Siem Reap is one of the most visited places in Cambodia and it is a great city to visit as a tourist.
I had a lot of questions before travelling to Siem Reap but I couldn’t seem to find the answers in one place so I’ve decided to create this guide for that purpose. Hopefully this will help anyone looking to travel to Cambodia soon!
Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Siem Reap
Can you fly direct to Siem Reap?
There are no direct flights from the UK however flying via Bangkok, Thailand (Suvarnabhumi Airport) is a popular route with many direct flights to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport. This is the route that I flew and the flight was a quick one hour and 10 minutes.
On the plane, you will be handed several forms to fill out – for example an immigration card, visa on arrival card, customs card and health form. As these forms can take a while to fill out, it’s best to come prepared with a pen and fill these out whilst still on-board.Siem Reap Airport
Is the centre of Siem Reap far away from the airport?
From Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, the centre of Siem Reap is only a short journey away – approximately 7 km/4.3 miles however Pub Street (where the majority of bars and restaurants are found) is approximately 12.5 km/7.8 miles away.
What’s a good length of stay?
I would recommend three nights as the absolute minimum length of stay however there is so much to see and do in Cambodia (outside of Siem Reap too) that you could definitely visit for much longer and not get bored! I stayed for three nights and when booking, I was sceptical that maybe I’d booked too short a trip and I wouldn’t be able to cram in all of the sights that I wanted to see.
Fortunately my fears were eradicated – I felt that three nights was a perfect amount of time to soak up the Cambodian sights, explore the night life that is ‘Pub Street’, as well as having time to enjoy some downtime by the pool. Believe me, you’ll need it after all the walking at the temples (combined with drinking copious amounts of Cambodian beer for 50 cents the night before… shh don’t tell anyone!)
Do you need a visa?
Yes, you do. This doesn’t need to be arranged prior to your departure however – a one month visa can be paid for on arrival at the airport (costing $30 US Dollars). As well as this, you must hand over an up-to-date passport photo. I would strongly advise getting your passport photos taken before embarking on your trip to Cambodia (take two or more with you just to be safe).
What’s the currency?
Although they accept Cambodian Riel and Thai Baht in some places, the preferred currency in Cambodia is US Dollars. These need to be crisp (i.e. no creases) and will not be accepted if they are torn.
From time to time, you may be given Cambodian Riel as change from the US Dollars that you hand over. This is fine but just be sure to try and spend this before leaving Cambodia (or else it will virtually become useless).
Bottled water is an absolute necessity in Cambodia (you can’t drink from the taps and the temperatures can get very high) so this is always a good way to get rid of a few extra Cambodian Riel.
What’s the public transport like?
Transport isn’t an issue in Siem Reap – tuk tuks are plentiful and if you’re staying in a hotel, the chances are that your hotel will also offer taxi services (though these may be more expensive). To get a tuk tuk, you just need to flag one of the many that will be scooting past you or simply walk up to any that are queued up at the side of the road.
To give you an idea of prices, when we were going to Pub Street in the evenings – we were usually charged between $2 or $3 (for a group of four people travelling 2.1 km). The price of a tuk tuk will vary however depending on the distance as well as the number of passengers.
If you plan on taking a tuk tuk out to visit one of the tourist destinations then you can even pay for an all day or return trip – this way the driver will wait for you whilst you explore the different areas. We hired a tuk tuk when visiting Phnom Bakheng temple and our driver patiently waited for us as we climbed the hill and watched the sunset (which was stunning by the way!).
Many tuk tuk drivers arrange all day or return trips with their passengers so just be sure to organise a place to meet them afterwards and try to remember what your driver looks like. At all times, I would highly recommend discussing and agreeing on a price before getting into a tuk tuk. And if you are paying for a full day or a return trip then I would recommend discussing when this will be paid (we paid for our return journey at the very end of our trip and once we were back at the hotel).
If you’re feeling extra fit and you don’t mind doing exercise in extreme temperatures then there are also bicycles available to hire. If you erupt into blisters just by looking in the direction of the sun however then perhaps this cycling adventure isn’t for you.
What is the cost of alcohol?
This varies from bar to bar however if you wander up and down Pub Street, you can find places selling local beer for as little as 50 cents (the equivalent of 34p). That’s almost TEN times cheaper than the average pint costs in the UK! For anyone who isn’t a beer drinker, there are bars that sell cocktails for as little as $2 (the equivalent of £1.34) – bargain!
What is the food like?
Fortunately there are a good selection of restaurants in Siem Reap so you’ll be spoilt for choice – Mexican, Italian, Khmer (Cambodian), Indian and so on. I would highly recommend visiting one of the Cambodian Barbecue restaurants one evening.
If you like to try new things then this is the place for you. Although it’s not the cheapest of experiences, at the Cambodian Barbecue you can choose from an adventurous selection of meats for example snake, shark, kangaroo, ostrich, crocodile and frogs legs.
What makes the experience even more unique is that you get to play chef for the evening and cook your own food at your table. Bon appétit!
Best Things to Do in Siem Reap
Here’s my suggested list of essential things not to miss in Siem Reap:
Temples
Siem Reap is almost synonymous to Angkor Wat and most tourists go here just to marvel at its beauty. The incredible temples of Angkor are amazing, attracting millions of tourists every year for good reason. This is one of the best places to visit in Asia and the world, waking up early to see sunrise is incredible. But other than Angkor Wat, there’s also a plethora of other things to do and try in Siem Reap.
Pub Street
Ok, so the locals probably aren’t going to spend much time dining on Siem Reap’s backpacker street, but this is a good place to try some local foods and knock back a few Angkor Beers. It’s cheap, cheerful and an all-round great night out. Grab a table on one of the bars’ upper balconies and watch the world go by below. Be sure to try Temple bar if you fancy catching a traditional Khmer Aspara Dance performance – a bit of culture to balance out the beers!
Watch an Apsara Show
You don’t need to be a culture junkie to enjoy the show. Some restaurants host nightly Apsara Shows.
Biking
Explore Siem Reap on your own by bike. This is one of my favourite things to do.
Visit Artisan D’Angkor
Observe Cambodian craftsmen at work.
Galleries
There’s a lot of galleries around Siem Reap. Amongst my favorite is 1961. Check out the artworks of Cambodian artists.
Tonle Sap
Cruise around the humongous Tonle Sap and observe life living on water. People built and live on floating houses around Tonle Sap. This is a great eye opener about the different living situations of people.
Night Markets
There’s quite a number to choose from but most of them are offering almost the same thing. Check out some cool bags made of recycled materials.
Watch Beatocello
Dr. Beat Richner, a Swiss National doctor performs cello to help raise funds and awareness.
Try Amok
Khmer curry with your choice of chicken, beef, seafood, fish or vegetables. My favorite dish in Cambodia.
Try some Exotic Foods
Snakes, frogs, crocodiles, tarantulas, silk works, crickets, huge mekong river fishes, wild birds and lotus seeds are just a few of the things that I’ve observed being eaten here by locals. Wanna try it???
Siem Reap River
Stroll Along the River Side Walk along the beautiful river side and go to Raffles Park in the afternoon to see a huge colony of flying foxes (bats).
Visit Wat Thmei
Visit this monument and learn about the genocide that happened in Cambodia (which is an important part of Cambodia’s history).
Aside from the above mentioned activities, you may also try volunteering at communities outreach centres and schools around Siem Reap. There’s a lot of opportunities. This is also a great way to learn more about local people and culture.
Best Places to Visit Near Siem Reap
Banteay Srei Temple
A trip to the Banteay Srei temple will also make for an exciting excursion from Siem Reap. Dating back to the tenth century, this complex is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and today enjoys UNESCO World Heritage site status.
Commonly regarded as one of Cambodia’s most beautiful temples, here you can wander through libraries and enclosures that are made from delicately carved red sandstone.
Getting away from Siem Reap is very easy as there are good transport connections to other destinations in Cambodia and south east Asia. View my tips for travelling from Siem Reap to Bangkok by bus.