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Voykit pocket guide · Cambodia
Siem Reap
ក្រុងសៀមរាប
Siem Reap is a sunrise-and-siesta town: Angkor Wat before 08:00, back to the hotel for the middle of the day, Bayon and the town in the late afternoon — and the airport is about 40 km away, so a late landing is the trap.
The town is small and flat, but the temples are 6–10 km out and the heat is heavy from about 10:00. The trips that go wrong are the ones that fight the sun: noon walks at Angkor, a one-day pass spent on the wrong temple, or a 21:00 landing at an airport that is far from any bed. Four clusters cover a first visit — two in the temples, two in town — with one kept bed.
- Country
- Cambodia
- Local name
- ក្រុងសៀមរាប
- Best months
- Jan · Feb · Nov · Dec
- Time zone
- Asia/Phnom_Penh
- Stay
- 2 days: Angkor Wat at sunrise, Bayon and Angkor Thom the next morning
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- KHR
- Money
- US dollars are used for almost every tourist price; riel is used for change under US$1 (about ៛4,000 to the dollar). Cards work in hotels and better restaurants, often with a 2–3% surcharge; markets, tuk-tuks and stalls are cash. Bring clean, undamaged US notes: torn ones are refused.
- Daily spend
- Budget ៛60,000–120,000 excl. bed (about US$15–30) · Mid ៛120,000–300,000 excl. bed (about US$30–75) · High ៛300,000+ excl. bed (about US$75+) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- An eSIM before you fly, or a Cellcard, Smart or Metfone SIM at the airport or a shop in town (passport needed). Data is cheap.
- Emergency
- Police 117 (check) · Fire 118 (check) · Ambulance 119 (check)
- Plugs
- 230 V; plug types A, C and G all appear. Carry a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Not required. US$1–2 for a good guide or driver, a dollar or two at a restaurant if service was good; rounding up is normal.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water. Bottled water is cheap; hotels and cafés often offer filtered water.
- Toilets
- Hotels, cafés and temple stops (small fee at some). Carry tissues and small notes.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | US$1.50–3 |
| Noodle soup at a stall | US$1.50–3 |
| Beer on Pub Street | US$0.50–2 |
| Tuk-tuk ride across town | US$2–4 |
| Tuk-tuk for a day at the small temple circuit | US$15–20 |
| Tourist SIM, about a week | US$5–12 |
| Museum entry | US$15–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI)
- SAI to town: one licensed taxi, ride-hailing car or hotel car, 45–75 minutes over about 40 km (25 mi) — the risk is not the ride but a late landing and a hotel that cannot let you in.SAI to town: one licensed taxi, ride-hailing car or hotel car, 45–75 minutes over about 25 mi (40 km) — the risk is not the ride but a late landing and a hotel that cannot let you in.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Bus terminal and company offices (Siem Reap bus station) | Phnom Penh, Battambang, Bangkok via Poipet and other provinces | Tuk-tuk 15–30 min |
| Tonlé Sap boat (seasonal) (Battambang boat) | Battambang in the high-water season (roughly Aug–Dec) | Car 30–45 min |
| Hotel or operator pick-ups | Temple tours, floating village and airport transfers | Already there |
Typical fares
- Airport (SAI) → town, licensed taxi or hotel car
- US$25–35, 45–75 minutes
- Tuk-tuk across town
- US$2–4
- Tuk-tuk day, small temple circuit
- US$15–20
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside the Old Market area in the cool hours; use a tuk-tuk or an app car for everything else. Temples are 6–20 km (3.7–12 mi) out, so a tuk-tuk driver for the day is usually cheaper than several short rides.Walk inside the Old Market area in the cool hours; use a tuk-tuk or an app car for everything else. Temples are 3.7–12 mi (6–20 km) out, so a tuk-tuk driver for the day is usually cheaper than several short rides.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Old Market, Pub Street, the river |
| Tuk-tuk | US$2–4 across town; US$15–20 for a day at the small circuit | Temples, town, evening |
| Ride-hailing car or tuk-tuk (PassApp, Grab) | US$1.50–5 in town | Airport, evening, rain |
| Car with driver | US$35–60 a day (check) | Banteay Srei, Kulen, families, heat |
| Bicycle | US$2–5 a day | The early-morning Angkor circuit for fit riders |
| Motorbike | US$8–12 a day | Experienced riders only |
| Electric scooter (park rental, check) | US$10–20 a day | Small circuit, low speed |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass. A tuk-tuk for the day is cheaper than several short rides; agree the fare and the route first.
- Late at night
- No rail; ride-hailing runs late but availability drops in heavy rain.
See and do
01Angkor Wat at sunriseអង្គរវត្ត
The great temple in the cool of the morning, with the towers reflected in the pond.
Hours: best Sunrise · Price: Angkor pass · Time: 2–3 h · 13.4125, 103.8670
02The Bayonបាយ័ន
A temple of carved faces at the centre of Angkor Thom, best in low light.
Hours: best First light or after 15:30 · Price: Angkor pass · Time: 1–1.5 hHours: best First light or after 3:30 PM · Price: Angkor pass · Time: 1–1.5 h · 13.4412, 103.8586
03Ta Prohmតាព្រហ្ម
A temple held by tree roots; shady and quiet in the early morning.
Hours: best Early morning · Price: Angkor pass · Time: 1–1.5 h · 13.4350, 103.8890
04Banteay Sreiបន្ទាយស្រី
A small pink-stone temple with fine carving, 25–35 km (16–22 mi) out.A small pink-stone temple with fine carving, 16–22 mi (25–35 km) out.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Angkor pass · Time: 1–1.5 h plus the drive · 13.5989, 103.9627
05Angkor National Museumសារមន្ទីរជាតិអង្គរ
An air-conditioned hour that explains what you are seeing.
Hours: best Midday heat · Price: US$15–20 · Time: 1.5 h · 13.3665, 103.8598
06Old Market lunchផ្សារចាស់
Khmer rice and noodles among the locals.
Hours: best Before 11:30 · Price: US$1.50–3 · Time: 45 minHours: best Before 11:30 AM · Price: US$1.50–3 · Time: 45 min · 13.3538, 103.8551
07Fish amok dinner
The dish to try on a sit-down evening.
Hours: best Dinner · Price: US$5–10 · Time: 1–1.5 h · 13.3546, 103.8560
08Wat Damnakវត្តដំណាក់
A working pagoda in the cool of the day, close to the centre.
Hours: best Late afternoon · Price: Free (donation) · Time: 30–45 min · 13.3517, 103.8578
09Phare, the Cambodian Circus
A evening of acrobatics and music by young performers.
Hours: best Evening · Price: US$18–40 (check) · Time: 1.5–2 h
10A Tonlé Sap village boat trip
Stilt houses and flooded forest, best in high-water months.
Hours: best Aug–Dec · Price: US$25–50 (check) · Time: Half day
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ta Prohm and the outer Angkor temples | Tuk-tuk or car, 20–40 min | Half day |
| Banteay Srei | Tuk-tuk or car about 45–60 min | Half day |
| Kampong Phluk floating village and Tonlé Sap | Car and boat about 1.5 h | Half day |
| Phnom Kulen and Kbal Spean | Car about 1.5 h | Full day |
| Beng Mealea and Koh Ker | Car 1.5–3 h | Full day |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Market food stalls | Rice or noodle plate · Old Market | US$1.50–3 | Budget |
| Kuy teav breakfast stall | Kuy teav (pork or beef noodle soup) · Royal Gardens and local lanes | US$1.50–2.50 | Budget |
| Angkor Wat gate noodle stalls | Noodle soup or rice · Angkor Wat gate | US$2–4 | Budget |
| Khmer restaurant for fish amok (confirm locally) | Fish amok, lok lak, a curry · Old Market | US$5–10 | Mid-range |
| Night market street food | Grilled skewers, noodles, a shake · Night market area | US$3–8 | Mid-range |
| Upscale Khmer or fusion restaurants | Tasting menus, garden dining · River and centre | US$25–60 | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate in US dollars. Addresses change: check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | US$8–20 | Old Market side lanes | Hostels, dorm beds and guesthouses |
| mid | US$25–60 | River and Wat Damnak | Boutique hotels and guesthouses with a pool |
| splurge | US$100–300+ | Riverside and airport-road resorts | Resort hotels and villas |
Per room per night, 2026 estimate in US dollars.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | សួស្តីsua-s-dei |
| Thank you | អរគុណaw-koon |
| How much is this? | នេះថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន?nih t-lai pon-man |
| Not spicy, please | អត់ហិរot het |
| Stop here, please | ឈប់ទីនេះchop tee-nih |
| The bill, please | គិតលុយkit luy |
| Sorry / excuse me | សុំទោសsom toh |
| Too expensive | ថ្លៃពេកt-lai pake |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Temples and pagodas: Cover shoulders and knees; guards at Angkor Wat turn people away. Take hats off inside sanctuaries and shoes off before entering a pagoda hall.
- Monks: Women should not touch monks or hand things directly to them. Do not photograph monks up close without asking.
- The head and feet: The head is respected and the feet are not: do not touch a person's head, do not point your feet at people or Buddha images, and do not step over people's legs.
- Greeting: The sampeah (palms together, small bow) is polite; the higher the hands, the more respect. Use it for elders and monks.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people and never photograph officials or soldiers. Drones need a permit at the park and are usually banned.
- Bargaining: Do it lightly and kindly; a large argument over a dollar is a loss of face for both sides.
Red lines
- Angkor temples: shoulders and knees covered, no climbing on fenced structures, no touching carvings.
- Monks: women do not touch or hand things directly to monks.
- Do not give money to begging children or visit orphanages.
Scams and watch-outs
- Tuk-tuk drivers who say the ticket office is closed or the temple is shut, then offer a shop or a "better" price for the day: the official ticket office is on the road to Angkor and sells the pass to everyone.
- Children or mothers selling postcards and bracelets or asking for milk powder and money: buying and giving keep the trade going. Decline kindly; support a school or a registered charity instead.
- Orphanage visits and "volunteer" tours: many are commercial and harm children. Do not visit them.
- Fake or spiked drinks and hostess bars on Pub Street: check the price of a drink before you order, pay as you go, and watch your glass.
- Bag snatching from a tuk-tuk or motorbike: carry your bag on the side away from the road, and keep phones off the kerb side.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover or a short break. Skip: Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei: they need another morning.
- 04:454:45 AMTuk-tuk or car to Angkor Wat for sunrise
- 08:308:30 AMBreakfast at the gate stalls
- 10:0010:00 AMThe Bayon before the tour groups
- 12:3012:30 PMOld Market lunch, then the hotel pool
- 17:005:00 PMWat Damnak in the quiet hour
- 19:307:30 PMFish amok for dinner
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia: www.tourismcambodia.com/
- UNESCO — Angkor: whc.unesco.org/en/list/668/
- Wikivoyage — Siem Reap: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Siem_Reap
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Siem Reapក្រុងសៀមរាប
សូមនាំខ្ញុំទៅទីនេះ
Please take me to this temple gate
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- អង្គរវត្តAngkor Wat
- បាយ័នBayon
- តាព្រហ្មTa Prohm
- បន្ទាយស្រីBanteay Srei
- សារមន្ទីរជាតិអង្គរAngkor National Museum
- ផ្សារចាស់Old Market food stalls
- Police117 (check)
- Fire118 (check)
- Ambulance119 (check)
Most embassies are in Phnom Penh; write your own embassy's 24-hour line below.
Save your hotel name and address in Khmer, and the temple names, on your phone.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/siem-reap). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.