Siem Reap - 9 Things to Do for an Exciting Trip

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Most travelers probably associate Siem Reap immediately with Angkor Wat. However, the city, located about 10 kilometers from Southeast Asia’s largest lake, Tonle Sap, has much more to offer.

Many tourists flock to Siem Reap, and therefore the main source of income for the city is tourism. You will notice this clearly, especially with the sheer number of tuk-tuk drivers. Still, we can only recommend a visit to Siem Reap.

Siem Reap – The Gateway to the Angkor Wat Temple Complex

A visit to Angkor Wat is high on the list for almost all visitors in Siem Reap, and of course, we wanted to see the temple complex as well. What else there is to discover in the city beyond Angkor Wat, you’ll find out in the following tips for Siem Reap.

Accommodation in Siem Reap – Our Hotel Tip

In the center of Siem Reap, near Pub Street, it can get very loud and hectic in the evenings. That’s not necessarily everyone’s taste. Near the peaceful Wat Preah Prom Rath, you’ll find the wonderful hotel Ananda’s Siem Reap. The rooms are spacious and stylish, and the owner, Ananda, takes excellent care of his guests. The short 10-minute walk to Pub Street didn’t bother us. Here you’ll enjoy peace and quiet, yet you can still easily go out at night if you wish.

If you’d prefer to stay a little closer to the center, you can explore more hotels here.

1. Visit the Temples of Angkor Wat

The number one spot for visitors to Siem Reap, which must be mentioned first, is, of course, Angkor Wat or the Angkor Archaeological Park. The park covers over 400 km² and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.

In the park, however, you can not only visit Angkor Wat but also many other temples such as Bayon or Ta Phrom, which are located in the Angkor Thom complex. There are also Banteay Kdei, Prasat Kravan, and many, many more. The selection is vast, and almost all temples are absolutely impressive.

For the Angkor Wat Park, you will need to buy a ticket, which currently costs $37 for one day. Discounts are available if you buy a ticket for multiple days. For example, we had a 3-day ticket for $62. The price is quite high, but it’s worth it.

You can explore Angkor Wat either on your own with a bicycle or scooter, as well as with organized tours or tuk-tuks. You can find out more about the Angkor Wat Archaeological Park in our detailed article, including information on renting tuk-tuks, buying tickets, and more.

2. Climb Phnom Krom

Now for the first tip beyond Angkor, maybe no longer a hidden gem, but still very little visited. Phnom Krom Mountain with the Prasat Phnom Krom Temple at the top lies 12 kilometers southwest of Siem Reap but still belongs to the Angkor Wat Park.

This means that to get up the mountain, you also need a ticket for the Angkor Wat Archaeological Park. A tuk-tuk for about $10-15, depending on your bargaining skills, will take you to the base of the mountain and also bring you back to Siem Reap.

After some initial stair climbing, a road leads up the mountain. Along the way, you’ll get great views of Tonle Sap Lake and some floating villages. Once at the temple, you have to walk through it to find the ruins of Prasat Phnom Krom right behind it.

We encountered two small group tours on-site but were alone most of the time. A visit to Phnom Krom is especially worthwhile at sunset, when locals also come up the mountain to watch the setting sun. Definitely a spot where you’ll encounter few other visitors.

3. Visit the Preah Ang Chek – Preah Ang Chorm Shrine

The Preah Ang Chek – Preah Ang Chorm Shrine may not be a major tourist attraction, but it holds great significance for Cambodians. The shrine is dedicated to the two Buddhas, Preah Ang Chek and Preah Ang Chorm, and is now especially visited by newly married couples, as the visit is said to bring them good luck. In addition, the statues are believed to protect the city of Siem Reap.

According to a Cambodian legend, the Khmer Rouge wanted to throw the statues into the Siem Reap River as they tried to eradicate Buddhism in Cambodia. However, when the troops tried to lift the statues, their weight increased so much that they could not be moved.

Since 1982, this shrine has stood directly next to the Royal Gardens and is a major gathering place for locals. You can even receive blessings from monks here. A short visit is certainly interesting. You won’t find many tourists here, but you’ll get a small glimpse into the Cambodian culture of Siem Reap.

4. Spend an Evening in Pub Street

In the evening, life in Siem Reap takes place in and around Pub Street. You should definitely stop by. Countless restaurants and bars line the street, with many places offering beer for $0.50 or cocktails for $1.50. While plenty of Western food is available, you’ll also find Khmer food on most menus.

The later the evening, the busier the streets get. From 10.00 PM, mobile cocktail bars are set up along Pub Street. Some guests move on to clubs such as the Temple Club or the Yolo Bar, while others try street snacks like pancakes or unusual treats such as insects.

5. Discover the Night Markets of Siem Reap

Siem Reap has more to offer at night than just Pub Street. There are also various night markets you can visit. Whether it’s for shopping, buying souvenirs, or enjoying authentic Khmer food. The variety is large and adds to your evening plans.

Located right on the Siem Reap River, you’ll find the Art Center Night Market. It sits across from the Old Market (Phsar Chas). True to its name, you can buy art and handicrafts here, but there are also many other shops selling clothing, souvenirs, and more.

It is open daily from 8.00 AM until 10.00 PM. The Art Center Night Market is also open during the day. A highlight there are the traditional Apsara dances, which you can watch for free. They usually start around 8.00 PM.

Other markets include the Original Noon Night Market (open daily from 12.00 PM to 12.00 AM), the Angkor Night Market (5.00 PM to 12.00 AM), the Made in Cambodia Market (12.00 PM to 10.00 PM), and the BB Angkor Market (8.00 AM to 10.00 PM).

Many of the markets are close to Pub Street and can be reached on foot. Otherwise, you can always hire a tuk-tuk and get there for about $1 to $2.

6. Visit the Landmine Museum

If you are interested in Cambodia’s more recent history, then you should visit the Landmine Museum. It tells the story of Aki Ra, a young man who collected landmines with a stick and displayed them.

The government closed his private museum in 2007 but allowed him to reopen it at another location. It is now located in Angkor Wat National Park near the Banteay Srey Temple and can be visited by tourists.

The museum houses four galleries to tell visitors Aki Ra’s story and educate them about landmines in Cambodia. The museum is also home to 27 Cambodian children, whom you support by visiting. All good reasons to stop by.

The Landmine Museum in Siem Reap is open daily from 7.30 AM to 5.00 PM. Admission is $5.

7. Visit Wat Preah Prom Rath

Wat Preah Prom Rath, usually shortened to Wat Prom Rath by locals, is one of the more modern temples in Siem Reap, even though it is already more than 500 years old. It is open daily, and you can visit free of charge.

Wat Prom Rath is still an active temple, so while exploring the grounds, you may encounter monks. The site is beautifully decorated and definitely worth seeing.

As a change of pace after exploring the many temple ruins of Angkor Wat, this temple is a refreshing sight. Wat Prom Rath is not heavily visited by tourists, so it offers a peaceful atmosphere. You can explore the grounds at your own leisure. From Pub Street, it’s about a 5-minute walk to the temple.

8. Enjoy a Day in the Floating Villages on Tonle Sap Lake

As mentioned in the introduction, Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake, is close to Siem Reap. This makes it perfect for a day or half-day trip. The village of Chong Khneas is a popular destination, located on the shore of the lake about 15 kilometers from Siem Reap.

Here, visitors can rent a boat and be taken through the floating village. The boat ride usually lasts about two hours. Afterward, people relax on the shore of Tonle Sap, eat, and enjoy the peaceful rural atmosphere. The tours cost around $30 per person, including food and the boat ride.

9. Try the Street Food in Siem Reap

Just like in Thailand, you’ll also find plenty of street vendors in Cambodia offering street food. Dishes like Lort Char or grilled squid on skewers are among the most common. You’ll also find other options such as grilled fish or Nömpang, the tasty Cambodian alternative to the Banh Mi sandwiches from Vietnam.

Be bold and try a few snacks. If you’re really adventurous, maybe even scorpions or spiders on skewers. But most of the other foods are also very tasty. We love eating at street stalls and, by the way, we’ve never had any problems with it.

Siem Reap: Tours and Tickets

Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know Siem Reap in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for Siem Reap.

How to Get to Siem Reap

Outside the city of Siem Reap lies the international airport, which is served by many airlines from across Asia. From Europe, however, you’ll need to make a stopover in places such as Bangkok or Singapore to fly into Siem Reap. More details on schedules, prices, etc. can be found on Skyscanner.

Other ways to reach Siem Reap include taking a boat, for example from Phnom Penh, or, of course, by bus. There are many connections within Cambodia as well as routes to Thailand. You can check the available options on 12go.asia.

Have you been to Siem Reap? How did you like the city? Do you know any other Siem Reap things to do or tips? We look forward to your feedback in the comments.