Siem Reap is on every backpackers travel list. It is on the list of anyone who is traveling to South East Asia, and is on the wish list and bucket list of nearly everyone who has ever made a bucket list. This is despite the fact that many of these people don’t even know that it is ON their list. Why? Because Siem Reap is the gateway city to the incredible Angkor Wat, and the Angkor Archeological Park. Here, I have put together my Complete Guide to Siem Reap to help everyone who has ever made a bucket list, to get the most out of their trip to Angkor Wat.
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Table of Contents
- Where is Siem Reap?
- How to get to Siem Reap
- Things to do in Siem Reap
- Best tours and day trips
- Where to stay in Siem Reap
- How to get around Siem Reap
- Where to eat in Siem Reap
- Check your Visa Requirements and Insurance!
- Where to go next?
- Summary
Where is Siem Reap?
Siem Reap is in Cambodia, and lies over 300 kilometers from the capital city of Phnom Penh. It is in the North West of the country, and is easily located on a map as being on the Northern shores of the Lake, Tonle Sap.
How to get to Siem Reap
Getting to Siem Reap is easiest done in a couple of different ways, depending upon your budget and travel plans. Being the second largest city in Cambodia, and the gateway city to Angkor Wat, it has infrastructure in place to allow access to travelers of every description. Whether you are looking to come directly to Siem Reap Internationally, or domestically from Phnom Penh, or another city in-country, there is sure to be an option available to you. In this guide to Siem Reap, I will look at a few of those options.
- By Plane – Siem Reap has its very own international airport. You can fly directly from locations all over South East Asia, especially Bangkok, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Or you can fly domestically from in-country.
- By Bus – Bus and Minivan’s run almost constantly to Siem Reap. It is the most popular way to get to the city from Phnom Penh for those on a budget, and even from Bangkok, crossing the border at Poi Pet.
- By Boat – Yes! When the season is right, you can actually get to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh by boat! The boat will bring you up the river to the lake, and all the way to the shoreline not too far from Siem Reap. A great and scenic option if you are not short on time.
- By Taxi – This seems strange, but you can actually hire a taxi (or private transport) from Phnom Penh. A great option that is more expensive, but splitting the cost between a few people brings it down closer to the cost of the luxury minivans. In a taxi you can stop where you like, and even take scenic detours.
One thing that I found in Cambodia was that booking buses was not always easy. A couple of the most popular sites were not user friendly, and Paying was a headache! Then I found Bookaway, and have used them ever since. You can get from Bangkok to Siam Reap and back easily with Bookaway, or from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Getting around Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia is a breeze as well. Click the button below to take a look at their site.
Things to do in Siem Reap
The main reason to come to Siem Reap is to see temples. Most people are not looking to do much else, but that doesn’t mean that there is nothing else to do! And this wouldn’t be the best Guide to Siem Reap without at least pointing a few of them out. Mostly, they are around the town itself, and are things to do before and after you visit the temples. Most things further removed from the town are best done on a daytrip, and will be covered in the next section.
So let’s take a look at the best things to do around Siem Reap:
- Tour Angkor Wat – This one is a no brainer, and is the main reason you are there anyway, right? You can get to Angkor Wat relatively easy from Siem Reap by just taking a Tuk Tuk. Check out THIS article.
- Explore more Temples – There are over 400 temples in the Angkor Archeological Park, so if you have more time left on your ticket after Angkor Wat, then why not go and see some more beautiful reminders of the past? See THIS article for some of the best.
- Check out Pub Street – This street is pretty much the center of Siem Reap, and is the place to go for a great vibe and atmosphere. Restaurants, clubs, markets and street food stalls can be found in and around this street. 6pm onwards is the time to get there most nights.
- Browse the Old Markets – Just along the river bank and not far from Pub Street you will find the old markets. Come here to find your local artworks, souvenirs and T-shirts.
- Visit the Landmine Museum – This is a little removed, but can be visited when you are touring some of the outer temples. Get a good look into the Cambodian past with a fascinating display of old landmines from the area. Some are still live!
- Take a Cycling Tour – The area around Chiang Mai is pretty flat, so cycling is not that hard. Except for the heat. Most locals can be seen cycling in the early morning though, and the ride out to the temples is very nice, with forests, monkeys and, of course, temples to be seen.
- Eat your way along the riverbank – Just north of the Old Markets, along the riverbank, you will find some wonderful street food stalls. Every evening they get packed out with locals and expats. There is no wonder why, with some amazing foods on offer!
Best tours and day trips
There are many things around the Siem Reap area, as well as further afield, that are best seen and discovered on a day trip. There are many tours that you can do, but as usual, I always prefer to do it with a trusted company like GetYourGuide. They always provide trusted, knowledgeable and experienced LOCAL guides that are the best at what they do.
So, next up in my guide to Siem Reap, I will take a look at the very best and most recommended day trips from Siem Reap. Here we go:
- Angkor Wat Highlights and Sunrise Guided Tour – That’s right, Angkor Wat can be easily done on a daytrip, and the sunrise trip is easily covered this way. Why worry about getting there yourself when you can have all the hard work done for you? Click HERE to check it out.
- Angkor Wat 2 Day Temples Tour with Sunrise and Sunset – On this 2 day option you get to see a sunset as well. A good option if you go with a multi day pass to see Angkor. Click HERE to take a look.
- Sunset Dinner Tour – Tonle Sap Lake Floating Village – The floating villages around Siem Reap are very popular, and this tour is a great way to see how the locals live. Click HERE.
- Small Group Phnom Kulen Waterfall Day Tour – Want a break from the temples and hanging out for your waterfall or hiking fix? Then this tour is perfect for you! Click HERE to see what it is all about.
Where to stay in Siem Reap
There are plenty of options for places to stay in Siem Reap. The only real question you have to ask yourself, is what area you prefer to stay in. For me, it only comes down to two things. Do you want to be close to the center, where you are walking distance to the nightlife and markets? Or if these things don’t bother you, would you rather be a bit further away?
One thing to note about visiting Siem Reap, is that nothing is really close to the temples. You can get CLOSER to the temples, but you will still have to hire a Tuk Tuk or some other form of transport to get there. Unless you rent a pushbike, of course, and don’t mind the exercise in the heat.
So here are some of my select accommodation options that should suit you, whatever your requirements.
Luxury Options
Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor
If you want luxury, then check this place out! It is located centrally, right across the road from the Royal Palace. When the King comes to Town, he doesn’t even stay in his Palace, instead opting to stay at Raffles. The references don’t come any better than that!
Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort
If you are after somewhere closer to the Temples, and would also like to be able to bring your Golf Clubs with you, then take a look at the Sofitel. A world class Golf Resort, plus 5 star Spa will only add to your stay at one of the Premier Hotels in Cambodia!
Mid Range Options
Uncle Sam Villa
We Stayed for a few nights in Uncle Sam Villa on our last trip. If you are looking for a nice, homely feel that is comfortable and clean, then Uncle Sam is right for you. It is walking distance to Pub Street, the markets and street food. Plus, they have a cute dog that will welcome you home every night.
Central Corner d’Angkor
Another place that we have stayed for over a week was Central Corner d’Angkor. It was a wonderful place that we really enjoyed. All the rooms face onto the pool, and the staff are amazing. This place is a little down the road from the central area, but we still walked every night, and it takes around 10 – 15 minutes.
Budget Options
Onederz Hostel Siem Reap
Onederz Hostel is centrally located, and has the distinction of being rated the best hostel in Cambodia, and one of the best in the world! You can’t get a better budget option than that!
Revolution Hostel, Siem Reap
I have had several friends stay at Revolution recently and they can’t stop raving about it. The friendly atmosphere and great facilities are a surefire winner!
Looking for the best Budget accommodation? Hostelworld have you covered with all of the very best budget friendly accommodation around town. Check them out at THIS LINK.
How to get around Siem Reap
Getting around in Siem Reap is pretty easy. The city isn’t really that big, and the area where all the hotel accommodation can be found is even smaller. This means that where ever you are, you are pretty much in walking distance of anything. Pub Street, the markets, restaurants. They are all close enough that you don’t have to worry too much.
When it comes to getting to Angkor Wat, or any of the other temples, you will need transport. Also, if you have a big night out, you might not feel like a walk home. So in these cases, you will need to know the best ways to get around. In that case, you will find it easy in Siem Reap.
So here is my guide to Siem Reap ways to get around.
- Walking – does this need any more explanation?
- Tuk Tuk – This will be your main form of transport in Siem Reap. It is easy, they are absolutely everywhere, and unlike places like Bangkok, will not try to scam you. This doesn’t mean you won’t have to negotiate though! Also use Tuk Tuk to get to Angkor Wat. See THIS article for more details.
- Taxi – Like every other city on earth, you can hire a good old taxi. Tuk Tuk’s are cheaper though.
- Grab – Have the Grab App installed on your phone, and organize a Grab (like Uber). A lot of the time it just ends up being a taxi anyway, but for cheaper Grab prices.
- Bicycle – An easy and very popular way to get around for the locals. You can hire a bicycle pretty easily, and the city is very flat.
- Scooter – Hire your own scooter and ride. This is what I choose to do in Bali and Thailand. Just make sure you have your license, international drivers permit and insurance!
Where to eat in Siem Reap
If there is one thing that Siem Reap doesn’t lack, its nice places to eat. So next up in my guide to Siem Reap, I am going to give you a quick rundown of some of my favorite places that you can find a good feed. Some are local, and some are western foods.
- The Riverside Street Food Markets – We found this place while walking from Uncle Sam’s to Pub Street. We never made it to Pub Street that night, and just kept coming back here as the food was SO GOOD. Find it just opposite THIS café along the Riverside park.
- Pub Street – There are several places within Pub Street that have great food, so I will just say “Pub Street” to cover them all. Take a stroll down this iconic street and check the curbside menu’s. Also, the 50 cent beers are a big drawcard! Click HERE for Google Maps location.
- Angkor Taco’s – This place has really good prices, amazing Taco’s, and everyone raves about the Burrito’s! Click HERE to find it.
- Labo Pizza Bar – This place is run by a friendly Italian who makes the most wonderful Pizza Squares. You don’t need to order a full pizza, so it is great for a mid afternoon snack, or a full dinner! Click HERE to find it.
- Eva Luna Cambodia – This little Café only opened during Covid, but the food and coffee is so good that it is doing very well. We found it by accident, and absolutely loved it! Find it HERE on Google Maps.
Check your Visa Requirements and Insurance!
If you are heading to Cambodia, then you will want to check your Visa requirements, as well as any other documents you might need. As an Australian, I needed a Visa to get into the country, and you probably do as well. Check everything in advance to avoid any hassle down the line by simply using the handy tool that I have provided below!
The other thing that you need to make sure of is your Travel Insurance. I never go anywhere without my SafetyWing Policy safe and secure. They will cover so many things that no other company does. You can even get your policy when already on the road!
Do yourself a favor and check them out at THIS LINK.
Where to go next?
Many travelers that visit Siem Reap will be moving slowly through South East Asia. For the backpackers, it is a major stop along the famed Banana Pancake Trail. Whether you are moving around on a budget, or seeing this part of the world in style, you will still be heading in the same directions. And this Guide to Siem Reap is striving to cater for everyone!
So, depending upon what direction you came into Siem Reap, you might want to think about one of these options once you leave.
- Phnom Penh – The capital of Cambodia has a lot to offer, especially if you want to learn more about the turbulent and violent past. It is also the best hub to head to in order to catch a flight Internationally, if the option is not available from Siem Reap.
- Bangkok – You can easily catch a bus or flight to Bangkok from Siem Reap.
- Koh Rong – The beautiful islands of Southern Cambodia are only a short trip away. Unspoilt and not teeming with the tourist crowds you will find in Thailand, they are a wonderful option.
- Chiang Mai – This is a popular option to travel directly from Siem Reap for those that want to explore more temples, and continue to immerse themselves in culture.
Summary
I hope you have enjoyed my Complete Guide to Siem Reap. It is an amazing place to visit, and the temples of Angkor Archeological Park are a once in a lifetime experience!
If there is anything that I haven’t covered, and you need more information, then just drop me a line and I will try to answer it for you!
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