The Ultimate 4-Day Siem Reap Travel Itinerary for a Perfect Trip to Cambodia

FAQ's About Siem Reap

Is Four Days in Siem Reap Enough?

When planning my Siem Reap travel itinerary, I knew I would be at the end of my 3-month world trip, and I wanted to experience the Angkor temples in Siem Reap without feeling rushed.

For this reason, I decided to stay in Siem Reap for four days. This would allow me enough time to visit the ancient Angkorian temples at my own pace and have free time at my hotel to relax. I was shattered and needed a rest after travelling to eight different countries over 90 days!

Spending four days in Siem Reap also allowed me to experience some of the attractions this Cambodian hotspot had to offer, in addition to the Angkorian temples.

In this post, you will find essential information on how to visit Siem Reap and a Siem Reap travel itinerary similar to the one I used. I hope it will help you plan your trip to Cambodia.

What is Siem Reap Like?

Siem Reap is unlike anywhere I have ever been, and that's a fact! It is a bustling town steeped in history, from its famous jungle temples to its turbulent war-torn past.

Siem Reap is a place that opens its heart to visitors and leaves them yearning to return.

The main town is busy and noisy, but it all adds to its charm.

You will discover fabulous restaurants serving authentic Khmer and Western dishes. Luxury hotels allow you to leave the backpacker trail behind and pamper yourself without breaking the bank.

There are many great things to do in Siem Reap besides visiting the incredible Angkor temples.

You can visit a museum to learn about Cambodia's past, watch traditional dance shows, or even take a cookery class.

Do You Need a Cambodia Visa

Depending on your country, you may need a visa to enter Cambodia. Check your government website for travel to Cambodia.

Flight Routes And Times To Siem Reap

We arrived in Siem Reap from Hanoi after spending two weeks in Vietnam. The flight from Hanoi to Siem Reap is one hour and 45 minutes.

If you plan on organising a two-centre trip to Cambodia, staying in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, the flight time between the two is 55 minutes.

If you fly into Siem Reap from Bangkok in Thailand, the flight time is 60 minutes.

There are no direct flights from the UK to Siem Reap. Travellers would need to book connecting flights in one of the leading flight hubs in Asia.

How To Get From Siem Reap Airport To Siem Reap Town

A 20-minute taxi ride from the airport to the town centre costs around $10.

Or why not pre-book an airport transfer to Siem Reap town so that a car will be waiting for you on arrival?

Getting Around Siem Reap

Siem Reap Town is a walkable town, meaning you can see most of the highlights on foot; however, the temples are outside the city, so tuk-tuks are the best option for reaching them.

Read more about How To See The Angkor Temples in Siem Reap.

Where to Stay in Siem Reap

Luxury travellers looking for a property offering pure decadence will love Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor or Angkor Privilege d'Angkor and Spa.

Modest travellers looking for comfortable accommodation at excellent prices will enjoy Memoire d'Angkor Boutique Hotel or d'Angkor Residence and Spa.

Budget travellers will find most hotels offer great value for money. Check out the Blossoming Romduol Boutique or Apsara Centropole Hotel.

Book a hotel with a swimming pool because it will be a godsend in the heat!

Alternative Siem Reap Hotels can be found on Booking.com

Currency in Cambodia

American dollars are the preferred currency in Cambodia, although small Cambodian notes are handy for tipping or buying from local stalls.

During my four days in Siem Reap, I used my WISE Travel Card to pre-load currency and withdraw what I needed from local ATMs without paying extra fees.

The Perfect 4-Day Siem Reap Travel Itinerary

Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and head to your hotel. You can pre-book an airport transfer to take the hassle out of finding a taxi once you land. Freshen up and head to town for dinner at one of Siem Reap's community restaurants.

Day One of the Four Days in Siem Reap Itinerary

Morning - Breakfast and a Swim

Wake up to the sights and sounds of Siem Reap!

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, spend your first morning relaxing around your hotel pool, and plan which temple you want to visit on your first afternoon in Cambodia.

Afternoon - Visit Bayon Temple

Around 1 pm - Hail a tuk-tuk from outside your accommodation, negotiate a price and hop aboard.

Make sure your driver knows you need to buy an Angkor Pass, as this is your first day in Siem Reap. Also, make sure he knows which temple you want to see.

Angie's Tip: Get your hotel receptionist to write down your instructions in Cambodian so you can show them to your tuk-tuk driver.

I visited Bayon Temple on my first day in Siem Reap, and it became one of my favourite temples in Angkor.

You can learn more in my post: Visit Bayon - The Smiling Face Temple in Cambodia.

Evening - Angkor Thom Bridge and Terrace of the Elephants

5.30 pm Return to your hotel via Angkor Thom Bridge and Terrace of the Elephants and catch the sun setting over the Angkor archaeological park.

If you ask your tuk-tuk driver to stop, he should be happy to let you take a few photographs from this iconic viewpoint.

8.00 pm Head to dinner at either Footprint Cafe or Haven. Both are restaurants supporting the local community.

Day Two of the Four Days in Siem Reap Itinerary

Morning - Breakfast at The Missing Socks Cafe

8.30 am Wake Up

9.30 am Walk into town for breakfast and head to Angkor National Museum in Siem Reap town centre to discover the history behind the temples and the Khmer civilisation.

11.30 am Return to the hotel to relax around the pool

Afternoon - Visit Ta Prohm and Ta Nei

1.30 pm After lunch, meet your tuk-tuk driver to explore two popular Angkor temples.

A visit to Ta Prohm made famous in the Tomb Raider film, is a must-see on your Siem Reap itinerary.

Marvel at the tree roots engulfing the temple structures and, afterwards, continue to Ta Nei, a smaller temple hidden deep in the Cambodian jungle.

You may like to read my Siem Reap temple posts:

Visit Ta Prohm - The Tree Root Temple in Cambodia,

and Visit Ta Nei - The Hidden Jungle Temple

5.30 pm Return to the hotel and freshen up for your evening in Siem Reap

Evening - Dinner at a community restaurant

8.00 pm Head to dinner at either Footprint Cafe or Haven or join a private street food tour in Siem Reap.

10.30 pm Wander past Siem Reap's night markets and pick up a souvenir. Or head to Pub Street, home to Siem Reap nightlife.

We walked through Pub Street and decided it wasn't for us. It was loud and brash and not where we wanted to spend time in Siem Reap.

It is a popular tourist haunt, but it's not somewhere I would include on my Siem Reap travel itinerary.

Day Three of the Four Days in Siem Reap Itinerary

Morning - Breakfast and a cookery class

8.30 am Wake up

9.30 am Walk into town for breakfast at WILD cafe and afterwards try your hand at a cookery class in the home of a local.

Afternoon - Visit Preah Khan and Angkor Wat

1.30 pm Grab lunch and meet your tuk-tuk driver to explore two more Angkor temples.

Preah Khan is one of the most intact Angkor temples, and Angkor Wat is the most photographed temple in Cambodia, if not the world!

Please read my post: Visit Preah Khan - The Sacred Sword Temple.

5.30 pm Return to the hotel to freshen up.

Evening - See Phare circus show

8.00 pm Head out to see the circus show Phare. This is one of the best things to do in Siem Reap in the evening. You may also enjoy an Apsara Dance Show if you love the arts.

The dance is performed in various places around town, including the luxurious Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor.

10 pm Return to the hotel and enjoy late-night drinks at the bar.

Last Day of the Four Days in Siem Reap Itinerary

Morning - Say goodbye to Siem Reap

10 am Leave your Siem Reap hotel and wander into town for breakfast at Brother Bong Cafe.

Afterwards, pick up some last-minute Cambodian souvenirs before heading to Siem Reap airport and your next destination. For us, it was Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

Reflections of Cambodia

Cambodia is, without a doubt, one of the world's most intriguing places to visit and somewhere that is hard to forget. Siem Reap is a must-visit on any Cambodia Travel itinerary.

The feeling of seeing the iconic Bayon face temple and the monumental Angkor Wat will stay with me forever.

However, the ancient Angkorian temples are not the only reason that travellers plan a trip to Cambodia; many other places in Cambodia are also worth visiting.

You could head to Phnom Penh to see and hear the sights and sounds of Cambodia's capital city or take time out and relax on one of Cambodia's beautiful golden beaches.

One thing is for sure, time spent in Cambodia will be the trip of a lifetime.