A Backpackers Guide to Siem Reap

Welcome to Siem Reap, a city located in the northwestern part of Cambodia and the gateway to the ancient temples of Angkor. Siem Reap is a popular tourist destination, known for being an affordable destination with a rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes.

The most famous attraction in Siem Reap is undoubtedly the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains over 1,000 temples, including the iconic Angkor Wat. But there is much more to Siem Reap than just the temples. The city is home to a thriving arts and crafts scene, with local artisans producing beautiful textiles, ceramics, and jewellery. There are also numerous opportunities to experience the local cuisine, which is a delicious blend of Cambodian, Thai, and Vietnamese flavours.

In this travel guide, we will take you on a journey through Siem Reap, highlighting the best things to see and do, as well as providing practical tips for making the most of your visit. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveller, Siem Reap is sure to capture your heart and leave you with lasting memories.

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Getting a Cambodian Visa

There are two ways of getting a Cambodia visa; before entry or on arrival.

You can apply for a Cambodian visa via the Cambodian government’s website. A visa costs $30 plus a $6 processing fee per visa; it takes between three and seven days for your application to be processed.

The Cambodian government has also reinstalled the Visa On Arrival service for all international travellers. However, foreign nationals are not guaranteed a visa on arrival as the government reserves the right to deny entry to individuals that do not meet all the Cambodian visa requirements.

Check out our 13 Top Tips for Travelling Cambodia in 2022 for more information on getting a Cambodian visa in both instances.

Is Siem Reap Safe?

From our own experience, we would say that Cambodia is pretty safe for backpackers. We’ve had no issues in Siem Reap, even when walking around at night. Like a lot of cities, petty crime does happen and met a few fellow backpackers who had unfortunately had items stolen. Make sure you keep a firm hold of belongings when travelling in tuk-tuks as motorbikes have been known to snatch valuables from tourists.

However, don’t let this put you off going as this happens in nearly every city, and from our experience, Siem Reap was full of extremely friendly and helpful locals who really appreciated the increase in tourism now that the pandemic restrictions are relaxing. Check out our post on How to Party Safely in a Foreign Country!

How long should you stay in Siem Reap?

We would recommend around 3 to 4 days.

This really depends on how much you want to get a feel of the city and see the temples of Angkor Wat. If you don’t have enough time to spend, you can just do one day exploring Angkor Wat and then another in and around the city.

Alternatively, you can spend two days exploring the many temples Angkor Wat has to offer and then some days you want in the city to relax and explore. We ended up doing two days in Angkor Wat and two days exploring and we felt this was probably the maximum amount of time we wanted to stay here. We definitely got a feel for the city, explored all there was to see and did some well-deserved chilling.

Siem Reap is featured on both our two weeks in Cambodia itinerary and our one-month Cambodia itinerary!

When is the best time to visit Siem Reap?

January/February

When we visited in February, we found it to be the ideal time as the temperature was around 30C; not the 40C that occurs in April/May. It is worth noting that Angkor Wat is open year-round and mosquitos are notoriously bad during the rainy season (May-September). But we know that anytime between November and April will absolutely suffice and you’ll have an amazing time!

Things you should know about Siem Reap!

Siem Reap is the gateway to the world’s largest religious monument, Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat translates to City of Temples and is responsible for over 50% of Cambodia’s international tourists.
Whilst Siem Reap is popular with tourists, roughly 45% of the city’s population is under the poverty line.
Siem Reap has awesome nightlife (check out our review of Pub Street below).
Around 50 per cent of Cambodia’s population is under 15 years of age.
The country’s civil war only ended in 1996
There are still 6 million landmines left scattered in the nation’s countryside which kill up to 30 people every year.

How to get to Siem Reap

Most people travel to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh as this is the largest airport in Cambodia. You will find it’s very easy to get to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh and it normally takes about 6-8 hours on either bus or private shuttle. A good website to use is 12GoAsia; we’ve used it to get everywhere in Cambodia and it’s very informative. A popular option is the night bus which has sleeping compartments for the journey. However, do be aware that if you are solo-travelling, the beds are for two people so you may find yourself lumped with a stranger. Either book two tickets OR with a friend.

As Siem Reap is such a large city and popular with tourists, it is very reachable from any area in Cambodia. There are also flights which go to Siem Reap but these can be quite expensive.

Where to stay in Siem Reap:

There are so many amazing hostels in Siem Reap, so you shouldn’t struggle to find an awesome one for your visit!

Whilst we didn’t stay here, I think having experienced two hostels in Siem Reap (we came here quite a lot to see friends), we’d recommend staying at:

Onederz Hostel Siem Reap

_{Angkor Night Market St, Krong Siem Reap}

We loved Onederz Hostel Siem Reap. The staff here are very friendly and it has an in-house restaurant, two pools, and a great common area to hang around in. It even has a free computer and a tour company in reception which you can book tours, including Angkor Way, from. There are always numerous tuk-tuks outside as well if you ever need one. The location is a stone’s throw away from Pub Street (see below) and the many markets. As such, you’ll spend far less money on transport if you stay here.

Admittedly, we didn’t have a chance to check out the dorms but everyone we spoke to didn’t have any complaints. We’d heard that the WiFi was poor in the rooms but it never came up in conversation.

We just found the atmosphere and vibe more welcoming and there were a lot more people here which gave the place a great buzz. The restaurant also did happy hour so the beers and cocktails were cheap.

If you’re going to stay anywhere in Siem Reap, we’d definitely suggest it here as you really can’t go wrong!

HOWEVER

If this didn’t tick your boxes, we’d also recommend staying in the hostel we stayed at:

Lub d Cambodia Siem Reap

_{Wat Bo Village Sangkat Sala Kamroeuk, 7 7 Makara St, Krong Siem Reap 17254}

Despite our regrets about not staying at Onederz, Lub d Siem Reap has many benefits that we enjoyed very much. The main benefit was the rooms; we stayed in a 10-bed mixed dorm but none of the top bunks was occupied throughout our stay. The WiFi is also very good and reaches everywhere in the rooms so great for when you want to chill in the air con. The main attraction of the hostel is the pool which is very nice and it gets a lot of sun.

The location was also very good as it was a 2-minute walk from a traditional Cambodian BBQ restaurant (see below), the laundrette, and the supermarket. We definitely didn’t have any complaints here.

For better or for worse, the hostel wasn’t very busy so it wasn’t very sociable and it didn’t really have a common area to mingle and meet others. There were limited spaces around the pool but they weren’t exactly undercover. Saying that, if you prefer somewhere quieter with a nice clean bed and good WiFi in a good location, Lub d is definitely your thing.

Royal Crown Hotel & Spa:

The Royal Crown Hotel & Spa is in the perfect location for exploring Siem Reap. For only around £30 a night we think this would be a perfect hotel option.

Things to do in Siem Reap

Angkor Wat

_{Krong Siem Reap}

Without a doubt, the main attraction in and around Siem Reap and one that is on everyone’s Cambodia bucket list is the incredible Angkor Wat!

One of the common activities associated with Angkor Wat is to watch the sunrise over the main temple. This does mean you have to leave your Siem Reap accommodation at 4:30am to get to Angkor Wat.

Every single tuk-tuk driver will offer their services to take you and you can go with any or with someone recommended to you. The standard rate is $20 for the morning pick up so we’d suggest going with more people to reduce the cost per head.

The driver will first take you to the Angkor Wat ticket office (yes at 5am) where you can buy a 1, 3 or 5-day pass; each pass is currently valid for double the amount stimulated (I.e. 1 day = 2 days)They will then take you to each temple you want to visit and wait for you whilst you walk around until you’re all templed out!

While backpacking Siem Reap, we booked tons of tours through GetYourGuide!

Markets

_{Old Market Bridge, Krong Siem Reap}

There are so many day and night markets within Siem Reap that we weren’t able to visit them all BUT we particularly enjoyed the Old Market.

If you do go to Old Market, be warned that the centre morphs into a food market and in the heat, the “fresh” fish gives off quite a pungent smell!

These markets are great for picking up cool t-shirts, culottes, basketball jerseys, or anything “designer” – think Guccy pyjamas!

As we’ve explained in our Top Tips for Travelling in Cambodia, make sure you haggle the price when buying at these markets as you can always get a lower price.

Pub Street

_{Street 08, Krong Siem Reap}

Officially titled “Street 8”, Pub Street is the centre of everything that happens when darkness falls.

Come nightfall, the road is closed off to traffic which allows the road to be a safer place to stroll and dance.

Lining Pub Street are multiple bars, restaurants and clubs as well as “fried ice cream” stalls on every corner (you must try these).

If you’re feeling a little more adventurous however you can always try a fried tarantula or scorpion.

Despite being a well-known location, it is still cheap to have a cocktail or beer

Landmine Museum

_{67, Phumi Khna}

Founded by an ex-child soldier in the Khmer Rouge, Aki Ra uses the museum as a way of detailing the lasting horrors of Cambodia’s civil war.

The museum is located 25km north of Siem Reap (the other side of the Angkor Wat temples) and it takes 30 minutes to get there from Siem Reap in a tuk-tuk. Despite having not been ourselves (another regret of ours), a friend went and said it cost around $20 for a round trip.

In her review, she also said it was definitely well worth visiting as it wasn’t very touristy and it showed the harsh reality of the recent civil war. They also go into the work of Aki Ra himself and how, after planting numerous mines himself, he worked with the UN as a demining specialist in order to help heal his country.

For more info, click HERE.

APOPO – Humanitarian Demining

_{Koumai Road Siem Reap, 17253}

On the subject of landmines, this centre trains rats to sniff out currently undetected landlines in order to save lives.

You can also learn, from an experienced and English-speaking tour guide, more about the history of landmines in Cambodia; it covers everything and in the right amount of detail and you will absolutely not regret going.

We even heard you get live demonstrations of how they train the rats and get to hold them!

Check it out for yourself – https://www.apopo.org/en/support-us/APOPO-Visitor-Center

Phnom Kulen National Park

We attempted to go here on our last day but unfortunately, we were too late. The entrance to the park closes at 12pm and it takes two hours to get there via tuk-tuk (which can cost up to $25) whilst the park entrance itself costs $20 each.

The reason for the 12pm deadline for entrance is that the road to Phnom Kulen is a single lane, contra-flow road. The direction of traffic heads to PK between dawn and noon and then away from PK between 1pm and dark.

Despite the logistical problems and financial element, this is the place we probably regretted not doing because of how beautiful the national park is.

We know that on the hilltop there are 56 Angkorian temples made of brick and volcanic stones but unfortunately, most of them are in poor condition. They are in such poor condition that the only temple whose base remains intact is “Hahendrapura”.

Moreover, one of the most noticeable attractions of the park is the archaeological site of Kbal Spean. Located in the western region of the mountain range, it has a carved sandstone riverbed with numerous sculptures dating back to pre-13th century times.

For Admission and queue jump click HERE.

Where to Eat and Drink in Siem Reap

WILD

_{Wat Damnak Krong Siem Reap, 17000}

Leah found this place on TikTok and it turned out to be an absolute gem; the staff were incredibly nice and the seating area was very cute.

They literally only serve spring rolls so if you’re a fan OR want to try something new then definitely come along.

You get three big rolls per portion and cost $3/$3.5 depending on your filling. We had cheese and sundried tomato in one and duck in another. We were advised that six rolls equate to one main meal but we decided to only have “starters” here.

It goes without saying but these spring rolls were up there with the best we’ve tried and regretted not getting six to ourselves!

Common Grounds Cafe

_{719, Mondul 1 Village, 721 Street 14, Krong Siem Reap 17252}

We ended up here by accident but we’re really glad we did.

The food portions are nice and big so you won’t be leaving hungry. I’m a big frappe lover and in the Siem Reap heat, they were very welcome!

Talking about heat, they have really good air con. This makes it a perfect spot to escape to in the middle of the day.

As I’m sure you’ll notice when arriving in Siem Reap, it is a fairly poor city. Thus, it was very good to learn that money raised through the cafe goes towards charitable causes in the community.

Darany BBQ 3

_{7 Makara, Wat Damnak Siem Reap, 17262}

This traditional Cambodian BBQ was basically opposite our hostel and it constantly smelled amazing. The constant clouds of smoke made Darany’s even more intriguing. We thought we’d give it a go…. we didn’t regret it!

You choose any kind of meat or vegetable and they bring out to you raw on numerous different plates. A mini BBQ is then placed in between everything and you’re away – you’ve got to cook everything yourself.

We found this a lot of fun and the quality of the food was really good; definitely get the spring onions and the pork belly!

Sister Srey Cafe

_{# 9, Street of Religious Sangkat Old Market Bridge Mongkol Borey, 17253}

Located on the main river and just north of the main bridge, this cute little cafe restaurant is the ideal place to sit, eat, and drink whilst people-watching. Sister Srey was by far one of our favourite breakfast and brunch spots in Siem Reap!

We ended up going for brunch and had a giant hash brown breakfast that Alex finished for me as the portion size was HUGE!

The drinks (smoothies especially) were equally as good and they even have bamboo straws which were good to see for the environment. But we wish we went for dinner as the rest of the menu looked really good.

Elia Greek Kitchen

_{31-34 Street 09 Mondul 1 Village Siem Reap, 17252}

One of the highest-rated restaurants in the whole of Siem Reap and we were very glad we came. We love Greek food as well this was an absolute no brainier AND it’s only a two-minute walk from Pub Street.

The food definitely lived up to all the reviews; we had Gyros and Souvlaki and although we were full, the quality made me want more!

Really can’t recommend it enough and we wished we had more time to go back.

Siem Reap Food Zone

_{7 Makara St., (Angkor High School Road next to Chep Po Noodle Soup & Coffee Siem Reap, 17254}

Also located near our hostel (a bit further down than Darany BBQ 3), we stumbled across this food court. It has roughly five eateries, with a variety of Khmer food; all of which looked amazing.

We ended up having the pork skewers, which were really tasty but wished we’d come back from the noodles as they looked very tasty.

There wasn’t an English menu but the staff spoke good English so it was easy to order after telling them the kind of meal we were looking for.

Miss Wong Cocktail Bar

_{Street 26, Krong Siem Reap}

Being self-confessed cocktail snobs if we recommend a cocktail bar, it’s really good! Miss Wong Cocktail Bar is a hidden beauty in Siem Reap.

We, unfortunately, didn’t try the food here but it looked amazing and we would definitely give it a try if we ever go back! Very reasonably priced for high-quality cocktails – would definitely recommend the Mango Mai Thai.

They have recently opened a Miss Wong in Battambang too.

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There you have it; our Siem Reap Travel Guide, giving you all the best places to stay, eat and see BEFORE you visit so you won’t be left disappointed.

Feel free to add any of your own recommendations in the comments!

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