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
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…
Accomodation
Insurance
Eat in Siem Reap
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 to the chefs about…
Drink in Siem Reap
Explore Siem Reap
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
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…
Experience Siem Reap
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
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…
Book Siem Reap Tours
Absorb Siem Reap
Shop Siem Reap
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 – 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…
Siem Reap Festivals & Events
Siem Reap Local Knowledge
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
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…
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.
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