Base for the temples of Angkor
Siem Reap is a relaxed riverside town that serves as the gateway to Angkor, the vast Khmer temple complex. Days are spent exploring Angkor Wat, Bayon and jungle-wrapped Ta Prohm. Evenings bring markets, Pub Street and circus shows.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
The largest religious monument in the world, built as a Hindu temple and later Buddhist. Its towers reflect in the front pools at sunrise.
Angkor pass 1 day USD 37, 3 days USD 62, 2026.
A walled royal city whose center is the Bayon, with over 200 calm stone faces. Gates are guarded by rows of statues.
Included in the Angkor Pass.
A temple left partly to the jungle, with huge tree roots splitting walls. It is famous from films.
Included in the Angkor Pass.
A small 10th century temple of pink sandstone with very fine carvings. It lies north of the main park.
Included in the Angkor Pass.
Stilted and floating villages on Southeast Asia's largest lake. Boat tours visit fishing communities.
Boat fees vary.
A modern circus show by graduates of a social enterprise arts school. Acrobatics tell Cambodian stories.
Ticket classes vary by seat.
Temple mountains popular at sunset. Bakheng has visitor limits.
Covered by Angkor pass.
The town's lively nightlife strip and market area. It is full of bars, massage shops and stalls.
Free.
Modern museum introducing Khmer history and art. It is a useful start before the temples.
Adult ticket around 12 USD at last check.
A sprawling temple of corridors and carvings. It is quieter than the big three.
Covered by standard Angkor Pass.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Two temple days plus Banteay Srei and the floating village, with Phare circus one night.
Waterfalls and riverbed carvings.
31 mi · Car, about 1.5 hours
Remote temple pyramid.
75 mi · Car, about 2.5 hours
Earliest Khmer capital temples near the city.
8 mi · Tuk-tuk, about 30 minutes
River carvings reached by a forest walk.
31 mi · Car or tuk-tuk, about 1h15
A small, well preserved temple with few visitors.
12 mi · Tuk-tuk, about 40 minutes
Enormous twelfth-century temple ruin left largely unrestored and smothered by jungle trees, offering Indiana Jones-style scrambling.
40 mi · Private tuk-tuk or car via rural roads in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Best: November to February. Dry and relatively cool.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
Mid April
Celebrations and games at Angkor.
Usually November
Boat races and festivities.
Usually early December
Runs through Angkor; check the official site.
September or October, lunar calendar
Festival for honouring ancestors; many locals travel.
Cambodia is at US State Department Level 2 (increased caution); Siem Reap is generally safe, with bag snatching and traffic the main risks.
The town center is walkable; temples need transport.
No public transport; tuk-tuks, ride apps and hired drivers are the norm.
Sources disagree on: population.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: nightlife, budget
In the heart of bars and markets.
Best for: couples
Quieter boutique hotels near the river.
Best for: luxury
Big resorts on the way to the temples.
Best for: couples, mid-range
Quiet streets, boutique hotels and cafes.
Best for: luxury, families
Resorts and spas toward the temples.
Best for: couples, food lovers
Calm area with good restaurants.
| Main airport | Siem Reap-Angkor International (SAI), 28 mi from the center |
| To the center | Airport taxi or app ride takes about 45 to 60 minutes as the new airport is far from town. |
| Around town | Hire a tuk-tuk driver by the day for temples, or use Grab and PassApp in town. |
| Ride apps | Grab, PassApp |
Steamed curry with coconut milk in banana leaf.
Stir-fried beef with lime pepper dip.
Rice noodles with fish gravy.
Grilled meat at street stalls.
A cheap, cooling treat.
Stir-fried marinated beef cubes served over fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers, served with a lime juice and black Kampot pepper dipping sauce.
Fermented fresh rice noodles topped with a green fish gravy brewed from lemongrass, turmeric, and fresh vegetables.
Marinated pork slices grilled over hot coals, served over broken rice with pickled cucumbers and daikon for breakfast.
| Plugs | Type A, C and G, 230 V |
| Tap water | Use bottled water |
| Tipping | Tipping is not required but a few dollars for guides and drivers is appreciated. |
| Payments | US dollars and riel are both used; cards work in hotels and better restaurants. |
| Etiquette | Cover shoulders and knees at temples. Do not touch monks or people's heads. |
Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century, one of the largest cities of its time. Angkor Wat was built in the early 12th century under Suryavarman II. After the capital moved south, the temples were partly reclaimed by forest. Siem Reap grew as a base for visitors from the 20th century.
Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.