Things to do in Siem Reap

If you’re planning a trip to Siem Reap there’s lots to do and keep you busy. The temples of Angkor will surely be top of your list and we hope you take time to discover the beautiful countryside on our unique bike tours, but there’s a lot more things to do in ‘Temple Town’. Check out our guide below, which we’ll add to as we think of more fun and interesting things to do. *Updated December 2022.

The Circus

Yes, there’s a circus in Siem Reap! And its fantastic! Not like the traditional circus you might imagine, Phare Circus is a contemporary spectacle and ‘must see’ while you are in Siem Reap. Shows are held nightly and the performers are from disadvantaged backgrounds and incredibly talented. Phare is a well established organization providing education to disadvantaged young people.

Learn more about the circus and how to get tickets here

Try the Local Food

Khmer cuisine may not have the international reputation of neighbouring Asian countries but that’s perhaps because its yet to be discovered. Siem Reap is the perfect place to dive into Cambodian food, with an endless supply of quality restaurants. Whether you are a vegetarian, vegan or carnivore, you will find both cheap eats and fine dining at your disposal.

TripAdvisor is usually a good source of info for where to eat, but here’s a few of our favourite places to eat in Siem Reap.

Pork & Rice

The staple Cambodian breakfast of pork and rice can be found all over town in local street-side restaurants. A cheap yet filling meal.

The Christa

Christa is one of our favourite family run restaurants. Located on street 7, Christa serves up delicious Cambodian and Western food at affordable prices. To top it off, the service and atmosphere is great.

Sister Srey

Sister Srey Cafe is a Social Enterprise, located conveniently a few steps from the old market. Always a popular spot for breakfast, lunch and great coffee.

Tevy’s

Tevy’s is very popular with locals and expats and serves delicious Cambodian food at very affordable prices.

New Leaf Cafe

New Leaf has been a mainstay for several years and serves great food a short walk from Old Market. In addition to Cambodian food, they also have a fantastic Fish and Chips Menu for those craving some British fare.

Try Me

Try Me Restaurant on Thapul Road is definitely worth a try. Affordable and consistently good food will be sure to please.

Fumizen

Siem Reap is home to a number of Japanese restaurants. Fumizen offers a variety of Japanese dishes in an elegant setting. If you fancy a more upmarket meal, it’s worth a visit and they often have special promotions including all you can eat Sushi.

Curry Walla

Feeling like Indian food? Need a filling meal? Then long established local favourite, Curry Walla might be the answer. Located on Sivutha road, here you will find a huge menu of Indian food which always satisfies taste buds and a hungry stomach.

Bannle

The name Bannle refers to the Khmer word for vegetables, and that’s the focus in this relaxing restaurant on street 27 near the river. They grow their own vegetables on site and create yummy affordable dishes for those wishing to eat fresh and healthy.

A Dip in the Pool

Siem Reap is hot year round, especially so during April and May and a dip in the pool provides some welcome relief. A number of hotels in Siem Reap open their pools to non-guests for a fee. If your hotel already has a pool, lucky you! but if you’re accommodation doesn’t have one, check out this list for options. A huge new public pool has recently opened on Baekeng road with access for just $2 its a great option but avoid weekends if you want to do some actual swimming as it will likely be busy at that time.

Visit the Local Markets

Siem Reap has a number of local markets to explore.

Psar Jas (Old Market)

The old market represents the centre of town a stones throw from pub street. If your looking for souvenirs you will find them here but be prepared to haggle hard. The first price the seller quotes will be several times higher than what you pay if you haggle with a bit of charm. Although this market is mostly for tourists, there’s also a sizeable fruit & veg and meat section for a more local flavor.

Psar Leu

For a more authentic market experience, head for Psar Leu on road 6 (in the direction of Phnom Penh). This is Siem Reap’s largest market and is always busy and hot. Here you will find just about everything you can think of. For a truly local experience, head to the back of the market where all the meat, fruit and veg is sold (not for the faint hearted).

Plau Hokseb (Road 60)

This market runs along road 60 just out of town and is a popular stretch for locals to buy cheap clothes and eat together. We love it here for its local feel and amusement area with fun games and rides.

Made in Cambodia Market

As the name suggests, the array of products for sale here are made locally, including many handcrafted delights. Located in the in the same street as Shinta Mani hotel, this market offers a laid back atmosphere to shop and learn about several great organisations making authentic Cambodian products. Highly recommend.

Chocolate Garden

Every weekend Chocolate Garden in the Salakomreuk area hosts a small selection of stalls by independent sellers featuring arts and crafts and clothes. There’s a cafe too and makes a good place to hang out on a relaxing weekend.

Night Market

The night market near Pub Street has recently begun to spring to life once more after being closed for a few years. Mostly souveniers and t-shirts but also some fantastic local artists have opened up shop here recently.

Visit a Pagoda

Siem Reap has an abundance of beautiful pagodas or Wats, home to Buddhist monks. The oldest is Wat Bo and is worth a visit. Also located centrally is Wat Damnak just across the river from the old market. These pagodas are open for the public but also where monks live and study so you need to be respectful. You will often be warmly greeted by the monks wanting to practice English with you.

Grab a Fuitshake

As you surely know by now, Siem Reap is hot! One of the best ways to stay refreshed is by having a delicious ice cold fruit shake sold everywhere and its cheap! The best ones use lots of real fruit. For an even cheaper and local refreshing drink, look out for the sugar cane juice stalls dotted along the road.

Enjoy a Cocktail

There’s plenty of options for a evening cocktail in Siem Reap, including at most of the hotels. But for the most unique cocktail experience in a beautiful setting, visit Miss Wongs or the Skybar at Jaya House.

Go to an Event or Performance

Siem Reap has a large expat community doing all sorts of interesting things. Check out the local expat pages on Facebook to get information on upcoming events such as pub quizzes, exhibitions, yoga classes and much more besides.

See a Football Match

There are several professional football clubs in Siem Reap including Angkor Tigers who play at the new Hanuman Stadium on the edge of town. The Tigers are the biggest team and play in the Cambodian Premier league. To see a match is a great experience with a vibrant atmosphere. Check out the Angkor Tigers website or the Hanuman Stadium Facebook page for fixture dates and times.

Take Some Photos

We’re not talking selfies here, there’s plenty of time for that. Capture the memories by making photos of all the wonderful things around you. As for taking photos of people, just ask nicely and although often shy, most Cambodian’s wont mind at all. Cambodian’s have the best smiles in the world so don’t be afraid to ask for a photo.

Exercise

Whether you’re into yoga, zumba, running, the gym or a power-walk, you can do it all in Siem Reap. To do as the locals, head down by the river in the early morning or after 5pm by the royal gardens (near Raffles Hotel) where you will find people playing badminton, doing aerobics classes and all manner of healthy activities.

Learn the Lingo

You’ll be amazed how by just learning a few simple words and phrases of Khmer will enhance your stay here. Cambodian’s love it when you make a little effort to speak their language and will open up and respect you more for doing so. You might get a little giggle if your pronunciation is off but its never malicious. Here’s a few words and phrases to get you started.

Chum reap sour = Formal greeting / Sursdey = Informal hello
Orkun = Thank you
Soksabay = How are you?
Tlay poun man = How much is it?
Money = Loy / Som kit loy = the bill please

Get out into the Sticks

Now that you have explored what Siem Reap has to offer, get out into the countryside! Siem Reap is blessed to be surrounded by stunning countryside in almost every direction you take. Lush green rice fields, palm trees, lotus fields, water buffalo’s and rural villages await you and we highly recommend at least a few hours to explore to truly experience Cambodian way of life.

Join one of our unique guided bike tours to discover the picturesque countryside beyond Siem Reap town.