Siem Reap is a city in north-western Cambodia that serves as a gateway to the Angkor temple complex, the largest religious monument in the world and a UNESCO site. Angkor is the remnant of the Khmer empire of the ninth to fifteenth centuries and includes hundreds of temples, of which the most famous is Angkor Wat, the symbol of Cambodia on the national flag. A visit includes sunrise over the towers of Angkor Wat, the stone faces of Bayon and the tree roots embracing the temple of Ta Prohm. Siem Reap itself is a pleasant and cheap town with markets, cafés, massages and Pub Street, a street of bars and restaurants. From the Czech Republic it is about fifteen hours by plane with a connection. EU citizens need a visa, which is obtained electronically. You pay in US dollars and riel, and prices are low. The best time is November to February, when it is dry and not too hot.
The places worth your time in Siem Reap, and what to expect at each
Angkor
The largest religious building in the world, from the twelfth century, dedicated to the god Vishnu, with three tiers of lotus-shaped towers and bas-reliefs on the walls stretching for kilometres. It is the symbol of Cambodia on the country's flag. Its façade is reflected in the moat.
Tip: Sunrise is best, but crowded; come an hour before dawn. Cover shoulders and knees. Bring water.
Angkor
A fortified city from the end of the twelfth century with Bayon at its centre, a temple with fifty-four towers decorated with giant stone faces. Entry leads through monumental gates with statues. It is the most impressive temple after Angkor Wat.
Tip: Come in the morning, when the light on the faces is loveliest. Bring a hat, as there is little shade.
Angkor
A temple of the twelfth century swallowed by the roots of giant trees that embrace walls and towers. It was left in the jungle and became famous through the film Tomb Raider. It is the most romantic temple of Angkor.
Tip: Come right at opening, when it is calm. The paths are slippery after rain. Bring repellent.
25 km from Angkor Wat
A small temple of the tenth century of pink sandstone with the finest reliefs in Angkor, twenty-five kilometres north of the main complex. It is called the Jewel of Khmer art. The area is small, but the details are astonishing.
Tip: Come in the morning, before the groups arrive. Combine with other temples. Choose a tuk-tuk.
Angkor
A temple of the twelfth century with calm corridors and a view of the Srah Srang reservoir. There are fewer visitors than elsewhere. It is a good place for a calm stroll.
Tip: Come at sunset, when the light on the reservoir is lovely. Combine with Ta Prohm.
Tonlé Sap
Villages on the largest lake in south-east Asia where people live in houses on stilts and on boats. You can cruise the lake and see local life. The journey from Siem Reap takes half an hour.
Tip: A cruise costs about twenty dollars. Choose an operator that supports locals. In the dry season the water is low.
centre
The main entertainment street of Siem Reap with bars, restaurants and massages, and the adjacent Old Market with souvenirs and food. In the evening it is full of tourists. Beer and cocktails cost about one dollar.
Tip: For food go into side lanes, where it is cheaper. At the market bargain; start from half.
centre
A modern circus of Cambodian youth that blends acrobatics, dance and theatre and tells stories from the history of the country. It is the best evening entertainment in town. The proceeds go to educating young people.
Tip: Tickets cost about thirty dollars; book in advance. The show lasts an hour. In the evening it is a moving experience.
centre
A museum that explains the history of the Khmers and Angkor, with thousands of statues and a film programme. It is a good start before visiting the temples. The visit takes two hours.
Tip: Entry costs about twelve dollars. Visit it before the temples for context. The air conditioning is a plus.
Photos: Angkor Wat — Bjørn Christian Tørrissen (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Angkor Thom and Bayon — Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Ta Prohm — This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author an (CC BY 4.0) · Banteay Srei — Tsui (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Banteay Kdei and Srah Srang — Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 3.0) · The Floating Villages on Tonlé Sap — Deror_avi (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Pub Street and the Old Market — Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Phare, the Cambodian Circus — flowcomm (CC BY 2.0) · Angkor National Museum — This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author an (CC BY 4.0)
Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking
Best for: bars and restaurants
The area around Pub Street and the Old Market with hotels, restaurants and massages. Everything is at hand. Best for a first visit.
Best for: calm and the river
Calm districts by the Siem Reap river with boutique hotels and cafés. It is calmer and prettier. A good choice for couples.
Best for: luxury hotels
The boulevard leading to the temples with large resorts and pools. It is calm and luxurious. Suits a longer stay.
Best for: family hotels
The main road to Angkor with cheaper hotels. The centre is reached by tuk-tuk. Suits budget travellers.
Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI) is seven kilometres from the centre; from Prague you fly with a connection in Bangkok, Doha or Istanbul in fifteen hours. A taxi to the centre costs about eight dollars. A bus from Bangkok takes eight hours. EU citizens need a visa, obtained electronically (e-visa) for thirty dollars.
Siem Reap Angkor (SAI) · 7 km
In town you travel by tuk-tuk; it is cheap and comfortable. For the temples hire a tuk-tuk for the whole day for fifteen to twenty dollars. Bikes and e-bikes are rented. The PassApp and Grab apps work.
Useful apps: Google Maps, PassApp, Grab, Maps.me
Siem Reap has a tropical monsoon climate. From November to February it is dry and pleasant, around thirty degrees. In March and April it is hot, above thirty-five. From May to October it rains. The best time is November to February.
Best time
November to February
What to avoid
March to May (heat), September and October (rain)
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 30° | 32° | 34° | 35° | 34° | 33° | 32° | 32° | 31° | 31° | 30° | 29° |
| Night | 18° | 20° | 22° | 24° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 24° | 22° | 19° |
| Rainy days | 5 | 10 | 50 | 100 | 190 | 180 | 200 | 220 | 300 | 250 | 100 | 20 |
Khmer cooking is milder than Thai, with rice, fish, herbs and pastes. A main dish costs three to six dollars. People drink Angkor beer, coconuts and fresh fruit juices.
Amok
The Cambodian national dish: fish in coconut curry, steamed in a banana leaf. Delicate and aromatic.
Lok lak
Stir-fried beef with lime and pepper sauce, served with rice and vegetables. A favourite dish.
Num banh chok
Rice noodles with fish sauce and herbs, a breakfast. The typical Khmer breakfast.
Nom pang
Baguettes with meat and vegetables, a legacy of French influence. Street food.
Fried spiders
A renowned speciality in the town of Skuon, for the adventurous. Crunchy and salty.
Fresh fruit
Mango, coconut and durian. Best in season.
Angkor beer
The local light beer, cheap and refreshing. Costs about a dollar.
Coffee
$2–3
Amok
$4–7
Lunch in a restaurant
$3–8
A beer
$1–2
Angkor Pass (1 day)
$37
Angkor Pass (3 days)
$62
3★ hotel (night)
$25–70
Tuk-tuk (day)
$15–20
Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.
1 day
2 days
3 days
Banteay Srei
25 km · 45 min by tuk-tuk
A small temple of pink sandstone with the finest reliefs. It suits half a day.
Tonlé Sap
15 km · 30 min by tuk-tuk
The largest lake in south-east Asia with floating villages. It suits half a day.
Kulen Mountain
50 km · 1 hr 30 min by car
A sacred mountain with waterfalls and a thousand lingas in a river. It suits a full-day trip.
Three days suffice for the main temples of Angkor. For those who want more, four to five days are useful. The Angkor Pass is valid for 1, 3 or 7 days.
Yes, EU citizens need a visa. It is obtained electronically (e-visa) for thirty dollars or at the airport. Conditions change, so check.
A one-day ticket costs 37 dollars, a three-day 62 dollars and a weekly 72 dollars. Tickets are bought at the main gate. Buy before dawn for sunrise.
November to February, when it is dry and pleasant. From March to May it is scorching. From May to October it rains, but the temples are less crowded.
By plane with a connection in Bangkok, Doha or Istanbul in fifteen hours. From the airport a taxi or tuk-tuk runs. There are no direct flights.
It is cheap: lunch costs three to eight dollars, a hotel twenty-five to seventy dollars a night. The Angkor Pass is the main expense.
Yes, it is a safe city. Watch for pickpockets and bag snatchers. Use the PassApp or Grab app.
US dollars and riel. Dollars are accepted everywhere, small change is given in riel. Cards are accepted in hotels and restaurants.
Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.
Check visa requirementsLanguage
Khmer
Currency
USD
Timezone
Asia/Phnom_Penh
Dial Code
+855
Population
17.4M
Area
181,035 km²
Voltage
230V / 50Hz
Driving Side
Right
