18 Best Things To Do In Siem Reap

What Is There To Do in Siem Reap?

There is a lot to do in Siem Reap aside from the temples. You can visit a circus, enjoy the night markets, join a street food tour, or learn to cook Cambodian-style yourself. Day trips include visiting Tonle Sap Lake and the Kulen Mountains to see the waterfalls. For history enthusiasts, be sure to visit the Landmine Museum and the Angkor National Museum.

Visit Angkor Archaeological Park #1

Angkor Archaeological Park is a must-visit destination that every traveller should add to their bucket list. It is one of the best things to experience in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Wander around ancient temples and imagine a time when Angkor was a bustling metropolis of royalty, scholars and workers. Visit at sunrise or sunset, and you will leave Cambodia with memories that will last forever.

Book a Two-Day Sunrise and Sunset Temple Tour if you are short on time.

Have fun at the famous Phare Circus #2

After a day of temple hopping, you might want to experience something completely different. Phare Cambodian Circus is one of the popular things to do in Siem Reap in the evening. It offers a one-hour show that mixes traditional and modern theatre, acrobatics, music, and comedy.

You can book here for Phare Cambodian Circus tickets

Dine at a local community restaurant #3

An enjoyable experience in Siem Reap is eating local Khmer food and Western dishes by visiting one of the local community restaurants for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

These restaurants and cafes have been established to support their employees and the local community's learning and education. Training in culinary skills at restaurants such as Haven and The Footprint Cafe enables students to gain qualifications and develop their skills.

Food and drinks at all the local Siem Reap community restaurants are of a high standard and are delicious.

Learn about Cambodia's war history at the Landmine Museum #4

You will have spotted limbless locals around Siem Reap, which is heartbreaking. These Cambodians have mostly lost their limbs from stepping on landmines still buried in the jungle, left there by the Khmer Rouge.

A trip to the Landmine Museum will inform you of what happened during the war and what is now being done to rid Cambodia of these deadly explosives that still lie in wait for unsuspecting passers-by.

The entry fee is $5, which helps keep the museum afloat. If this is the only place you intend to visit inside the Angkor Archaeological Park, you can see it without purchasing an Angkor Temple Pass.

Address: 67, Phumi Khna, Cambodia - located inside the Angkor Archaeological Park near Banteay Shrey Temple.

Marvel at the Angkor National Museum #5

The Angkor National Museum is an archaeological museum dedicated to collecting, preserving, and presenting Angkorian artefacts. It also provides information and education about the art and culture of the Khmer civilisation.

Address: 968 Vithei, Charles De Gaulle, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia

Enjoy the entertainment in Pub Street #6

While Pub Street seems to be a popular tourist place in Siem Reap, I will buck the trend by saying I didn't like it. We went there only to see Miss Wong's 1930s Shanghai cocktail bar, but the bar was shut!

Nothing about Pub Street said you were in Cambodia. It's loud, brash bars with touts beckoning you inside could have been just about anywhere in the world.

We walked the length of Pub Street but didn't stay, preferring to return to one of the quiet backstreets away from the chaos of drunken tourists and over-enthusiastic Cambodian market sellers.

Of course, this is purely my preference, and if you want to drink copious amounts of alcohol for next to nothing and dance until the morning, then Pub Street is the place for you!

Shop at the Siem Reap Night markets #7

Like the rest of Southeast Asia, Siem Reap doesn't fall short on night markets. This is where you will find the all-important harem pants (who even are you if you don't own a pair of these!), fridge magnets, incense burners, t-shirts, and jewellery - the list is endless.

Markets in Siem Reap include the Art Centre Night Market, Angkor Night Market, Old Market and Noon Night Market.

Unlike the low-level sales pitches we had encountered in Vietnam and Thailand, those in Siem Reap were more similar to those in places such as Egypt.

We found the stallholders to be more forceful and rude than we had expected. Be firm if you don't want to buy, or you may go home with more harem pants than you ever need!

Wat Preah Prom Rath City Temple #8

Wat Preah Prom Rath is a 12th-century Buddhist temple in beautiful grounds in Siem Reap. Visitors will enjoy the decorative pagodas, colourful wall paintings, a giant sleeping Buddha, and secluded areas where they can escape from the hustle and bustle of Siem Reap.

It is an active temple, where you can often see Buddhist monks offering daily prayers and making offerings inside.

Address: Opposite Temple Coffee & Bakery, Pokambor Ave, Krong Siem Reap 17254

Banteay Srei Temple #9

Head further afield and visit a few lesser-known Angkor temples, including Banteay Srei, Neak Pean, Pre Rup and Preah Khan.

You can book here for your Day Trip to Banteay Srei Temple

See the Made in Cambodia market on the Siem Reap River #10

Siem Reap River runs along the outskirts of the city's central hub. It is a pleasant place to take a stroll in the early evening.

Made in Cambodia Market is open daily from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. It is situated along the river and offers handicrafts crafted by Cambodian artisans.

It has a more mellow vibe than the night markets in central Siem Reap, offering a few bars and street food vendors.

The main philosophy behind the Made in Cambodia Market is to help create Khmer jobs, from the villagers who produce the handicrafts to the sellers interacting with visitors.

Address: Oum Khun St, Oknha-Oum Chay St, Siem Reap 

You can book here to try a Cambodian Pottery Class for yourself.

Glide through the jungle on the Angkor Zipline #11

One of the fun things to experience in Siem Reap is ziplining.

The Angkor Zipline will take you through the Cambodian jungle canopy, featuring zip lines and canopy bridges, located near Ta Nei Temple in the Angkor Archaeological Park. You may even spot the park's gibbons swinging from the trees alongside you.

Angkor Zipline is a great adventure activity in Siem Reap for thrill-seekers.

Join a Cambodian cookery class #12

Undoubtedly, Asian food is delicious. Now is your chance to join in with one of the popular activities in Siem Reap - a cookery class. Learn how to prepare and cook a favourite Khmer dish with a local expert to recreate at home. It is sure to impress family and friends!

Book here to experience a Cambodian cookery class in a local home.

Join a private street food tour #13

One of the fun things to experience in Siem Reap is a street food tour with a local. Visit a local fruit market and navigate the alleyways of a bustling market. Explore the stalls and bright lights at Siem Reap’s local picnic spot and hear insights on Cambodian favourites from your local guide.

Book here to enjoy a Private Street Food Tour in Siem Reap.

Visit the Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium Park #14

The Angkor Wildlife Park is established to help protect and conserve endangered species and educate future generations about the importance of conservation. Come face to face with all manner of rescued and protected animals while you are in Siem Reap.

Book tickets online for the Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium Park.

Enjoy a day trip to Prek Toal Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve #15

Prek Toal is a must-see location for birdwatchers visiting Siem Reap or Cambodia.

Located on Tonle Sap Lake, Prek Toal Biosphere Reserve is Southeast Asia's most important breeding ground for large waterbirds. Enjoy a tour around the wetlands before returning to the Queen Tara riverboat for a meal.

This Siem Reap day trip includes stops at rice and lotus fields, a boat ride through a floating village and other activities on Tonle Sap, highlighting daily life on the river.

Book a day trip to Prek Toal Tonle Sap Reserve or an Evening Dinner Cruise on Tonle Sap Lake.

Fuel your adventurous side with an Eco-Quad Bike Experience #16

Hop aboard an eco-quad and head to the Siem Reap countryside to ride through paddy fields and local villages.

Book a Quad-Bike Countryside Experience.

Experience Kampong Phluk Floating Village #17

If you want to see an authentic Cambodian floating village, head 15 miles out of Siem Reap, and you will arrive at Kampong Phluk Floating Village.

The village is situated on the renowned Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, where visitors can experience life on the river firsthand.

You can book a tour of Kampong Phluk floating village here.

Chase waterfalls In Kulen National Park #18

Kulen National Park is a magical place to visit if you love waterfalls.

Hike through the rainforest, swim in the shadow of the magnificent waterfall featured in the Tomb Raider film, and see the sacred site of Wat Preah Ang Thom.

You can book a Full-Day Kulen Mountain Waterfall Tour here.