With more than 2 million visitors descending on UNESCO World Heritage–listed Angkor Archaeological Park each year, the small, nearby city of Siem Reap has become Cambodia's epicenter for tourism. Once a sleepy, rural town, Siem Reap now bursts with life (although you wouldn't necessarily know it during the day). There are a few sights in Siem Reap itself—notably Cambodian Landmine Museum and School and Angkor National Museum—but the magnificent Angkor temples are the obvious draw, and that's where most visitors spend their days. From watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat to wandering through the ancient Khmer palaces of Angkor Thom and dozens of other atmospheric ruins, you could easily spend three days exploring the vast archaeological site. If you ""temple out"" quickly, or just need to escape the heat for a few hours, book a massage at any number of Siem Reap's relaxing day spas. Or, sign up for a cooking class and learn to make a few Cambodian dishes. In the evenings, head to the vibrant Angkor Night Market for souvenir shopping and a tasting tour of Khmer street food. You might also catch a cultural performance of traditional music or dance. Night owls will find a few more entertainment options on the aptly renamed Pub Street. After the temples, the most popular day trips head south to Tonlé Sap, where lakeboat cruises set sail for the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, and glide past the floating villages of Kompong Phluk and Chong Khneas.
Siem Reap is Cambodia’s second largest city. It’s the base for exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor, a vast expanse that was the capital of the Khmer kingdom from the ninth century to the 15th century. The most famous structure is the 401-acre (163-hectare) temple, Angkor Wat.
...MoreSiem Reap is about 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. Siem Reap International Airport has flights from regional hubs and other Cambodian airports. But it’s cleaner, greener, and more scenic to take a boat from Phnom Penh, while buses and minivans are cheaper and more sustainable than flying.
...MoreAngkor Wat is the greatest of the temples that adorn the city of Angkor: highlights include the Churning of the Sea of Milk carving. As well as Angkor Wat, travelers flock to Ta Prohm, with its strangling tree roots, and Angkor Thom, a walled city that houses the Bayon temple, decked in giant faces.
...MoreSiem Reap is a lively city with street food, restaurants, nightlife, and shopping. It’s a center for artisan crafts and blind massage, with temples, gardens, a silk farm, a war museum, and a landmine museum. The Tonlé Sap floating villages and the waterfalls in Phnom Kulen National Park are popular trips.
...MoreNo. It takes two days to cover the most famous Angkor monuments, but temples like Beng Mealea are a long way out of town. It’s worth taking the time to discover Cambodian food, crafts, culture, and rural life, learn about the war, and visit the national park and the lake.
...MoreYes. Travelers come to Siem Reap for the UNESCO-listed ruins of Angkor, particularly the majestic spires of Angkor Wat, the largest religious structure in the world. You could spend weeks exploring ancient Khmer monuments, but it’s also a good base to discover Cambodian crafts, culture, heritage, and rural lives.
...MoreNumber of Attractions | 17 |
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Number of Tours | 2,076 |
Number of Reviews | 31,915 |
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