Cambodia ☁️ 28°C · Now Nov-Feb best — cool dry season

Siem Reap

Q: How many days in Siem Reap?

3-4 nights is ideal for Angkor Wat. Day 1: Angkor sunrise + Angkor Wat (the icon, 1.5h exploration) + Bayon (200 carved faces) + Ta Prohm ('Tomb Raider' tree-strangled temple). Day 2: Tonle Sap floating villages (Kampong Phluk, $25 boat tour) + Khmer cooking class ($30-40, 4h includes market + cooking + meal). Day 3: Banteay Srei (Pink temple, 35km, intricate carvings) + Pre Rup sunset OR Phnom Bakheng sunset (crowded). Day 4: Beng Mealea (jungle temple) + Cambodia Landmine Museum + Apsara dance show. Phnom Penh (capital, 6h bus or 1h flight, killing fields + Tuol Sleng) needs 2 more nights for full Cambodia trip.

Q: Visa for Cambodia?

Visa on arrival (VOA) at Siem Reap Airport (REP) or land borders — $30 USD cash + 1 passport photo, 30 days. OR e-Visa online at evisa.gov.kh — $36, 30 days, 3-day processing, recommended (skip airport queues). 6-month+ passport validity + 2 blank pages required. Direct flights to Siem Reap (REP, currently Siem Reap-Angkor Airport, opened 2023): from Bangkok (1h, $80-200), Singapore (2.5h, $200-500), Vietnam (1h, $80-200). From US: 20-26h via Asian hub (Bangkok/Singapore/Tokyo), $1,200-2,500. From Korea/Japan: 5-6h, $300-700.

Q: English level?

Universal in tourism — Siem Reap is fully tourism-oriented since 1990s. Hotels, restaurants, tour guides, tuk-tuk drivers (mostly), markets all speak conversational English. Younger generation fluent. Khmer language is unique to Cambodia — phrases 'Sour sdei' (sue-sa-DEY) hi, 'Akun' (uh-koon) thanks, 'Pon-mahn?' how much. Most signs + menus bilingual. French legacy (older Cambodian elite speak French). Korean + Japanese tourist boom means many cafés/restaurants have Korean/Japanese menus + staff.

Q: Hotels + airport + getting around?

Siem Reap Airport (REP) is 50km from city center (new airport opened 2023 — old one closed). Taxi $20-30 (1h drive, fixed). Hotel pickup $10-25. Tuk-tuk not available at new airport — only cars. City-to-temples by tuk-tuk $15-25/day, car $25-40/day, bike rental $2-5/day. Hotel neighborhoods: Pub Street area (central, walking to bars/restaurants, $20-100 — 24/7 nightlife noise). Wat Bo area (quieter, residential, 5 min tuk-tuk from center, $30-150). Riverside (mid-range, beautiful walks, $50-300). Far from center (5-star resorts with pools): Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor (legendary 1932, $300-700, Jackie Kennedy stayed), Belmond La Résidence d'Angkor ($300-600), Park Hyatt ($250-500), Anantara Angkor Resort ($200-450). Budget: Mad Monkey Hostel ($10-25, party crowd), Onederz Hostel ($15-30).

Cambodia

#Historic #Temples #Budget

Siem Reap at a glance

As of 2026

As of 2026, Siem Reap travel is best in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, from about $35/day (budget, ex-flights), with a 3-day itinerary. Top sight: Angkor Wat (1113 CE — world's largest religious monument).

Daily budget

$35+

Budget tier · excl. flights

Direct flights

From major hubs

REP/SAI

Visa

Visa-free 90 days

For most Western passports

Exchange

USD

Local currency

Best time

Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb

Currently Jun

Climate

Tropical

Now ☁️ 28°C

Local time

23:23

ICT (UTC+7)

Language

Khmer

English in tourism areas

Why visit Siem Reap?

Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor Wat — world's largest religious monument (162 hectares, built 1113 CE by Suryavarman II). 230,000 people in city + tourism economy built around the temples. Bayon Temple (Khmer Empire's smiling stone faces — 212 of them), Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider 1992 filming location with banyan tree roots growing through ruins), Cambodia's tourism capital. Cheap, atmospheric, with deep history. Tonle Sap floating villages + Phnom Kulen waterfalls nearby. Pub Street nightlife + Khmer cuisine.

Iconic Cambodian dishes: Fish amok (steamed coconut fish curry, $5-12 — Cambodia's national dish), Khmer red curry ($5-10), Lok lak (beef stir-fry with peppercorn sauce, $5-10), Nom banh chok (rice noodle salad, $2-5), Bai sach chrouk (pork + rice breakfast, $2-4), Cambodia beer ($1-3).

Bottom line: Siem Reap is the canonical Angkor Wat experience + cheap budget Asia. 3 days hits Angkor + Tonle Sap + Phnom Kulen. Pre-book accommodations + Angkor pass.

Things to do in Siem Reap

Angkor Temples (UNESCO)

Angkor Wat (1113 CE — world's largest religious monument)

Built 1113-1150 CE by King Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu — 162 hectares, surrounded by a 190m-wide moat, the five central towers symbolize Mount Meru of Hindu cosmology. The only Angkor temple that faces west (some scholars argue it was built as Suryavarman II's funerary temple). Re-discovered in 1860 by French naturalist Henri Mouhot and inscribed UNESCO World Heritage 1992. The third-level central sanctuary requires modest dress (covered shoulders + knees) and is closed to under-12s. Best photographed from the reflecting pool on the west causeway at sunrise.

1-day pass $37; 3-day pass $62; 7-day pass $72 (Angkor Enterprise ticket center only) 5:00-17:30 daily 3-4 hours

Tip: Pre-book online or buy at Angkor Enterprise (4km from town; passport + on-site photo required). The west reflecting pool (left/north pond) is the iconic sunrise spot — arrive 4:30 AM. Skip 10:00-14:00 (heat + tour groups). Photo restriction on the third level.

Angkor Wat Sunrise (canonical 5:30 AM reflecting-pool shot)

The single most-photographed sunrise in Southeast Asia — five towers of Angkor Wat silhouetted against pink-orange sky and mirrored in the north reflecting pool. Sun breaks behind the central tower at 5:30-6:00 AM November-March (cloudier May-October). 300+ photographers line the pool edge by 5:00 AM, so arriving by 4:30 AM is mandatory for a front-row spot.

Included in Angkor pass; tuk-tuk $20-30 round trip with 4:30 pickup 4:30 pickup; sunrise 5:30-6:00 AM 2-3 hours total

Tip: Tuk-tuk drivers know to drop at the north pond, not the south. Wear a head torch for the pre-dawn walk in. Bring water (no vendors before sunrise). Skip if forecast shows >70% cloud — the silhouette doesn't appear. Tripod allowed but no flash.

Bayon Temple (216 stone faces of Avalokiteshvara)

Centerpiece of Angkor Thom — King Jayavarman VII's 13th-century state temple covered in 216 enigmatic smiling stone faces carved across 54 towers, often called the 'Smile of Angkor'. Scholars debate whether the faces represent the king himself or the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. The first and second galleries contain remarkable bas-reliefs depicting daily life, naval battles, and Hindu mythology. The third level is the climbing point for face close-ups.

Included in Angkor pass 7:30-17:30 daily 1.5-2 hours

Tip: Midday (11:00-13:00) gives sharpest shadow definition on the faces. Enter via Angkor Thom South Gate for the dramatic 'churning of the ocean of milk' causeway. Combine with Baphuon + Phimeanakas + Elephant Terrace as one half-day route.

Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider banyan-root sanctuary)

Consecrated 1186 by Jayavarman VII for his mother — left in its 1860 discovered state with giant kapok (silk-cotton) and strangler fig roots cascading over the sandstone galleries. Made famous worldwide by the 2001 'Tomb Raider' film starring Angelina Jolie (the iconic doorway scene was filmed at the west entrance). Active conservation by an India + Cambodia joint team. Crowds peak 10:00-16:00 — arrive 7:00-8:00 AM for empty galleries.

Included in Angkor pass 7:30-17:30 daily 1-1.5 hours

Tip: Enter from the east gate (more atmospheric); exit west (Tomb Raider doorway). Photography near the largest tree requires patience for an empty frame. Wear closed shoes (uneven stones + roots).

Banteay Srei (Pink Citadel 967 CE — 'Jewel of Khmer Art')

Built 967 CE in pink-red sandstone — the most-intricate carvings of any Khmer monument, often called the 'Jewel of Khmer Art'. Located 32km northeast of Siem Reap, the smaller scale (single temple, not a complex) and warm pink hue under morning light make it the most-photogenic Banteay temple. André Malraux famously tried to steal carved devata figures here in 1923 (he was arrested). Less crowded than the central Angkor temples.

Included in Angkor pass; $10-15 extra tuk-tuk round trip for the 32km distance 7:30-17:00 daily 1-1.5 hours

Tip: Combine with Banteay Samre + Pre Rup sunset as one 'Grand Circuit' day. Arrive 7:30-9:00 AM for warm pink light + no crowds. Bring binoculars to study the upper-frieze details.

Preah Khan (12th-century monastic complex with banyans)

Built 1191 by Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist university + temple complex — 138 acres, dedicated to his father. Roots-over-stone aesthetic similar to Ta Prohm but with longer corridors and fewer crowds. The Hall of Dancers (apsara carvings) and the rare two-story Hall of the Sacred Sword are highlights. Connects to Neak Pean + Ta Som on the Grand Circuit.

Included in Angkor pass 7:30-17:30 daily 1.5 hours

Tip: Less touristy than Ta Prohm — quieter photo opportunities of root-covered ruins. Enter from the west, exit east toward Neak Pean.

Beng Mealea (Lost Temple — 70km east jungle ruins)

Built early 12th century by Suryavarman II as an Angkor Wat-style prototype — left completely unrestored and consumed by jungle. 70km east of Siem Reap, only opened to the public in 2003 after de-mining was completed. Used as the second Tomb Raider location and as a stand-in for what European 19th-century explorers first saw at Angkor. Wooden boardwalks now thread through the collapsed galleries.

$5 separate ticket + $50-60 tuk-tuk or $80 car round trip 7:30-17:00 daily 2-3 hours including travel

Tip: Combine with Koh Ker for a full-day rural temples tour ($60-80 day-tour driver). Closed shoes essential — loose rubble. Pack lunch — no restaurants nearby.

Angkor Thom South Gate (5-headed elephant causeway)

Monumental south entrance to Jayavarman VII's 9 km² walled capital — 23m-tall gopura crowned by four giant faces, approached over a 100m causeway lined with 54 gods + 54 demons pulling a naga (Hindu 'churning of the ocean of milk' myth). Standard first stop after sunrise at Angkor Wat. Drive through slowly for the photo; park inside for a closer look at the deva and asura statues.

Included in Angkor pass Daylight; visible 24/7 20-30 min stop

Tip: Best photographed from the bridge — get out of the tuk-tuk and walk. Many statue heads were stolen or replaced by replicas (originals at the National Museum in Phnom Penh).

Nature & Lakes

Tonle Sap + Kampong Phluk Floating Village

Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake — its surface area triples between dry and wet season, reversing the flow of the Tonle Sap River. Kampong Phluk is the most-authentic stilted village (15m-tall wooden houses) — a 1-hour drive south of Siem Reap, accessed by motorboat through flooded mangroves. Sunset boat tours are the magic-hour pick. Avoid the touristy Chong Khneas village (closer but inflated prices + scams).

$20-30 group tour; $50-80 private boat 8:00-17:00 (sunset tours 15:30-18:30) Half day

Tip: Best September-March (water levels visible). 'School donation' boat-stop is a known scam — politely decline. Kampong Phluk > Chong Khneas > Mechrey for authenticity.

Phnom Kulen Sacred Mountain + Waterfalls

Cambodia's most-sacred mountain — 50km north of Siem Reap, where Jayavarman II declared independence from Java in 802 CE and founded the Khmer Empire. Highlights: a 30m waterfall (swimmable), the River of 1000 Lingas (Hindu fertility carvings in the riverbed), a reclining-Buddha pagoda at the summit, and pilgrimage trails. Full-day trip with steep mountain road.

$20 entry + $60-90 day-tour with driver 8:00-17:00 (one-way uphill road closes 11:00) Full day

Tip: Sacred site — modest dress required at the pagoda. The 1000 Lingas carvings are only visible in dry season (water too high May-October). Combine with Banteay Srei + Beng Mealea as a circuit.

Kbal Spean (River of 1000 Lingas)

50km northeast of Siem Reap, deep in the Phnom Kulen National Park — Hindu carvings (lingas + Vishnu reliefs) chiselled directly into the sandstone riverbed of a forest stream. 1500m uphill trek through jungle to reach the carved section. Atmospheric and uncrowded. Most accessible December-April when river levels reveal the carvings.

Included in Phnom Kulen ticket $20 + driver 7:30-15:00 (trail closes 15:00) Half-day with driver

Tip: Moderate 45-min uphill hike — wear trail shoes. Combine with Banteay Srei on the same loop. Carvings 800-1100 CE.

Cambodia Landmine Museum (Aki Ra collection)

Founded by former Khmer Rouge child soldier Aki Ra (now a UN-honored de-miner) — small but powerful museum displaying ~3,000 deactivated landmines and UXO, with stories of survivors and de-mining work. 25km north of Siem Reap on the road to Banteay Srei.

$5 entry 8:00-17:00 daily 45-60 min

Tip: Combine with the Banteay Srei day trip. Heavy emotional content. Bookshop on-site funds de-mining work.

Koh Ker Pyramid Temple Complex

Built 928-944 CE during Cambodia's brief capital shift away from Angkor — Prasat Thom is a 36m seven-tiered pyramid, the only one of its kind in Khmer architecture. 120km north of Siem Reap (2-hour drive). Very few visitors; jungle-covered ruins across 81 known temples.

$15 separate ticket + $80-100 car round trip 7:30-17:00 daily Full day including transit

Tip: Combine with Beng Mealea for a long but rewarding day. Steep wooden staircase to the pyramid summit — exposed sun.

City & Culture

Phare Cambodian Circus (Khmer story through acrobatics)

Nightly 90-min show by Phare Ponleu Selpak — a Battambang social-circus school for at-risk youth. Tells Cambodian stories (Khmer Rouge survival, village life, folk legends) through acrobatics, juggling, fire, music, and theatre. Performance under a Big Top tent on the south side of town. Tickets fund the school. Iconic Siem Reap evening experience — pair with dinner at the on-site restaurant.

$18 standard / $28 premium / $38 VIP Show 20:00 nightly; doors 19:00 1.5 hours

Tip: Pre-book 2-3 days ahead in peak season (Dec-Feb). Tuk-tuk from Pub Street $3. The on-site Phare Cafe + Bar opens 18:00 for pre-show drinks.

Apsara Dance Show + Khmer Buffet Dinner

Traditional Khmer royal dance (UNESCO Intangible Heritage 2003) — apsara (celestial nymph) dancers in elaborate golden costumes performing the same steps depicted on the Angkor Wat bas-reliefs. Multiple venues offer dinner-buffet packages with the 60-min performance. Apsara Theatre (premium) and Koulen Restaurant (mid-range, central) are the standards.

$15-20 dinner + show / $25-30 premium Show 19:30-20:30 nightly 2 hours with dinner

Tip: Reserve 1 day ahead. Apsara Theatre (better food + venue) vs Koulen (cheaper + walking from Pub Street). The dance vocabulary mirrors the Angkor temple carvings — pay attention to hand mudras.

Pub Street + Old Market (Phsar Chas) Heritage District

Pub Street is the pedestrianized 1km neon-lit nightlife strip — Angkor What? bar (the original 1998 backpacker classic), Temple Club (rooftop), Khmer BBQ Pub Street, and dozens of cheap-beer ($0.50 happy hour) stalls. Adjacent Old Market (Phsar Chas) is the canonical day market for produce + spices + silk + souvenirs. Most-visited zone in Siem Reap.

Free walking; drinks $1-5; meals $5-15 Old Market 6:00-22:00; Pub Street 11:00-02:00 2-3 hours evening

Tip: Old Market mornings 7:00-10:00 for local life. Pub Street post-22:00 gets rowdy — watch for pickpockets. Bargain hard at the market (start at 40% of asking).

Khmer Cooking Class (Cooks in Tuk Tuks + Le Tigre de Papier)

3-4h hands-on Khmer cooking — market tour at the Old Market (buying ingredients) + cooking 4-5 dishes including fish amok (Cambodia's national dish), beef lok lak, Khmer red curry, and mango sticky rice. The 'Cooks in Tuk Tuks' school is the highest-rated; Le Tigre de Papier runs a more rustic version. Recipe booklet included.

$25-40 per person Morning class 9:00-13:00; afternoon 15:00-19:00 3-4 hours

Tip: Pre-book 1 day ahead through Klook or directly. Mention dietary restrictions. The market tour portion is half the value — don't skip.

Artisans Angkor (silk farm + handicraft workshops)

Social enterprise reviving traditional Khmer crafts — visit the silk farm 16km outside town (free shuttle from Siem Reap office) to see silkworms, dyeing, and weaving. Town workshop showcases stone + wood carving, lacquerware, and silk painting. Boutique sells fair-trade items.

Free tours; shuttle bus from town free Town workshop 7:30-18:30; silk farm 8:00-17:00 1.5-2 hours

Tip: Sign up for the silk-farm shuttle the day before. Higher-quality souvenirs than Old Market (priced 30-50% higher but authentic).

Cambodia War Museum (Khmer Rouge military hardware)

Outdoor military museum displaying tanks, helicopters, artillery, and small arms used during the Cambodian civil war + Vietnamese invasion + Khmer Rouge era. Veteran guides (some former soldiers) give personal-history tours. Less polished than the Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, but raw and informative.

$5 entry + optional veteran guide $5-10 8:00-17:00 daily 1-1.5 hours

Tip: Take a veteran-guided tour — the personal stories make the visit. Heavy emotional content. Combine with the Landmine Museum on the road to Banteay Srei.

Sunset & Sunrise

Phnom Bakheng Sunset Hill (capacity-limited classic)

9th-century hill-temple (67m above the plain) — the original sunset spot since the first French tourists in the 1900s. Caps at 300 visitors on the upper terrace (strict timed entry from 16:00). The view: Angkor Wat in the foreground left + West Baray reservoir to the right + Tonle Sap on the horizon. 20-min uphill walk from the parking area.

Included in Angkor pass Open 5:00-18:30; sunset entry 16:00-17:00 2 hours including hike

Tip: Arrive 15:30 to be sure of upper-terrace entry. Headlamp for the descent. If full, Pre Rup makes an excellent alternative.

Pre Rup Sunset (pyramid-temple alternative)

10th-century brick + laterite pyramid — taller and less crowded alternative to Phnom Bakheng. The five-tower summit catches golden light beautifully, and the surrounding plain stretches to the horizon. Steep stairs to the top (no time limit). 12km east of central Angkor on the Grand Circuit.

Included in Angkor pass Open 5:00-18:30; ideal 16:30-18:00 sunset 1 hour

Tip: Wear closed shoes (worn brick steps). Combine with Eastern Mebon (next door) for a half-day Grand Circuit afternoon.

Sras Srang Sunrise (royal bathing pool)

12th-century royal reservoir (700m × 350m) — quieter alternative to the Angkor Wat sunrise crowds. The east shore has a small landing platform with a lion balustrade; sunrise rises directly across the water at 5:45-6:15 AM. Near Banteay Kdei temple. Perfect for the second sunrise (Day 2 itinerary).

Included in Angkor pass Sunrise 5:45-6:30 AM 1 hour

Tip: 10x less crowded than Angkor Wat sunrise. Combine with Banteay Kdei + Ta Prohm afterward.

Tonle Sap Sunset Cruise

1-2 hour boat ride on Cambodia's great lake — sun sets directly over the floating villages (best September-March when villages are afloat). Premium options include drinks + canapé service on smaller boats. Operators leave from Chong Khneas pier (closest) or Kampong Phluk pier (more authentic).

$20-30 group; $80-150 private sunset boat 16:00-18:30 departure 2-3 hours including transfer

Tip: Pre-book through Klook for the group option; book directly with operators for private boats. Mosquito repellent.

Wat Athvea Sunset (off-tourist-path 11th-century temple)

Small 11th-century sandstone temple 5km south of central Siem Reap — almost no tourists, atmospheric ruined galleries with active Buddhist worship area attached. Sunset over the rice fields adjacent to the temple. A tuk-tuk-friendly 15-min ride from Pub Street.

Free (active Buddhist temple) Daylight; ideal 17:00-18:30 sunset 45 min

Tip: Bring a small donation for the monks ($1-2). Modest dress. Photographer's secret spot — almost never crowded.

Travel cost

Per person, per day (excludes flights)

Hostel + local food + public transport

$35

Per person / day (excl. flights)

🏠Hotel

34%$12

🍽️Food

23%$8

🚇Transit

14%$5

🎫Activities

29%$10

📅 Total cost by trip duration (incl. flights)

3 days

$130

5 days

$200

7 days

$270

Flight estimate: $700-1,400 from US/EU; $130-300 from Asia (REP via AirAsia + Cathay) (round-trip estimate)

💡Siem Reap is one of cheapest Asian destinations. Stay near Pub Street for walking access. Tuk-tuk to Angkor $20/day. Pre-book Angkor pass online to skip queues.

Monthly weather

Currently in Siem Reap: ☁️ 28°C

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Siem Reap now (Jun)

High 33°C / Low 25°C· Very Hot

Jan 🔥

High 32°C / Low 20°C

Very Hot

★ Best time to visit

32°

JanBest

Feb 🔥

High 33°C / Low 22°C

Very Hot

★ Best time to visit

33°

FebBest

Mar 🔥

High 35°C / Low 24°C

Very Hot

35°

Mar

Apr 🔥

High 36°C / Low 25°C

Very Hot

36°

Apr

May 🔥

High 35°C / Low 26°C

Very Hot

35°

May

Jun 🔥

High 33°C / Low 25°C

Very Hot

33°

JunNOW

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High 32°C / Low 25°C

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High 32°C / Low 25°C

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32°

Aug

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High 31°C / Low 24°C

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31°

Sep

Oct 🔥

High 31°C / Low 24°C

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31°

Oct

Nov 🔥

High 30°C / Low 22°C

Hot

★ Best time to visit

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NovBest

Dec 🔥

High 31°C / Low 21°C

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★ Best time to visit

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32°

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33°

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35°

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36°

25°

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35°

26°

Very Hot

Jun

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33°

25°

Very Hot

NOW

Jul

🔥

32°

25°

Very Hot

Aug

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32°

25°

Very Hot

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🔥

31°

24°

Hot

Oct

🔥

31°

24°

Hot

Nov

🔥

30°

22°

Hot

★Best

Dec

🔥

31°

21°

Hot

★Best

This MonthBest TimeOther

Practical information

Getting there

REP Airport tuk-tuk to Pub Street: $7 / 30 min. New SAI Airport opened 2023 — check which.

Getting around

Tuk-tuk for everything ($20/day driver + Angkor circuit). Walking in town center.

Money & payments

USD widely accepted (and prices are quoted in USD). Cambodian Riel for change under $1.

Language

Khmer; English universal in tourism.

Cultural tips

Modest dress at temples (cover shoulders + knees). Tipping appreciated $1-2.

Money & payment

Currency

USD (KHR for change).

Card acceptance

Hotels + Angkor pass take cards. Local restaurants cash USD.

Tipping

Appreciated $1-2.

ATM

ABA Bank + ANZ free for foreign cards.

Recommended itinerary

Siem Reap 3-day route