Siem Reap

Understand

The name "Siem Reap" literally means "Siam Defeated", commemorating a (possibly apocryphal) victory over invading Thais in 1549. These days, however, the only rampaging hordes are the tourists heading to the Angkor Archaeological Park. This once quaint village has become a major tourist town, full of things to do, places to eat and drink. New high quality tarmac roads and beautiful wide paved sidewalks have replaced the red dirt pot holed roads that were muddy in wet season, and dusty in dry season. The building boom is mostly over, and it's now a very pleasant town with lots of beautiful shady trees, especially along the riverbanks and roads around Angkor Wat. Check out the ConCERT tourist office, a local NGO committed to raising the standards of responsible tourism and eco-tourism activities and providing information on the causes and effects of poverty in Cambodia, volunteering opportunities and eco-tours.

Getting there

By plane

1 Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI IATA). Opened in October 2023, this clean and cool space is the country's largest airport. Being 50 km out of town, travel to and from this new airport costs more (except for seats on the minibus) and takes much longer than to the old airport, which has closed. It has one terminal and is served by international direct flights from Bangkok (both airports), Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and various airports in Laos (Luang Prabang) and Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang, Phu Quoc). Flights from Seoul, Kunming, and Shanghai were scheduled to begin by early 2024. Cambodia Angkor Air flies domestic from Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville as well. US$8 per minibus seat, US$40 for private minivan transfer. (updated Oct 2025)

By bus

Bus is a common way for getting around Cambodia with a range of bus companies serving Siem Reap, with several daily departures and arrivals (especially from Phnom Penh). Premium operators includes Giant Ibis and VET Air Bus Express, while companies such as Larryta, Seila Angkor Express, E-Booking, Mey Hong and others offer economy options with Air Conditioning. Try to book at least the day before travel. Booking online is easier with BookMeBus and Camboticket[1], as you can board with e-ticket with either of their services. Travel agents and guesthouses will do this for a US$1-2 fee per ticket. Buses tend to leave in the morning or early afternoon. There are also night buses on some routes. Many buses terminate at an out-of-town bus station to the east of Siem Reap, from where travellers will need to take a tuk-tuk into town. This should cost no more than US$2, or maybe US$3 if you're not keen to drive a hard bargain. If arriving from the west, consider getting off the bus as it passes through town on National Road 6, say as it crosses the bridge over the river, before it reaches the bus station. If arriving from the east you have little choice but to face the touts.

Domestic services

Domestic services are frequent — for instance Phnom Penh is served by a dozen companies some of which have a departure every half hour during the day. The bus trip from the capital is 6-8 hours and tickets are around US$10 depending on the company. This is a well traveled route by both locals and tourists, but often an uncomfortable trip, as buses make many stops and go slow. A more expensive, but far more comfortable option is by Wi-Fi-equipped minibus (US$15 from Giant Ibis or US$12 from Mekong Express, 2020). The trip by minibus takes only 4-5 hours.

Getting around

Travel to and around the Angkor Archaeological Park is extensively covered in its own article. The following is a discussion of travel inside Siem Reap.

On foot

The city centre is fairly compact and flat, now with good quality and often wide, paved sidewalks. Though in places you can find them doubling up as motorbike and car parking lots. However, as Siem Reap has grown, many interesting neighborhoods have popped up that are further outside of the main downtown business district, and are a bit out of the way for pedestrians.

By bicycle

Siem Reap is a popular place to cycle, with some scenic cycle paths painted green, or trails in forests near roads leading to and around Angkor Wat. There is also a green cycle path running along side the river, often in the shade of large trees, starting at the Hard Rock Cafe, then heading north. Bicycle rental shops around town mostly don't open earlier than 07:00, so if you want to ride to Angkor Wat early in the morning, rent one the day before. Some guesthouses also rent bicycles. One day rental varies between US$1 to US$8, depending on the quality of the bike. Discounts available for longer rentals. Guided electric mountain bike tours are also available in Siem Reap, offering pedal-assist bikes that make the Angkor circuit more manageable in the heat, with access to jungle trails not accessible by tuk-tuk or bus.

See

Most people come to visit Angkor Archaeological Park, which is thoroughly covered in its own article. The town has some worthwhile attractions and a number of beautiful modern Buddhist temples.

1 Angkor National Museum, 968 Charles de Gaulle Blvd (T Galleria department store, beside the museum, runs a free shuttle (a little train) from the Old Market, every 30 min from 10:30 except on W), ☏ +855 63 966 601, info@the-anm.com. Daily 08:30-18:00. A modern museum with exhibits covering the history of the Khmer Empire, and the art, architecture, clothing, and culture of Khmer civilization, with a special focus on the Angkor complex. It is worth spending a couple of hours in the air-conditioned galleries as a break from visiting temples. Lots of pre-Angkorian and Angkorian statues, plus informative videos. Some say the 1,000 Buddhas room is as impressive as it sounds. The gift shop has some lovely souvenirs and fascinating books, but they're very overpriced. Visitors are required to check bags, water, and hats at the entrance (for free). Photography prohibited. US$12; audio guide in many languages US$5 (credit card accepted). (updated Feb 2020) 2 APOPO, Trapeang Ses Village, Kouk Chauk Commune, Siem Reap Koumai Road, ☏ +855 81599237, visitor.center@apopo.org. Daily tours every half hour 08:30–11:30 and 13:00–16:30. A demining organization that uses trained rats to sniff out land mines, a strategy which is much faster and safer than using metal detectors (if the rats step on a mine, they are too light to set it off). The visitor's center has guided tours including examples of land mines and UXO (unexploded ordnance) and a demonstration of how the rats find mines. The tour takes about 45 minutes and is a fascinating way to learn about the problem of land mines in Cambodia and support demining work. The guide's English may be hard to understand, but the demonstrations are so interesting, the tour is well worth doing anyway. US$10. (updated Mar 2024) 3 Angkor Botanical Garden (rear entrance opposite Apopo). Beautifully kept gardens and mini zoo and playground with Rukha Cafe & Restaurant. A great place to visit just after visiting Apopo. free entry. 4 Lotus Silk Farm, 9, Road 63, Phnom Krom, ☏ +855 9252 9001, contact@lotussilkfarm.com. Daily 08:00-18:00. The lotus silk farm offers guided tours every hour, providing visitors with a comprehensive understanding of the lotus silk production process. For those seeking a more hands-on experience, the farm also offers handicraft workshops where participants can learn Cambodian traditional handicraft techniques. The farm features a shop with variety of lotus silk products, cosmetics and jewels, and a tea lounge where guests can savor traditional lotus tea. Adult US$5, free for kids less than 12. (updated Sep 2024) 5 Angkor Eye, Phum Krous (a 15-min drive NW of town on Route 6), ☏ +855 63 210 770. Daily 14:00–18:00. An 85-m-high Ferris wheel with 48 four-person baskets able to accommodate up to 192 people. The trip takes 18 minutes. It is the third highest Ferris wheel in Asia. Adult US$12, child US$6. (updated Feb 2020) 6 Flying Foxes. A large colony of day time flying fruit bats (they can see unlike most smaller species of bat), can be found hanging around in some of the tall trees in the parkland adjacent to the Royal Residence, an amazing sight you don't expect to see in the center of town.

Temples

7 Wat Bo, Samdech Tep Vong St and St 22 (east side of the river; follow the road that continues from over Wat Bo Bridge). As one of the oldest temples it makes a nice contrast between the oldest and the glittering new ones, though the rough artwork wouldn't match the craftsmen of Angkor. The architecture of the ramshackle open air hall next to the main building blends French-style arches and balustrades with Thai-influenced Buddhist details. A forest of chedi surround the main hall, in between frangipani trees and some fine topiary. 8 Wat Damnak (east side of Siem Reap River, just east of Art Night Market, on Wat Damnak Road). A landscaped temple with many stupas, a small decorative pool, and a school on the premises. Within the site of the temple is the Center for Khmer Studies, an open reading library with materials about the art, culture and history of Southeast Asia with specific interests in Cambodia. (updated Feb 2019) 9 Wat Preah Prom Rath, Pokambor Ave. The glittering modern temple grounds give few hints as to its 500-year history. Though the lotus-themed architecture seems to emulate temples from over the border, the front gate integrates Bayon-style heads and a scene in relief of the Buddha seated under a tree, while armies fire arrows on one side and others are eaten by crocodiles on the other side, that looks like it could have been taken directly from Angkorian mural. Legend is that the site was established around 1500 when a famous monk landed ashore on a piece of his sinking boat. The boat wood was carved into the oddly foreshortened reclining Buddha installed in a swimming pool-like pit behind the imposing, yet despondent looking, seated Buddha in the main hall. Perhaps mimicking the construction materials origins, the reclining Buddha has taken on a sunken slant at the feet end. A pair of small weather worn cannons on either side of the hall are of unknown origin but their style, an embossed crown-like seal and mysterious numbers suggest a European origin. 10 Wat Thmei Temple & Stupa Memorial to the Killing Fields. A large Buddhist temple. In the grounds is a stupa with glass sides contains bones and skulls of victims of Pol Pot's army. Be wary of people purporting to be guides or asking for donations. Also, several of the photographs on the display boards are actually of the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. Take this attraction with a pinch of salt. Free, donations welcome.

Do

Activities

1 Angkor Pottery Center (3 km South of Old Market on Road 63), ☏ +855 12 755 286. Daily 08:00-17:00. Daily pottery classes for beginners as well as professionals in pottery making, carving and glazing by local potter, Mrs Paruth Hann. Make your own design and take your glazed pot home as a souvenir. An enjoyable experience whilst supporting an enterprise creating fair wage jobs for the poor village women in Siem Reap. US$7-20. 2 Samatoa Experience, 11, road 63, Phnom Krom, Siem Reap (8 km South of Old Market on Road 63), ☏ +855 92 51 9001. Daily 08:00-18:00. Daily handicraft classes for kids and adults in yarn spinning, paper, incense stick-making and bracelet-making taught by local experts. US$25-45. 3 Pottery Classes & Painting classes, 130, vithey Charles de Gaulle (On the main Temple road very near the Angkor national museum, 30m after the traffics light on the right hand side), ☏ +855 17 843 014, info@khmerceramics.com. Daily 08:00 to 20:00. With the pottery class and clay class course, you can make your own ceramic artifact on the potter wheel. After you finish your piece, you can add different designs on it with potter's tools. With the painting activities, you can draw and / or paint your own design on a pot, cup, plate or other kinds of ceramics products. All activities from US$15.

Activities for children

4 Kameng Leng ~ Daycare, Playground & Restaurant, ☏ +855 96 988 0184. This is a fun, safe, creative, indoor-outdoor play and activity and education center with day care service and restaurant, for kids up to 8 years old. 5 Kids Playground, next to Angkor Eye. This is possibly the nicest and biggest outdoors playground in Siem Reap. It's under a circular canopy and is in good condition. There are clean bathroom facilities for kids and a mini cafe and shop nearby. There are also basketball courts behind for older kids. $1 for kids.

Adventure

6 Adventures Cambodia, Wat Damnak Area, ☏ +855 12 438 230, info@adventurescambodia.com. Private guided tours of the Angkor temples and the Siem Reap countryside by pedal-assist electric mountain bike, vintage Jeep or Vespa. Women-owned company founded in 2013. Licensed guides, and hotel pickup is included. The evening street food tour also runs as a small group. US$68-790 per person depending on the tour. (updated Jul 2026) 7 Wake Park. Excellent wakeboarding park and only one in Cambodia. $24 for 2 hr including instructor guidance. 8 KKO - Off Track Mountain Bike Tours, St 20, Wat Bo Rd (Close to the New Apsara Supermarket on Wat Bo Rd), ☏ +855 93 303 656, tours.offtrack@gmail.com. KKO is a local charitable non-profit NGO. They offer unique Angkor park and countryside off track bike tours. The entire profit generated from the bike tours flows back to the local KKO School. US$35 for a guided hlaf day bike tour and US$45-60 for a full day bike tour. Booking is required. US$35-65 for a full-day tour. 9 Sabai Motorbike and Jeep Adventures, ☏ +855 88 372 3121. Explore the Cambodian countryside on a guided motorbike adventure or in a Jeep. On tour, get off the beaten path to discover authentic, rugged, and fascinating Cambodia. Sabai Moto and Jeep Adventures tours start from Siem Reap.

Shopping

Money

International ATMs in Siem Reap are plentiful and most banks will do cash advances from credit cards. Two Sacombank ATMs can be found along Sivutha Boulevard west of the tourist hotspot aka Pub Street — see Cambodia#ATMs. ABA Bank, which is owned by a Canadian bank, and Canadia Bank, have a big, modern branch in the center of town. They have several modern ATMs, where you can withdraw up to US$500 with a fee of $5, dispensing notes usually in a mix of denominations of 50s and 20s. As of 2024, the ATMs no longer have the tendency of only allowing you to withdraw $100 bills, and will instead give you the opportunity to withdraw $20s or in Cambodian Rial.

Shopping

Most things in Siem Reap are overpriced wherever tourists are frequent, head further away from the center or bargain (at markets). The Heritage Watch non-profit organisation supports business that promote Cambodia's arts, culture, heritage and development. Certified businesses display either a gold or silver Heritage Friendly logo.

Arts and crafts

1 Artisans d'Angkor, Stung Thmey St, ☏ +855 63 963 330. Daily 07:30-17:30. A workshop in the city centre. Showcases traditional Cambodian handicrafts such as wood and stone carving, lacquering, gilding and silk painting. Visitors are conducted on a free guided tour where they can see the craftsmen in action. The boutiques display the many items produced. Tours available in Khmer, English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. 2 Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Centre, Vithey Charles de Gaulle, Khum Slorkram (on the road to the temples; 30 m after the traffic light when coming from Siem Reap), ☏ +855 1784 3014. Daily 08:00-19:30. Glazed stoneware bowls, plates, teapots and decorative objects made with traditional Khmer ceramic techniques. 3 L.A. Bookshop, Wat Bo Rd. Large shop, with low prices on stationery items like books (upstairs), paper, arts and crafts, bags, kitchenware and kids' toys. 4 Theam's House Gallery, Veal Village, Khum Kokchak, ☏ +855 78 20 81 61. Daily 08:00-19:00. Exhibits paintings and art created by the artist-designer Theam Lim, who has studied at Ecole Boulle and Ecole Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. Theam's House Gallery and atelier are in the house of the artist, built by himself, inspired by Khmer rural architecture, surrounded by a garden.

Eat

Eating options span the full spectrum of tastes and budgets from the rudimentary Asian staples and pizza to authentic Khmer and sophisticated fine-dining featuring exotic local ingredients. The highest assortment of restaurants are in few blocks north of the old market, but there are appetizing alternatives along Wat Bo Rd and hidden in the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Old Market area

Though Pub Street is better known for its bars, a handful of places serve great food, many with seating upstairs so you can escape the partying milieu on the street below. Crammed along The Alley is a wider selection of restaurants that offer a generally quieter and more intimate experience. The local restaurants lining Phsar Chas have extensive, yet near identical, menus of cheap fried rice and Westernised approximations of Khmer dishes. At dusk the Kindergarten on the corner of Street 8 and 11 becomes a jumble of small BBQ stalls, replete with billowing smoke, noise, and the persistently entreating peddlers. The phnom pleurng here is the cheapest you will find.

1 The Red Piano, Pub St. 2 floors. Serves a variety of Italian and other European food with Britney Spears music videos in the background. 2 Viva (Corner of 2 Thnou St & Street 9), ☏ +855 17 838 854. A bright orange Mexican restaurant. Burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas are reasonably authentic considering the location. They have some Khmer dishes if you want to eat more local food while enjoying the view over the balcony. US$2-6. 3 Williams Fish and Chips (at the cobra roundabout across from the Ibis hotel), ☏ +855 76 289 3063. M-Sa 11:00-21:30, closed Sunday. Classic British-style fish and chips with mushy peas or coleslaw, and bread and butter. US$3.50-6.50. (updated Feb 2026)

Drink

Coffee

Coffee shop cafes with bookshelves with books for both kids and adults, and sometimes games, include Aris Café, Bayon Pastry School, Chocolate Gardens, footprint cafe, Peace Cafe, Pi Riel Coffee, Rukha Cafe (located opposite Apopo hero rats center, small a/c library attached to cafe building), Sister Srey Cafe (upstairs), Source Cafe, Temple Coffee n Bakery (Riverside).

1 Sister Srey Cafe, 200 pokambor St, Siem Reap, Siemreab-Otdar Meanchey (a one minute walk from the old market). Run by two Australian sisters. Located in an old colonial building. Excellent coffee. Wonderful atmosphere. (updated Oct 2018) 2 footprint cafe, Street 26, Wat Bo, ☏ +855 92 800 308. 07:00–22:00. Cafe focused on sustainability and supporting local communities while serving tasty food and drinks. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. They have a large selection of donated second-hand books. (updated Nov 2025)

Alcohol

Many of the bars and pubs of Siem Reap are concentrated on a strip called Pub Street and its surrounding side roads and alleys. Although peaceful during the day, the streets in the Pub Street area which is just a block away from the historic Psah Chas (Old Market), comes alive with lights and music. A range of international tourists start pouring into the bars and pubs and give the streets almost a nightly street party scene. Started in the late-1990s by a local business called Angkor What? Bar and followed by its rival, Temple Bar, from the across the street, Pub Street is often recommended as a must-see attraction in Siem Reap, but there is little to experience that is not already implied by its name.

Sleep

A seemingly inexhaustible range of sleeping options from upmarket hotels, down to US$3 dorm beds in backpacker hostels, with many guesthouses, boutique rooms, bungalows, concrete cells, wood huts and French villas in between, make finding a place to sleep one of the easiest things you will do on your trip. Hotels are spread over the entire city but most larger hotels line national highway 6 to the west of the city centre, cheap backpacker hostels tend to surround the old market area and stylish boutique hotels a nestled in the trees along Wat Bo Rd. Small Khmer run hotels and guest houses, especially in the low season, can be surprisingly good value if you are willing to do a bit of hunting for one that hasn't been overrun by the guidebook-toting hoards. Accommodations at every price point generally offer hot showers, cable TV, Internet and airport or bus pickup. Some may include free breakfast, though don't expect much more than an egg on toast and a coffee.

Budget

1 Baphuon Villa, 117 St Wat Bo, Sangkat Slor Kram (near the royal residence and Rte 6; 15 min from the Old Market and Pub St), ☏ +855 63 967 177, residence.baphuonvilla@gmail.com. A 16-bedroom secluded colonial-style villa with a courtyard, parking area and tropical garden. The hotel offers a range of bright, spacious and clean fan and air-con single, twin, double, and family rooms. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, cable TV with over 100 channels, private WC, washbasin, and hot showers, complimentary toiletries, and mineral water. Rooms have fully stocked minibars. A variety of breakfasts are served and the hotel offers an evening meal delivery service and packed breakfasts for those viewing the sunrise at Angkor. The hotel has its own tuk-tuk drivers and a free tuk-tuk service for guests staying 3 or more nights. Bus tickets to all destinations in Cambodia and to other destinations in SE Asia are available at the 24-hour reception. Free tea and coffee available all day. Bicycle hire. Beautifully decorated with artefacts, travel posters and photographs from throughout SE Asia. Very friendly and helpful English-speaking staff. From US$14. 2 Forest King Hotel, No. 0658, Rd 6, Chongkaosou Village, Slorkram Commune (on Hwy 6, accessible by the slip-road next to the Total Petrol Station), ☏ +855 63 761857. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. A budget accommodation run by the Cheab family. Free services include pick up from bus station, tuk-tuk rides to the Old Market and Pub Street, bicycle use, daily breakfast and booking of bus tickets and countryside or Angkor tours. All rooms equipped with air-con, cable TV, mini-bar, and hot & cold shower. Management and staff are cordial, competent and reliable. Pool, garden, and a small bar/restaurant. US$20-30. (updated Oct 2023) 3 Riversoul Residence, St 21 Wat Bo Village Salakomrouek Commune (From the bus station take Road 6 in Siem Reap, turn left at the first traffic light, then take the second right. The guesthouse is 50 m on the left), ☏ +855 95 830 093. Check-in: on arrival, check-out: 12:00. Formerly Green Town Hostel, it's a bit of a backpacker-oriented, but draws a wide crowd. Clean, relaxed atmosphere with bar & restaurant downstairs. Western & Cambodian menu. 10 min walk from town centre. US$6 gets a large room with high ceiling, open windows, fan, hot shower en suite and 70 channel TV. US$10 gets the same with air-con. Wi-Fi throughout, free computers downstairs. US$4 get a windowless box that at best has cold water. If you fall for paying much more than listed here (prices start high), they may give a free breakfast. Security guard. Tours, tickets and local transport available. US$4-10. (updated Oct 2023) 4 Mad Monkey Hostel, ☏ +855 636880008, siemreap@madmonkeyhostels.com. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 11:00. Popular hostel with pool. Relocated from original town center location. US$5. 5 Sam So Guesthouse, 164 Wat Bo Rd (Opposite Street 21), ☏ +855 12 602956, +855 97 6699813, info@samsoguesthouse.com. All rooms are big, clean, and have a private bath with hot water, air-con, or fan, large screen sat TV and a fridge. Free Wi-Fi and Internet in the lobby. Run by Cambodian family, friendly, helpful and reliable staff. English, German, Italian and French are spoken. Various tours by arrangement. Free breakfast and free pick up. US$9-20. 6 Seven Candles Guesthouse, 307 Wat Bo Rd, ☏ +855 63 963 380, reservations@sevencandlesguesthouse.com. Run by the Ly family, comfortable clean rooms with private hot water bathroom, air-con, fan, and TV. 2 bottles of water daily. Laundry, onward transport bookings, and free Wi-Fi. The Ly family works hard making education available to the children of rural families; volunteers with the Ponheary Ly Foundation often stay here. Four of the family are licensed Angkor Wat tour guides, speaking English, French, and Russian. Breakfast is available for a small additional fee. US$20. 7 Siem Reap Boutique Villa, 7 Makara St (near the corner of Wot Bo Rd and Angkor School Rd in the Wat Dam Nak area), ☏ +855 11 876 393, info@siemreapboutiquevilla.com. Check-in: 00:00, check-out: 07:00. Free breakfast and free 24 hour Wi-Fi access. 8 Tropical Breeze Guesthouse and Restaurant, 293 Wat Damnak Village (Cross river from Old Market & Pub St, turn right and walk for around 5 min), ☏ +855 63 966445, reservation@tropicalbreeze-gh.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Bar and restaurant downstairs, Western and Cambodian menu. Large rooms with high ceilings, open windows, Wi-Fi, free computers downstairs, 70 channel TV, air-con or fan, en suite bath has mains pressure hot water. 24 hr check-in, security guard, security box in lobby (bring your own padlock). Free set breakfast menu of 56 items, including drinks. Tours, tickets and local transport. Visa or MasterCard accepted. Free pick up 24 hr by prior arrangement. US$7 dorm to $20 room. 9 Cheathata Angkor, Sok San Road, Sangkat Svay Dangkum Krong (near Pub Street and Sivutha Boulevard), ☏ +855 63 968 777, res@ctaangkorhotel.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Colonial elegance, spacious rooms, family rooms, roof pool, spa, dining, event space. Air conditioning, fable TV, Wi-Fi. Each room has its own en suite shower and bathtub. US$35. (updated Feb 2020)

Mid-range

10 Central Boutique Angkor Hotel, ☏ +855 63 764 030. Locally owned and operated. Clean, comfortable hotel, not too far from the centre of town, with Western bathrooms, gardens and a pool. Air-con rooms from US$29 with breakfast included. 11 Angkor Panoramic Boutique Hotel, 0017, Phum Wat Bo, Sala Kamreuork, ☏ +855 63 965 118, info@angkorpanoramic.com. Offers spacious rooms and amenities. Serves complimentary daily breakfast. Swimming pool, fitness facility, spa and body treatments. (updated Nov 2020) 12 The Cockatoo Nature Resort & Spa, ☏ +855 63 969069. 7 rooms in a restored traditional Khmer house plus 2 Balinese-inspired grass-roofed cottages. Pool and lush gardens. Gourmet food served at main restaurant or poolside bar. From US$35. 13 Men's Resort & Spa, ☏ +855 63 963503. Male-exclusive gay hotel. The complex includes a boutique hotel with 10 stylish rooms, a large pool, a fitness centre, massage service and sauna/spa. From US$49. 14 Mom's Guesthouse, 0099, Phom Wat Bo, ☏ +855 12 630 170. One of the longer-running guesthouses in Siem Reap, now in a new, if somewhat characterless, building. Mom will be happy to make all sorts of travel and transport arrangements. Air-con doubles with breakfast, hot water included. US$25. (updated Oct 2023) 15 Shining Angkor Boutique Hotel, #560 Group One, Kok Chok Commune, ☏ +855 63 963096. 21 rooms. Free tuk-tuk service one way to the centre of Siem Reap daily. It is a ~US$2 per ride back. Free, if underwhelming, breakfast. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Decor is traditional wooden furniture with Buddhist elements. Family-owned. (updated Oct 2023) 16 Ta Phrom Hotel, Pokambor Ave, Mondul I, Sangkat Svay Dangkum (river front, next to Old Market), ☏ +855 63 380117, +855 63 760087, fax: +855 63 963528. Free in-room Wi-Fi 24 hr, restaurant, wooden interior and beautiful statues, terrace, traditional atmosphere with French colonial exterior, friendly English speaking staff, in-room refrigerator, mini-bar, slippers, air-con, hot water and bathtub, cable TV, 24-hr services and 24 hr security. Lovely hotel with exceptional wooden interior, breakfast included. US$35-80. (updated Oct 2023) Tanei Angkor Resort and Spa, Phare Circus Ring Road, Svay Dangkhum Village, ☏ +855 63 967 356, reservation@taneiangkor.com. 17 Kouprey Hotel, Top Town Road, Krous Village, Svay Dangkom, ☏ +855 63 765 674, info@hotelkoupreyangkor.org. Near Cultural Village 100 m away from National Hwy 6. Much smaller than the resort hotels on the main street, but therefore much more quiet and great ambiente. US$30. (updated Aug 2017) 18 Cheathata CTS Hotel, Angkor Night Market Street, Steung Thmei (between Sok San Road and Night Market), ☏ +855 63 966 565, res@ctaangkorhotel.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Elegant rooms and family suites with traditional fine wood features, with free Wi-Fi, cable TV, sitting areas, mini-fridges, tea and coffee-making equipment. Suites have balconies with city views. All rooms en suite bathrooms with glass-enclosed showers and free-standing tubs. In-room dining is available 24/7. A breakfast buffet is served daily. Amenities include a restaurant, and a rooftop pool and bar. An airport shuttle and cooking classes can be arranged for a fee. US$45. (updated Feb 2020)

Stay safe

Scams

Most locals are decent people just trying to make an honest living, but a few shady characters try every trick to take advantage of visitors' good will. Be alert to deceptive dealers but don't let suspicion ruin your trip. Convenience stores have been known to give incorrect change and pocket the rest. Check your change before you walk out of the store and point out any short changing. Most likely they will admit to their "mistake" and give you the right change. Street vendors and beggars in competition for generous travellers' handouts have developed cunning, if underhanded, techniques to get your attention (and money). The "beggar army" of young children will come up to you in the crowd and grab your hands, leading you to a shop where they will then try to have you buy food, baby milk or water for them. Baby milk powder seems to be a popular one. It might sound like a more humanitarian way to help than giving them money, but once you leave the store the goods you bought for them are sold back to the shop owners or to other locals and the cash goes to an adult. Young women with babies cradled in a krama perform a similar trick. Donation-collectors for orphanages may approach you in the street claiming to be volunteer workers, showing you convincing photos of themselves in the orphanage and a clipboard listing the generous donations made by foreign visitors. Though these young adults may be well groomed and speak excellent English it's possible that your donation will go directly into their pockets. A donation (either of money, or your time) to a recognised charity might be a better way to help. Dollar bills need to be checked, as you will find out that you won't be able to change bills with any tiny cut. Fake dollar bills are also wide spread, and can even be issued from ATMs. NGO safari should be avoided. Do not schedule any orphanage visit unless this is the main purpose of your trip.

Underage sex

Obviously, no-one should be having any form of sexual or other inappropriate contact with children. Foreign tourists have been arrested and charged with child sex offences. To avoid suspicion, do not stay alone with young people (room, temple, school, countryside, stadium, car), and do not respond to any favour they ask of you (transport, phone call, help, use your toilet or a glass of water).

For general information on health in Cambodia, see the article on Cambodia.

Go next

Banteay Chhmar - the forgotten Angkorian complex in neighboring Banteay Meanchey Province. A bit ambitious for a day trip by tuk-tuk but makes for a wonderful excursion by helicopter (about US$2,200). Battambang - Cambodia's second largest city with Buddhist temples, shrines and statues. Koh Ker - the ancient capital, much less touristy than Angkor. Kampong Thom - a gateway to the world heritage listed ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk. Phnom Penh - the modern capital, with the Royal Palace and sites related to the gruesome Khmer Rouge regime and the Cambodian genocide. Thailand - the border crossing at Poipet is a couple hours away, and there are several daily buses to Bangkok Tonle Sap Lake - Southeast Asia's biggest lake with floating villages and a rich biodiversity.

More pictures of Siem Reap

From this destination's category on Wikimedia Commons. Each photograph is credited to its own author under its own licence.