The as soon as small market city of Siem Reap has seen the quickest improvement in Southeast Asia due to the growing reputation of Angkor Wat. Right here’s what to do in Siem Reap whenever you’re not engrossed with unbelievable non secular structure.
By: Paul Healy |
Printed: 9 Mar 2024
As the bottom from the place to discover the temples of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap seems to be rising at a tempo that it might solely simply sustain with.
Initially the area of hardy backpackers, Siem Reap has over time, morphed right into a cosmopolitan hub. Stylish inns, designer spas and high-end eating places mix with native Asian markets and riverside meals stalls to maintain you occupied in between exploring the temples.
A captivating and confronting historical past fills museums with stark reminders of the previous and group initiatives are a testomony to the resilient nature of the Cambodian individuals.
There are many worthy issues to do in Siem Reap between temple visits, right here’s our information to seeing the very best of them.
MAP – THINGS TO DO IN SIEM REAP
The centre of Siem Reap is compact and straightforward to get round many of the websites on foot, or by tuk-tuk. Nevertheless, to benefit from your go to, you’ll want to journey out to the temples and Tonlé Sap.
The way to use this map / Click on on the highest left of the map to show the record of places, then click on on the places to show additional data. Click on on the highest proper nook of the map to open a bigger model in a brand new tab or the star to avoid wasting to your Google Maps.
1. ANGKOR WAT TEMPLES
The primary purpose to come back to Siem Reap is undoubtedly to go to the Angkor Wat temples. Representing the peak of the Cambodian Empire and their devotion to each Hinduism and Buddhism, the temples close to Siem Reap are a few of the most fascinating historic landmarks on this planet.
We cowl all the data you want together with an important temples to not miss, and a few extra distant ones which can be price seeing in our information to visiting the Angkor Wat Temples.
2. ANGKOR NATIONAL MUSEUM
The Angkor Nationwide Museum is the primary museum in Siem Reap and a superb start line for understanding the Khmer Empire.
It covers all durations of Angkorian structure with a useful rundown of the Khmer kings and all of the temples related to their respective reins.
The detailed descriptions of the Hindu and Buddhist iconography helps decipher the unbelievable bas-reliefs adorning lots of the temples round Siem Reap. If potential, it will be properly price going to the Angkor Nationwide Museum earlier than you see the temples.
Entry is $12 and the museum has complete data boards in English, so that you don’t must spend the additional $5 on the audio information.
Enable 2 to three hours to see every little thing.
3. CAMBODIAN LANDMINE MUSEUM
Annually, dozens of individuals are killed or injured by landmines left behind from the civil struggle.
The Cambodian Landmine Museum was began by Aki Ra who was taken by his household on the age of 5 and recruited into the Khmer Rouge.
After the struggle, he devoted his life to ridding Cambodia of landmines and different unexploded ordinance that also litter the countryside.
It’s a poignant exhibition to tales of Cambodian lives completely affected by landmines, in addition to technical details about the continued work to take away them.
Entry is $5 and a free audio information is supplied by a QR code you scan in your cellphone. The museum is funded by customer charges and a part of the ticket worth goes to a number of charitable causes associated to serving to individuals damage by landmines.
The Cambodian Landmine Museum is 25 kilometres north of Siem Reap but it surely’s simple to see on a day journey to Beng Melea and Banteay Sri. (See beneath)
4. WAR MUSEUM CAMBODIA
Not like the Landmine Museum, the Warfare Museum Cambodia has nearly no data and the exhibition consists of not way more than a number of rusted tanks dotted round a grassy backyard.
Often, it’s potential to get a guided tour from an ex-army combatant who offers an enchanting and harrowing account of the struggle from his private perspective. If a guided tour is offered, the Warfare Museum is a superb expertise in Siem Reap. If a tour isn’t potential, we wouldn’t suggest going.
We advise getting a Tuk Tuk out to the museum and asking if a information is offered earlier than you buy your tickets.
Entry is $5 per particular person. Guided excursions, if accessible, are not any additional cost.
The museum is a 10-minute Tuk Tuk trip from the centre of Siem Reap. Count on to pay round $5 for the Tuk Tuk driver to take you out, look forward to you, then take you again.
5. SIEM REAP WATS
In the event you’re not templed-out from visiting the sights of Angkor Wat, there are 2 extra temples within the centre of Siem Reap which can be price popping in to.
Wat Bo is likely one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Siem Reap. It has a number of well-preserved work depicting well-known Hindu and Buddhist tales. Entry is free and also you’ll solely want a short while to walk round.
Wat Preah Promenade Rath is likely one of the most stunning temples in Siem Reap city. It’s adorned with vibrant wall work and statues. It’s positioned simply close to the Outdated Market.
Wat Dam Nak is an outdated royal palace that right now promotes a greater understanding of Khmer tradition with an on-site library.
6. PUB STREET
You’ll hear Pub Road earlier than you get to it. With pumping music competing throughout typically empty bars, the vibe is hopeful, teetering in the direction of determined.
It’s onerous to inform whether or not it’s a imaginative and prescient of what Cambodians assume western vacationers need on their travels, or the results of years of backpacker demand.
Regardless of the trigger, Pub Road (Road 8) is the centre of Siem Reap’s nightlife. Most of the joints are open 24/7 and also you’ll have the ability to discover all sorts of meals and loads of bars.
A couple of locations on Pub Road are nonetheless providing fish therapeutic massage, the place Pink Garra fish chew lifeless pores and skin off your ft. Other than the truth that the fish solely eat lifeless pores and skin as a result of they’re so hungry, the tubs include fish waste and are a breeding floor for micro organism. Most international locations have banned the observe and it’s an expertise to keep away from in Siem Reap.
7. STREET 26
For a calmer expertise, we extremely suggest heading to Road 26, on the west aspect of the river. It’s a quiet avenue with a couple of wonderful bars and eating places.
Banlle Vegetarian Restaurant // Banlle has a pleasant out of doors terrace with a small menu of Khmer delicacies and environment friendly skilled service. For dessert, strive the ice cream store on the entrance.
Laundry // Simply throughout the street from Banlle, Laundry is a brilliant bar with occasional stay music.
Miss Wong // Miss Wong is a cocktail bar and Dim Sum Restaurant impressed by Twenties Shanghai. The décor is gorgeous, and the cocktails are respectable worth.
Tevy’s Place // Tevy’s Place is a superb worth Cambodian restaurant run by an virtually all-female workers.
8. PHARE, THE CAMBODIAN CIRCUS
Phare is a enjoyable night time out in Siem Reap and a good way to assist the local people.
The 1-hour efficiency is a mixture of interpretive dance and cardio talent, set to a neighborhood cultural story. Witness spectacular performances below the intimate large prime with an added dose of Cambodian humour.
The venue opens at 6 pm the place you possibly can have dinner from distributors promoting curries, noodles, grilled dishes and burgers. There’s additionally a bar so you possibly can have a beer or a cocktail whereas watching a efficiency from the native faculty youngsters on a stage within the out of doors meals courtroom.
You’ll want to purchase coupons to make purchases from the meals distributors and the bar.
Ticket costs are $18, $28, $38, which you should buy on-line upfront. It’s not a really large venue so there’s not a lot profit in getting the costlier tickets. The present begins at 8 pm.
9. APOPO HERO RATS
Apopo is a Belgian NGO that trains rats to smell out landmines, dramatically growing detection charges within the countryside. Their extremely delicate sense of scent and the truth that they’re too small to set off the explosives makes them the best candidate for detecting landmines.
On the customer centre you possibly can study how a lot the rats have achieved and meet them in particular person.
10. OLD MARKET
On the japanese aspect of the river, the Outdated Market is a warren of stalls offering an ideal alternative to do some procuring or simply absorb the environment of an Asian market.
The stalls on the east aspect cater to vacationers promoting trinkets, souvenirs, t-shirts and scarfs. The western edge is the contemporary meals market with locals stocking up on fruit and veg.
Seamstress and hairdressers are busy working away alongside a few avenue meals distributors. It’s an ideal photograph alternative even should you’re not seeking to purchase something.
11. NIGHTLY STREET FOOD MARKET
The night time market straddles either side of the river between the two bridges, each referred to as Artwork Market Bridge.
On the japanese aspect of the river, you’ll discover a plethora of stalls promoting native meals which you eat on little tables by the banks of the river. The gang and the meals, will get progressively extra native as you head in the direction of the Fountain Dragon’s roundabout.
The western aspect is extra subdued with round 4 or 5 stalls alongside the river. That is the part of the market we suggest attempting. It was the very best and most cost-effective meals we present in Siem Reap.
WHERE TO EAT IN SIEM REAP
NIGHT MARKET – One of the best meals in Siem Reap is from the road meals stalls on the western aspect of the river.
WILD – Spring rolls solely in a beautiful backyard setting with an ideal cocktail record.
MISS WONG – Chinese language Dim Sum in a Shanghai-inspired townhouse.
BANLLE – Thai and Khmer basic vegetarian dishes on this trendy restaurant.
TEVY’S PLACE – Conventional Cambodian cooking from a famend chef.
THE SUGAR PALM – The fanciest meals in Siem Reap, good you probably have an important day to rejoice.
SAMBOO – Nice Thai and Cambodia cooking with disorganised service.
12. TONLÉ SAP
Tonlé Sap is a big lake that begins round 15 kilometres southwest of Siem Reap. It’s the lifeblood of the world with greater than 3 million individuals dwelling on or across the lake.
There are a number of excursions to Tonlé Sap the place you possibly can expertise this distinctive tradition. We suggest the Kompong Pluk tour which was a incredible expertise with out being overly touristy.
KOMPONG PLUK – OUR PICK
Kompong Pluck is a village of bamboo skyscrapers, towering on excessive stilts on the banks of Tonlé Sap. The tour features a stroll by the village the place you possibly can witness each day life on this pleasant village, adopted by an optionally available canoe trip by the floating forest ($10 per boat for two individuals).
The journeys end watching sundown on a floating deck in the course of the lake, the place you possibly can order dinner and drinks.
CHONG KNEAS
Chong Kneas is the closest floating village to Siem Reap but it surely has grow to be overrun with vacationer teams and tainted by tour information scams. But it surely’s solely 11 kilometres from city so you possibly can rent a tuk tuk or hire a motorbike to cycle out with out taking over an excessive amount of time. There’s a set entrance charge and boat costs to take you out to the village.
KOMPONG KHLEANG
Komgpong Khleang is the most important group on Tonlé Sap, with stilted homes set excessive above the lake to fight the huge modifications in water degree. At 50 kilometres from Siem Reap it’s a lot quieter than the opposite communities on the lake, making it a superb purpose to go to. Homestays can be found for an in a single day expertise.
PREK TOAL
Prek Toal is a chicken sanctuary with a big number of uncommon breeds. From December to February when the water dries up in different elements of the lake, birds flock to Prek Toal making it a birder’s paradise.
It’s troublesome to get to by your self with a number of modes of transport concerned, however excursions embody a cease on the village of Prek Toal which is a much more rewarding expertise than the villages nearer to Siem Reap. Nevertheless, excursions are very costly (round $200) subsequently, it’s in all probability solely one thing to contemplate for very eager chicken fans.
WHERE TO STAY
Siem Reap has embraced tourism with loads of lodging choices from price range backpacker lodges to luxurious inns. Listed below are a couple of suggestions from us.
| RATE | PROPERTY | PRICES |
|---|---|---|
| $ | ONEDERZ SIEM REAP Positioned beside the Outdated Market, this wonderful hostel has personal rooms and dormitories with free Wifi and two swimming swimming pools. |
reserving.com inns.com |
| $$ | JAYA HOUSE RIVER PARK Positioned exterior the busy space in a tropical backyard, this stunning property has wonderful Wifi, air-conditioning, and a really engaging pool. |
reserving.com inns.com |
| $$$ | BOPHA WAT BO RESIDENCE A wise clear resort with a pool in a beautiful backyard setting. The breakfast is excellent and it’s only a brief stroll into the centre of city. |
reserving.com inns.com |
GETTING THERE
Siem Reap has a shiny new airport due to Chinese language funding. To guard the temples of Angkor, it’s positioned 45 kilometres east of the city centre.
The easiest way to get from the airport is to organise a pick-up out of your resort which ought to price round $30.
Taxis are few and much between and the airport bus ($8) at the moment solely has 6 companies per day, making it a reasonably ineffective choice.
It takes round 50 minutes to drive into Siem Reap.
