Things to do in Siem Reap

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All about Siem Reap

When to visit

The most popular time to visit Siem Reap is the dry season, which runs November to April, with December and January the busiest months. April is the hottest and driest month of the year, and November is lush and green. The wet season is usually cheaper and quieter, which especially can be a bonus when visiting Angkor Wat. However, you might have to brave a torrential downpour (and some mud), so it’s worth weighing the pros and cons.

Getting around

The best way to get around Siem Reap is by tuk-tuk. You can hail tuk-tuks on the street, find a driver you like and hire them for the duration of your stay, or use the Grab or PassApp ride-sharing apps. If you’re heading further afield—like to Angkor Wat—consider joining a guided tour with transportation or hiring a vehicle with a driver for the day. Take a taxi if traveling to the other side of Angkor, Phnom Kulen, or Koh Ker.

Traveler tips

Angkor Wat may be the main draw for visiting Siem Reap, but this tourist town has more things to do. Highlights include Phare: the Cambodian Circus, a community not-for-profit using acrobatics and theater to tell stories; the Siem Reap Night Market; and half-day tours to Tonle Sap Lake to see the floating villages. Also worth a visit is the APOPO Visitor Center, where you can learn about how trained rats are used to safely remove land mines.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Siem Reap famous?

Siem Reap is Cambodia’s second largest city. It’s the base for exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor, a vast expanse that was the capital of the Khmer kingdom from the ninth century to the 15th century. The most famous structure is the 401-acre (163-hectare) temple, Angkor Wat.

How do I get to Siem Reap?

Siem Reap is about 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. Siem Reap International Airport has flights from regional hubs and other Cambodian airports. But it’s cleaner, greener, and more scenic to take a boat from Phnom Penh, while buses and minivans are cheaper and more sustainable than flying.

What should you not miss in Angkor Wat?

Angkor Wat is the greatest of the temples that adorn the city of Angkor: highlights include the Churning of the Sea of Milk carving. As well as Angkor Wat, travelers flock to Ta Prohm, with its strangling tree roots, and Angkor Thom, a walled city that houses the Bayon temple, decked in giant faces.

What is there to do in Siem Reap besides Angkor Wat?

Siem Reap is a lively city with street food, restaurants, nightlife, and shopping. It’s a center for artisan crafts and blind massage, with temples, gardens, a silk farm, a war museum, and a landmine museum. The Tonlé Sap floating villages and the waterfalls in Phnom Kulen National Park are popular trips.

Is 3 days enough in Siem Reap?

No. It takes two days to cover the most famous Angkor monuments, but temples like Beng Mealea are a long way out of town. It’s worth taking the time to discover Cambodian food, crafts, culture, and rural life, learn about the war, and visit the national park and the lake.

Is Siem Reap worth visiting?

Yes. Travelers come to Siem Reap for the UNESCO-listed ruins of Angkor, particularly the majestic spires of Angkor Wat, the largest religious structure in the world. You could spend weeks exploring ancient Khmer monuments, but it’s also a good base to discover Cambodian crafts, culture, heritage, and rural lives.

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