Itineraries for Your Trip to Siem Reap
2 Days in Siem Reap for First Timers
For many years, Siem Reap was merely a jumping-off point for visitors heading to Angkor Wat. In recent years, however, the city's charms have started to get attention, not just as the gateway to the ancient temple city but also as a worthy destination in its own right.
Of course, while the temples of Angkor are still the main attraction—and they certainly keep me coming back again and again—there's plenty more to do in and around Siem Reap. Two days in Siem Reap is enough to squeeze in a few more sights, including floating villages, Phare Cambodian Circus, and maybe even a trip to Phnom Kulen and Beng Mealea.
If you only have time for one thing, make it Phare Cambodian Circus.
Daytime in Siem Reap tends to be warm, but remember to have something that covers your shoulders and knees for the temples.
Hit the ground running with an early morning temple tour. While you could sleep in and head out a little later, catching the sunrise over Angkor Wat—the world's largest religious monument—is well worth a predawn wake-up call. Opt for a private or small-group tour to minimize the risk of waiting for any late sleepers and ensure you can squeeze in visits to more temples, like Ta Prohm, Bayon, and Angkor Thom.
After returning to the city for lunch and a siesta, return to the temples to end the day with a sunset view from Phnom Bakeng or Pre Rup. Alternatively, if you'd prefer a quieter afternoon, you could join a cycling tour through the rice paddies, visit the Siem Reap Old Market (Phsar Chas), or go for a massage at one of the many spas in the city.
Siem Reap shines after dark—from the Angkor Night Market and Pub Street to high-end restaurants and bars. A foodie tuk-tuk tour is a great way to cover all bases. The guides know all the best food from all the best spots—and will even pick you up and drop you off at your hotel (if you want), so you won't have to worry about anything.
Today’s adventure starts with a beautiful drive through the countryside on the way to Phnom Kulen National Park. About an hour from Siem Reap, the park holds several attractions, including the River of a Thousand Lingas (Kbal Spean), the beautiful Kulen Waterfall, and a reclining Buddha statue. On the way back, swing by Beng Mealea, a spectacular ruined jungle temple just far enough off the tourist trail that you may have it all to yourself.
Offering another insight into life in the Cambodian countryside, Siem Reap’s floating villages are another must-see attraction in the local area. Easy to visit as part of a half-day tour or combined with a full-day trip to Angkor Wat or Phnom Kulen, the biggest floating village, Kampong Phluk, is especially beautiful at sunset.
Spend your last night in Siem Reap soaking up the local culture at Phare, the Cambodian Circus, or the Apsara Theatre. Blending traditional dancing, myths, legends, theatrical performances, songs, and epic feats of human acrobatics, Phare is also part of a social enterprise movement aiming to empower the lives of Cambodian youths—so you can have fun while giving back to the local community, too.
