THE GRANTOURISMO TRAVEL GUIDE TO

Siem Reap

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

One Day in Siem Reap Itinerary for a Perfect Day in Temple Town. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved. Angkor Wat.

TWO DAY

Itinerary

Weekend in Siem Reap Itinerary – How to Spend 48 Hours in Cambodia's Temple Town. Afternoon Cruise, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Stay in Siem Reap

Renting an Apartment in Siem Reap — Our Comprehensive Insider Guide by Grantourismo Travels

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 Hotels for Swimming Pools from Rooftop Pools to Treeline Views. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

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…

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Accomodation

Booking.com

Insurance

Safety Wing Nomads Insurance

Eat in Siem Reap

Our Guide to Siem Reap Markets – Where to Go and What to Buy. Old Market, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

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, Shop, Drink and Eat in Wat Bo Village. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved. The Sugar Palm.

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…

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Drink in Siem Reap

Coolest Siem Reap Neighbourhood – Where to Stay, Shop, Drink and Eat in Wat Bo Village. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved. The Sugar Palm.

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. Pages Cafe, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

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…

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Explore Siem Reap

Angkor Wat Without the Crowds – Insiders Guide to Avoiding the Crowds at Angkor. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Angkor Wat Without the Crowds – Insider Guide to a Quieter Side of Angkor

Angkor Wat without the crowds is not the challenge that some travel writers, bloggers and travellers would have you believe. Follow our insider guide to experience a quieter side of…

How to Get the Most Out of the Angkor Archaeological Sites – tips from Dr Damian Evans. Bakong, the pyramid temple surrounded by a moat at the Roluos group. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

How to Get the Most Out of Angkor Archaeological Sites – A Local Archaeologist’s Tips

Here’s how to get the most out of the Angkor archaeological sites near Siem Reap, including Angkor Wat, from one of the foremost experts, Siem Reap based archaeologist Damian Evans.…

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Experience Siem Reap

Ways animal lovers can help animals in Siem Reap. A rescue cat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2018 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved. 10 Ways Animal Lovers Can Help Animals in 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…

Christine of Christine’s, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved. How to Experience the French Side of Siem Reap – An Insider Guide.

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…

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Book Siem Reap Tours

Absorb Siem Reap

Phare, the Cambodian Circus, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

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…

Phare, Cambodian circus. Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved. A Night at the Phare Cambodian Circus Siem Reap.

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…

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Shop Siem Reap

Sustainable Souvenirs to Buy in Southeast Asia and Market Shopping Tips. Luang Prabang Puppet Souvenirs. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo.

Sustainable Souvenirs to Buy in Southeast Asia – No, Not Elephant Pants

Sustainable souvenirs to buy in Southeast Asia include anything that’s handmade and handcrafted, fair trade and ethically-produced rather than factory-made, and locally created rather than imported. Traditional crafts, art and…

Our Guide to Siem Reap Markets – Where to Go and What to Buy. Old Market, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

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…

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Siem Reap Festivals & Events

Siem Reap Water Festival – A Celebration to Mark the End of Monsoon. Siem Reap Water Festival, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Siem Reap Water Festival – A Celebration to Mark the End of Monsoon

Siem Reap Water Festival or Bon Om Tuk, the Cambodia Water Festival, traditionally marks the end of the monsoon period and rice season, the reversal of the flow of the…

A rowing team wins their heat in the Siem Reap Water Festival, (Bon Om Tuk) Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Cambodia Water Festival – 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…

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Siem Reap Local Knowledge

Angkor Wat Without the Crowds – Insiders Guide to Avoiding the Crowds at Angkor. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Angkor Wat Without the Crowds – Insider Guide to a Quieter Side of Angkor

Angkor Wat without the crowds is not the challenge that some travel writers, bloggers and travellers would have you believe. Follow our insider guide to experience a quieter side of…

How to Get the Most Out of the Angkor Archaeological Sites – tips from Dr Damian Evans. Bakong, the pyramid temple surrounded by a moat at the Roluos group. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

How to Get the Most Out of Angkor Archaeological Sites – A Local Archaeologist’s Tips

Here’s how to get the most out of the Angkor archaeological sites near Siem Reap, including Angkor Wat, from one of the foremost experts, Siem Reap based archaeologist Damian Evans.…

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Siem Reap Resources

Guide to Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park – an Insider's Guide written by writers who live there. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

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. Monks at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

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…

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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 = 4,065.81 KHR
$1.00 AUD = 2,649.24 KHR
€1.00 EUR = 4,418.58 KHR
£1.00 GBP = 5,167.62 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.
Khmer language, ‘hello’ in Khmer, ‘chum reap suor’. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

ELECTRICITY

ELECTRICITY IN CAMBODIA IS 220 VOLTS. 50 CYCLES/SEC.
Electricity in Cambodia is 220 volts. 50 cycles/sec. Power plugs used in Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

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