Disclosure: I was invited on a press trip to Vietnam and Cambodia by Vietnam Airlines and Asia DMC.
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Want to explore Siem Reap, Cambodia, the home of Angkor Wat? I recently visited for a second time and decided to spend a few extra days after work was done because Siem Reap is just so lovely!
There are plenty of things to do at Siem Reap beyond Angkor Wat so I recommend you take a few extra days to see what the city and the surroundings have to offer. In this little Siem Reap travel guide, I also share my favorite places to eat in Siem Reap and a hotel for every budget.
Things to do at Siem Reap
Yes, Angkor Wat is probably the main draw for visitors coming to Siem Reap but there is more to the town by now and it is worth staying a few days and exploring. Here are some Siem Reap activities you shouldn’t miss.
Seeing Angkor Wat
When you ask most people what to do in Siem Reap, they will mention Angkor Wat. In fact, it seems like Siem Reap only exists to cater to excited tourists wanting to see Angkor Wat as this is often the first and sometimes the only thing people will do here.
Mind you, with good reason because the temples at Siem Reap that make up the Angkor Archaeological Park are world-renowned. Summarized as Angkor Wat, it is a site with over 400 km2 and many different temples (only one of them actually named Angkor Wat), gardens, walls, arts, and artifacts, making it the largest religious site in the world.
If you are truly keen to make the most of your visit you should get a 3-day ticket to Angkor Wat. This way you can visit different temples for sunrise at Angkor Wat and truly take your time at each without getting ‘templed out’ too quickly.
Cooking class Siem Reap
One of my favorite Siem Reap activities was a Khmer cooking class Kroya Restaurant at Shinta Mani. First up a tuk-tuk ride to the market in town where the chef explained various ingredients to us that are used in Cambodian cuisine.
After we went to the hotel’s very own training kitchen and set to work. We learned how to make green mango salad with prawns, sour kang kong soup with beef, fish amok, and sweet rice dumplings for dessert. And of course, we got to eat it all after!
Even if you are not staying at Shinta Mani you can still book a cooking class at Kroya for $45 per person (two-person minimum). This includes a market visit, a 4-course meal, and a booklet with the recipes. Alternatively, you can book a Siem Reap cooking class here:
Tonlé Sap Lake Tour
The Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and part of the Mekong River system. The lake is a UNESCO biosphere reserve thanks to its biodiversity above and below the surface and also home to many people, who live on the lake in floating villages.
From Siem Reap it is a quick trip to Tonlé Sap where you can board a boat and visit some of these floating villages. Most villages even have a church and a school built on the water.
While tours to those villages are all part of the tourism economy of the area, it can feel a little invasive to cruise by people’s houses. Make sure not to snap intrusive pictures and spend some money at the local restaurant in addition to your tour so people who live here have a direct benefit of the tourists coming into their floating backyards.
Sunset in the fields
Just outside Siem Reap on your way from Tonlé Sap you will find plenty of rice paddies and lotus fields. This is where the locals go for a sunset picnic – either on a date or with the family. Take your own or go to one of the vendors on the roadside where you can buy snacks and drinks, it doesn’t get any more local than that!
Siem Reap Pub Street
One of the places to visit in Siem Reap is Pub Street, for better or for worse. It’s almost a rite of passage just like visiting Khao San Road in Bangkok. Luckily you can just take a quick stroll as Pub Street isn’t long if you don’t think fish spas and cheap beers for backpackers are your scene.
When in doubt, have a classic Tomb Raider cocktail at the Red Piano and you can add it to your ‘been there, done that’ list. And of course, you can get a t-shirt too!
Apsara Theatre
Dinner theatre at its best awaits at the Apsara Restaurant-Theatre. While you are feasting on a Khmer meal you are watching traditional Cambodian dances on stage.
The theatre employs 40 dancers, musicians, and singers that perform various dances throughout the evening. Especially cool: every guest gets a little booklet that explains the story behind each dance as well as particular hand gestures and props used throughout.
For dinner, you will get your a tray with various dishes like amok, spring rolls, and chicken pineapple as well as an extra tray for desserts. Vegetarian options are available too.
You have the choice to sit in the main room level with the stage or upstairs. I’d recommend the latter as sitting here is way more comfortable and you have a better overview of the stage.
Stroll through the market
There are plenty of markets all around Siem Reap to stroll and shop. If you are not into livestock and fruit avoid the produce market in the center but rather head to the Pshar Chas, the Old Market, or the various night markets where you can buy everything and anything – from cheesy tourist t-shirts to artisan ceramics and scarves.
One of my favorites was the Made in Cambodia Market which is close to the Shinta Mani hotel. The market is tiny but you at least get the feeling that you are buying true artisanal products and best of all (perfect for shoppers like myself who get easily overwhelmed) there is only one stall of each: one for scarves, one for pottery, one for cosmetics…
Get a Massage
Can you go to Asia and not get a massage? There are plenty of inexpensive spas all around Siem Reap where you can get a massage for as little as $1 for 30 minutes. I went for the pricier option of $3 for a foot massage after dinner one night and let’s just say that it was a clear case of you get what you pay for. Then again it may have just been bad luck as I am sure there are plenty of places where even the cheap massages will be decent.
However, mine left me wanting and so I booked myself for a 3-hour spa package at the Khmer Tonics Spa at Shinta Mani which was heavenly. If you wanted a medium splurge, check out the Sokkhak Spa Riverside which also has great offers for spa packages.
How to get around Siem Reap & Other Tips
- Siem Reap is a proper city (about 250,000 people live there) and it shows: huge clean sidewalks and paths by the river to take a walk. On the other hand, most of the action is confined to the city center, at least for visitors, and for better or worse you will miss the typical traffic chaos of other Asian cities here.
- You can easily walk from A to B without having to worry about how to cross the street or getting caught by a bike. Alternatively, tuk-tuks are the way to go. Most distances within the city will cost you $2-3 and to the airport it is $4-5. From the city center, it won’t take you more than 15 minutes and the drive is quite pleasant. Riding a tuk-tuk in Siem Reap is nothing like riding a tuk-tuk in Bangkok traffic, and actually quite fun!
- Just like most parts of Cambodia, you can usually pay both in US dollars and in Cambodian riel. Chances are if you pay something in dollars you will get change in riel or in a combination of both, depending on what vendors have available.
- Luckily most ATMs offer a choice between dollars and riel. Make sure to check their fees beforehand: I found out the hard way that fees vary quite a bit. Sacombank only charges $4 and Cathay United $6!
- While Siem Reap is an international airport (we flew there from Ho Chi Minh City with Vietnam Airlines), it is quite tiny but oh so cute! Traditional Khmer buildings and usually a walk to/from your plane make it an airport experience unlike any other.
- Most international arrivals can apply for a 30-day tourist visa. You can either get an e-visa online prior to your visit or get a visa on arrival when you get to the airport. Either way, the visa is $30 – make sure to bring cash if you are getting your visa on arrival.
- Our entire trip was organized by Asia DMC who also helped with a visa agent upon arrival. This way, we didn’t have to wait in line but had a customer service officer doing all the nitty-gritty for us while we got our luggage. Obviously, this service will cost extra but is very worth it, especially as more and more visitors return to Cambodia and the lines at immigration are getting longer or if you are traveling with a big group or family.
- If you prefer Asia DMC can organize your entire trip including a guide, hotels and activities in Siem Reap. Alternatively you can also ask them just to help with transfers and book your own tours and tickets.
Siem reap restaurants that I tried & liked
Jomno
Jomno – Modern Khmer Cuisine is the perfect restaurant in Siem Reap if you want to try a modern take on traditional Khmer food. The setting is lovely with a light and airy house set in a cute garden just on the other side of the river. Either take a leisurely stroll or simply take a tuk-tuk for a few dollars to get there.
Classics like amok are turned into ‘Crispy Chicken Amok Salad’ or try their famous ‘Battambang Sausage’. They also have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options like the ‘Vegan Brohok Ktes’, a well-known country dish with tofu, mushrooms, and coconut gravy.
They also make some good innovative cocktails if you are not keen on the classic Tomb Raider from Pub Street…
HAVEN
HAVEN is a social enterprise and training restaurant from Swiss couple Sara and Paul Wallimann. They offer a program for underprivileged young Cambodians that teaches them various skills in the hospitality industry over a course of 16 months. Upon graduation, they also help their students with job placement.
Eating at HAVEN finances this enterprise and of course, students get a hands-on experience at the restaurant. On the menu are Asian and international classics like chicken satay, an innovative version of fish ’n chips, and some Khmer favorites.
Il Forno
Sometimes all you crave is a good pizza and I was a good week into my Vietnam/Cambodia adventure when I hit that spot. I found Il Forno on Google and it looked lovely with great reviews so I gave it a go.
It is a little tricky to find as you basically enter from Pub Street and walk through the open seating area of the Khmer Family Restaurant before you are hitting an alley of sorts where you will see it immediately.
If you are looking for a great, woodfire pizza in Siem Reap this is the place – my Napoli pizza was awesome. Be warned, the medium size is more than generous for the average eater!
Jungle Burger
Same as pizza, sometimes all you want is a good burger. While Jungle Burger is a bit small and hot, they have an awesome burger menu. Most importantly for my very specific craving: they have a smash burger. While it wasn’t as good as my favorite one in Phuket Old Town, it still hit the mark.
Washed down with a $1 draft it is a good place for a quick bite in Siem Reap.
Gelato Lab
Okay, technically Gelato Lab is not a restaurant in Siem Reap however it is the perfect place to go after a meal and have some ice cream for dessert. All their ice cream is homemade with local ingredients and just so yummy.
The little shop is just around the corner from Pub Street so you and your ice cream can take a stroll afterward.
Where to stay in Siem Reap
There are plenty of hostels, guesthouses, and hotels in Siem Reap with something for every budget. Here are some of my tried and tested favorites depending on your budget and what you are in the mood for.
Shinta Mani Angkor
If you are looking for a luxury hotel in Siem Reap look no further than Shinta Mani Angkor. The resort offers beautiful rooms and pool villas, adding local touches to Bill Bensley’s signature style.
The property is split into two main buildings and offers two restaurants, two pools, its very own kitchen for cooking classes, a beautiful spa, and its own fleet of tuk-tuks. The interior is incredibly cool and definitely something Wednesday would like.
Angkor Village Hotel
For something a bit more traditional, you should stay at the Angkor Village Hotel. The property resembles a Khmer village with beautiful rooms in small wooden houses set around a large pond in the middle of the property.
Definitely choose one of the upstairs rooms for more privacy and a great view over that pond. Rooms come with a four-poster bed (or two if you have a twin room), a small seating area, and a separate bathroom – all decorated and tiled in a classic Cambodian style.
Onederz
For my last couple of days in Siem Reap, I moved over to Onederz hostel which had great reviews and is within walking distance from Pub Street. They have two buildings separated by a small road. Each building has a pool and various dorms and single rooms. The main building with reception also has a large lounge area, bar, and restaurant.
While the rooms are more than simple, the bed was comfy and the wifi good. A big plus is the very social restaurant where you can get some good and inexpensive food and cocktails. Onederz also organizes various tours in Siem Reap.
