Is Siem Reap Worth Visiting? Yes And Here’s Why!

Some of my links may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I might earn a small commission at no cost to you. See our Privacy Policy for details.
This post was crafted with care and occasional typos by Colleen (and not AI)

Is Siem Reap Worth Visiting? Yes! It’s definitely worth a visit. The UNESCO World Heritage temples at Angkor Wat alone deserve to be seen.

But there’s more to Siem Reap than these historic wonders, so allow plenty of time for exploring.

How Many Days Do You Need In Siem Reap?

Siem Reap is renowned for the iconic Angkor Wat temple complex; considered one of the great wonders of the world. Like so many other travellers, we visited Siem Reap because we wanted to explore those temples, but we quickly realised that there was a great deal more to see.

Why Is Siem Reap Famous?

Visiting Angkor Archaeological Park

You can’t visit Siem Reap without explore the temples. Just 5.5 kilometres from town is the incredible Archaeological Park at Angkor. A UNESCO World Heritage Site that houses some of the world’s most spectacular and intricate, ancient temples.

Most people are familiar with the iconic Angkor Wat temple and maybe recall Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie.  However most folks don’t know that the archaeological site covers over 400 km2.

Within this vast area lie 72 major temples and several hundred minor sites, making it impossible to explore every inch, that was once home to over a million people. We spent two days and for us that was enough. But you should allow at least one day, including a sunrise.

To make the most of your visit to the temples :

The best way to visit Angkor Wat is with a guide and these are the very best guided tours :

Is The Sunrise Worth It?

Yes. We almost didn’t bother as we’re not morning people. But a little voice in my head reminded me that we’ll maybe only get one chance to do this.

The guides and drivers are expecting a sunrise tour so there is not problem arranging a 4:30am start; they will tell you the best time and took us to a spot in front of the lake. We secured front row seats, albeit that there are no seats.

Was it worth waiting for the sunrise? Oh yes. We watched the sky turn from inky blue to pink to a warm apricot. And we got to explore the temples in the cool of the early morning before the late-comers arrived.

Top Tip : be prepared to sit on the grass for an hour waiting for the sunrise and do make sure that you apply bug-deterrent; I forgot and dawn is prime biting time!

What To Do In Siem Reap Apart From The Temples

We enjoyed our time in Siem Reap. We never had enough time to fully explore; which pretty much sums up our entire time in Cambodia. Everyone talks about the temples but there really is a great deal to see and do if you look beyond Angkor Wat.

1. Take A Khmer Cooking Class

Next to walking tours, a cooking class is perhaps our favourite activity. We’ve been to cooking classes from Bordeaux to Bali and Marrakech to Malta and Hanoi! It’s a great way to learn about local customs and traditions and you get the added advantage of a great home cooked meal.

This cooking class is by far the highest rated class in Siem Reap and sadly we had to cancel ours because of our flight change. Make sure you book your space well in advance as it fills quickly.

2. Receive a Traditional Water Blessing

I was looking for something a little more unusual to do and despite Gerry’s misgivings, this tour was one of the best! And we spent a few hours exploring a corner of Siem Reap that we would have otherwise never seen.

The blessing is performed by one of the senior monks and you have an opportunity meet and talk to the beforehand. You are provided with a sarong, and the sarong is elasticated so there is no danger of any mishap.

I found the entire process delightful and very special. If you have the chance then take this tour; it’s an experience that I will treasure.

Top Tip : You’ll sit on the floor with your guide and the monk, make sure you either sit cross legs or if not, ensure your feet are pointing away from every one, as it is considered rude to direct your feet towards anyone.

3. Visit The Kulen Waterfall And The 1000 Lingas

The incredible Kulen Waterfall is a stunning natural attraction about 50km from Siem Reap. It’s the perfect fully inclusive day trip and offers an alternative view of this glorious area.

You’ll trek in the Phnom Kulen National Park, visit the mystical River of a Thousand Lingas, where Hindu mythological symbols are carved into the river bed. And you get to swim in the crystal clear waters of the Kulen Waterfall.

We definitely recommend this day. It is an active day and very popular so book early.

4. Tonle Sap and the Floating Villages

Make sure you leave a space in your itinerary for this day. Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world; designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1997.

If you’re choosing a Tonle Sap tour, choose one of the lesser visited villages. We recommend the Kampong Khleang as it’s less touristy and more authentic.

5. The Landmine Museum

The Landmine museum is worth a visit if you have a few hours spare. It’s both extremely sad but also incredibly uplifting.

Cambodia remains one of the most heavily land-mined countries in the world after decades of conflict and it’s estimated that Cambodia won’t be entirely free of landmines for several decades.

The Cambodia Landmine Museum was founded by former child soldier. It shows the horrors of this national curse but also shows the incredible measures being taken to clear the mines using trained rats!

6. Hire a Tuk-Tuk

We wanted to make the most of every moment in Siem Reap. As our Angkor Wat tours started early we were free in the afternoons. One afternoon we hired a tuk-tuk and asked the driver to show us the sights.

It is a really affordable way to explore; we paid 20€ and it was excellent value. We explored temples and museums, we stopped at the Made in Cambodia Artisan Market and we explored the rural life outside of the city.

I would recommend this option for everyone; it’s a great way to see a lot in a short space of time and it’s very breezy in the back of a tuk tuk!

Top Tip : We asked out hotel to arrange this which made it very easy and the driver spoke English which made a huge difference.

7. Siem Reap Markets

If you’re like us then you love to visit local markets; they offer a fascinating insight into local life and every market has a different flavour.

There are several markets in the city. Central Market and Old Market merit a visit and the Angkor Night Market is great for an evening visit.

Whether shopping or browsing it’s worth visiting at least one market during your time in Siem Reap:  

Things To Do In Siem Reap At Night

We thought that Siem Reap was a party town and never gave much thought to what to do at night.  We were wrong. There is more to Siem Reap than Pub Street.

Having said that, you should visit at least once to soak up the atmosphere.  We’re not night owls so we probably left before the party started but we enjoyed wandering through a few times.

The Elephant Bar at Raffles

I’ll tell you why you should research in advance because we never knew there was a Raffles Hotel in Siem Reap and I’m gutted that we missed their signature cocktail!

Visit the Elephant Bar at the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor and try their signature cocktail, the Airavata; a blend of rum, coconut passion, lime juice, crème de banana, pineapple and coconut juice.

Cambodian Circus by Phare

Don’t miss the Cambodian Circus by Phare. It’s a fabulous night of contemporary and traditional performing arts by young local artists.

Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) is a Cambodian charity dedicated to helping disadvantaged young people; PHARE circus is part of this and it’s excellent. It’s also very popular with limited seats to book in advance!

Where to Stay in Siem Reap

Siem Reap has accommodation to suit all pockets; whether you’re looking for luxurious resorts, budget-friendly hostels, or like us, you’re simply looking for comfortable, clean accommodation in a good location.

Old French Quarter

The Old French Quarter is a great choice for a first time visitor and offers a great central location. It’s the perfect base for those seeking a calmer environment but still not too far from the action.

The area is known for its unique architecture which reflects its colonial past. The streets are lined with colourful buildings with plenty of places to eat and shop and many sights are within easy walking distance.

Old Market 

Old Market is the place to go if you want to be in the thick of the action. Old Market is on your doorstep but also many restaurants offering authentic Cambodian cuisine and a number of historic landmarks close-by.

It’s a great spot to base yourself and there are accommodation choices from bunk beds to luxury hotels.

Wat Bo

Wat Bo is a charming area on the north-eastern side of the city and is popular for those looking for good quality low cost accommodation. The area is also well known for its cultural attractions including the Wat Bo Temple. You’re also just a short walk from Old Market and Pub Street.

Our Top Hotel Choices For Siem Reap

P.s. If not Eightfold then our next choice has to be The Koulen Hotel

Our Top Budget Hotel : Cambodia offers some really inexpensive accommodation but if you can stretch your budget just a tiny bit then we reckon People by The Community is a truly special place.   

How To Travel To and From Siem Reap?

Siem Reap has an international airport but if you’re travelling around Cambodia, flights are not your only option. Gerry wrote a great post on getting around Phnom Penh and much of the information would be relevant for Siem Reap too.

Flights and Airports

It is possible to fly in and out of Siem Reap from worldwide destinations and of course to and from Phnom Penh.  We arrived by bus in Siem Reap, as we’d travelled from Mondulkiri, but we flew out from the airport to Bangkok.

The airport in Siem Reap is a simple tuk-tuk ride away from the centre; use GRAB to book your ride when you arrive. Although, most hotels and accommodation offer this service.

Buses

Cambodia has an extensive bus network especially for Sihanoukville, Mondulkiri and Phnom Penh and almost any reasonable sized town. There are also buses to Bangkok, Laos and Vietnam. We used 12GO to book our buses as it’s a convenient way of keeping your travel arrangements in one place.

Express Mini-bus

We used the express mini-bus with Virak Buntham. We used Virak twice from Phnom Penh to Mondulkiri and then again from Mondulkiri to Siem Reap.

These were long journeys; Siem Reap was in excess of 9 hours but cost us less than €20 and we’d recommend this journey and the bus company. Booking your ticket is easy using the 12GO app or website.

Top Tip : Don’t choose to sit immediately behind the driver. You have less leg room but also hot air comes up from the engine and your feet get really hot.

Private Transfer

If you have the budget, or there are few people sharing, there are many options for a private transfer between Siem Reap and other onward destinations within Cambodia. 

Choose wisely as you’ll want to be sure that your driver and car are insured and registered to offer this service. But this is a great way to travel in more comfort and for a faster journey.

Getting Around Siem Reap

Getting around Siem Reap is both easy and inexpensive. The most popular way to travel around the city is by tuk-tuk. Download and use the GRAB app to book your tuk-tuk or ask your hotel for their recommended tuk-tuk driver.

Many hotels will pre-arrange a tuk-tuk driver to collect you from your bus or flight, ours did at no cost.

We found several fabulous tours. The choice of drivers and guides can be a little overwhelming and we loved the tours we chose. We knew in advance when we booked that they had thousands of 5* reviews.

Our hotel did offer guides but we opted to book via Viator (and Get Your Guide) as we prefer to read the comments from other travellers before booking.

Best Time To Visit Siem Reap

Siem Reap can be visited at anytime of year but if you wish to visit during the dry season, November to April is better. The most popular time is December and January when the weather is dry and cool;  but it is also the busiest time of year. 

From November through March, the weather is driest but October is a good choice as the rains are ending, humidity begins to drop down and the crowds are smaller. 

Volunteer Opportunities In Siem Reap

Siem Reap is always worth visiting but if you have plenty of time and you’d like to help make a difference, you can do more than visit the temples.

Volunteering in Siem Reap, is a great way to experience the local life and culture of this beautiful country. From teaching English to helping with community projects, there are both short or a longer term volunteer opportunities available. Well known charities that seek volunteers include :

These organizations provide valuable support to the local population by offering educational programs and other services and offer a meaningful experiences for volunteers.

We also met one of the workers at HUSK during our time in Siem Reap and whilst not offering a volunteer program, they are a great charity and worthy of a donation or contact if you are in the area.

FAQ

We posted daily on our social media when we were travelling through Cambodia and received many many questions from folks who are considering a visit to Cambodia but had no idea about where to start. If you’re wondering if Cambodia or Siem Reap is worth visiting, these answers might help.

Which is better Phnom Penh or Siem Reap?

Both destinations are very different; we’ve also written about whether Phnom Penh is worth a visit. We feel that they are both fantastic destinations and both worthy of a visit.

Do You Need A Visa For Cambodia?

Yes.  Coming from France with a UK passport we did need a visa.  You will need to check with your own government website and also the official eVisa Kingdom of Cambodia- Official Government Website.

Please also check that your port of entry is included in the e-visa scheme; most major hubs are.

Are There Tuk Tuks In Siem Reap

Yes.  Download the GRAB app.  It’s very easy to use, it’s like UBER for Tuk-tuks.  We never entered our bank-card details and we always paid cash. Paying cash was never a problem for us. (Edit: we have since used GRAB with our card and had no issues. We recommend using a virtual card if you have this option). Gerry provides a little more background information in his post about Getting Around Phnom Penh.

What Currency Do You Use In Siem Reap?

You can use US dollars or the local Cambodian currency.  We paid for most things in dollars but we’re given Riels back in change.  Most larger restaurants do accept card payment but always check in advance and not assume that this will be the case.

Top Tip : Old USD notes or damaged notes will not be accepted. 

Finding A Sim Card?

When we started travelling our first stop at the airport was always at the SIM-card booth. However recently we discovered Airalo – an online eSIM provider. The eSIM will only work on a compatible smartphone, but we have been using this company now for many months and we’re very happy. They offer good value, particularly if you are travelling through several countries.

Is Siem Reap Worth Visiting?

The short answer is 100% yes.

The longer answer is, if you are visiting Cambodia then the temples of Angkor Wat are worth visiting alone; there is a reason why they are considered one of the wonders of the world.

But there is a lot more to Siem Reap than temples. Explore markets and museums and watch traditional crafts and go hiking in the glorious mountains above the city and dont forget the floating villages on the Tonle Sap.

If time is short take a look at my ideas for one day in Siem Reap. But do visit. And spend longer than you think. There are many hidden gems to discover!