Siem Reap, Cambodia: The Ultimate Travel Guide 2026

Siem Reap
Siem Reap

Siem Reap is a vibrant city located in northwestern Cambodia, best known as the gateway to the ancient Angkor archaeological complex. Serving as the capital of Siem Reap Province, it attracts millions of tourists annually, who visit to explore the stunning temples of Angkor, including the iconic Angkor Wat. The city's name, which translates to “Siam Defeated,” references its historical significance in the late 18th century when the Khmer forces repelled the Siamese invaders. Today, Siem Reap offers a blend of ancient history, modern amenities, and a thriving cultural scene, making it a key destination in Southeast Asia.

Beyond the temples, Siem Reap boasts a lively atmosphere with bustling markets, vibrant nightlife, and an array of restaurants offering both local and international cuisines. Pub Street, in particular, is a popular area where visitors can enjoy delicious Cambodian street food, shop for souvenirs, and experience the city's lively nightlife. For those interested in local culture, the city is home to various museums, art galleries, and traditional Apsara dance performances, offering deeper insights into Cambodia's rich heritage. The nearby floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake provide another unique experience, offering a glimpse into the lives of local communities who live on the water.

In recent years, Siem Reap has undergone significant development, improving its infrastructure while maintaining its traditional charm. Visitors can easily access the city via its international airport, which offers flights from major regional hubs. The city's proximity to the Angkor temples makes it an ideal base for tourists, who can spend their days exploring the ancient wonders and their evenings relaxing in the city's hotels, resorts, or homestays. Siem Reap's mix of historical significance, cultural offerings, and modern developments has solidified its status as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Cambodia.

History of Siem Reap

The Early History of Siem Reap

Siem Reap, a city in northwestern Cambodia, has a rich history dating back to the Angkorian period, a time when the region was the heart of the Khmer Empire. The area was initially inhabited by various indigenous groups before the Khmer Empire rose to prominence. The city’s name, “Siem Reap,” which means “Siam Defeated,” commemorates the victory of the Khmer forces over the Siamese invaders in the late 18th century. Before this, Siem Reap was a small village located near the Angkor temple complex, which served as the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The grandeur of Angkor, particularly Angkor Wat, made Siem Reap a key center of culture and religion.

Siem Reap in the Colonial and Post-Colonial Eras

During the French colonial period in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Siem Reap was incorporated into French Indochina. The French were instrumental in ‘rediscovering’ the Angkor temples, many of which had fallen into neglect after the decline of the Khmer Empire. Under French guidance, efforts were made to preserve and study the temples, leading to the establishment of Siem Reap as a base for archaeological research. However, the city remained relatively small and underdeveloped during this period. It wasn’t until the 1950s, when Cambodia gained independence from France, that Siem Reap began to experience more modern infrastructure development, though it remained a modest town.

Siem Reap in Modern Times

The city of Siem Reap began to transform dramatically in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, particularly following the end of the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s. The 1990s marked the beginning of a tourism boom, as international visitors flocked to explore the famous Angkor temples. Today, Siem Reap is a bustling, modern city that thrives on tourism, drawing millions of visitors annually. The city has experienced significant development, with new hotels, restaurants, and an expanded airport catering to the growing number of tourists. Despite this, Siem Reap has worked to preserve its historical charm, maintaining its role as a cultural hub while offering visitors a unique blend of ancient heritage and modern conveniences.

Moira & Andy
Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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Visiting Siem Reap for the first time and wondering what are the top places to see in the city? In this complete guide, I share the best things to do in Siem Reap on the first visit. To help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!

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2 Best places to See in Siem Reap

This complete guide to Siem Reap not only tells you about the very best sights and tourist attractions for first-time visitors to the city but also provide insights into a few of our personal favorite things to do.

This is a practical guide to visiting the best places to see in Siem Reap and is filled with tips and info that should answer all your questions!

1. Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is a 12th-century temple complex built by Khmer king Suryavarman II, conceived as a funerary sanctuary and first dedicated to Vishnu. Crossing the long causeway over the broad moat, visitors move through three successive galleries toward five lotus-like towers meant to echo Mount Meru. The scale is startling—about 400 acres with more than a thousand structures—and the walls reward slow looking with bas-reliefs of Hindu deities, royal scenes, and episodes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Later, it became a Buddhist shrine, and traces of that shift appear in the imagery. Many travelers remember arriving before dawn, watching the silhouette sharpen as the light changes.
Location: Angkor Wat, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 5.6km
Visiting Angkor Wat

Here is a complete selection of hotel options in Siem Reap. Feel free to review each one and choose the stay that best suits your needs.

2. Ta Prohm Kel

Ta Prohm Kel
Ta Prohm Kel
CC BY-SA 1.0 / Gary Todd
Ta Prohm Kel is a compact, ruined sandstone shrine inside Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, notable as one of the 102 hospital chapels associated with King Jayavarman VII’s empire-wide network. The sanctuary faces east, and the other three sides are marked by false doors that still read clearly in the weathered stone. Just beyond, faint remains of a small sandstone gopura linger to the east, hinting at the original approach. Look closely for Bayon-era details: devata carvings and small circular medallions framing figures. A somasutra channel cuts through the north wall, a practical feature that once carried away ritual water.
Location: Ta Prohm Kel Temple, Angkor, Cambodia | Hours: Daily: 07:30–17:30. | Price: Daily: 07:30–17:30. | Website | Distance: 5.8km
Visiting Ta Prohm Kel

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Best Day Trips from Siem Reap

A day trip from Siem Reap offers the perfect opportunity to escape the urban rhythm and discover the surrounding region's charm. Whether you're drawn to scenic countryside, historic villages, or cultural landmarks, the area around Siem Reap provides a variety of easy-to-reach destinations ideal for a one-day itinerary.

1. Phnom Bakheng

Angkor Phnom Bakheng
Angkor Phnom Bakheng
CC BY-SA 3.0 / 松岡明芳
Phnom Bakheng is a hilltop Hindu temple in the Angkor Archaeological Park, set roughly between Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom and reached by an uphill walk through the forest. Built as a “temple mountain” dedicated to Shiva, it was designed to feel like a sacred summit—an elevated place where the architecture, the climb, and the view all work together. Today…
Location: Phnom Bakheng, Angkor Archaeological Park, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Hours: Daily: 05:00–19:00. | Price: Included with the Angkor Archaeological Park Pass (1-day US$37; 3-day US$62; 7-day US$72). | Website | Distance: 6.7km
Visiting Phnom Bakheng

Click here to read our blog about 10 Hidden Temples in Siem Reap (2026)

2. South Gate of Angkor Thom

South Gate of Angkor Thom
South Gate of Angkor Thom
The South Gate of Angkor Thom is the classic “arrival moment” at Angkor: a long stone causeway over the moat, lined with powerful figures hauling a naga serpent, leading straight to a monumental gate tower. Even if you’ve seen photos, it lands differently in person—scale, symmetry, and atmosphere combine in a way that makes you instinctively slow down and look…
Location: Tonle Om Gate (Southern Gate), Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Hours: Daily: 07:30–17:30. | Price: Included with the Angkor Pass (1-day: US$37; 3-day: US$62; 7-day: US$72). | Distance: 7.2km
Visiting South Gate of Angkor Thom

Click here to read our blog about 10 Best Places to Visit in Cambodia (2026)

3. Prasat Kravan

Prasat Kravan AngkoR Wat
Prasat Kravan AngkoR Wat
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Diego Delso
Prasat Kravan is a 10th-century Hindu temple located at Angkor, Cambodia, situated south of the Srah Srang baray (artificial lake). It consists of five reddish brick towers arranged on a common terrace. The original Sanskrit name is unknown, but the modern Khmer name, "Prasat Kravan," translates to "artabotrys odoratissimus temple." The temple, dedicated to Vishnu, was constructed in 921 CE,…
Location: Prasat Kravan, Angkor Archaeological Park, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 7.8km
Visiting Prasat Kravan

Click here to read our blog about Self-Guided Tour of Angkor Wat Grand Circuit (2026)

4. Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom is a large, walled historic city within the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Built in the late 12th century under King Jayavarman VII, it became the final and longest-lasting capital of the Khmer Empire and covers roughly 9 square kilometers. Today, visiting Angkor Thom feels like moving through a planned royal city: broad causeways over a…
Location: Angkor Thom, Cambodia | Distance: 8.2km
Visiting Angkor Thom

Click here to read our blog about Self-Guided Tour of Angkor Wat Small Circuit (2026)

5. Bayon Temple

Bayon Temple
Bayon Temple
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Marcin Konsek
Bayon Temple is a major Khmer temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, set at the center of Angkor Thom within the wider Angkor Archaeological Park. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the state temple of King Jayavarman VII, it’s best known for its clustered towers and the calm, monumental stone faces that look out in multiple directions.…
Location: Bayon Temple, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 8.7km
Visiting Bayon Temple

6. Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider Temple)

Ta Prohm Tomb Raider Temple
Ta Prohm Tomb Raider Temple
Ta Prohm Temple is one of Angkor’s most atmospheric stops: a sprawling, low-slung monastery where the jungle doesn’t just surround the ruins—it actively grips them. Enormous strangler figs and silk-cotton trees spill over galleries and doorways, their roots pinning stones in place like living buttresses. The result is both beautiful and slightly surreal, the kind of place that makes you…
Location: Ta Prohm, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Hours: Daily: 07:30–17:30. | Price: Entrance fee Included with the Angkor Pass: 1 day US$37; 3 days US$62; 7 days US$72. Children under 12 are free with passport proof of age. | Website | Distance: 8.7km
Visiting Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider Temple)

7. Banteay Kdei

Banteay Kdei
Banteay Kdei
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Clay Gilliland
Banteay Kdei is a Buddhist temple in Angkor that feels like a quieter cousin to the more famous “jungle temples.” Built under King Jayavarman VII, it’s a citadel of corridors, gates, and enclosed courtyards where the reward is not a single grand viewpoint, but the slow pleasure of moving through shaded galleries and discovering little details as your eyes adjust.…
Location: Banteay Kdei, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Hours: Daily: 07:30–17:30. | Price: Angkor Archaeological Park Pass required: 1-day US$37; 3-day US$62; 7-day US$72. | Website | Distance: 8.7km
Visiting Banteay Kdei

8. Prasat Bayon

Prasat Bayon
Prasat Bayon
Bayon Temple is the iconic “smiling faces” temple at the heart of Angkor Thom, the walled royal city built by King Jayavarman VII. Unlike Angkor Wat’s open symmetry, Bayon feels dense and immersive—stone passages, stacked terraces, and towers that seem to watch you from every angle as you move through the site. It’s also one of the most rewarding temples…
Location: Bayon Temple, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Hours: Daily: 07:30–17:30. | Price: Included with the Angkor Pass (1-day: US$37; 3-day: US$62; 7-day: US$72). | Website | Distance: 8.7km
Visiting Prasat Bayon

9. Kmoch Gate (Gate of the Dead)

Angkor Thom east gate eastern approach
Angkor Thom east gate eastern approach
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Stephen Bain
Kmoch Gate (Gate of the Dead), also known as Thvear Khnoch, is the east gate of Angkor Thom in the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is one of the city’s monumental entrances, built as a face-towered gateway through the walled enclosure. Compared with the gates reached directly by modern roads, this one is approached by a dirt…
Location: Khmoch Gate (Gate of the Dead) CVRF+H7P Unnamed Rd Krong Siem Reap Cambodia | Distance: 8.9km
Visiting Kmoch Gate (Gate of the Dead)

10. Baphuon

Baphuon Angkor Thom
Baphuon Angkor Thom
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Diego Delso
Baphuon is an 11th-century temple-mountain inside Angkor Thom, just northwest of the Bayon, in Siem Reap’s Angkor Archaeological Park. Built as a state temple dedicated to Shiva and later adapted for Theravada Buddhism, it’s known for its long approach causeway and tiered pyramid form. Today it feels like a major Angkor stop that rewards a bit of effort: you can…
Location: Baphuon Temple, Angkor Archaelogical Park, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 9km
Visiting Baphuon

11. Prasat Suor Prat

Angkor SiemReap Cambodia Suor Prat Towers
Angkor SiemReap Cambodia Suor Prat Towers
CC BY-SA 3.0 / CEphoto, Uwe Aranas
Prasat Suor Prat is a striking row of twelve laterite-and-sandstone towers set on the eastern side of Angkor Thom’s royal square, within the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. The towers run north to south in two matching lines, flanking Victory Avenue—the road that leads east toward the Victory Gate—and they sit prominently opposite the Terrace of the Elephants…
Location: Prasat Suor Prat, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 9.1km
Visiting Prasat Suor Prat

12. Srah Srang & Kandal Srah Srang

Srah Srang Angkor
Srah Srang Angkor
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Diego Delso
Srah Srang & Kandal Srah Srang in Siem Reap, Cambodia is a large Angkor-era reservoir (baray) with a distinctive stone landing terrace and a small island temple at its center. Set south of the East Baray and east of Banteay Kdei, the water basin stretches roughly 700 by 350 meters, edged with laterite blocks capped in sandstone. What stands out…
Location: Srah Srang, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 9.2km
Visiting Srah Srang & Kandal Srah Srang

13. Phimeanakas

Phimeanakas Angkor Thom Camboya
Phimeanakas Angkor Thom Camboya
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Diego Delso
Phimeanakas or Prasat Vimean Akas, located at Angkor, Cambodia, is a Hindu temple built in the Khleang style at the end of the 10th century, during the reign of Rajendravarman (941–968) and later completed by Suryavarman I. The temple is constructed as a three-tiered pyramid, originally serving as a Hindu temple. Atop the pyramid was a tower, and galleries were…
Location: Phimeanakas, Angkor, Cambodia | Distance: 9.2km
Visiting Phimeanakas

14. Terrace of the Elephants

Terrace of the Elephants
Terrace of the Elephants
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Diego Delso
Set inside the walled city of Angkor Thom, the Terrace of the Elephants is a long ceremonial platform that feels made for wandering: a raised stone stage lined with carvings, facing the open square where crowds once gathered for royal processions. It is one of those Angkor stops that works even if you are “templed out,” because the experience is…
Location: Terrace of the Elephants, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Hours: Daily: 07:30–17:30. | Price: Included with the Angkor Archaeological Park pass (1-day: US$37; 3-day: US$62; 7-day: US$72). | Website | Distance: 9.2km
Visiting Terrace of the Elephants

15. Victory Gate of Angkor Thom

Victory Gate of Angkor Thom
Victory Gate of Angkor Thom
Victory Gate of Angkor Thom is one of the monumental entrances to the ancient walled city of Angkor Thom in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Set on the eastern side of the city, it is reached across a moat via a stone causeway lined with a naga balustrade and rows of stone figures, creating a dramatic approach before you even reach the…
Location: Victory Gate, Angkor, Cambodia | Distance: 9.4km
Visiting Victory Gate of Angkor Thom

16. Terrace of the Leper King

Terrace of the Leper King
Terrace of the Leper King
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Jasoneppink
Terrace of the Leper King is a carved stone terrace in the northwest corner of Angkor Thom’s Royal Square, within the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Built in the Bayon style during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, it sits close to the Terrace of the Elephants and is easy to add to a circuit through Angkor Thom.…
Location: Terrace of the Leper King, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 9.4km
Visiting Terrace of the Leper King

17. Prasat Leak Neang

Prasat Leak Neang
Prasat Leak Neang
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Arabsalam
Prasat Leak Neang is a small, single-tower brick temple in Siem Reap’s Angkor Archaeological Park, set opposite Pre Rup. Compact and easy to miss at speed, it has a square base of about 4.5 metres per side and rises in three false levels, each marked by false doors. The sanctuary faces east, and the most noticeable surviving decoration is the…
Location: Prasat Leak Neang, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 9.5km
Visiting Prasat Leak Neang

18. Preah Palilay

Preah Palilay
Preah Palilay
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Christophe95
Preah Palilay is a compact Buddhist sanctuary in Angkor Thom, within the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Set in a wooded area north of the Royal Palace and reached by a raised causeway, it feels noticeably calmer than the main temple circuits. The site combines a sandstone sanctuary, a single entrance tower (gopura), and a cross-shaped terrace edged…
Location: Preah Palilay, Angkor, Cambodia | Distance: 9.5km
Visiting Preah Palilay

19. Ta Keo

ta keo
ta keo
Ta Keo is an unfinished sandstone temple-mountain in the Angkor area of Siem Reap, Cambodia. Built under King Jayavarman V around the end of the 10th century, it was designed as a state temple with five sanctuary towers set on the highest level of a stepped pyramid.The temple matters because it shows Khmer temple architecture in a raw, almost undecorated…
Location: Ta Keo, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 9.5km
Visiting Ta Keo

20. Thommanon Temple

Thommanon
Thommanon
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Ziegler175
Thommanon Temple is a small Hindu-era sanctuary in the Angkor Archaeological Park, set just outside Angkor Thom’s Victory Gate and close to the royal road that once led into the Khmer capital. Because it is compact and richly carved, it works well as one of the things to see in Siem Reap when you want something atmospheric without committing to…
Location: Thommanon, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Hours: Opening hours: Daily: 07:30–17:30. | Price: Opening hours: Daily: 07:30–17:30. | Website | Distance: 9.6km
Visiting Thommanon Temple

21. Angkor Thom North Gate

Angkor Thom North Gate
Angkor Thom North Gate
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Marcin Konsek
Angkor Thom North Gate (Dei Chhnang Gate) is one of the five grand gopura entrances into Angkor Thom, within the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Like the other city gates, it is built as a towering stone portal crowned with serene, smiling faces looking out to the cardinal directions, and reached by a broad causeway that crosses the…
Location: Tonle Om Gate (Southern Gate), Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 10.3km
Visiting Angkor Thom North Gate

22. Ta Nei Temple

Ta Nei Angkor
Ta Nei Angkor
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Siem Reap
Ta Nei Temple is a lesser-visited Buddhist temple inside the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Built from sandstone in the late 12th century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, it sits away from the main temple circuits, with forest pressing in close around its walls and gateways. What stands out at Ta Nei is the calm, slightly…
Location: Ta Nei Temple, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Hours: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM | Distance: 10.4km
Visiting Ta Nei Temple
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23. Pre Rup Temple

Pre Rup, Angkor, Camboya
Pre Rup, Angkor, Camboya
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Diego Delso
Pre Rup Temple is a classic Angkor “temple mountain” built in the 10th century, rising in stepped tiers to a cluster of towers at the summit. It’s made largely of warm-toned brick and laterite, which gives it a different texture and colour from the sandstone-heavy temples—especially beautiful in late-afternoon light when the whole structure seems to glow. You’ll find Pre…
Location: Pre Rup Temple, Angkor Archaeological Park, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Hours: Daily: 07:30–17:30. | Price: Angkor Archaeological Park Pass required: 1-day US$37; 3-day US$62; 7-day US$72. | Website | Distance: 10.6km
Visiting Pre Rup Temple

24. Pre Rup Temple

Angkor Pre Rup
Angkor Pre Rup
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Christophe95
Pre Rup Temple is a large 10th-century brick temple complex in the Angkor area of Siem Reap, Cambodia, built as a “temple mountain” with a pyramid-like base and five main towers arranged in a quincunx. It sits about 5 km northeast of Angkor Wat and is a regular stop on the Grand Circuit route, with entrances at the cardinal points…
Location: Pre Rup temple, Angkor Archaeological Park, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 10.6km
Visiting Pre Rup Temple

25. Prasat Prei

Banteay Prei
Banteay Prei
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Stefan Fussan
Prasat Prei is a compact temple ruin in the Siem Reap area of Cambodia, set on a small rise that once held a walled compound. Although the site is modest in scale, enough remains to understand its original layout: an entrance gopura (gate), traces of the surrounding wall, and two key structures that are still standing—the main sanctuary and a…
Location: Prasat Prei, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 10.9km
Visiting Prasat Prei

26. Preah Khan

Preah Khan Temple
Preah Khan Temple
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Jakub Hałun
Preah Khan is a vast 12th-century temple complex in the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Built under King Jayavarman VII as a dedication to his father, it sits northeast of Angkor Thom and close to the Jayatataka Baray reservoir. The plan is broad and relatively flat, with successive rectangular galleries leading toward a central Buddhist sanctuary, alongside Hindu…
Location: Preah Khan Temple, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 11.1km
Visiting Preah Khan

27. East Mebon Temple

East Mebon
East Mebon
CC BY-SA 1.0 / Gary Todd
East Mebon Temple is a 10th-century Angkor temple in the Siem Reap area of Cambodia, built under King Rajendravarman and set at the center of the vast Yasodharatataka Baray (today’s dry East Baray). When the reservoir held water, the temple would have read as an island shrine, approached by boat and mirrored in the baray’s surface. Today it’s an easy…
Location: Eastern Mebon Temple, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 11.5km
Visiting East Mebon Temple

28. Neak Poan – The Mystical Island Temple

Neak Poan Temple Prasat Neak Poan
Neak Poan Temple Prasat Neak Poan
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Kiensvay
Neak Poan – The Mystical Island Temple is a distinctive Angkor-era temple complex on a man-made island in the Jayatataka Baray reservoir, in the Siem Reap area of Cambodia. Reached by a long walkway across the water, it feels set apart from the busier monuments, with a compact central sanctuary surrounded by basins and small shrines arranged to the cardinal…
Location: Neak Poan Temple, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 11.9km
Visiting Neak Poan – The Mystical Island Temple

29. Neak Pean

Neak Poan Temple
Neak Poan Temple
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Mao Piseth
Neak Pean is a compact temple complex on a man-made island in the Jayatataka Baray (reservoir) in the Angkor area of Siem Reap, Cambodia. Reached by a long walkway across the water, it centres on a circular, lotus-like base with a shrine surrounded by basins and small structures aligned to the cardinal points. What makes it memorable is the mix…
Location: Neak Pean, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Hours: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM | Distance: 11.9km
Visiting Neak Pean

30. Banteay Prey Temple

Prasat Banteay Prei
Prasat Banteay Prei
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Stefan Fussan
Banteay Prey Temple (also called Prasat Banteay Prei) is a late 12th–early 13th century Angkor-period temple complex in the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. It sits just north of Preah Khan and just off the Grand Circuit road; if you approach from the road you’ll typically pass Prasat Prei first, with the larger Banteay Prey about 100 metres…
Location: Prasat Banteay Prei, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 12km
Visiting Banteay Prey Temple

31. Banteay Thom

Banteay Thom
Banteay Thom
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Pigalle
Banteay Thom is a lesser-known temple within the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Small in scale compared with the headline sites, it sits in the wider Angkor Thom area and is often passed by as visitors focus on Angkor Wat and the busiest temple circuits. What makes Banteay Thom appealing is the calm, low-traffic feel and the chance…
Location: Banteay Thom Temple, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 12.3km
Visiting Banteay Thom

32. Krol Ko Temple

Krol Ko Temple
Krol Ko Temple
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Christophe95
Krol Ko Temple is a small ancient Buddhist temple ruin in Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Built in the late 12th century in the Bayon style during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, it sits just south of Neak Pean on the Jayatataka Baray, making it an easy addition if you’re already on the Grand Circuit route. What…
Location: Krol Ko, Angkor Archaeological Park, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 12.4km
Visiting Krol Ko Temple

33. Ta Som

Ta Som Temple
Ta Som Temple
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Ussfa344
Ta Som is a compact 12th–13th century temple in Angkor Archaeological Park, just east of the Jayatataka Baray and about 17 km northeast of Siem Reap. Built under the Buddhist king Jayavarman VII, it shares the same Bayon-period feel as nearby sites like Preah Khan, Banteay Kdei, and Ta Prohm, but on a smaller, easier-to-cover footprint. I like Ta Som…
Location: Ta Som, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Distance: 12.8km
Visiting Ta Som

34. Bakong Temple

Angkor Bakong
Angkor Bakong
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Gerd Eichmann
Bakong Temple is a late 9th-century Khmer temple in the Roluos group, about 13 km southeast of Siem Reap, Cambodia. Built under King Indravarman I, it’s an early example of the “temple-mountain” concept: a stepped, pyramid-like sanctuary set within moats and enclosures. Even before you reach the central structure, the approach feels ceremonial, with a causeway and large multi-headed Naga…
Location: Bakong Temples, Prasat Bakong, Cambodia | Distance: 13.1km
Visiting Bakong Temple

35. Phnom Bok

Phnom Bok
Phnom Bok
© Andrew Ashton
Phnom Bok Temple in Siem Reap is a small, summit-top Angkor-era temple that rewards you for leaving the main circuit behind. Set on a low mountain in the countryside, it combines a short hike with a quiet, atmospheric ruin at the top. It is worth a stop if you want a calmer Angkor experience with a sense of arrival. The…
Location: Phnom Bok, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia | Hours: Open daily from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm | Price: Included in the Angkor Pass | Website | Distance: 17.8km
Visiting Phnom Bok
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36. Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei
Banteay Srei
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Tsui
Banteay Srei is a 10th-century Hindu temple in the Angkor area, around 25 kilometres from Siem Reap. Often nicknamed the “Citadel of Women,” it’s smaller than many headline Angkor monuments, but it stands out for the precision of its stonework and the temple’s distinctive pink sandstone. What I notice most here is the density of detail: crisp bas-reliefs and carvings…
Location: Banteay Srei, Cambodia | Hours: 7:30 AM–5:30 PM | Price: Angkor pass required | Distance: 29.2km
Visiting Banteay Srei
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37. Beng Mealea

Beng Mealea
Beng Mealea
CC BY-SA 4.0 / PsamatheM
Beng Mealea is a sprawling Khmer temple complex in the Siem Reap area of Cambodia, reached by a countryside drive east of Angkor. Built in the early 12th century during the reign of Suryavarman II, it shares a similar architectural language to Angkor Wat, but it has been left largely unrestored. The result is a site where collapsed sandstone blocks,…
Location: Beng Mealea, Cambodia | Website | Distance: 42.1km
Visiting Beng Mealea
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38. Tonlé Sap Lake

Tonle Sap Lake Cambodia
Tonle Sap Lake Cambodia
Tonlé Sap Lake is a vast freshwater lake reached from Siem Reap, Cambodia, and it’s best known for boat trips across open water and through channels that change dramatically with the seasons. As water levels rise and fall, the landscape shifts from broad, calm lake views in the dry season to a larger, more complex wetland world in the rains,…
Location: Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia | Distance: 52.9km
Visiting Tonlé Sap Lake
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39. Battambang

temple Battambang
temple Battambang
Battambang, Cambodia’s second-largest city, is renowned for its well-preserved colonial architecture, relaxed atmosphere, and thriving art scene. Located along the Sangkae River, this charming city serves as a cultural hub with its historic shophouses, ancient temples, and vibrant local markets. Battambang’s laid-back vibe makes it an excellent destination for exploring on foot or by bicycle, allowing visitors to soak in…
Visiting Battambang
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40. Koh Ker Pyramid Temple

Koh Ker
Koh Ker
CC BY-SA 4.0 / PsamatheM
Koh Ker Pyramid Temple sits northeast of Siem Reap and forms the main landmark of the Koh Ker archaeological complex, a former 10th-century Khmer capital. The site is best known for its stepped pyramid within the Prasat Thom temple group, along with surrounding Hindu shrines built from sandstone, brick, and laterite.Its importance comes from the brief reign of Jayavarman IV,…
Location: Koh Ker, Cambodia | Distance: 87.2km
Visiting Koh Ker Pyramid Temple
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41. Banteay Chhmar

Banteay Chhmar Cambodia
Banteay Chhmar Cambodia
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Andrew Marino
Banteay Chhmar is a vast Angkor-period temple complex in Cambodia, often approached from the Siem Reap area by travelers looking beyond the busiest routes. The site is known for its Buddhist imagery and long stretches of carved bas-reliefs that depict scenes of Angkorian life, set among towers, corridors, and partially reclaimed stonework. What stays with me here is the sense…
Location: Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia | Distance: 113.5km
Visiting Banteay Chhmar
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42. Sambor Prei Kuk

Sambor Prei Kuk
Sambor Prei Kuk
CC BY-SA 4.0 / PsamatheM
Sambor Prei Kuk is a vast archaeological site of pre-Angkorian temples and ancient urban remains in Cambodia, often visited as a long day trip from the Siem Reap area. Spread across roughly 13 square kilometers, it includes 141 recorded temple sites, three main temple clusters, and traces of a planned settlement with moats, basins, and other waterworks. In its 6th–7th…
Location: Sambor Prei Kuk, Prasat Sambour​ District, Cambodia | Hours: 7.30 am to 5.30 pm | Price: USD 10 | Distance: 139.7km
Visiting Sambor Prei Kuk
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43. Prasat Preah Vihear

Temple of Preah Vihear
Temple of Preah Vihear
CC BY-SA 3.0 / CHAMRAT CHAROENKHET
Prasat Preah Vihear is an ancient Hindu temple complex in northern Cambodia, set on the edge of a 525-metre cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains near the Thai border. Though it’s sometimes discussed in relation to Siem Reap itineraries, it sits far from the city and feels more like a remote mountain sanctuary than an easy day-stop. The site is recognized…
Location: Prasat Preah Vihear, Krong Ban Lung Cambodia | Hours: 7.30 AM – 5.30 PM but note that the ticket counter closes by 4 PM. | Price: USD 10 | Distance: 144.7km
Visiting Prasat Preah Vihear
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Where to Stay in Siem Reap

The best place to stay is near Pub Street or the Old Market, where boutique hotels provide easy access to restaurants and nightlife. For a more tranquil stay, luxury resorts near the Angkor temples offer a peaceful retreat surrounded by lush gardens.

A 3 to 4-day stay is ideal for exploring Angkor Wat, visiting floating villages, and enjoying Cambodian cuisine. A 5-day stay allows for day trips to remote temples, countryside excursions, and spa retreats.

Using the our Hotel and Accomodation map, you can compare hotels and short-term rental accommodations in Siem Reap. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see the best deals for your stay.

Siem Reap Accommodation Map

Best Time to Visit Siem Reap

Best Time to Visit Siem Reap: Dry Season (November to March)

The best time to visit Siem Reap is during the dry season, which runs from November to March. During this period, the weather is cooler and more comfortable, with daytime temperatures ranging from 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F). This is ideal for exploring the famous Angkor temples, as the humidity is lower, and rainfall is minimal. This season also coincides with the peak tourist period, making it easier to find guided tours, cultural events, and festivals. However, as this is the most popular time to visit, Siem Reap can be crowded, especially around major attractions like Angkor Wat.

Siem Reap in the Hot Season (April to June)

The hot season in Siem Reap lasts from April to June, with temperatures rising above 35°C (95°F). This can make outdoor activities, such as temple visits and cycling tours, more challenging due to the intense heat. However, it is also the least crowded time to visit, meaning you can enjoy more peace and solitude at the Angkor temples. If you choose to visit during this season, it’s advisable to go early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the hottest part of the day. The hot season is also when hotel prices tend to be lower, offering more affordable options.

Siem Reap in the Rainy Season (July to October)

The rainy season in Siem Reap occurs from July to October. During this time, the region experiences heavy rains, with September and October being the wettest months. While this can make some of the outdoor activities less enjoyable, the rainy season also brings a unique beauty to the area, with lush landscapes and vibrant green surroundings. The rain typically falls in short, intense bursts, often in the afternoon or evening, so you can still explore in the mornings. The rainy season is also a quieter time for tourism, with fewer visitors and lower hotel prices. However, some areas around the temples may become muddy or flooded, so it’s best to plan your visit with flexibility in mind.

Annual Weather Overview

  • January 31°C
  • February 31°C
  • March 33°C
  • April 34°C
  • May 31°C
  • June 29°C
  • July 31°C
  • August 31°C
  • September 31°C
  • October 30°C
  • November 31°C
  • December 31°C

How to get to Siem Reap

How to Visit Siem Reap: A Complete Guide

Visiting Siem Reap, Cambodia, is an unforgettable experience, especially for those interested in exploring the ancient Angkor temples and immersing themselves in the local culture. Here’s a guide on how to make the most of your visit, from getting to the city to the best ways to explore its top attractions.

Getting to Siem Reap by Air

The most common way to reach Siem Reap is by flying into Siem Reap International Airport (REP), which is about 7 km (4 miles) from the city center. This airport is well-connected to major cities in Southeast Asia, including Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phnom Penh. Several international airlines and low-cost carriers offer direct flights to Siem Reap, making air travel an easy and convenient option. Once you land, you can take a taxi, tuk-tuk, or hotel shuttle to your accommodation.

Getting to Siem Reap by Bus

Siem Reap is accessible by bus from neighboring cities like Phnom Penh, Battambang, and Bangkok. Several reputable bus companies offer comfortable services to Siem Reap, with trips from Phnom Penh typically taking about 6-7 hours, and those from Bangkok around 8-10 hours. Buses are an affordable travel option and often feature air-conditioning, though road conditions can vary. Buses arrive at the city's main bus station, and from there, taxis or tuk-tuks can take you to your accommodation.

Getting to Siem Reap by Boat

For a more scenic and adventurous route, you can travel to Siem Reap by boat. There are boat services operating between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, passing through the Tonle Sap Lake, which is known for its beautiful landscapes and unique floating villages. The boat journey takes around 5-6 hours and is an excellent way to experience the rural beauty of Cambodia. Be sure to check boat schedules in advance, as services can be affected by the seasons and weather conditions.

Getting Around Siem Reap

Once you’re in Siem Reap, getting around is easy with a variety of transport options. Tuk-tuks and bicycles are the most popular modes of transport for tourists, especially for visiting the Angkor temples. Many hotels and guesthouses can arrange tuk-tuk drivers for temple tours. Alternatively, you can rent a bicycle or e-bike for a more flexible and eco-friendly way to explore the city and its surroundings. Taxis and car rentals are also available for more comfort or group travel. Walking is ideal for exploring the city center, where you’ll find markets, restaurants, and shops.

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