15 Best Things To Do In (And Near) Siem Reap

Siem Reap is one of Cambodia’s gems as far as tourists are concerned, but at the same time it retains its traditional rural town appearance.

Amongst its beautiful French and Chinese-style architecture, there is a wide variety of things to do and places to see to make your visit one to remember. Siem Reap is best known for the Angkor temples but you can also enjoy visiting markets, museums, pagodas, and a contemporary circus to name a few.

The following guide will provide you with a wide variety of things to do that will be sure to peak anyone’s interest. Here are the 15 best things that we did in and around Siem Reap!

Visit Angor Wat At Sunrise

First and foremost, Angor Wat temple is an absolute must see when visiting Siem Reap! Originally built as a Hindu temple, it was later converted to a Buddhist temple and today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is found on a temple complex that spans over 400 square meters. There are hundreds of structures on the site with the main construction being the largest religious temple in the world. It was fascinating to see this in person and is a testament to how advanced the people were who built it nearly 1000 years ago!

Angkor Wat is located only 5km outside of the city and we arrived with a tour group before sunrise which was an incredible experience. We were stood by a reflection pool as the morning sunshine appeared and revealed the colossal main temple. We took about 30 minutes to admire this view before our guide took us into the temple itself for an up-close look while teaching us all about its history. Our tour group also got to see a few other temples on the site with visit instilling more awe with the next.

We visited Angor Wat as well as the following ancient temples on the small group tour listed below. We would highly recommend this tour in particular as we were one of the first groups to arrive at Angor Wat upon its opening, allowing us to get the perfect view for sunrise. Our tour guide was amazing and provided us with a lot of cultural and historical context for all the places that we visited.

Explore Ancient Temples

As mentioned above, you will be spoiled for choice as far as the ancient temples you can visit when arriving at the grounds where Angkor Wat is located. We recommend spending at least half a day here, but you could definitely do a full day if you are particularly interested in seeing as many temples as possible!

Bayon Temple:

After Angkor Wat, our guide took us to Ba Yon temple which was only a few minutes’ drive down the road in our tour bus. Here we were treated to an interactive display showing the pully system that the Khmer people used to construct the huge stone towers that feature. Again, we had the chance to walk inside to observe the intricate design and incredible engineering that the temple offers.

Ta Prohm Temple

After grabbing a delicious lunch at a restaurant in site, we made our way to Ta Prohm which was the final temple we would visit on the day. This was where the tomb raider movie was filmed and was particularly unique due to the way nature was overcoming it with trees growing within the temple.

Banteay Kdei

The last stop of our tour was Banteay Kdei which translates to “a citadel of chambers” referring to the labryinth of small rooms. Built in the 12th century under the rule of King Jayavarman VII, this temple also features many intricate carvings and faces carved into the towers.

Grab A 75 Cent Beer On Pub Street

Whatever your plans for the evening are, be sure to hit up Pub Street on the way! This is a lively area known for its bars, dance clubs, as well as colorful lights and decorations which creates an exciting atmosphere. A big attraction that stands out here is the 75 cent beers which many pubs on the street will offer.

Most places offer extended happy hours too where you can also get cocktails for very good value. The cheap drinks coupled with the vibrant atmosphere was the perfect way to start our night out in Siem Reap!

Pub Street offers many restaurants with outdoor dining options if you are looking to grab some food as well. We found there to be a good variety of options such as Italian, Mexican, American, as well as authentic Cambodian food to choose from. As mentioned, this street definitely gives a party atmosphere so it may be a bit loud and chaotic if you are looking for a quiet bite to eat but is a great place to line your stomach and start drinking at the start of the night.

Attend The Phare Circus

The Phare Circus is an energetic and entertaining show which incorporates theater, music, dance, and circus to tell Cambodian stories. These show covers historical, folk, and modern stories are conveyed through incredible performances.

Known as the “circus with a purpose”, funds from the show go to supporting student’s from Phare Ponleu Selpak’s vocational training center in Battambang. This was founded in 1994 by 9 men after coming home from a refugee camp after the Khmer Rouge regime.

The men found help and inspiration from an art teacher and wanted to share the therapeutic artistic techniques with underprivileged children in the area. From this, an art school, music school, and most recently, a circus school were formed which now has over 1,000 students.

Visiting the Phare Circus not only provides a fun night out for yourself, but a lot of the proceeds go towards charitable causes within the local community which was another great reason to go check it out!

Take A Dip In The Kulen Waterfalls

Kulen Waterfall is a blue and green paradise that you must visit during your stay in Siem Reap! Located on Phnom Kulen National Park, taking a day trip here provides a welcome escape from the city and is found just 50km away. It is actually made up of two separate waterfalls which vary in size depending on what season you are there at but even in the dry season it is well worth a look.

Both locals and tourists like to enjoy a swim and the scenery that Kulen has to offer, and many Buddhist monks arrive here to make the pilgrimage up the mountain within the park. This hike gives you a great view from the top if you are feeling up for it yourself and there is also a reclining Buddha statue to admire in amongst the park’s natural attractions.

Book It: Phnom Kulen waterfalls, River of 1000 Lingas & Reclining Buddha

Shop At The Old Market

Specializing in both hand-crafted souvenirs and fresh produce, Siem Reap’s Old Market attracts tourist and locals alike. The open-air market is shaded by a roof and the vendors here maximize every inch of space to create a bustling shopping center. This is an ideal place to sample some authentic Cambodian food for a low price and if you are picking up souvenirs, be sure to haggle down to about 75% of the stated price.

The Old Market is found on the west side of the city’s river and is Siem Rep’s most easily accessible market. It is open every day from 7am to 8pm and is a fun place to pass through to do some window shopping even if you don’t intend on buying anything.

Visit A Formal Royal Residence And Current Buddhist Teaching Monastery: Wat Damnak

Wat Damak is Siem Reap’s largest pagoda and the grounds where it’s located also features a pond, statues, shrines, trees, and murals to enjoy. Formerly the Royal residence of King Sisowath, Wat Damnak is also home to centre for Khmer studies which boasts an impressive collection of over 11,000 books and on certain days you can even witness public lectures and read publications here.

It was interesting to get a glimpse at the daily life of the monks you live here as we strolled around the grounds and enjoyed the peaceful retreat from the loud and busy city. The pagoda is open every day from 8am to 5:30pm and is found less than a 10-minute walk from Pub Street.

Explore The Wat Preah Prom Rath Pagoda

The Wat Preah Prom Rath Pagoda was a splendid way to spend an hour during the morning in Siem Reap. The Khmer style pagoda was built in the 16th century with a fully functioning monastery and Buddhist practicing monks roaming throughout the complex. The grounds also feature expertly maintained gardens, colorful mosaics, and a reclining Buddha statue located inside the main building.

There is no charge to enter and explore the pagoda and when we visited there were very few tourists which allowed us to take in the surroundings in a peaceful environment. We visited with a local guide which was helpful as he was able to fill us in on some important cultural context. It is found in a central location in the city near the old market making it very convenient to visit during your stay.

Take A Local Pottery Class

There’s no better way to spend a few hours in the afternoon than taking a Cambodian pottery class where you can learn some new skills and support local artists.

This is a fun and relaxing experience where you can learn traditional pottery making techniques from local artists who are friendly and eager to help.

Not only is this a great way to spend a few hours in Siem Reap, but leaves you with a souvenir! Just make sure you book this experience on the earlier side of your trip as your pottery will be ready for pickup the following day.

Book It: Cambodian Pottery Class In Siem Reap: Learn to make 5 different pieces of pottery, one of which you can take home! This class is done under the guide of a local artist who teaches you traditional techniques in pottery making as well Khmer designs using carving tools. Your pottery will be ready for pickup the next day!

Visit The Floating Villages

Siem Reap has four floating villages nearby that are certainly worth seeing on your trip. As the name suggests, the buildings in these villages float on the water like a houseboat with some huts being raised above the water on stilts. The villages are mostly made up of residential dwellings with schools, churches, and stores also featuring to give you a unique insight into what day-to-day life looks like for the locals who live here.

The nearest floating village to Siem Reap is named Chong Khneas, and you can take a day trip there through a tour group. It will take just over 30 minutes to get there from the city by bus and during the commute, your guide will give you a background on the village and what to expect upon arrival.

Visiting during the dry season means the water level will be significantly lower than it would be during June to October. Therefore, the village will not look quite as expected as the base of the stilts are above water level, but it is still amazing to visit regardless. You can pick up some nice, non-tacky souvenirs in the local shop and eat at a restaurant offering both Cambodian and Korean food before returning to the city.

Book It: Sunset tour of Kampong Phluk stilts home village on the Tonle Sap

Visit The Angor National Museum

The Angkor National Museum boasts an impressive collection of archaeological items split into 8 different galleries to enjoy. This journey across time gave us a great education on Khmer civilization from the pre-Angkor period all the way through to the post-Angkor period. The collection includes thousands of Buddha statues as well as clothing, jewelry, and accessories and much more.

The museum is found on the road to Angkor Wat just a few minutes in a tuk-tuk from downtown. Tickets cost us $12 each and although it was relatively busy, its spacious layout allowed us to take our time analyzing the impressive exhibits in peace. The galleries also included various audio-visual multimedia to provide further context to the items on display and if you like, you can acquire a headset for an extra $5.

Try Traditional Khmer Food

Traditional Khmer food spans almost 2000 years and there are many options in Siem Reap that will provide you with this authentic taste of Cambodia. Khmer cuisine has been influenced by various different nations over the years such as Chinese, Thai, Portuguese, and French. Some of our favorite dishes included rice and freshwater fish but there is a huge range of other delicious dishes worth trying such as spicy stir fry’s and hearty noodle soups.

We found many good restaurants to eat at in the center of the city near Pub Street. In our experience, the best places for food will not have staff outside trying to coerce you to come inside their restaurants but be sure to scope out the menu outside to make sure they have what you’re looking for. It is always helpful to check out reviews on Yelp before deciding too. There are also some great street food options if you want to pick something up as you explore the city with the Old market being a good option to start with.

Take A Cambodian Cooking Class

After getting accustomed to what Cambodian food is all about, a great way to learn even more is by attending a local cooking class.

After being picked up by tuk-tuk, you will make your way to a market to shop for local ingredients. These ingredients will be used to prepare a four-course meal which includes dishes such as green mango salad with smoked fish, tom yam seafood with Khmer spice, sweet and sour chicken, and banana with coconut milk.

We recommend the following small group tour (no more than 6 people) which takes place in a local’s home for the best experience!

Book it: Khmer Cooking Class at a Local’s Home in Krong, Siem Reap