Siem Reap is the base for the temples of Angkor, one of the world’s great archaeological wonders — plus a lively town of markets and nightlife. Here are the best things to do.
The 8 best things to do in Siem Reap
The largest religious monument on earth, glowing over its reflecting pools at dawn.
The walled royal city and its temple of giant serene stone faces.
The jungle temple wrapped in giant tree roots (the “Tomb Raider” temple).
The buzzy heart of town for street food, bars and souvenirs.
Boat trips to the stilted villages of Tonlé Sap lake.
The exquisitely carved pink-sandstone “citadel of women,” further out.
A moving acrobatics-and-story show supporting local arts.
Context for the temples before or after you visit.
Suggested itinerary
Day 1: Angkor sunrise, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm; Pub Street by night. Day 2: Banteay Srei and outer temples, or Tonlé Sap.
Tips for visiting Siem Reap
- Buy the multi-day Angkor pass and hire a tuk-tuk driver for temple days
- Start at sunrise to beat heat and crowds; dress modestly (shoulders/knees)
- Two to three days of temples is plenty for most — pace yourself
Skip the closest floating village and do this instead
The floating village most tour desks push is Chong Khneas, because it’s the nearest to town and easy to slot before lunch. It’s also where the racket lives: drivers steer you to an overpriced “orphanage” stop or a floating restaurant with $30 lobster, and the boat fee balloons once you’re stuck on the water. Go to Kampong Khleang instead. It sits about 35 km southeast, the boats are run by the community rather than middlemen, and in the wet season you’re gliding between stilt houses raised six metres above the flood line.
- Budget roughly a half-day; a tuk-tuk to the temples and back already runs about $25, so factor the longer drive.
- The Angkor pass is the real cost: $37 for one day, $62 for a three-day (usable across ten days).
For an actual local secret, walk to Wat Bo on the river’s east bank. It’s one of Siem Reap’s oldest pagodas, free to enter, and its sanctuary holds 19th-century murals of the Reamker that almost no Angkor-bound visitor bothers with. The streets around it, Wat Bo Village and Kandal Village, are where you’ll eat fish amok for $4 instead of $12 on Pub Street.
Siem Reap FAQ
How many days do you need in Siem Reap?
Two to three — enough for the main temples without burnout.
Is Angkor Wat worth it?
Absolutely — it is one of the world’s greatest sights.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.