Back we go to Cambodia to continue my 2025 South East Asian jaunt. Now, there is normally one major reason that people come to Siem Reap – Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious site. Without a doubt it’s a huge draw, a wonderful place, and an absolute must see – but Siem Reap is well worth a visit, even beyond Angkor.
I was lucky enough to spend a full week in Siem Reap on my most recent trip around South East Asia, and I can honestly say it was my favourite stop of the lot. So I thought I’d share my experiences with you so you can plan your optimal trip too! Based on my experience, I think the town is best maximised with a 5 day stay.
There’s so much to see and do here – so read on to find out more!
Contents
Things to do in Siem Reap
Marvel at the Temples of Angkor
You can read my full guide to Angkor and its temples HERE.
Siem Reap’s crown jewel is the Angkor Archaeological Park, a 400 sq-km UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 50 accessible temples – of which Angkor Wat is the most famous.
Angkor is well worth at least 2-3 days of your time depending on your interest, and the temples below are the absolute minimum must sees. It is INCREDIBLE.
- Angkor Wat: The largest religious monument in the world, perfect for stunning sunrise photography.
- Ta Prohm: The famous “Tomb Raider” temple, with huge strangler fig trees growing atmospherically through the ruins.
- Angkor Thom: Famous for its smiling stone faces and maze like corridors.
- Banteay Srei: Known as the “Citadel of Women”, carved in beautiful pink sandstone.
Top Tip: Buy the 3-day Angkor pass. This enables you to see all of the temples, gives flexibility and costs significantly less per day than single-day passes. You can buy online in advance for ease.
Enjoy Siem Reap’s Nature
You can read my full guide to Kbal Spean HERE.
Siem Reap is surrounded by absolutely stunning nature. There is so much you could explore, but some of my favourite options are:
- Cycling around the surrounding countryside: Try the West Baray Lake loop, or cycle amongst the rice paddies on a local-guide led tour.
- Kbal Spean: An off the beaten track hike to ancient rock carvings and a beautiful waterfall. We absolutely LOVED this, and spent a nice morning completing the hike to break up our temple visits.
- Kulen Waterfall: Enjoy the amazing double set of waterfalls, surrounded by atmospheric jungle.
- West Baray: For relaxing and swimming.
Visit a Floating Village on Tonle Sap
Siem Reap sits near Tonlé Sap, South East Asia’s largest freshwater lake. The lake is absolutely beautiful, and there are villages within the lake, in which people live. It gives a unique insight in to a completely different way of life, which I think is always an important part of travel.
There are a number of villages to visit, which you will do on a boat trip (Kompong Phluk, Kompong Khleang, and Chong Kneas). You may also be able to visit the mangrove forests if you visit at the right time of year. The experience will take around half a day and we really enjoyed it.
Eat Your Way Through Siem Reap
Siem Reap has a really amazing food scene. There are a number of food markets, and dozens of restaurants serving authentic Khmer food. Some local must-eat foods include:
- Fish amok – coconut curry steamed in banana leaf
- Lok lak – stir-fried beef with a pepper-lime sauce
- Khmer Curry – a tasty and spicy red or yellow curry
- Num banh chok – Khmer noodle soup
- Cambodian coffee
Some of the food experiences and restaurants we really enjoyed are:
- Old Market area – traditional food stalls
- Siem Reap Night Market – snacks, noodles, grilled skewers
- Road 60 – very local & very cheap
- Cafés around Kandal Village & Wat Bo Road
- Traditional Khmer restaurants such as Changkran Restaurant.
Insider Tip: The central touristy area of Siem Reap (around Pub Street) is not where we found the best food. Instead, markets and local restaurants along the river gave us much better quality.
Explore the non-Angkor Temples and Palaces
Siem Reap is home to a small, but beautiful, collection of more modern temples and palaces, situated directly in the town center. Of particular note are Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm Shrine and Wat Bo. I particularly loved the gardens at the first stop.
Learn at Siem Reap’s Museums
Siem Reap offers a number of great museum options, all of which are worth a visit on your trip. We went to all of these museums, and enjoyed each of them for different reasons. You could easily spend an entire day in museums alone (which is what we did!).
- Angkor National Museum: For a really interesting history of Angkor and the Khmer Empire, including social, art and archaeology history.
- Cambodia Landmine Museum & Relief Facility: Displays deactivated landmines and bombs, an issue still facing the country after its awful war.
- APOPO Visitor Center: An international humanitarian organization famous for training African giant pouched rats—called HeroRATs—to detect landmines.
- War Museum Cambodia: Outdoor museum with tanks, military vehicles, artillery, and weapons from Cambodia’s conflict era.
Enjoy a Khmer Cultural Experience
Siem Reap offers multiple options for engaging in cultural experiences in relation to the Khmer way of life. We found that they make a lovely way to spend an evening in the town. Some of the offerings include:
- Aspara Dance Show: Traditional Cambodian dance with elegant gestures & ornate costumes. Many restaurants offer shows.
- Phare Circus: A modern circus with acrobatics telling Khmer stories; one of our fun highlights of the stay!
- Cambodian Living Arts: Workshops and performances highlighting traditional instruments & dance.
Shop at Markets & Artisan Centers
Siem Reap is the perfect destination for shopping local. With multiple markets such as Made in Cambodia Market, Phsar Chas (Old Market) and Artisans Angkor, it’s the perfect place to buy a souvenir. I absolutely couldn’t resist buying some beautiful hand carved wooden postcards. There are also lots of weekend markets along the river, which is lovely to stroll along.
Relax in a Traditional Spa
Siem Reap has excellent massage and wellness centers, offering Khmer traditional massage (it shows no mercy, but is AMAZING), oil massage & spa treatments, plus yoga classes and day retreats. We had multiple massages whilst in town, and all were brilliant.
Unique/Adventure Activities
Beyond the main highlights are many tour companies offering unique or slightly different experiences. The list below highlights some of the things we saw advertised, although we only personally did the Escape Room from the list, so I can’t vouch for the other tours. The Escape Room wasn’t the best we’ve ever done, but it’s good to support local businesses doing something different.
- Angkor Hidden Temple Escape Room
- Angkor ziplining
- Quad biking in the countryside
- Hot air balloon or tethered balloon rides near Angkor
- Bird-watching at Prek Toal sanctuary
Where to Stay in Siem Reap
There are four main areas in Siem Reap offering the best hotel options, depending on your preference:
- Wat Bo Road: Stylish, and walkable.
- Old Market / Pub Street area: Best for nightlife & convenience.
- Kandal Village: Cool, modern neighborhood with artisan shops.
- Resort areas along the riverside: Peaceful, calmer with boutique hotels good for longer stays. Obviously this was our choice!
We chose to stay along the riverside given we were staying for a whole week, and wanted a hotel with a nice relaxing pool. We chose the beautiful boutique Jaya House River Park Hotel which was amazing.
You can read my full review of Jaya House River Park HERE.
Practical Tips for visiting Siem Reap & Suggested Itinerary
- Best time to visit: November–February (cool & dry).
- Currency: USD widely used; change returned in Cambodian riel.
- Transport: Tuk-tuks are cheap; Grab/Bolt apps often available.
- Dress code: Knees & shoulders covered when visiting temples.
- Temple etiquette: No touching carvings, no climbing restricted areas, be respectful around monks.
- Final Recommended Itinerary: Based on my experience, I would recommend spending 5 days here:
- 3 days covering Angkor Archaeological Park, including nature hikes or evening cultural activities to break the days up.
- 1 day in Siem Reap town at the museums and markets.
- 1 day with a boat trip to Tonle Sap in the morning, and some relaxation time with a massage in the afternoon.
And there you have it – my guide of what to see and do in Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat! What do you think of it? Would you like to visit, or are you planning a trip? Let me know in the comments below. And as always, stay safe and happy travelling!
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