The 12 Best Things to Do in Siem Reap

LOOKING FOR THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN SIEM REAP?

You’ve come to the right place! I used to live in Cambodia and got to spend a lot of time in Siem Reap. The first time I went to Siem Reap I went as a tourist, then a few years later I got a job in Cambodia, so I got to experience Siem Reap both as a tourist and as a long-term resident.

Visiting the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap is a bucket list destination for many travellers. I must say that watching the sunrise and sunset at Angkor Wat is truly a beautiful experience, although it can get crowded with many tourists at times!

Overall, some of the best things to do in Siem Reap include visiting the Angkor Archaeological Park (including the Angkor Wat!), boat trip to the floating villages and to see the sunrise on the Tonle Sap, see a performance at the Phare Circus and exploring the markets in Siem Reap.

So, here are the best things to do in Siem Reap!

How to Get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

Phnom Penh to Siem Reap By Bus

There are many day and night buses operating between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

Giant Ibis is one of the reliable bus companies in Cambodia and they have regular day and night buses between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Bus tickets can be easily booked on Giant Ibis’ website.

The bus journey from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap takes about 6 hour and costs USD 17.

Giant Ibis also operates buses between Siem Reap and Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, so if you travel onwards to Thailand or Vietnam, this company is also an option.

Phnom Penh to Siem Reap By Flight

Cambodia Angkor Air operates direct flights between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. The journey takes less than an hour by plane.

If you want to avoid the long bus journey, taking the flight can be an option. The flights from Phnom Penh cost around USD 70 one-way. 

The Best Things to Do in Siem Reap

1. See the Sunrise at Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat Opening Times: Everyday: 5:00 am – 5:30 pm

Angkor Archaeological Park Ticket Price:

• 1-day pass: USD 37 (you can use it one time within a 5-day period)
• 3-day pass: USD 62 (you can use it 3 times within a 10-day period)
• 7-day pass: USD 72 (you can use it 7 times within a 30-day period)

Visiting the Angkor Wat is the most breath-taking and important stop in Siem Reap. Most people will come to Siem Reap and Cambodia to see the Angkor Wat. 

For me, it was one of the most beautiful experiences in my life to see the sunrise over the Angkor Wat. To be honest, I did not know beforehand that there would be so many tourists, so I had to move around to find the perfect spots for the best views and photos.

After the sunrise, you get the day to discover all the other monuments in the Angkor Archaeological Park.

Book a 2-day Angkor Wat Tour for Sunrise and Sunset here! (Rated 4.9/5 ⭐ on 1,105 Reviews)

Tips for Visiting Angkor Wat:

• Buy your ticket the day before: If you have time to buy the ticket the day before, it will be the best option. If you buy the ticket in the morning, you will be very tight on time to make it to Angkor Wat by sunrise.
• If you buy your ticket in the morning on the day of your visit: get to the ticket office early, before they even open. The ticket office opens at 5:00 am – if you get there a little bit before, you will be the first one in the line and you will be able to make it to Angkor Wat for the sunrise.
• Have cash to pay for the ticket (in case card payment is down): When I was there, the card payment was down and they were not able to accept card payment. Make sure you have enough in USD to pay for the ticket in case card payment is down.
• Book a tuk-tuk to drive you to the site the day before: The driver will meet you early morning and take you to buy the tickets first (if you do not have the ticket yet). Make sure you go as early as possible, otherwise the queues for the tickets will be long and it will take a long time to get your tickets.
• Take a headtorch with you: It will still be dark when you get to the Angkor Archaeological Park in the morning and you will need some light to show the path. You can also use the torch on your phone to make light on the path. 

2. Explore the Angkor Archaeological Park

• Angkor Archaeological Park Opening Times: Everyday 7:30 am – 5:30 pm

Although Angkor Wat is the most famous temple in the archaeological park, the park complex is quite massive and there are lots of other temples you can explore during your trip.

There are about 72 major temples and additionally over 100 minor temples in the park complex. Most of the temples were built between the 9-15^th century.

How to Get Around the Angkor Archaeological Park:

• By tuktuk: The easiest way to get around the park will be if you book a rickshaw for the day. You can select which sites you’d like to visit within the park and the driver will take you one by one to each, waiting for you while you visit each site. 
• By cycle: you can also rent a bicycle and discover the Angkor Archaeological Park at your own space. However, just keep in mind that the park is quite big and it can get very hot during the day, so don’t forget to take sunscreen and water with you.

3. Visit the Cambodian Cultural Village

• Cambodian Cultural Village Opening Times: Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 18:30 pm, Saturdays – Sunday: 8:00 am – 20:00 pm

The Cambodian Cultural Village is a cultural museum in Siem Reap. It is a great place to learn about Cambodian culture, history and traditions.

Within the cultural complex, there are recreations of historical buildings in miniature structures, gardens, sculptures, replicas of floating villages and also a wax museum.

The whole area is quite big and it takes about 3 hours to get around the whole cultural village.

4. See the Floating Villages

The Tonple Sap Lake is near Siem Reap and you can easily book a boat trip to see the floating villages.

The floating villages are mainly fishing villages and you will see lots of boats and fishing equipment around. During the tour, you will take a boat tour around local villages and will also disembark the boat to walk around the villages.

Book your place for a Boat Trip to the Kampong Phluk Floating Village here! (Rated 4.9/5 ⭐ on 1,607 Reviews)

Best time to visit the floating villages: It is best to visit during the monsoon season as only during that time will the water level be high enough for the houses to look like they are floating.

If you visit at other times, the water levels will be too low and you will see the houses only on the planks.

5. See the Sunset at Tonle Sap

The Tonle Sap also provides beautiful sunset views. Usually, if you book a tour to see the floating villages, you will also get to go on a sunset view boat tour. The boat will go further out in the lake and stop for people to take in the sunset views.

6. Go on a Boat Trip to the Mangrove Forests

You can also book a boat trip to discover the mangrove forests in Tonle Sap. You can also combine the floating village and sunset tour with the option to get off the boat and take a short canoe trip down a mangrove forest.

7. Watch a Performance at Phare Circus

Phare Circus is a really great experience of theatre and music that perform stories about the Cambodian history. 

The performers at the Phare Circus are all former students from the Phare Ponleu Selpak school. The school is a non-profit for arts and circus school, founded by 9 young men coming from a refugee camp after the Khmer Rouge regime ended.

They founded the school in Battambang to help deprived youth to access free education and also to gain skills in art, music and theatre. The Phare Circus offers a place for students to work, earn a decent wage and also to showcase their skills.

8. Hang Out at Pub Street

After a day of visiting the Angkor Archaeological Park, what is better than going to Pub Street and enjoy some good food and drinks?

Pub Street has many great restaurants and lively bars full of other travellers. This basically where all the travellers hang out and get together after a day of sightseeing.

There are also street vendors nearby that sell very tasty and cheap street food.

9. Learn About Landmines at the Cambodian Landmine Museum

• Cambodian Landmine Museum Ticket Price: USD 5
• Cambodian Landmine Museum Opening Times: Monday – Sunday: 7:30 am – 5:30 pm

Although the Cambodian Landmine Museum is a little bit further out from Siem Reap, it is totally worth visiting.

You can learn about the landmines in Cambodia and the process of clearing landmines. Usually, they have tours in the museum and the staff working there are all people who have survived landmine explosions.

10. Buy Souvenirs at a Market in Siem Reap

Old Market

The Old Market in Siem Reap is best for souvenirs, clothes, accessories and also for buying food, and fresh fruits and vegetables. It is great to discover the different items sold, and if you feel like bargaining, this is place.

Siem Reap Art Centre Night Market

There are lots of stalls here selling souvenirs, clothes, food and drinks. You can also get handcrafted items, paintings and gemstones here. Like in other markets, if you are up for it, bargaining here is also acceptable. 

11. Take a Yoga Class

There are lots of places in Siem Reap that offer yoga classes. Sign up for a yoga class to recharge your body and mind.

The Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel runs yoga classes, sound baths, spa treatments and they also have a pool. You can sign up for a one off class or get a class pass if you are staying longer in Siem Reap.

12. Visit the War Museum Cambodia

• War Museum Cambodia Ticket Price: USD 5
• War Museum Cambodia Opening Times: Monday – Sunday: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm

The War Museum in Siem Reap showcases a collection of military equipment (weapons, planes tanks). It is not so well maintained and most of the equipment of display are all old.

There is not much information available about the collection on display so it is not so informative. I think it can be a good stop if you have already visited the more famous spots in Siem Reap and you still have some time to discover other places.

Hotels in Siem Reap

Looking for the best hotels in Siem Reap? Here are my top recommendations for every budget:

FAQs: Best Things to Do in Siem Reap

How many days is enough in Siem Reap?

You should spend at least 2 full days in Siem Reap if you are short on time. If you only have 2 days in Siem Reap, you can spend 1 day exploring the Angkor Archaeological Complex, and spend the other day on going on a boat trip to the floating villages and explore Siem Reap.

If you have more than 2 days, you can get a visitors’ pass to the Angkor Archaeological Park and visit it more than just one day. If you stay for more days, it will also give you time to explore other activities in Siem Reap such as the Phare Circus or the Cambodian Landmine Museum.

Is it worth visiting Siem Reap?

Yes, it is definitely worth visiting Siem Reap! Siem Reap is the most famous for the Angkor Wat temple, but it has so much more to offer besides the temples.

Some of the best things to do in Siem Reap besides temples are going on a boat trip to the floating villages and mangrove forests, watching the sunset on a boat trip, see a performance at Phare Circus, shop at one of the markets or just hang out at Pub Street.

What are the must see sights in Siem Reap?

The must see sights in Siem Reap include the Angkor Archaeological Park, Tonle Sap, floating villages, mangrove forests on a boat trip, a performance at Phare Circus, markets and chilling at Pub Street.

Conclusion

Visiting the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap is a bucket list destination for many travellers. I must say that watching the sunrise and sunset at Angkor Wat is truly a beautiful experience, although it can get crowded with many tourists at times!

Overall, some of the best things to do in Siem Reap include visiting the Angkor Archaeological Park (including the Angkor Wat!), boat trip to the floating villages and to see the sunrise on the Tonle Sap, see a performance at the Phare Circus and exploring the markets in Siem Reap.