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

Where to Stay in Siem Reap – the City's Most Luxurious Hotels. Park Hyatt Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Where to Stay in Siem Reap – the City’s Most Luxurious Hotels

Considering the abundance of gorgeous shops and superb restaurants, cafes and bars that Siem Reap boasts, it’s not surprising that this laidback Cambodian city also has some beautiful luxurious hotels. There…

Load More Articles

Accomodation

Booking.com

Insurance

Safety Wing Nomads Insurance

Eat in Siem Reap

Chef Mork Mengly at Pou restaurant, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

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…

Embassy. Chefs Sok Kimsan (L), Pol Kimsan (R). Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved. Cambodian Female Chefs on Cambodian Cuisine, Seasonal Produce, Lost Ingredients.

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 to the chefs about…

Load More Articles

Drink in Siem Reap

Explore Siem Reap

Sambor Prei Kuk Temple, Cambodia – Guardian Lions, Flying Palaces and UNESCO Status. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Sambor Prei Kuk Temple in Cambodia for Guardian Lions and Flying Palaces

Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex in bucolic Kompong Thom province was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2017. Set amidst towering forest and shaded by lofty trees, the unique…

Cycling Around Siem Reap – From Riverside Rides to Temple Bike Tours. Countryside, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright 2014 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Cycling Around Siem Reap – From Riverside Rides to Temple Bike Tours

Surrounded by pancake-flat plains, lush green rice paddies, and laidback villages with leafy lanes, cycling around Siem Reap can be an absolute delight – once you get out of the…

Load More Articles

Experience Siem Reap

Prahok, the Secret Ingredient of Cambodian Cuisine. Preparing Prahok, Battambang, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Prahok, the Secret Ingredient of Cambodian Cuisine

Prahok is the most distinctive ingredient in Khmer cooking alongside the Cambodian curry paste called kroeung. This chunky, grey, visually unappealing, fermented fish paste is used by every Khmer cook…

Spiritual Travel – Transcendental Experiences in Cambodia. Monks collect alms, Battambang, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Spiritual Travel – Transcendental Experiences in Cambodia

You don’t have to be religious to undertake spiritual travel and seek out transcendental experiences. Here are some ideas for travellers seeking enlightenment in Cambodia, the predominantly Buddhist country that is…

Load More Articles

Book Siem Reap Tours

Absorb Siem Reap

Shop Siem Reap

Eric Raisina's Guide to Siem Reap Style – Where to Find Cambodian Chic. Siem Reap Fashion Designer, Eric Raisina. Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

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,…

Shopping the Gorgeous Stores of Siem Reap – an Itinerary. Khmer Fabrics, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright 2014 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Shopping the Gorgeous Stores of Siem Reap – A Shopping Itinerary

For most travellers, Siem Reap has been little more than a departure point for exploring Angkor Wat and the other Angkor temples. Yet it hasn’t always been that way. And…

Load More Articles

Siem Reap Festivals & Events

Siem Reap Local Knowledge

Dr Damian Evans on the 2015 Cambodian Lidar Survey of Remote Temple Sites. Dr Damian Evans at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Dr Damian Evans on the 2015 Cambodian Lidar Survey of Remote Temples

Last week we interviewed Australian archaeologist Dr Damian Evans on the 2015 Cambodian lidar survey of remote temple sites scattered across the country. In this fascinating video he describes the…

In Cambodia Epic Urban Landscapes Unearthed by Airborne Archaeologists. Inside the main temple of the Preah Khan of Kompong Svay temple. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

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…

Load More Articles

Siem Reap Resources

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 = 4,045.00 KHR
$1.00 AUD = 2,638.19 KHR
€1.00 EUR = 4,368.31 KHR
£1.00 GBP = 5,110.54 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