Siem Reap

Gateway to Ancient Temples and Culture

Siem Reap in Cambodia is home to ancient temples and vibrant culture. The city serves as a gateway to Angkor Archaeological Park, where centuries-old ruins attract visitors worldwide. Local markets sell handmade crafts alongside street food stalls serving fresh noodles and tropical fruits. The area maintains traditional Khmer architecture with modern amenities for travelers seeking history or relaxation. Daily life revolves around temples, riverside walks and community events that showcase Cambodia’s heritage through art and cuisine without relying on tourist clichés.

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Town in Cambodia

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 5.4

General Safety:	6
Health & medical:	5
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	4

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in Siem Reap, especially in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. Most locals working in tourism and hospitality can communicate well in English.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Siem Reap Summary

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World-class for temple history and cultural sightseeing. Explore the vast Angkor temple complexes, watch sunrise at Angkor Wat, visit local markets and enjoy Cambodian food and performances.

Place score

7.3

Best at:

Street food

Historic sites

Guided tours

Ruins

Markets

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

💻 9

Digital Nomads

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

Cambodia – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A , Type C Type A: Type C: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Cambodian Riel (KHR) £1 ≈ KHR 5,432.97
Cashless info:	Rating 3/5 Cashless payment options are available in larger cities, particularly in tourist areas. Credit cards are accepted in many establishments, but cash is still preferred. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated in Cambodia but not mandatory. In restaurants, a 5-10% tip is common. Taxi drivers and hotel staff also appreciate small tips.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally permitted, especially in designated areas. However, excessive drinking in public places may be frowned upon.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places, such as restaurants, bars, and public transport.

Khmer New Year (April)	A major festival with national celebrations and events
Pchum Ben (Sept-Oct)	A festival for honouring ancestors, with cultural events and ceremonies

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 117 (Police), 119 (Ambulance), 118 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Grab
Other:	Cambodia is famous for the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, vibrant markets, and rich cultural heritage. It is a popular destination for history and adventure enthusiasts.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Siem Reap, Cambodia

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

🌦️

May

⛈️

Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	Jan. - March, Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, Nov.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Dry season November to March is best for temple visits, rainy season May to October brings short afternoon downpours and green landscapes

Khmer New Year, April 13 to 16: public holiday, many shops close and locals travel, but water festivities fill the streets

Angkor Wat sunrise and sunset spots are most crowded December to February, arrive early or visit smaller temples to avoid the crowds

Don't miss

🌅 Watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat’s majestic temples
🛕 Explore the ancient ruins of Angkor Thom and Bayon
🌳 Stroll through Ta Prohm and see trees reclaim the stones
🛍️ Shop handmade crafts and street food at the Night Market
💃 Join a traditional Apsara dance performance and dinner show
🚤 Cruise on Tonlé Sap Lake and visit floating villages

You've been here?

Why travel to Siem Reap?

Siem Reap offers an extraordinary mix of ancient history and vibrant local culture. Angkor Wat alone is a bucket-list destination, but the city itself has so much more to offer – from bustling night markets to authentic Khmer cuisine. The relaxed vibe, affordability and friendly locals make it an easygoing yet enriching place to explore. Just be prepared for hot weather and the occasional tropical downpour!

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Angkor Wat
The ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat stands as Cambodia's most iconic landmark, featuring a massive central tower surrounded by extensive moats and intricate stone carvings that define its historical grandeur.
2 Angkor National Museum
3 Wat Prom Rath
4 Landmine Museum
5 War Museum Cambodia
6 Bayon Temple
7 Art center night market
8 Phare, The Cambodian Circus
9 Angkor Thom
10 Visitor flow at Ta Prohm temple

🎡Places for activities

1 Angkor Zipline
2 Angkor Golf Resort
3 Floating Village Boat Tours

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre
2 Tonle Sap Lake
3 Phnom Kulen National Park
4 Chong Kneas floating village
5 Kbal Spean

🛍️Shopping

1 Old Market
2 Kandal Village Inn
3 King's Road Angkor
4 Angkor Night Market (Entrance B)
5 Art center night market
6 The Heritage Walk
7 Artisans Angkor Silk Farm
8 Made in Cambodia market

🎈Events

Angkor International Festival of the Arts (December)
Angkor Wat International Half Marathon (December)
Cambodian Water Festival (November)
Khmer New Year (April)
Giant Puppet Parade (February)
Pchum Ben Festival (September/October)
Bon Om Touk (Water and Moon Festival)
Cambodian National Day (November 9)
Visak Bochea Day (May)
Angkor Photo Festival (November)

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Knowledge before you go

Buy your Angkor Pass the day before; sunrise starts early.
Start temple visits before dawn or mid-afternoon to beat humidity and tour-bus crowds, carrying plenty of water and sun protection.
Dress modestly for temples with covered shoulders and knees and keep small U.S. dollars or riel for tuk-tuks and tips.
Schedule at least one non-temple day exploring local markets, Tonlé Sap villages and Cambodian cuisine to appreciate living culture beyond Angkor’s ruins.

How to travel to Siem Reap

Siem Reap International Airport (REP) offers direct flights from many Asian hubs. Overland travel from Phnom Penh or Bangkok is also possible by bus, but expect long travel times. Flights are usually the easiest option.

Access summary

From Siem Reap–Angkor Airport (SAI): Shuttle or taxi, roughly 50–70 minutes.
From Phnom Penh: Intercity buses or vans, typically about 5–7 hours.
From Bangkok: Direct buses or flights, overland about 7–10 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Siem Reap

Siem Reap offers a wide range of accommodations, from budget hostels to luxury resorts. You’ll find charming boutique hotels and plenty of options near Pub Street and the Old Market area, ideal for exploring the city.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Royal Crown Hotel & Spa

8.8

Borei Angkor Resort & Spa

8.9

Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa

8.7

ANGKOR LAND URBAN BOUTIQUE

9.3

Golden Temple Residence

Pandora Suite D'Angkor

9.6

Angkor Aurora

9.6

Golden Temple Retreat

9.5

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Siem Reap

Getting around Siem Reap is easy with tuk-tuks, which are affordable and widely available. You can also rent bicycles or motorbikes. Walking is pleasant in the main town areas. Avoid peak hours to dodge traffic.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-70 %

Daily expenses in Siem Reap are around 70% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to KHR) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£25	£46	£128
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£8	£23	£60
🍝 Food per day	£14	£19	£52
🚕 Transportation per day	£3	£4	£15

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£8.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£1.90
🍟 Fast food combo	£6
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£4.90
☕ Cappuccino	£1.25
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£0.75

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.75
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£9
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.80

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£3.10
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£17
🤧 Cold medication	£11.50
💇 Basic haircut	£2.40

Safety information overview

General safety

Siem Reap is generally safe, but petty theft can occur, especially in crowded places. Keep an eye on your belongings and avoid poorly lit areas at night.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities in Siem Reap vary. There are international clinics for tourists, but for serious conditions, treatment in Phnom Penh or Bangkok might be needed. Drink bottled water to avoid stomach issues.

Accessibility

Siem Reap is moderately accessible. Some temples have uneven paths and stairs, which might be challenging for visitors with mobility issues. Hotels and main attractions often offer some accessibility features.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe to drink. Stick to bottled or filtered water, which is widely available and inexpensive. Many hotels provide bottled water as a courtesy.