the soundtrack of birdsong, motorbikes, barking dogs, crowing roosters, laughing students, and…
Siem Reap Local Knowledge
Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park – A Detailed Insiders Guide
Our ultimate guide to Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park is an insider’s guide. We’ve lived in Siem Reap for 10 years, 15 minutes from Angkor Wat, and visit frequently,…
Rainy Season in Cambodia – Why You Must Visit During Monsoon or the Green Season
Rainy season in Cambodia – also known as the monsoon season – is called the green season for good reason. Everything is lush and green and the countryside is absolutely…
Siem Reap Resources
Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park – A Detailed Insiders Guide
Our ultimate guide to Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park is an insider’s guide. We’ve lived in Siem Reap for 10 years, 15 minutes from Angkor Wat, and visit frequently,…
World’s Top Landmark is Angkor Wat According to Travellers on Trip Advisor
World’s Top Landmark on Trip Advisor for 2017 is Angkor Wat according to travellers who use the site, garnering top scores from 32,800 reviewers, who gave the stupendous temple a five…
Siem Reap Essentials
WHEN TO GO
Nov–Feb Peak season finds Siem Reap at its most crowded, but the weather is at its best.
Mar–May Weather heats up. Restrict temple exploring to early mornings and late afternoon.
Jun–Oct Wet season commences, but it’s not like clockwork with daily afternoon showers.
HEALTH
Siem Reap has basic healthcare facilities. If you fall critically ill or have a serious accident, you may have to be evacuated to Bangkok. As this can cost up to US$25,000 it is of great importance that you get full medical insurance. Recommended Vaccinations
VISAS
Tourist visas cost US$30 on arrival and are valid for one month. A business visa cost US$35 and can be extended through a travel agent. You will need one passport-sized photo and USD in cash. An eVisa can be easily issued online and will save you time on arrival.
CURRENCY
CURRENT EXCHANGE RATES
$1.00 USD = 4,157.69 KHR
$1.00 AUD = 2,627.87 KHR
€1.00 EUR = 4,354.38 KHR
£1.00 GBP = 5,024.47 KHR
The Cambodian currency (KHR) is called the ‘riel’, however USD is the most common currency used in the country and the riel is used to give change for amounts that are less than one USD when shopping.
LANGUAGE
KHMER IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF CAMBODIA.
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRICITY IN CAMBODIA IS 220 VOLTS. 50 CYCLES/SEC.
LOCAL TIME ZONE
Time in Siem Reap:CAMBODIAN TIME ZONE
Cambodian Time Zone is (GMT+7)
Cambodia does not have daylight saving.
INSIDER TIP:
For the iconic dawn sunrise at Angkor Wat, you need to be there ready at least one half hour before sunrise.
WEATHER
CURRENT SIEM REAP WEATHER
TRANSPORTATION
AIR/LAND/SEA
There are direct international flights to Siem Reap International Airport (REP) from most major Asian cities. Domestic routes are to Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. Buses and minivans run between most tourist destinations. Boat services run from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh and Battambang. Bike and motorcycle hire is available. Tuk Tuks are used for local travel, but increasingly locals and travellers are using the Grab App on phones for short trips.
Siem Reap Daily Costs
BUDGET
Daily Budget Up To:
US$30
- Guesthouse dorm room: US$3–10
- Cheap restaurants, street food: US$1–3
- Pushbike hire: US$5–10 per day
MID RANGE
Daily Budget From:
US$31–200
- Air-con hotel room: US$15–50
- Good local restaurant meal: US$3–10
- Official tour guide per day: US$25
LUXURY
Daily Budget From:
US$201+
- Boutique hotel or resort: US$50–500
- Degustation meal with drinks: US$25–50
- Private car with driver per day: US$60–120