Guide to Visiting Siem Reap: The Gateway to Angkor Wat
Planning a trip to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat? Then visiting Siem Reap is a must! After all, it is considered the gateway to Angkor Wat.
Siem Reap is an interesting city that blends history, culture, religion, and adventure. Angkor Wat is the number one attraction but there is so much more to see in Siem Reap.
My guide to Siem Reap covers getting here, things to do, places to eat, and so much more!
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Siem Reap is a city in northwestern Cambodia. Siem reap is located by Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake, Tonle Sap Lake.
Siem Reap is located about 320 kilometers or about 200 miles from Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh.
Siem Reap is less then 6 km away from Angkor Wat, making it a very popular tourist destination.
Flying into Siem Reap
If you are visiting Siem Reap, outside of driving from Bangkok or Phnom Penh, the most convenient and popular way to get here is through the air.
Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is a new and modern airport that is about 45 km from Siem Reap. There are taxis at the airport, I recommend setting up a airport pickup and transfer through your hotel.
Flights that fly to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport include:
AirAsia
Bangkok Airways
Cambodia Angkor Air
China Eastern Airlines
Lao Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Sky Angkor Airlines
Thai Smile Airways
Vietnam Airlines
You can obtain a Cambodia E-Visa at the airport, but I recommend doing the Cambodia Visa in advance. You can apply for an E-Visa through the following Kingdom of Cambodia website.
Getting Around Siem Reap
I felt Siem Reap was very walkable especially if you are staying around the city center. But if you want to explore more of Siem Reap and see sights that aren’t easily walkable, then there are other means of transportation.
This is for getting around Siem Reap, not necessarily transportation to Angkor Wat. That is covered in my 2-day Angkor Wat itinerary post.
Grab does operate in Cambodia and worked well. For those that don’t know, Grab is a ride-hailing app, like Uber.
We used Grab a few times and ended up taking Tuk-tuks. Grab gave us the option between cars or Tuk-tuks, which was kind of fun. We used Grab to get to the Killing Fields in northern Siem Reap and a few places around town.
For travelers that want to explore on their own, you can rent a motorbike or hop on an E-Bike.
Places to Stay in Siem Reap
As you’d expect, there is a wide range of sleeping options in Siem Reap, from high end resorts to backpacker hostels.
Even for mid-range and luxury accommodations, you are not spending that much compared to other places in the world.
We booked an amazing hotel through Agoda. Based on price, location, breakfast, and amenities, we booked at the La Riviere d’Angkor Resort.
We had our own suite with a pool view and practically had the hotel to ourselves.
The staff was helpful, breakfast was fantastic, the pool was relaxing, what more can you ask for in a hotel?
Again, we booked three nights at the La Riviere d’Angkor Resort, for the price it was one of the best hotels I’ve stayed at.
Things to do
Siem Reap is not just a gateway to Angkor Wat, it is a must-visit destination that will surprise all types of travelers.
When visiting Siem Reap, outside of Angkor Wat, you can visit the Angkor National Museum, experience the craziness of Pub Street, eat interesting street food, and browse the many markets.
If you are looking for things to do in Siem Reap, I have a list of some of my must do and see places, below.
Angkor National Museum
The Angkor National Museum has an extensive collection of items and wealth of information from the ancient Khmer Empire.
The museum covers the history of Angkor Wat, so it’s worth stopping by here before going to Angkor Wat.
For admission, hours, and a list of exhibits, check out the Angkor National Museum website.
Killing Fields Siem Reap
When visiting Siem Reap, I do recommend going to the Killing Fields to learn and see the atrocities that took place here during the Khmer Rouge.
Located halfway between downtown Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, the Killing Fields in Siem Reap are a museum and memorial to the victims that were effected or lost their lives during the Cambodia genocide.
The museum includes some graphic illustrations and descriptions of what took place here. There is a well on site where upwards to 60 bodies were recovered from.
Interested in more Dark Tourism sites around the world, I have a Dark Tourism post.
Made in Cambodia Market
A surprising find we stumbled upon while walking around Siem Reap was the Made in Cambodia Market. Jill absolutely loves the Made in Cambodia Market. All vendors here sell local products like jewelry and handicrafts.
It’s a small area, but the the quality of the products sold by the vendors was very good, much better then stuff you find in the Old Market.
Old Market
The Siem Reap Old Market is right by Pub Street and well worth checking out. The Old Market is covered and features vendors selling produce, meats, food, and cheap souvenirs.
To me, the Old Market was a bit disappointing, I found the souvenirs to be cheap and the few times I went, there was no food worth trying. That being said, it was still fun to wander around and look at everything the vendors were selling.
Pub Street
Pub Street in Siem Reap is the heart of the city’s nightlife. Of Course, this is where all the tourists hang out. Pub Street is packed with bars and restaurants serving everything from local cuisine to international dishes.
At night, Pub Street can get pretty crowded and sometimes wild. It’s not really my cup of tea, but it was fun to walk around Pub Street and people watch.
Wat Preah Prom Rath
While visiting Siem Reap, I recommend paying a visit to at least one temple. My favorite was Wat Preah Prom Rath. Not only was it easy to get to from my hotel, but it was absolutely beautiful.
Wat Preah Prom Rath is a Buddhist temple just north of the Old Market. It’s known for it’s colorful murals, stucco towers, and a reclining buddha.
Visiting Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is the crown jewel of Siem Reap and the main reason visitors come to Siem Reap in the first place. If you are traveling in Cambodia, plain and simple, Angkor Wat needs to be included in your Cambodia travel itinerary.
Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious monument and it consists of over 1,000 temples and structures.
Angkor Wat is an easy drive from Siem Reap. You can get here on your own, hire a tuk-tuk driver, or go on a guided tour.
I went on this 2-Day Angkor Wat tour, booked through Viator, and I highly recommend it. Angkor Wat is to big, you simply can’t see it all in one day. The two day tour includes the small and big circuit of Angkor Wat to include the beautiful Banteay Srei Temple.
When you book an Angkor Wat tour, the guide will pick you up from the hotel and provide you with valuable information along the tour.
Angkor Wat was definitely one of the prettiest places I’ve visited, it’s unmatched. Everything you think of when you hear about Angkor Wat is true. The ancient ruins covered in huge tree roots deep in the Cambodian jungle. It is a must when visiting Siem Reap.
Recommended Places to Eat
Siem Reap has a vibrant food scene along with a lot of interesting food dishes that are rare in other parts of the world. We tried a few Khmer dishes at several different restaurants. We even tried bugs from a street food vendor.
Pub Street does have a lot of restaurants but we branched off of the famous Pub Street and tried restaurants that were a block or two away from the crazy tourist street. We also had a fabulous dinner at our hotel, La Riviere d’Angkor Resort.
Below are a few of the restaurants and street vendors we dined at along with the dishes we tried during our stay in Siem Reap.
La Riviere d’Angkor Resort
To get acclimated to the food in Cambodia, we decided to try the restaurant at our hotel, La Riviere d’Angkor Resort.
We tried their Amok, which was like a green curry with coconut cream and lemon grass. It was delicious and I think my favorite dish during our stay in Siem Reap.
We also tried their Mango & Sticky Rice with Coconut Sauce (Pictured Above). It set the bar high, no other place compared.
Khmer Taste Restaurant
Khmer Taste Restaurant was recommended to us by a passerby. He claimed he’s been a chef his whole life and told us to go here, so we did! This is a huge restaurant with a large menu, everything from salads and Khmer cuisine to Western dishes and desserts.
I was in the mood to try something unique that I’ve never had before. As an appetizer, I ordered the Roast Frog. To be honest, it was good. Frog really does taste like chicken, the texture was more fish like though.
I also ordered Lok Lak, which is a Pepper Beef dish. It came with a bed of rice and an egg. It was good, I could tell, the beef was pretty cheap though. It paired nicely with a local cold Angkor Beer.
Overall, Khmer Taste Restaurant is a good place for those that want to try Cambodian food. I wouldn’t expect high quality, but for the cheap prices, everything was satisfying.
The Red Angkor Restaurant
If you are looking for a huge menu with good food and cheap prices, I think The Red Angkor Restaurant is your best bet. I was actually looking for places that sold the famous snake on a stick in Siem Reap and found this.
I did order the snake as an appetizer. It’s more for that photo opportunity which sounds bad but it didn’t taste like much of anything and there was hardly any meat.
I did get the Lok Lak here just to compare it to other restaurants and really enjoyed it. It was ground meat with rice and a fried egg.
The Red Angkor Restaurant also serves bizarre foods like Steamed Crocodile Tail, Crocodile Head, and Crocodile Feet, which is crazy to me.
Fried Bugs at a Local Street Vendor
At the intersection of Preah Sangreach Tep Vong Street and Taphul Road, we found a street food vendor selling all sorts of fried bugs from huge grasshoppers to beetles.
I ordered a mix of a few kinds of bugs they fry which included grasshopper, crickets, and what I think is a June beetle.
They fry the insects fresh with seasoning. Honestly, the bugs were very good, I actually ate the entire bag. Both the flavor and texture was nice.
Tips and Helpful Information
Visa and Entry: Most nationalities can get a Visa on arrival when visiting Cambodia but I recommend filling out the visa application online through the Kingdom of Cambodia E-Visa website.
Best Time to Visit Siem Reap: The cooler and dry season is November through February. March through May (When we visited) is hot but fewer crowds. The wet season in Cambodia is June through October.
Money: The official currency of Cambodia is the Riel. Oddly enough, the U.S. Dollar was widely accepted. Tipping in Cambodia is not required.
Transportation: Tuk-tuks were a convenient way to get around Siem Reap. I recommend downloading the Grab App to hail a ride.
Food and Drink: Don’t trust the tap water. Drink bottled water, this includes bushing your teeth!
Safety: I felt Siem Reap was safe, we didn’t run into any issues. But like any other place, use caution and common sense.
Conclusion
Visiting Siem Reap is much more then just going to Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is definitely the reason people go to Siem Reap and it is a spectacular site but Siem Reap does offer plenty to do and see for any tourist.
This guide to Siem Reap is based on my experience exploring the city. Whether you are visiting Siem Reap to go to Angkor Wat, relax at a resort, or try some bizarre foods, I guarantee you’ll love it here.
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Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇰🇭
Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖
For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com
Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁
Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.
In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘
I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
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