9 Best Things to Do and See in Siem Reap
Exploring Siem Reap on foot is one of the best ways to feel the city’s atmosphere, connect its landmark places and discover its neighbourhoods at a more natural pace.
In this guide, you will find the attractions not to miss when planning a walking route in Siem Reap, with simple reference points.
To go further, you can also enjoy a private guided tour in Siem Reap. It is a smoother way to connect places, understand details you might miss on your own and enjoy a more human, personal discovery adapted to your trip.
1. Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat, near Siem Reap in Cambodia, is one of the most famous religious complexes in Southeast Asia. This vast archaeological site impresses with its galleries, soaring towers, and finely carved bas-reliefs, which reflect exceptional craftsmanship. Once a Hindu temple and later also a Buddhist place of worship, it offers a visit that is cultural, spiritual, and visually spectacular. As you explore its courtyards, sanctuaries, and stones steeped in history, you discover a major symbol of Cambodia’s heritage.
2. Bayon
In the heart of the Angkor Archaeological Park, near Siem Reap, the Bayon is one of Cambodia’s iconic temples, blending Hindu and Buddhist influences. This historic site impresses with its stone architecture, towers decorated with numerous carved faces, and galleries lined with bas-reliefs. As you explore it, you’ll discover a network of corridors, sanctuaries, and terraces that reflect the artistic and spiritual richness of the ancient Khmer capital. The atmosphere is peaceful, mysterious, and especially photogenic.
3. Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is a Buddhist temple in the Angkor complex that captivates visitors with its atmosphere, both majestic and overtaken by the jungle. Visitors can explore stone galleries, partially collapsed towers, and vast tangles of roots wrapping around the walls, creating a striking setting. The site offers a fascinating walk among architectural remains, shaded passageways, and an almost surreal ruins atmosphere, perfect for experiencing the meeting of Khmer heritage and tropical nature.
4. Angkor National Museum
Angkor National Museum offers a valuable introduction to the Khmer world, bringing together works linked to the temples and history of Angkor. Discover sculptures, architectural fragments, and artifacts that help you better understand the artistic forms developed around Angkor Thom and the great civilization that shaped the region. The presentation focuses on heritage, styles, and the religious meaning of the exhibits, in a setting designed to enhance a visit to the nearby archaeological sites.
5. Siem Reap Art Center Night Market
The Siem Reap Art Center Night Market is a lively night market where visitors can experience the typical atmosphere of Siem Reap, with craft stalls, souvenirs, clothing, and decorative items. Located in the city center, this spot attracts travelers looking for a pleasant evening stroll after sunset, with its lanes lined with small shops and colorful stalls. You can also sample simple local cuisine in a friendly, lively setting, ideal for wandering, admiring Cambodian craftsmanship, and enjoying the nighttime atmosphere.
6. Phnom Bakheng
Phnom Bakheng is a Hindu temple perched on a hill in the heart of the Angkor site in Cambodia. This sandstone sanctuary attracts visitors with its ancient architecture, tiered terraces, and peaceful atmosphere amid lush vegetation. As you climb the site, you discover galleries, stairways, and carved remains that reflect the refinement of Khmer art. The site is also prized for the open views it offers over the surrounding area, especially at the end of the day, when the light highlights the contours of the landscape.
7. Pre Rup
Pre Rup is a mountain temple known for its powerful volumes, stacked terraces and regularly arranged sanctuary towers. Visitors can discover Khmer architecture in brick, laterite and sandstone, where geometric lines still dominate despite the wear of time. The site offers a close look at the composition of a great Angkorian sanctuary, its gradual rise and the way stone frames the sacred space. The whole monument has a sober, solid and highly legible presence.
8. Royal Independence Gardens
Royal Independence Gardens is a tourist space in Angkor Thom, in the Siem Reap area, along National Route 6. It stands out less for monumental ruins than for its landscaped setting, garden atmosphere, and location in a highly accessible area. Visitors discover a place where greenery, pathways, and the nearby city create a visual break between traffic and the surrounding heritage. Its location makes it a useful landmark for understanding the contemporary side of the Angkor region.
9. Made in Cambodia Market
Made in Cambodia Market is a tourist market in Siem Reap focused on products made in Cambodia. Visitors will discover stalls showcasing local crafts, decorative objects, textiles, and other creations linked to Cambodian know-how. The market offers a practical glimpse of how local production is presented to travelers in a shopping space designed for discovery. Located on Oum Khun Street, near routes connected with Angkor Thom, it fits into a wider visit to the Angkor region and Siem Reap.
10. Cambodian Cultural Village
Cambodian Cultural Village is a discovery park dedicated to Cambodian culture in the Siem Reap area, near Angkor Thom. The site lets visitors explore landscaped spaces focused on Khmer architecture, arts and traditions, in a setting designed to bring together several aspects of the country’s national heritage. It offers an environment created to showcase Cambodia’s cultural diversity through scenography, installations and references to local practices.
11. APOPO Visitor Centre
The APOPO Visitor Centre in Siem Reap lets visitors discover the work of a non-profit organization focused on mine detection and safety awareness. On site, learn about the methods used, the role of trained African giant pouched rats in detecting certain explosives, and the impact of this work in mine-affected areas. The visit offers an educational and inspiring look at humanitarian missions in Cambodia and beyond.
12. War Museum
The Siem Reap War Museum is an open-air museum dedicated to armed conflicts in Cambodia and their memory. Visitors can discover a collection of military vehicles, weapons, tanks, artillery pieces, and other equipment displayed outdoors in a simple, evocative setting. The visit offers a better understanding of the impact of war on the country, while providing a concrete look at recent military history. It is an interesting stop for travelers curious about heritage and historical memory.
13. Banteay Kdei
Banteay Kdei is a vast Khmer temple located in the Angkor complex in Cambodia, near Angkor Thom. This stone site offers a peaceful atmosphere, with partly ruined galleries, shaded corridors, and successive enclosures that invite visitors to wander. Here you will discover an architectural ensemble rich in carved details, typical of Khmer art, where vegetation sometimes intertwines with the ruins. Less visited than other monuments in Angkor, it offers a quieter visit and a beautiful immersion in the history of the site.
14. Angkor Botanical Garden
Located in Siem Reap, the Angkor Botanical Garden is a botanical garden that offers a green escape from the bustle of the city. Visitors can explore landscaped areas to admire a variety of tropical plants, stroll along peaceful pathways, and enjoy a calm atmosphere that invites relaxation. The site allows you to observe the richness of the local flora in a well-kept setting, ideal for travelers curious about nature. It is a simple and relaxing stop, perfect for rounding out a visit to the Angkor area.
15. Wat Preah Prom Rath
Wat Preah Prom Rath is a Buddhist temple in Siem Reap combining a place of worship, pagoda and training center in one complex. Its central location on Pokambor Avenue makes it an accessible city landmark deeply connected to local life. Visitors discover an active religious site, buildings decorated in Cambodian tradition, and a calm atmosphere that contrasts with the city’s bustle. The site is of interest both for its spiritual significance and its role in passing on Buddhism.
16. Wat Bo
Wat Bo is a peaceful Buddhist temple located in Siem Reap, not far from the city center. This place of worship attracts visitors with its serene atmosphere, traditional buildings, and typical Khmer architectural details. As you walk through it, you will discover decorated pagodas, Buddhist statues, and prayer areas used by worshippers. The site also offers a glimpse into the local religious heritage and lets you observe everyday spiritual life in a calm setting, ideal for contemplation and cultural discovery.
Antony M
During my travels, I looked for guides who spoke my language. This search turned out to be long and tedious. That is why I created MYTOGU (My Tourist Guide): a matching site between tourists and professional tourist guides.
