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
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Banteay Chhmar Homestay, Living Like Locals Amid Ruins in Cambodia
Banteay Chhmar, just a two and a half hour drive from Siem Reap in northwest Cambodia, offers a chance to live like locals in a rustic Banteay Chhmar homestay in a…
Where to Stay in Siem Reap — Best Boutique Hotels, Stylish Resorts and Atmospheric Lodges
Where to stay in Siem Reap? Not an easy question to answer in a city with thousands of hotels, so we’ve selected our top picks across a range of categories, from…
Accomodation
Insurance
Eat in Siem Reap
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The Young Cambodian Chef Cooking Local Food For People Who Travel for Food
Meet the young Cambodian chef cooking local food for people who travel for food. We chat to chef Mork Mengly of Pou Restaurant and Bar about cooking strange things, beautiful…
Cambodian Female Chefs on Cambodian Cuisine, Seasonal Produce, Lost Ingredients
Cambodian female chefs Pol Kimsan and Sok Kimsan helm an all-women kitchen and front-of-house team at one of Siem Reap’s finest Cambodian restaurants, Embassy. We chatted about Cambodian cuisine, seasonal…
Drink in Siem Reap
Explore Siem Reap
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How to Get the Most Out of the Angkor Archaeological Sites – An Archaeologist’s Tips
How to get the most out of the Angkor archaeological sites near Siem Reap from one of the foremost experts, Siem Reap based archaeologist Damian Evans. Dr Evans provides tips…
An Archaeologist’s Guide to Angkor Archaeological Park and What Makes It Special
Cambodia is one of the richest countries on earth when it comes to archaeology. But what makes Cambodia’s Angkor Archaeological Park temples and other Angkor sites so special? We asked…
Experience Siem Reap
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Sacred Dancers of Angkor in Siem Reap – The Authentic Apsara Dance Show
An apsara dance show is a priority for most visitors to Cambodia’s Siem Reap. The Sacred Dancers of Angkor, the original apsara dance performance, offers a more authentic experience in the form…
Authentic Khmer Prahok Ktis Recipe for Cambodia’s Pork and Coconut Milk Dip
This authentic Khmer prahok ktis recipe makes the deliciously rich Cambodian dip made from fermented fish, minced pork and coconut milk that is served with fresh crispy vegetables. It also…
Book Siem Reap Tours
Absorb Siem Reap
Shop Siem Reap
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Traditional Arts and Crafts in Cambodia – The Story of Cambodia’s Creative Revival
After exploring the temples around Siem Reap, one of the real pleasures for those interested in the traditional arts and crafts in Cambodia is to visit the workshops, ateliers and…
Eric Raisina’s Guide to Siem Reap Style — Where to Find Cambodian Chic
Eric Raisina is something of a celebrity in Siem Reap, a city the fashion designer finds inspirational and integral to his work. We talked to Eric Raisina about his inspiration, his work,…
Siem Reap Festivals & Events
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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 Tonle Sap…
Halloween in Siem Reap
As it’s Halloween tomorrow night we thought we’d share some images from Halloween in Siem Reap last year. Whether you like Halloween or not, participating in festivals and events or…
Siem Reap Local Knowledge
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Dr Damian Evans on the 2015 Cambodian Lidar Survey of Remote Temple Sites
Last week we interviewed Australian archaeologist Dr Damian Evans about the 2015 Cambodian lidar survey of remote temple sites scattered across the country. In this fascinating video he describes the gamechanging research and reveals the exciting…
In Cambodia Epic Urban Landscapes Unearthed by Airborne Archaeologists
In Cambodia epic urban landscapes unearthed by airborne archaeologists have rocked the archaeological world and we had an exclusive on the story for The Guardian. A recent airborne laser scanning survey of remote…
Siem Reap Resources
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Price Check: a Siem Reap Shopping List
Having settled into Siem Reap where we’ve established a home, we’ve become familiar with what things cost in Cambodia and thought it was time to share a Siem Reap shopping list…
Guide to Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park – An Insiders Guide
Our Guide to Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park is an insider’s guide. We live in Siem Reap and visit the temples regularly, making this one of the most comprehensive…
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 = 4,075.84 KHR
$1.00 AUD = 2,765.75 KHR
€1.00 EUR = 4,151.84 KHR
£1.00 GBP = 4,862.36 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
