Best Things To Do In Siem Reap: Things You Shouldn't Miss


Siem Reap Cambodia Travel Acient Tourism GoAsiaDayTrip

Although best known for the stunning ruins of Angkor, the town of Siem Reap is full of temples, ruins, canals and reservoirs, making up one of the most important archeological sites in Southeast Asia! So it’s no wonder that travelers are attracted here by the thousands. With the amount of traffic coming in increasing, this town has stepped up its game and become quite the tourist destination.

Many travelers flock here to experience these magnificent ruins but then leave before exploring the rest of Siem Reap, why? This tiny town may be lacking in size, but it by no means lacks in history and entertainment. Packed with hostels and hotels, day and night tours, plenty of delicious food and night time parties, there is a lot more beyond Angkor. To help you get the most out of this tourist wonderland, here’s our top list of things to see and do.

Things to Do in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Explore the Stunning Angkor Wat

Ta Prohm Temple GoAsiaDayTrip

You can’t have a top things to do list in Siem Reap without recommending a visit to the Angkor Archaeological Park. Full of thousands of temples, there is nothing like the feeling of walking through what used to be the center of the Khmer empire and what still is the spiritual heart of Cambodia today. Marvel at the beauty of the architecture and spend some time taking in the atmosphere. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the cultural highlight of Siem Reap and a must see during sunrise. However, apart from the famous Angkor Wat, here’s a list of the other temples worth visiting.
  • The Bayon
  • The Baphuon
  • Phimeanakas
  • Thommanon
  • Ta Prohm
If you want to mix culture with outdoor adventure, there are many mountain temple hikes that you can do! It may be a bit more challenging than walking the flat plains of the archaeological park, but the panoramic views you are rewarded with will make it all worthwhile. While checking out the Angkor Archaeological Park, you can either join a tour, hire an official guide, or if you want to go local, a lot of the tuk-tuk drivers give tours themselves. As we always love to encourage local interaction, the tuk-tuk guides are our first choice. The best way to go about this is by speaking to your hotel reception and asking if they can recommend a good English speaking tuk-tuk driver. However, if you want a full explanation of the historical facts behind this stunning historical area, an official tour guide might be for you.

Insider Tips: When exploring Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples, remember to bring sunblock, a water bottle, and a fan if you have one. It can get extremely hot! While the heat is a good excuse to wear something cool, do remember that it is still a religious site so covering your shoulders and knees is a must! Bringing a light scarf to cover up would suffice. The best place to watch the sunset from is by Phnom Bakheng in Angkor Thom so make sure you get there early if you want to reserve a picture perfect spot.

Go on a Food Tour

Insect market Food GoAsiaDayTrip

You may not be surprised to hear that the food in Cambodia, like the rest of Asia, is amazing! Full of street food stalls and markets you will never be far from good local grub. So why take a tour? If you’re pushed for time or just want to learn about the culture, this is a great way to do it all. Choose from street food tours, fried insect tours or the ultimate foodie day tour, Siem Reap is your oyster (see what I did there?). P.S. If you dare, deep fried tarantula is a popular Cambodian specialty.

By: BECKY ROGERS

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