Things to do in Siem Reap
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Top 10 attractions in Siem Reap
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is located in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Built in the early 12th century as the state temple and mausoleum for Khmer King Suryavarman II, it took over 30 years to complete. While earlier Angkor kings primarily worshipped Shiva, this temple was dedicated to Vishnu. Later, it gradually transformed into a Buddhist monastery and remains one of the few Angkor monuments where religious functions continue today, with monks still visiting. The entire complex is modeled after Mount Meru from Hindu mythology, featuring a wide moat and outer walls enclosing three elevated concentric galleries, with five central towers arranged in a quincunx pattern—the silhouette depicted on Cambodia's national flag. Unlike most temples in Angkor, Angkor Wat faces west, creating its iconic sunrise scene: at dawn, standing by the pond in front of the west gate, visitors watch the sun rise behind the five towers, their reflections mirrored on the water. The outer gallery walls are adorned with extensive bas-reliefs, including the awe-inspiring Churning of the Ocean of Milk depicting gods and asuras pulling a giant serpent. Scattered across the walls are over a thousand apsara carvings, each with unique hairstyles, attire, and dance poses worth examining closely. Enter through the west gate via the causeway and follow the central axis inward—this layered progression offers deeper immersion than a hurried visit. Arrive early to secure a prime sunrise photography spot by the pond. Note that temple steps are steep, some with narrow risers, so wear comfortable, slip-resistant shoes. As a religious site, visitors must cover shoulders and knees and avoid climbing or leaning on carvings. △ Experience the true stories and mysterious legends of Angkor Wat, with every spot being a great photo opportunity. △ Today, Angkor Wat remains mysterious and magnificent, attracting thousands of travelers from around the world.Siem Reap · 6.5 km from downtown
Angkor Archaeological Park
Angkor Archaeological Park is a vast complex of structures left by the Khmer Empire, scattered across the jungles and fields north of Siem Reap. It covers a vast area, encompassing dozens of temple ruins and ancient city remains. The core of the park consists of two main parts: Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Angkor Wat is the best-preserved structure in the entire site, originally a Hindu temple that later incorporated Buddhist beliefs. Five towers rise above layers of galleries, the inner walls of which are covered in bas-reliefs depicting scenes from Hindu epics and the history of the Khmer dynasty, featuring extensive narratives and numerous figures. The silhouette of this building is also used as the design on the flag of Cambodia. Angkor Thom is the site of the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. The stone bridges outside the city gates are lined with statues of devas and asuras churning the Ocean of Milk. Bayon Temple at the center of the city is famous for its dozens of towers with four-faced Buddhas, each face carved with a serene, smiling expression, known as the "Smile of Khmer." Ta Prohm is renowned for its unique view of giant tree roots intertwined with stone structures.Siem Reap · 6.5 km from downtown
Angkor National Museum
• Explore the history, culture, and lifestyle of the Golden Age of the Khmer Empire. • Admire the artistic treasures of the Angkor period. • Appreciate the unique architectural styles. ▴The Angkor National Museum mainly exhibits cultural relics and works of art from various periods of the Khmer dynasty, including stone carvings, images of Buddha, multimedia images, etc. The collections are vast and precious. ▴The exterior shape of the museum is uniquely designed and the roof has the charm of the ancient tower of Angkor Wat. The promenade, the doorway and the window are inspired by the design of Angkor Wat. Modern elements are also blended in, making it more magnificent and spectacular.Siem Reap · 1.4 km from downtown
Sunrise Sightseeing in Siem Reap
The sunrise in Siem Reap is a gentle prelude to the interweaving of the remains of the Angkor Dynasty and modern travel memories. It slowly unveils the mysterious veil of the ancient land of Southeast Asia in an almost sacred manner. Standing on the top of Bayon Temple or on the wall of Angkor Thom, a breathtaking picture unfolds before your eyes: the sky gradually turns white, the mountains in the distance are looming in the morning light, and the nearby Angkor ruins are more simple and solemn under the reflection of the sunrise. Every stone and every mark seems to be telling a thousand-year story, weaving a dialogue across time and space with this new sunlight. In the glory of the sunrise, people can feel the magic and greatness of nature, and also experience the thickness and vicissitudes of history. This quiet and passionate atmosphere is unforgettable.Cambodia · Siem Reap
Sunset Sightseeing in Siem Reap
At sunset in Siem Reap, the afterglow of the setting sun fills the earth, dyeing the sky into gorgeous orange-red or pink-purple. This color change casts a mysterious and romantic veil over the entire city. As the sun gradually sinks, the light becomes soft and warm, making the ancient buildings and natural landscapes more vivid and charming. Under the reflection of the setting sun, the outlines of ancient monuments such as Angkor Wat become clearer, showing a beauty of harmonious coexistence of history and nature. Phnom Bakheng is one of the popular places to watch the sunset in Siem Reap. Climbing to the top of the mountain, you can overlook the magnificent scenery of the entire ancient city of Angkor, especially when the sunset and the spires of Angkor Wat complement each other, it is even more beautiful. Pre-Reap Temple is also a good place to watch the sunset, with fewer people than Phnom Bakheng. Here you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the sunset and the surrounding ruins of temples and lakes, and feel a quiet and profound historical atmosphere. In short, watching the sunset in Siem Reap is not only a visual enjoyment, but also allows people to feel the profoundness of ancient civilization and find inner peace and satisfaction.Cambodia · Siem Reap
Phare, The Cambodian Circus
TheCambodiaCircus, the original crew of the popular circus in Battambang has come to Siem Reap. With unrepeatable passion and touching folk stories, this star team created by a French NGO is working hard to revive Cambodia's traditional circus performance. There are neither collars nor animals, and the show combines high-level drama, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion to take you on an emotionally exciting journey into contemporary Cambodia. When you are in it, you can't help laughing, and you will be amazed by the excessive performance of the artist.Siem Reap · 1.7 km from downtown
Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom, also known asAngkor Thom, was the last capital of the Khmer Empire. It was destroyed by war and rebuilt several times, serving as the "heart" of the Angkor monuments, with a population reaching over one million at its peak. Today, the moat bridges, city gates, and ruins within the city, such as Bayon Temple,Bayon Temple, and Phimeanakas Temple, are the main attractions. It is square in shape, with city walls 14 km in circumference and surrounded by a moat 100m wide. The city has 5 gates, each topped with four-faced Buddha statues facing the cardinal directions, and a large bridge spanning the moat outside each gate. The South and North gates were for daily public use, the East gate was used for funerals, and the West gate was for criminals; all 4 gates lead to Bayon Temple in the center of the city. Visitor guide: Generally, you enter from the South Gate. On both sides of the moat bridge outside the gate are 27 stone statues, each approx. 2.5m tall, in a kneeling position, holding the Naga King "Vasuki," which represents the legendary Hindu myth of the "Churning of the Ocean of Milk." Walking north from the South Gate to the center of Angkor Thom, you will see Bayon Temple, the most magnificent and important building in the city. The top of its stupa features the "Khmer Smile," and the reliefs on the gallery walls are also worth a close look. It is recommended to spend more time exploring this area. To its northwest isBayon Temple. This common three-tiered platform structure in Angkor was once the center of the old royal city; the base is carved with various animal statues, but the top has collapsed. To the north is Phimeanakas Temple. Although named a palace, it is actually a temple within the royal palace area. A golden tower was once built on the top platform, but it is no longer visible. The actual royal palace is approx. 200m northeast of Phimeanakas Temple. Because it was a wooden structure, it no longer exists, and only the entrance remains. Directly east of the original palace location, there are the symmetrical Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. If you enter Angkor Thom from the Victory Gate and walk straight ahead, you will see them. The Terrace of the Elephants was the king's viewing platform and the site for celebrations and elephant fighting tournaments; the surviving giant elephant stone carvings are its greatest feature. The Terrace of the Leper King was the site of the royal crematorium at that time and is named after a gender-neutral "Leper King" statue on the top of the platform. In addition to these well-known ruins, there are other buildings such as Suor Proat Temple. If you have enough time, you might want to visit them one by one. It takes a long time to visit this attraction in one go; you can bring your own food to eat in the city, and please take your trash with you afterward. Of course, you can also enter and exit multiple times, visiting a portion of the attractions each time, which will be more relaxed.Siem Reap · 9.4 km from downtown
Apsara Theatre
Built in a traditional semi-colonial style, the Apsara Theatre is imbued with a grandiose energy. From its original wooden exterior to its antique décor and marquee lights; the magic of the old theatre is alive and well. On evenings, the Apsara Theatre opens its doors to showcase Cambodia's rich cultural heritage, traditional performing arts. Dancers, singers and musicians will perform 3 classical and 2 village dances to the music of the traditional orchestra. The performance will be preceded by a beverage service and an authentic meal.Siem Reap · 473m from downtown
Pub Street
In the vibrant Old Quarter of Siem Reap, next to the Old Market, lies a street that keeps visitors coming back: Pub Street. As the name suggests, there are many bars on this street, but unlike traditional bars, they also function as restaurants. During the day, you can dine at the restaurants on the street, and at night, you can grab a drink at a bar to experience the unique nightlife of Siem Reap. Pub Street is incredibly lively. In addition to bars, there are bookstores selling English books and postcards, as well as shops selling handicrafts. The Red Piano, Temple Club, and others are very famous bars here.Siem Reap · 58m from downtown
Bayon Temple
Bayon Temple is the center and the essence of Tongwang City (that is, Greater Angkor). It was built at the end of the 12th century as a temple built by King Jayavarman VII for himself. Not only can you find the famous "Khmer Smile" here, you can also admire the rich and vivid reliefs on the cloisters. Many people choose to watch the sunrise at the Bayon Temple in the morning, so there are often crowds in the morning. In fact, the Bayon Temple in the evening is also worth visiting, not only to appreciate its relatively quiet side, but also to watch the sunset here. The entire Bayon Temple building is divided into three floors, the lower two floors are square, and the walls of the cloister are engraved with reliefs; the top floor is circular, with large and small pagodas erected. Originally there were 49, but now there are only 37 left. The larger stupa in the middle is about 40 meters high, and the others are surrounded by stars like the moon. The over 100-meter-wide corridor originally had a wooden roof, but now only broken walls and huge stone pillars can be seen. On the walls of the existing cloister, you can see very rich reliefs. The inner layer is mainly about myths and religious stories, such as stirring the sea of milk and the image of God Vishnu. The outer layer is based on real life, ranging from ancient war accounts to ordinary People's life, the scenery of Tonle Sap Lake, etc. These vivid reliefs seem to be telling a distant story, and they are precious historical relics that must be seen. The top of the pagoda is engraved with a huge four-faced Buddha. The four sides of the Buddha statue represent compassion, compassion, joy, and equanimity, and they all have a peaceful smile. If you look closely, you will find that these smiles have subtle differences, and the slightly upturned corners of the mouth can't tell whether they mean tolerance or ridicule, as if there is a secret that the world will never understand. And this is the "Khmer Smile" that makes Angkor Wat famous in the world.Siem Reap · 9.6 km from downtown
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What travelers say about Siem Reap
_TT***90October 5, 2026
4.0
Worth visiting at least once. The scale of Angkor Wat is impressive, and seeing the temples up close feels very different from just seeing photos online. Go early if you can, especially for sunrise, and be prepared for quite a bit of walking. The heat can also be intense, so bring water and wear comfortable shoes.
Angkor Wat
徐徐霞客RrAugust 5, 2022
5.0
Angkor Archaeological Park is a very nice place. If you love history, you will definitely be interested in it. In addition to some historical buildings, there are also some religious buildings that are very novel, and the vegetation here is also very ancient.
Angkor Archaeological Park
MackyajOctober 1, 2026
4.0
It's a roomy and spacious museum that was a pleasure to stroll through. Written explanations in English were useful. There was some repetition of the exhibits but that's the reality!
Angkor National Museum
_TI***f1July 16, 2026
5.0
Everyone needs to see this circus when in Cambodia! The story telling, the act, the performance, everything was amazing, and worth every penny!
Phare, The Cambodian Circus
Lsh789September 8, 2026
5.0
Business Hours:Address:Tips:Reasons to Recommend:Reasons to Recommend:Angkor Thom siem reap province
Angkor Thom
Liza SomboOctober 23, 2026
5.0
Apsara Theater is definitely worth visiting if you want to experience Cambodian culture! The traditional Apsara dance, beautiful costumes, and graceful movements make the performance special. I’d recommend going in the evening to enjoy the show and learn more about Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage. It’s a lovely experience for anyone visiting Siem Reap! 🇰🇭❤️
Apsara Theatre
bongchrounghJune 8, 2026
5.0
Pub Street is a vibrant and lively area with plenty of restaurants, bars, and entertainment. The atmosphere is fun and welcoming, making it a great place to spend an evening in Siem Reap. While busy and tourist-focused, it offers a good variety of food, drinks and nightlife option
Pub Street
E38***05July 23, 2026
5.0
The smiling faces of Bayon Temple are its most captivating feature, with over 200 massive stone countenances carved into 54 towers. Scholars believe these serene, enigmatic smiles represent Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, or the powerful King Jayavarman VII himself. As you walk through the upper terrace, these giant faces look down on you from every angle, creating a surreal and deeply spiritual atmosphere. The daytime sun casts beautiful shadows across the stone features, bringing their calm expressions to life. It is an unforgettable sight that forms the creative heart of the entire temple experience.
Bayon Temple
