A Visitor’s Guide to Siem Reap
With the rise of Angkor Wat Archeological Parks as a major tourist destination. Siem Reap has benefitted greatly and is worth exploring in its own right. Tourism is hugely important to Siem Reap with 50% of all jobs supporting tourism. Everyone we met and interacted with was incredibly nice and helpful. The city caters to tourists and it’s easy to feel at home which makes visiting Siem Reap a great idea.
[button size="large" window="new" color="#DEC7CD" link="https://discoverwandering.com/the-temples-of-angkor-wat-a-guide-to-visiting/"]Read our Visitors Guide to Angkor Wat here![/button]Things to Do in Siem Reap
The largest attraction in Cambodia is Angkor Wat. A UNESCO Heritage site, the ancient temples, and overgrown jungle is an awe-inspiring, step-back-in-time experience you cannot miss. If your main goal is Discovering Angkor Wat, we suggest planning downtime and ways to break up the experience as the temples can be overwhelming and with so much to explore and take in. Also, depending on the season, the mid-day heat makes it uncomfortable to explore. We visited the temples in the mornings and, by early afternoon, enjoyed exploring Siem Reap and various adventures.
Pub Street & Night Markets
The Pub Street area is a fun and entertaining walkable section of Siem Reap. The area is definitely focused on tourists with bars, souvenirs, restaurants, street food, and photo-worthy finds. In the same area is the Night Market and Arts Center Night Market. You can also spend time during the day but at night the area takes on a Bourbon Street, New Orleans feel.
Museums & Local History
Cambodia has been marked with war and destruction, some of it is fairly recent. While the history is sad, the people of Cambodia are positive and friendly, putting the past behind them but visiting some of the local museums will help you understand the history and experiences that have shaped the Cambodian people
- Cambodian Landmine Museum – dedicated to educating it’s visitors on land mines, clearing them and there long term impact on Cambodia
- War Museum – dedicated to the most recent wars, featuring miltary hardware and vehicles.
- Angkor National Museum – features cultural artifacts and art throughout Cambodia’s history.
Explore More…
After you have explored Pub Street and the Night Markets, there are loads of other things to do and experience in Siem Reap. Spend the evening at the Phare, the Cambodia Circus, or explore the cultural influences in cooking on a Street Food Tour or enjoy an evening of Boutique Cocktails around Siem Reap. Check out more ideas mixing culture and adventure.
ATV Tour
We found Srquad Bike Adventure We each had our own bike and private guide. They provided pick up and drop off at our hotel and were friendly and responsive. It was a really fun experience
Angkor Zipline Eco-Adventure Canopy Tour
Experience the beauty of one of Cambodia’s most prized sites during a 5-hour zipline tour through the ancient Angkor Archaeological Park. Soar through jungle treetops over the ocean of trees and enjoy beautiful bird’s eye views. We love zip lines and spent 3 days doing ziplines in Laos – check out our Gibbon Experience for more fun.
Day Trips
Full-Day Kulen Waterfall – take a dip in the waterfall while exploring the 1000 Lingas and then trekking to the top of the mountain to see a Reclining Buddha.
Day in the life of a Cambodian Villager – you spend the day in a small village outside of Siem Reap, getting to know the families and how they make a living. We enjoyed the rice planting and learning about the process.
Countryside Bike Tour – enjoy a day biking around the outer villages of Siem Reap with local lunch. It’s a relaxed and informative ride.
Kompong Phluk Full Day Adventure Tour – A full day exploring Tonle Sap lake, visiting two different villages, and traveling on various boats. Educational and fun.
Cooking Classes
Why not check out a cooking experience. Enjoy meeting a local family, visiting their home, getting to know the culture, and how to make traditional meals. Both the Khmer Cooking in a Local’s Home and Cooking Class at Lily’s Secret Garden, offer great hosts and delicious meals you will be able to recreate when you get home.
Where to Stay in Siem Reap
There is something for everyone in Siem Reap. It is also possible to get great value. Personally, we like smaller mid-sized hotels or boutique hotels and since we do not spend a lot of time at the hotel, we go for mid-range prices. We stayed across the river and within walking distance to Pub Street. Even at night, we felt safe walking to and from Pub Street, the Old Market, and Night Market. There were several restaurants near our hotel and getting a tuk-tuk was easy for our further adventures. Check out the Best Hotels in Siem Reap for boutique and resort-style hotels.
Plan Your Budget
Cambodia is a really affordable destination. You can have a great trip for @25-30 US a day. Of course, if you opt for private cars and tours you will spend a little but even then, it’s a great value offering amazing experiences at reasonable prices.
Know before you go
Local Tips & Customs
Before we travel, we like to learn about local customs or cultural differences. Learning about the place and people allows us to expand our own perspectives. Being culturally sensitive goes a long way with the locals. In Cambodia, it’s rude to point with your finger, use your whole hand to indicate a direction or items. Monks should be approached with deference, and women should be particularly careful to not approach or touch them. Eating with your left hand is considered rude. As a left-hander, this proved a bit challenging, but I managed ok and only spilled a little
Ready to Visit Siem Reap?
Visiting Siem Reap is a fun and interesting experience. There is a lot to see and do outside of the main attraction of Angkor Wat. Get out and explore the area, the history, and the culture of Cambodia. Continue to explore the temples of Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Bayon, Angkor Thom, Banteay Srei, and Cambodia through our guides and experiences. Share your favorite Siem Reap activities in the comments below!
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[…] Figuring out what you want to experience in Cambodia will help create the ideal plan and length of stay. If you go to Cambodia and do not visit Angkor Wat, you will regret it! Angkor Wat is the most significant tourist experience in Cambodia and a top destination in the world. The temples can be overwhelming, and you will not spend all day visiting them; the best visiting times are in the morning until mid-day, giving you the afternoon and evenings to explore the local area. Read our guide Discover Siem Reap. […]
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