For so many, Siem Reap, Cambodia, is synonymous with its famed UNESCO World Heritage Site Angkor Wat, one of Southeast Asia’s most significant archaeological grounds. But beyond these iconic ruins is a city brimming with riverside cafés, festive bar scenes, cultural experiences, and French-style colonial streets. Siem Reap is also a culinary hotspot, boasting everything from expertly crafted street food to contemporary cuisine, with several restaurants earning spots on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. And outside the urban hustle lies exciting cultural experiences in the province’s rural villages and countryside.
There is also growing accessibility to the region thanks to a new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI), which opened last October. The gateway is also launching a streamlined e-arrival system this year, beginning on September 1. As a result, the number of direct flights into SAI is increasing; among them are direct connections to Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, and more. The Cambodian government is also making a considerable tourism push by enhancing flight connectivity, improving border services, expanding border pass availability, and exploring opportunities to financially support local tourism ventures. Here is the best of Siem Reap: how to get there, what to do and eat, and where to stay.
Getting to Siem Reap and navigating the city
The Siem Reap-Angkor Airport is about 30 miles from central Krong Siem Reap; a 60- to 90-minute drive. Taking a taxi is the best option, and there’s a transportation desk on the airport’s ground floor where you can book an official airport shuttle bus ($8) or a taxi ($35). Krong Siem Reap is walkable and accessible by bike.
As far as currency goes, US dollars are accepted at many places, alongside the national currency, the Cambodian riel. Remember to prepare smaller bills for tuk-tuk rides and bike rentals. Otherwise, you’ll receive your change in riel, which is not available outside of Cambodia. Motorcycle taxis are another option, costing just a few bucks within the city; just make sure to negotiate your rate beforehand. For exploration into the countryside and rural Siem Reap, tuk-tuks are the best option and can seat up to four people. Expect to pay about $40 for a day trip.
Best things to do in Siem Reap, beyond Angkor Wat
You can spend the first day exploring several sites, such as the King of Cambodia’s Royal Residence to Wat Preah Prom Rath, the city’s largest pagoda. From there, explore vendor-packed Psar Chas, the famed market in the Old French Quarter along the Siem Reap River, for traditional handicrafts, drinks, fresh produce, and skittering fresh fish. Stop by the nearby Made in Cambodia Market, where you can shop for jewelry, artwork, and pottery from local artisans. Visitors heading to Angkor Wat—or those who have already been—should also stop by the lesser-known temple of Koh Her, which became a UNESCO-designated heritage site in late 2023.
That said, make sure to have plenty of time to explore Siem Reap beyond the ruins, venturing into rural areas like the countryside village Preah Dak to taste the handmade noodles used in num banh chok, a traditional breakfast dish with coconut-based fish sauce. Watch villagers team up to operate the car-sized, leg-powered mortar and pestle while mixing the softened rice dough while sweeping their hands under the perilously stomping wooden stake of the wooden contraption. Modern machinery can make these handmade noodles, and these manpower-heavy and time-intensive (and tastier) handmade noodles are a dying tradition. Visitors can support the preservation of the dish on a tour to watch and engage in the entire noodle-making process, and partake in a homestyle Cambodian meal afterward.
