If you only visit one destination in Cambodia, it should be Siem Reap! Known for being home to the largest religious monument Angkor Wat, Siem Reap is an established backpacker destination of the Banana Pancake Trail. Looking beyond Angkor Wat, Siem Reap also has other amazing temples (such as the one where Tomb Raider was filmed), lots of great foodie options and a really fun nightlife scene. This guide covers everything you need to know such as how to get there, how to get around, where to stay, what to do and food and nightlife recommendations.
How many days to spend in Siem Reap
Siem Reap is one of those destinations where it feels like you could stay forever. There’s no shortage of things to do and the hostels are of a higher quality and comfort than other spots in Cambodia. At a minimum, two days in Siem Reap (not including travel days) would suffice to see Angkor Wat, and a few other temples, and enjoy Pub Street for an evening. If you have the time though, 4-5 days would be the ideal, particularly if you are into history, photography or just like a good night out.
How to get to Siem Reap
Siem Reap is a major city in the west of Cambodia and is easily accessible from many places. The city has an international airport with direct flights from Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi and Luang Prabang. There are also many direct bus services to Siem Reap from major destinations, which is generally the more popular transport used by backpackers. All buses are available to book online on 12GOAsia, or you can usually book directly through hostels of travel agencies.
How to get to Siem Reap from Bangkok Thailand
There are a few different bus companies running services between Bangkok Thailand and Siem Reap Cambodia. Buses depart daily at 1:30 am, 7:45 am, 8 am and 9 am daily arriving into Siem Reap around 9-10 hours later. These bus times can fluctuate depending on the time taken to cross the border passing through two immigration processes: one to leave Thailand and one to enter Cambodia.
Expect to pay around $35-43 USD for this ticket. While this may seem expensive, you do really feel like you get your money’s worth, particularly with the border crossings. For example, they have both a driver and a “guide” on board who help you with the border crossing. This is a major benefit as they explain the process and help as much as they can to get everyone through both immigration departments as fast as possible. They also have super comfortable bus seats that recline pretty far back, good A/C, and they give you water and a bunch of snacks.
How to get to Siem Reap from Vientiane or Pakse Laos
Getting to Siem Reap from Laos is not a super popular travel route, so there are no direct travel options. The quickest way to get to Siem Reap would be to fly from Vientiane with Air Asia via Bangkok. This would be a 10-hour journey, including the stopover, and would cost around 2,081k LAK Lao Kip ($100 USD). Keep in mind this is a budget carrier, so it will not include any checked bags.
The other option for getting to Siem Reap from Vientiane is by a van and then a sleeper bus transfer. The bus departs at 8 pm from Southern Bus station in Vientiane. You’ll travel by night in a sleeper bus to Pakse in Laos, where you’ll then connect with a van transfer to travel through the day to Siem Reap. You’ll arrive in Siem Reap at 7 pm after a 23-hour journey. If you are already in Don Det (1000 islands) or Pakse, you can just book the day van transfer from Pakse to Siem Reap (no night bus needed).
Be warned, the sleeper bus from Vientiane to Pakse will have twin share beds, meaning as a solo traveller, you will have to share a bed with a stranger. You can read my full experience of catching a sleeper bus in Laos like this here. Also, the van transfers can be a bit less comfortable as they are pretty cramped with not the best AC. Expect to pay around $95 USD from Vientiane to Siem Reap or $57 USD if you’re coming from Pakse to Siem Reap.
How to get to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap is a super popular travel route. Van transfers depart daily from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from 6 am to 10 pm at 30-minute to 1-hour intervals. The journey takes around 6 hours depending on traffic or any other delays. This does include one short rest stop to use the bathroom, buy any snacks and water and stretch your legs. Expect to pay between $8- $16 for a ticket, with certain times and bus companies being a little cheaper or more expensive. Pre-warning, the van transfers are not the most comfortable: often in cramped conditions with poor A/C on quite bumpy roads. Read my full transport guide with tips on what to expect on van transfers in Cambodia here.
How to get around Siem Reap
While Siem Reap is a massively populated city, the areas where tourists are likely to visit are all in the centre, which is where all the hostels are located. This means that restaurants, shops, cafes and bars are all easily walkable from major hostels. The streets are pretty well lit, with some sidewalks (other times you have to walk on the road) and it feels really safe to walk around even alone at night. Given how popular it is as a nightlife destination, there will always be lots of other travellers around the streets in the centre, even at like 4 am.
If you don’t fancy walking, there are a couple of different options for how you can get around the town. You can use rideshare apps like Grab of Passapp (Cambodia’s own rideshare app) to book cars or Tuk Tuks. This is super reliable and easy to use, however, sometimes you can wait a little while for drivers to get to you in traffic. A much quicker option is haggling with the Tuk Tuks which are literally everywhere in the tourist areas of Siem Reap. Generally use the Grab price as a guide, you can get an affordable price. The bonus is that the Tuk Tuks are already at your destination, so you don’t waste time waiting for a driver to drive to your location. For tips on how to haggle prices in South East Asia, check out my guide here.
How to get to Angkor Wat and other sites outside of Siem Reap City Centre
If you’re trying to get to Angkor Wat or any of the other temples in Siem Reap, you will not be able to get here on foot and rideshare is not the best option. The easiest option for Angkor Wat and the other surrounding Siem Reap temples is to join one of the daily group tours run by hostels. These will include transportation, an English Speaking Guide and also sometimes water and meals. The bonus of going on a tour is you will meet people through your hostel and all the organisation of getting between the temples and figuring out which ones to visit will be taken care of. However, this is not the most cost-effective way to visit these sites. You can expect to pay around $20 USD per person for a tour (not including entrance ticket price).
Getting to Angkor Wat by motorbike
Hiring a motorbike and driving yourself to the Siem Reap temples will be the most budget-friendly (expect to pay around $7 USD a day for a bike). However, you do miss out on having a guide when visiting the temples, meaning you miss out on key information and history. Also, you’ll have to research and figure out exactly which temples you want to visit beforehand.
Another good option for visiting Angkor Wat is to rent a private Tuk Tuk with a driver/guide for the day. This is a great option if you’re travelling with people who want to join you for this. Lots of Tuk Tuk drivers advertise this service so it’s not difficult to find a driver, you can basically walk up to any Tuk Tuk and if they don’t offer it, one of their friends will. You can expect to pay $25 USD per day for a Tuk Tuk, but this would be split between everyone in the Tuk Tuk. If you want the driver to give you information and walk you around, a tip would be expected on top of that. If you have 4 people in a Tuk Tuk, for the day including tip expect to pay around $10 USD per person.
Where to stay Siem Reap
Siem Reap has long been an established backpackers destination so there are many great hostels around. Whether you’re looking for a party hostel, a social hostel, a flashpacker hostel or a budget hostel, there are heaps of options for every kind of backpacker. The most important thing to look out for is location as even if you don’t party, being within a 10-minute walk of Pub Street is ideal. This is where a lot of the restaurants, cafes and shops are (and of course the bars and clubs). All of the below hostels are within walking distance of this area. You can book all accommodation for Siem Reap here.
Mad Monkey– best party hostel
Siem Reap Mad Monkey is probably one of the better Mad Monkeys, in my opinion. They’re a good mix of party and social events which are ideal for meeting other travellers. They run nightly events like music trivia, pub quiz, family dinner and pub crawls. They also run day tours, exclusively for hostel guests to Angkor Wat and other temples around Siem Reap. The vibes are great in the bar, they have pretty good food on site and they have a large pool area perfect for chilling during the day. The rooms are basic (no curtains on the bed) but clean and fairly comfortable.
Onederz– best social hostel
Onederz is a great alternative to Mad Monkey if you want to meet people, but are not so fond of the idea of party hostels. The dorm and bathrooms are basic but clean (no curtains on the beds, unfortunately). They have a large common area, as well as separate areas to chill and three swimming pools onsite (one is a rooftop pool). Onederz has a restaurant and bar on-site but is also super close to Pub Street. They run a few tours through the hostel such as a street food tour and a cycling tour. These tours are great ways to make friends as solo travellers, as they are tours exclusively for hostel guests and other backpackers.
Lub D Hostel– best flashpacker
If you’re looking for a bit of luxury on a backpacker’s budget, Lub D is the perfect hostel for you. The beds are super comfortable (pod-style with curtains) and stairs instead of ladders to the top bunk. They have a large pool area, bar and restaurant and do run a few events to meet other travellers. The hostel overall is super clean and comfortable. If you’re a digital nomad, they also have a coworking space with fast wifi.
What to do in Siem Reap
The majority of the activities in Siem Reap are focused around the Angkor Wat complex and surrounding temples. Other than temples, you can also visit the Apopo Visitor Centre, relax by your hostel pool or enjoy the amazing nightlife Siem Reap has to offer.
Watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat
This is a must-do activity in Siem Reap, but pre-warning, it will be packed! If you’re going with a tour or Tuk Tuk driver, they will know the exact time to leave to make sure you have enough time to watch the whole sunrise. If you’re driving yourself, you will want to arrive at the Angkor Wat Visitor Centre 1 hour before sunrise. This allows for time to purchase your ticket, drive to Angkor Wat and then walk to get a good spot. Now expect it to be super crowded. Even if you get a good spot, people will be photobombing you or standing super close to get a good photo. It can be a bit of a nightmare. But all-in-all, the sunrise and the reflection over the water are still well worth it.
Another must is having a tour guide, at least for the Angkor Wat temple. Having a guide to explain the history and importance of Angkor Wat is going to make the visit so much more enjoyable. It takes around an hour to wait for the sunrise and then experience it. After that, most people will spend another hour or two touring the actual temple. There are a lot of people; however, the temple is huge so you can walk in different directions to tour groups to avoid crowds.
Angkor Wat Entrance Fee
Given that Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world and one of the wonders of the world, it is understandable that there will be an entrance fee. The fee is unavoidable and goes towards the upkeep and preservation of all temples in the Angkor Wat complex. The entrance fee covers you for every temple and religious monument in the complex including Angkor Wat and the Tomb Raider Temple. Also important to note, you will need to dress in temple-appropriate clothing for the duration of your visit and at all temples and religious sites. This means covering your knees and shoulders and not wearing anything see-through or showing your torso.
Most tours will exclude the price of the entrance fee but will allocate time on the tour for tourists to pass through the ticketing office to get their ticket. You can pay either USD or on card for the entrance fee at the ticketing office. You can’t purchase tickets in advance, online or through any third parties (so be wary of scams). Tickets can only be purchased on the first day you plan to enter the complex and from the official ticketing office.
Below are the different ticketing options and prices as of 2024:
- Angkor Wat Complex 1 Day Pass $37 USD
- Angkor Wat Complex 2 Day Pass $62 USD
- Angkor Wat Complex 3 Day Pass $72 USD
How many days do you need for Angkor Wat
The 2-Day Pass is generally the most popular and what the majority of people would recommend. However, it depends on personal preference. You could squeeze a lot into one day, such as a sunrise, a guided tour of Angkor Wat, several other temples in the complex and even a sunset. This would end up being a 14-hour day though. With the added element of the heat and all the walking, it would be exhausting! Another reason you may only want to do one day in Angkor Wat would be if you’ve been travelling Southeast Asia for a while and have “temple fatigue”. Now, don’t get me wrong, the temples in Angkor Wat are incredible, but if you’ve already seen many temples throughout the region, you may feel that one day is enough.
If you have the time, and budget and don’t already feel a bit “temple fatigued”, two days would allow you to explore at a leisurely pace. The middle of the day is the worst time to be walking around the heat of the complex, so try to avoid this if possible. You could do one day where you watch a sunrise at Angkor Wat, do a guided tour and visit one or two more temples. After this, you could head back to your accommodation for a nap or a swim in the pool for the hottest part of the day.
The next day you could start at 2 pm (after the hottest part of the day), visit a few more temples and stay for sunset at Angkor Wat. Also, if you’re into photography, two days would be ideal so you can photograph different temples in different lighting and at different times of day.
Temple Hop
After experiencing a sunrise at Angkor Wat and taking a guided tour of the temple, make sure you experience some of the other surrounding temples. The complex in Siem Reap is home to over a thousand temples and religious monuments, in varying sizes, styles and degrees of disrepair. Most travellers are lucky if they visit 10 of these sights.
If you only have one day inside the complex I would prioritise visiting the below temples. You could easily visit these in the same morning you visit Angkor Wat and still make it back to your hostel at around 12 to avoid the midday heat.
- Ta Phrohm (where Lara Croft Tomb Raider was filmed)
- Angkor Thom (an impressive, large walled temple)
- Bayon (a temple with many faces carved into it)
- Baphuon Temple (an extremely old temple, that you can walk up for views)
If you’ve purchased a two-day ticket or don’t mind exploring temples in the heat of the day, here are a few other temples in Siem Reap you may want to visit:
- Nokor Thum (a semi-falling-apart temple with impressive ruins)
- Banteay Srei (a different architectural style similar to temples in Ayutthaya in Thailand or My Son in Vietnam)
- Sra Srang ( an ancient reservoir, recommended to go at sunset)
- Pasat Kravan (a smaller but really well-maintained temple)
Apopo
While this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the Apopo Visitor Centre is a great non-temple-related activity in Siem Reap. Apopo Visitor Centre is a not-for-profit specialising in training rats to sniff out landmines hidden in the Cambodian countryside. Once these landmines are located, specialist teams can remove them to prevent any future casualties. The centre is open to visitors from Monday to Saturday between the hours of 8:30 and 5:30.
Guided tours are $5 USD per person and take around an hour. In this tour you’ll learn more about the effect of landmines in Cambodia, how they train the rats and actually get to meet and interact with the hero rats. The tour will be a combination of visual media (short clips), information from a guide and live demonstrations of the rats in action. Apopo is about a 10-15 minute Tuk Tuk ride from the centre where all the hostels are so make sure you plan accordingly. You don’t need to book a guided tour in advance but try to arrive at latest at 3 pm to avoid disappointment (as it is close to their closing time).
Where to eat in Siem Reap
While a lot of the hostels in Siem Reap conveniently have pretty good restaurants on-site, there are so many great places to eat around Pub Street. You can find virtually any cuisine and the quality is top-tier for a fairly reasonable price.
The Christa Restaurant
The Christa Restaurant is one of the best places to try Khmer food in Siem Reap. They have lots of traditional Khmer cuisines, as well as Western and International food options. Just a short walk from Pub Street, they have seating options both downstairs and upstairs (recommend trying to get a table upstairs for the atmosphere). The Christa Restaurant is fairly popular and has limited seating, but even if you have to wait for a table, it is well worth it!
Travancore
If you fancy Indian food, Travancore restaurant is the place to go. Just a 2-minute walk from Pub Street, they have an extensive menu, great food and fast service. Highly recommend it for dinner!
Elia Greek Restaurant
Another great restaurant find just near Pub Street is Elia Greek Restaurant. Slightly more expensive than the other restaurant options, Elia is more of a treat-yourself sit-down dinner. The food and wine are delicious at this popular restaurant. If you’re heading to Phnom Penh, they also have a restaurant here right on Bassac Lane (the main restaurant/bar area).
Road 60 Night Market
If you want to experience traditional Khmer Street food, then Road 60 Night Market is the place to go. There are very few tourists here, which is a nice change of pace from busy Pub Street. Food stalls are fairly small, with only some offering small night market stool seating. Use of Google Translate (or simply pointing to a random unknown food) is a must! Afterwards, there’s a nearby fair with bumper cars and balloon shooting games for less than $1. The markets are open every night from 6 pm until around 11 pm.
Road 60 is around a 15-minute drive from the centre of town and not accurately on Google Maps. If you’re getting in a Tuk Tuk, most drivers will understand where you want to go. If you drive yourself, the place is literally called “Road 60” on Google; however, it is quite a long road. You want to head to the section just east of the MGC Asian Traditional Textiles Museum. Alternatively, you can book a tour with a guide to visit this market, Mad Monkey Hostel offers a tour every Wednesday and Sunday evening for $12 USD per person, including food.
Nightlife in Siem Reap
Nightlife in Siem Reap is focused around the famous Pub Street. Pub Street is a walking street filled with restaurants, bars and clubs. Pub Street is filled with backpackers every night of the week, with its busiest hours being from around 10 pm- 2 am. There are so many different types of bars to choose from: sports bars, cocktail bars, speakeasies, rooftop bars and dive bars. It’s easy to bar hop depending on which bars have the best vibe or have certain drink specials running.
For dancing in Siem Reap, Temple Sky Lounge (also known as Temple Bar or Temple Club) would be my recommendation. They have 3 different floors, which all play different music. The first floor is more of a bar, the second floor has a DJ and tends to be more techno and the top floor plays radio hits and songs everyone knows. The top floor also has lots of pool tables and beer pong set up. It’s a really fun vibe, but the top two floors don’t get busy until around midnight, as this is when most hostels will stop the music at their bars.
Best party hostels for pre-drinks
For pre-drinks, any of the street-level bars on Pub Street are great. If you’re a solo traveller wanting to make friends, strongly recommend heading to Mad Monkey Hostel. You can enter their bar area even if you’re not staying there to participate in events. They do nightly events like pub quizzes, music trivia, pub crawl, family dinners and beer pong competitions. Every night, there will be a group of people heading to Pub Street when the hostel bar closes.
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