Siem Reap in 5 days

Gateway to Angkor: sunrise over ancient temples, jungle-wrapped ruins, buzzing markets and riverside nightlife. Best time to visit: November-February (cool, dry season). Average daily budget: $35 to $75 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Pub Street & Old Market, The lively nightlife and market core in the town centre.

Morning: Sunrise at Angkor Wat. The classic dawn view of the world's largest religious monument.

Afternoon: Explore Pub Street & Old Market, The lively nightlife and market core in the town centre.

Evening: Ta Prohm 'Tomb Raider' temple. Ruins dramatically entwined with giant tree roots.

Eat: Fish amok, the creamy coconut curry steamed in banana leaf

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: Riverside, Quieter cafés, galleries and boutique stays along the Siem Reap River.

Morning: Angkor Thom & Bayon. The walled city and its temple of giant smiling stone faces.

Afternoon: Explore Riverside, Quieter cafés, galleries and boutique stays along the Siem Reap River.

Evening: Tonlé Sap floating villages. A boat trip to stilted communities on Southeast Asia's biggest lake.

Eat: Lok lak, stir-fried beef with a lime-pepper dip

Day 3, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Wat Bo area, A leafy, local-feeling neighbourhood of guesthouses.

Morning: The pink-sandstone carvings of Banteay Srei, further out and quieter.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Wat Bo area, A leafy, local-feeling neighbourhood of guesthouses.

Evening: A Khmer cooking class in town.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Khmer red curry and num banh chok noodles

Day 4, Day trip or nature

Base: Angkor Archaeological Park, The temple complex just north of town.

Morning: Phare, the Cambodian Circus, for acrobatics with a social mission.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Angkor Archaeological Park, The temple complex just north of town.

Evening: Sunset from the Pre Rup temple instead of the crowded Phnom Bakheng.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Fresh sugarcane juice from a street cart

Day 5, Slow finish

Base: Kandal Village, A small, hip strip of cafés, design shops and restaurants.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Kandal Village, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Kandal Village, A small, hip strip of cafés, design shops and restaurants.

Evening: Dinner at Fish amok, the creamy coconut curry steamed in banana leaf, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Kandal Village.

Eat: Fish amok, the creamy coconut curry steamed in banana leaf

Hidden gems

The pink-sandstone carvings of Banteay Srei, further out and quieter.
A Khmer cooking class in town.
Phare, the Cambodian Circus, for acrobatics with a social mission.
Sunset from the Pre Rup temple instead of the crowded Phnom Bakheng.

Getting around

Tuk-tuks (often booked via the local PassApp or Grab) are the way to explore the temples and town cheaply; hire one for a full Angkor day. The centre is walkable. Bicycles and e-bikes are an option for fit travellers wanting to cycle the temple roads at their own pace.

Safety

Siem Reap is friendly and safe for tourists. Drink bottled water, cover shoulders and knees at temples, and watch for the strong sun, heat and uneven temple stones. Be wary of overpriced tuk-tuk deals and child beggars (giving directly is discouraged); keep valuables secure in busy Pub Street at night.

Siem Reap in 3 days | Siem Reap in 7 days | Full Siem Reap guide