Location: Siem Reap
Top Things to do in Siem Reap
Top 10 Things to do Good for Big Groups in Siem Reap, Siem Reap Province
When the morning light washes over the overgrown temples and ruins of Angkor Wat, a simple Siem Reap sunrise becomes a profound event. The ancient structures are contained within one of the largest religious complexes in the world. The complex and the 12th century Angkor Thom royal city are considered the main reasons to visit Siem Reap. Get a lesson in national history at the Cambodian Cultural Village, and a lesson in bargaining at the Angkor Night Market, a bonanza of shopping stalls, food vendors, and bars.
Restaurants in Siem Reap
1. Angkor Wat
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 48,121 reviews
Reviewed By carolsD3992WS - Halfmoon Bay, Canada
Watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat was special and we were amazed learning the history of this UNESCO World-Hertiage Site that has elaborate architecture and intricate carvings of daily life that defy the construction and engineering skills of the times.
2. Angkor Thom
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8,614 reviews
This magnificent inner royal city was built by the end of the 12th century and is renowned for its temple grounds and towering southern gate.
Reviewed By BradJill - Hong Kong, China
Angkor Thom was the last great Khmer capital and the zenith of this ancient civilisation. The walled complex measures 10 square km and includes impressive entrances such as the famous South Gate which demonstrates the unique architecture of this time period in the form of a smiling stone face in the tower overlooking a causeway lined with collection of demons and gods both holding a 50 metre long Naga - seven headed snake figure. There are other impressive entrances, most notably the Gate of Death and Gate of Victory on the east side of Angkor Thom. Within the complex, you will also find the second most famous of the Angkor temples in Bayon Temple. North of Bayon, visitors can explore the grounds of Baphuon and Phimeanakas temples as well as the very interesting Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. Note: Most who are taking in the Short Circuit route through the Angkor Archeological Park will enter Angkor Thom from the South Gate after visiting Angkor Wat to the south. You then visit Bayon and the other attractions mentioned above. In the end, we very much enjoyed the South Gate entrance, Bayon Temple and the Terrace of the Elephants. These we would consider Must-Sees in Angkor Thom. The rest can be visited depending on the amount of time you have available.
3. Ta Prohm
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19,276 reviews
Having undergone minimal restoration, stone pillars and carvings intertwine with massive tree roots and jungle in this stunning temple complex.
Reviewed By lynnem232
An amazing Temple and not too far from the city of Siem Reap. The location for the Lara Croft Tomb Raider movie, this temple is being reclaimed by nature and the sight of these magnificent trees enveloping the temple is awesome in the true meaning of the word. If you can only see one temple during your visit to Siem Reap this would definitely be my choice.
4. Bayon Temple
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 20,652 reviews
Reviewed By M9625HWjamesm - Windsor, United States
Take your time, make sure you have either a guide or an in depth guide book, and consider making a second visit....it's amazing and worth every minute you spend there. Go in the morning when all the large groups are still at Angkor Wat.
5. Angkor Archaeological Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5,125 reviews
Angkor Wat, the one of the largest religious complexes in the world, and a stunning array of 9th to 13th century temples built by the kings of the Khmer Empire. The Angkor Archaeological Park is breathtaking, and still the principal draw for every visitor to Siem Reap.
Reviewed By eib2017
What an incredible place to see! Any one of the temple ruins would have been a wonder on its own and it seems almost unfair towards the smaller temples that the bigger ones get all the limelight. I hired a bicycle for a day and cycled both routes and I would recommend doing that to anyone who has a reasonable level of fitness and likes having some freedom of movement. (It's also by far the cheapest option.) But most people seem to hire a tuk tuk for a day. It's not expensive and you also have the option to go wherever you like - the tuk tuk driver is at your disposal for as long as you've hired him. Every tuk tuk driver in the city seems to offer tours, so don't bother wasting money to book a tour online. I don't recommend a van tour. It's generally the most expensive and it robs you of the pleasure to slow down as you pass some magnificent ruins and appreciate them briefly (or even stop and see them properly) on your way to the larger and more touristic ruins. Finally, I only bought a day pass because my time in the city was (unfortunately) limited. But the three day pass is DEFINITELY worth it. You will want to go back.
6. Bambu Stage Siem Reap
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 291 reviews
Bambu Stage is a hybrid theatre with creative, entertaining and informative nightly shows, as well as daily puppet and drumming workshops. We are a performing arts venue and gathering place for artists and art lovers. We operate as a social entreprise with the goal of contributing to a sustainable Cambodian arts scene.
Reviewed By tripmemories
We had been hoping to see a traditional puppet show for some time now, and we thoroughly enjoyed the Bambu Stage experience. The venue had a lovely ambiance, and it was wonderful to see the traditional arts being revived in Cambodia! During the show, we had the opportunity to watch the puppeteers in action in front of and behind the screen—both of which were interesting perspectives. The puppeteers were superb actors and very talented puppet makers, as well. Our local guide joined us, and it was a hoot seeing him crack up at the many jokes during the performance. After the show, we had the opportunity to watch a puppet being crafted, to operate the puppets ourselves (they were pretty heavy!), and to test out some of the traditional musical instruments. We also got to snap a picture with Archie, their adorable 4-legged security guard. This would be a great venue for a date night or to take the kids, as well. Overall, it was a lovely evening that provided further insight into Cambodian culture while also adding more variety into our daily itinerary of temple visits.
7. APOPO Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 816 reviews
Reviewed By Seeitalldoitall
Just visited this amazing place. There is about a 45 minute tour that includes a video some visuals and a live demonstration so you can see how the rats are trained and the great work they are accomplishing. Utilizing the rats allows the people working them to move quickly and efficiently which ultimately saves lives. This proves that not all heros wear capes! Please go and see, please donate to this wonderful organization and help to spread the word!
8. Cambo Beach Club
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 148 reviews
The one and only real beach club in Siem Reap. An oasis in the centre of town, beach sand, huge saltwater pool, sounds and amazing place to chill. Amazing toilet facilities, beach volleyball court, pool, table tennis and foosball tables, plus 3 and 5 meter jumps into the 4.2 meter deep diving pool. Always something happening at Cambo Beach Club.
Reviewed By elliotts472 - Longfield, United Kingdom
After looking to escape our busy hostel with my friends we found the Cambo beach club. The staff are all very accommodating and the food very tasty. I’d recommend the ribs which is accompanied with a spicy rub and the chicken schnitzel sandwich. Outside of doing the typical tourist sites like Angkor Wat we spent most of our time in the club playing on the free billiards tables, lounging around the pool and chatting to friends. The drink prices are affordable and taste genuine unlike some of the cheap beer offers you find down pub street. The bar offers exports from other countries including my personal favourite which is a Vietnamese pale ale called Fuzzy Logic. The venue also holds events which include international DJ’s and live music nights. There’s no where like it in Siam Reap after spending a considerable amount of time searching. Suitable for all families/friends and couples and will recommend to all friends and family in the future. Elliott
9. Banteay Srei
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,230 reviews
Banteay Srei or Banteay Srey is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Located in the area of Angkor, it lies near the hill of Phnom Dei, 25 km north-east of the main group of temples that once belonged to the medieval capitals of Yasodharapura and Angkor Thom.
Reviewed By UNNIMAYA - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Known popularly as Ladies temple this red sandstone temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is widely praised as Jewel of Angkor Wat for its intricate carvings. Another piece of interesting information- this is the only major temple in Angkor not built by a monarch - the construction is credited to the courtiers named Vishnukumara and Yajnavaraha.
10. Preah Khan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,105 reviews
Reviewed By ECWorld - Hong Kong, China
I did twenty odd temples in 4 days so they were beginning to look and feel the same - but this was one of the very best in my opinion. Even larger than Ta Prohm, this large temple maintained the same raw unrestored feel as its more famous counterpart (both built by Jayavarman VII). Beautiful carvings lurked, and there were a lot of interesting features including a much photographed stupa as well as a two-storey structure off to one side of the temple. Making the temple even more interesting was that also built as a Buddhist temple, it had a iconography which had both Buddhist and Hindu elements. I spent lots of time just roaming around the ruins - it was just a fascinating experience.
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