sunset over angkor wat in siem reap cambodia

Monks Walking With Yellow Umbrellas in Siem Reap

Siem Reap Travel Guide

January - DecemberCambodiaHRK

Natural Beauty

UNESCO World Heritage

Tribal Culture

Until the early 1990s, Siem Reap was a quiet, dusty, unremarkable market town. But then the hitherto unknown Angkor Wat temple complex gained UNESCO World Heritage listing and the tourists began arriving - from just 8,000 in 1993 to over 2.5 million in 2018. Siem Reap’s fortunes have been transformed and it’s now a busy, booming tourism destination with luxury hotels, a wide range of museums and other attractions, and a fun, lively nightlife scene centered around the famous Pub Street.

Obviously Angkor Wat is the main draw here, one of the wonders of the world and a simply staggering experience; but there is much more to Siem Reap than Angkor Wat. Outlying temples such as Beng Mealea, Banteay Srei and Koh Ker offer a similar experience but without as many crowds, while the floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake and the idyllic Phnom Kulen National Park are also unique must-sees, so don’t make the mistake of visiting only the temples during your visit to Siem Reap! The city has many sides and you will want to experience them all, so allow yourself enough time to do so.

Within the heart of the city, pieces of old French-style architecture now housing quaint shops and restaurants are crammed in next to up-and-coming resorts and hotels. A wander around the city will reveal its resilience and creativity as you explore the humble nooks and crannies, the world-class restaurants, the river banks, and even Cambodia’s leading contemporary circus. Siem Reap itself has grown into a busy but charming town with plenty of quiet spots to escape the crowds among its little alleyways and tree-lined thoroughfares, and of course, there are the Cambodian people themselves — friendly, warm and welcoming, they are sure to make any visit to the country a delight.

Must See Attractions in Siem Reap

Angkor Wat

If there’s one must-see attraction in Southeast Asia, it has to be Angkor Wat, the lovingly restored 12th-century temple complex that lay hidden and forgotten until the early 20th century. It’s huge (402 acres), it’s hot and, at times, it’s very crowded, but it’s on every self-respecting traveler’s bucket list. Plan your trip carefully, and you can avoid the worst of the crowds and the heat. A source of intense national pride for Cambodians, Angkor Wat was constructed with incredible attention to detail, and there are many elements to this temple complex that will leave you amazed. Constructed as a representation of Mt. Meru of the Hindu faith, this is believed to be the biggest religious building in the entire world.

Ruins around Tree at Ta Phrom Temple Cambodia

Ta Prohm

Built in 1186, one of the iconic images usually associated with Angkor Wat — the crumbling temple overgrown by huge tree roots — is actually Ta Prohm, whose beauty is derived from the fact that it was forgotten for so many years and has now fused with the surrounding jungle. It is probably the most atmospheric of all the temples here and shot to fame when it was used as a location for the first Tomb Raider movie. Today you can explore part of Ta Prohm, but other corridors and alleyways are blocked as a result of ruins and rocks downed by decaying jungle foliage. The plants and other flora and fauna give this structure an eerie atmosphere that you’ll have to experience to believe.

Banteay Srei

Widely known as the ‘Temple of Women’ due to the elegance of its carvings, the 10th-century Banteay Srei is the best-preserved of all Siem Reap’s temples and, with its pink sandstone, arguably the most charming and picturesque. Nearly every inch of its structures are covered in highly ornate three-dimensional carvings, making it more of an Angkorian art gallery than a temple ruin. This miniature temple may be small, but with carvings and decorations so detailed and intricate, you will want to carve out enough time (pun intended) to truly explore the whole thing and fully appreciate each work of art.

Pub Street

With the influx of tourists, Siem Reap has really upped its nightlife game, and most of the town’s evening activity centers on Pub Street, an often garish strip of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. It gets so crowded that each night, the street closes to traffic to allow pedestrians free reign of the area. It gets increasingly rowdy as the night wears on, but duck down some of the narrow alleyways leading off the main drag, and you’ll find some hidden gems and excellent bars and restaurants, with food and drink prices that will undoubtedly bring a smile to your face.

Artisan Painting Sculpture in Angkor Wat in Siem Reap

Artisans Angkor

This fascinating craft workshop is the result of a project to create employment opportunities for people in the rural areas around Siem Reap by reviving ancient Angkorian crafts such as sculpture, metalwork, and painting. Visitors can watch the craftsmen at work and chat with them about their art, while the Artisans Angkor shop is a real treasure trove of souvenirs and gifts to take home for your family and friends who couldn’t experience it firsthand. You might pay more here than you would elsewhere for your souvenirs, but the quality of the handiwork is well worth the higher price, and your money is going to a good cause.

Angkor National Museum

The perfect accompaniment - or ideally, starter - to any visit to Angkor Wat, Angkor National Museum provides an overview of the various historical periods that shaped the temple complex, complete with sculptures, artifacts, and several informative video presentations. You don’t necessarily need to visit the museum before visiting Angkor Wat, but your appreciation and understanding of the experience will be much greater if you opt to do so. Within the museum, you’ll find displays organized by era, religion, and royalty as well as interactive exhibits and commentary to help put everything in context, and you can also choose to do an audio tour for as little as five US dollars.

Optional Day Trips from Siem Reap

Koh Ker

Once the capital of the Khmer empire, all that remains of the 10th-century city of Koh Ker is this amazing temple complex, with the incredible Prasat Thom pyramid — yes — at its center. It’s a 3-hour drive from Siem Reap, but well worth the trip, and you can also visit the nearby UN landmine clearance project, which made the temple and its surroundings safe for visitors. With 42 structures in the area, you’ll need the whole day to explore everything Koh Ker has to offer. Highlights other than Prasat Thom pyramid include Prasat Bram, a collection of brick towers taken over by fig vines, and Prasat Krahom, known for its stone arches, sanctuaries, and libraries.

Phnom Kulen National Park

Situated a short drive away from Siem Reap, Phnom Kulen National Park covers almost 400km2 and boasts spectacular cliffs, waterfalls, hiking routes, and the sacred Preah Ang Thom hilltop temple. It also plays a significant role in Cambodian history, as it was here where the first “god-king” proclaimed his power, ultimately establishing the Cambodian kingdom. Not to be missed is Kbal Spean, the ‘Valley of 1000 Lingas’, which features ancient carvings carved into the riverbed itself and a sacred site for Hindus. Other attractions include a reclining Buddha, and a magnificent waterfall that was featured in the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider film.

Beng Mealea

If you want to experience Angkorian splendor without the crowds, then Beng Mealea is the temple for you! Just 40km from Siem Reap, this 12th-century Hindu temple is awe-inspiring, yet attracts very few visitors, despite having been used as one of the locations for Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Standing in the center of this magnificent structure, without anyone else around, is like taking a step back in time. Only recently has the jungle foliage been cut away to reveal the full structure of the temple for you to explore. While many of the sights to see here are in ruins, they are still impressive to visitors from all around the world. You’ll see ancient carvings, a well-preserved library, and chiseled sandstone blocks that make up the structure of the temple. One of the most mysterious temples in Cambodia, exploring Beng Mealea is well worth your time.