Siem Reap is the name of the second most visited city in Cambodia, after Phnom Penh. The majority of tourists travel to Siem Reap to visit the ancient temples here and to bask in the deeply solemn atmosphere here, and Angkor Wat is a name that is world famous in the realm of spiritual tourism. But temples are not the only draw that Siem Reap has to offer.
Siem Reap is also home to beautiful architecture, a thriving food scene, and an exciting nightlife that promises to entertain and satisfy every visitor. We publish Siem Reap travel guide in the hope that you would find useful information for your trip.
Best time to visit Siem Reap
Cambodia has two main seasons – the rain season and the dry season. The rain season is from May to October, and the dry season is from November to April. The tricky thing about choosing when to visit Siem Reap is that beautiful and comfortable weather also means you will have to deal with a horde of tourists, especially in tourist hotspots alongside high hotel prices.
If you choose to travel when there are less tourists, then you will have to deal with rainy weather that might impede your journey. In this situation, you might want to aim for the middle ground: the months of November and March. They fall between rainy and dry seasons and immediately before and after peak tourist season which starts in December and goes till February.
Siem Reap main attractions
The majority of tourists come to Siem Reap to visit the Angkor temples. People know about Angkor Wat but it’s just one of over a thousand temples scattered in an area of over 400 square km of the Angkor Archaeological Park. You need to buy and Angkor Pass to gain entrance to the park. Here are some of the best places to visit during your stay in Siem Reap:
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century, and is recognized as the largest religious monument in the world. This temple is the jewel of the Angkor complex and its world famous status brings in a steady stream of tourists to Siem Reap.
Angkor Wat is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu. It is considered a national symbol of Cambodia, due to its incredible historical and cultural values. This is one of the greatest examples of Khmer architecture, that has not only great aesthetics but also provides a solid infrastructure to support the life of a population of around 1000.000. One of the must-do in Siem Reap is to catch the sunrise over Angkor Wat.
Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple
After Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom is the second most visited temple complex in the Archeological Park. This was the last and most enduring capital of the ancient Khmer Empire. Bayon Temple is the highlight of the Angkor Thom complex, which features around 200 of well-preserved massive stone heads, each bearing a different expression.
Ta Prohm
Have you seen the movie Tomb Raider, starring Angelina Jolie? This magnificent location is chosen as one of the filming locations for this highly entertaining movie, due to how good it looks through the lens of a camera. This is one of the most photogenic destinations in the whole of Siem Reap, where massive roots envelop the temples as a visual representation of time’s passage.
Cambodian Landmine Museum
Cambodia held a military supply line to Southern Vietnam during the Vietnam war. As a result, a huge amount of landmines and bombs were dropped on Cambodia, in order to destroy these supply lines and disrupt the Vietnamese armies.
The museum was founded by Aki Ra, an ex-child soldier. After spending a lot of his time defusing landmines by hand and displaying them in his home. The Landmine Museum is open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm daily, and will cost $5 USD for entry. Children under 12 years are free to enter.
Transportation to Siem Reap
Flying is the quickest way to get there but people travelling to Siem Reap from major hubs like Phnom Penh and Bangkok may take the bus as well.
By plane
People travelling by plane will be arriving at Siem Reap International Airport (REP). To get to Siem Reap central part of town, you can take a taxi or a tuk tuk (which we recommend, it is a signature vehicle of the South East Asia region). From REP, the trip will take around 30 minutes, and costs about USD 7-9 for a tuk tuk and USD 12-15 for a taxi or van.
By bus
If you are coming from Bangkok or Phnom Penh, a much more economic option would be travelling by bus. It would take a much longer time than a flight, but if you are travelling on a budget then this option would make much more sense. Besides, getting a window seat on the bus is also a chance to see more of Cambodia. There are many option for you to check for routes and ticket prices online.
Accomodation
If you are travelling on a budget, you would love the hotellerie scene of Siem Reap, where you can find a place to stay with luxury quality and a very reasonable price. Five areas where most visitors stay when they visit Siem Reap are French Quarter, Old Market, Wat Bo, Taphul Village or by Charles de Gaulle Boulevard.
The French Quarter can be found west of the Siem Reap River that runs through town. French Quarter is a hub for restaurants, café and bistros, and a perfect place to stay if you want to enjoy Cambodian food. You can check these hotels out for your stay here:
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Chhay Long Angkor Boutique Hotel Siem Reap
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Park Hyatt Siem Reap
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Central Blanche Residence
South of the French Quarter you can find the Old Market area, perfect for some light shopping. You can also find the Pub Street, a night-life centre here. These are some establishments you can choose for your stay here:
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Entire Villa
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Residence Wat Damnak
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Golden Temple Retreat
Taphul Village is a neighbourhood west of the French Quarter. This is a perfect place to stay for families because it’s a safe and quiet area. You can choose to stay in one of these places:
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Model Angkor Resort
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Bou Savy Villa
Charles de Gaulle Boulevard is the main road to Angkor Wat. Staying here gives you good access to this magnificent tourist attraction, and might give you an edge over others in the race to see the sunrise over Angkor Wat. Pub Street is also within walking distance of Charles De Gaulle Boulevard. These are some hotels and resorts for your reference:
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Saem Siem Reap Hotel
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Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor
Watbo is a favourite place for backpackers and tourists who don’t want to spend too much of their budget on hotels. Wat Bo is a 10-15 minute walk to Pub Street with all the bars or a 2 minute tuk tuk ride. You can stay in one of these establishment when you are in Watbo:
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La Rose Blanche
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Oriental Siem Reap
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Eocambo Residence
Things you should try in Siem Reap
Enjoy the nightlife in Pub Street
Visiting Pub Street is one of the best things to do in Siem Reap at night. You can take a walk around, then choose a place to sit down and enjoy a drink while listening to music and walking pedestrians stroll by, or get into a bar yourself. The Pub Street provides a great atmosphere that contrasts your temple visits, but is not so busy that you would be uncomfortable with crowds.
See the Phare Circus
This is a circus run by the non-profit organisation Phare Ponleu Selpak. The circus was created as a form of therapy after the terrible reign of the Red Khmer.The modern circus shares Cambodian stories with the audience. No animals are involved in the performance.
Get a nibble fish spa pedicure
This might seem strange, to have little fishes eat off your dead skin cells, but this is a fun experience that you should go through at least once. Bring your friends and family with you and it would make the bargaining much easier.
Siem Reap is a renown destination in Asia, and for good reasons. From sacred temple sites to vibrant night life and excellent cultural activities, Siem Reap promises you memories that would last for a life time. Contact us for more information.