Siem Reap
This once dusty frontier town has definitely been transformed in the last decade. The roads are now paved and trendy bars and restaurants have popped up across town. Famously known as the home to the Angkor Temple Complex, this up an coming town has a lot more to offer than just temples. You could easily spend a week exploring the town, temples, and surrounding area. Here are our tops things to do in Siem Reap.
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Angkor Wat
The Angkor Temple Complex is the primary reason people come to Siem Reap, and to some extent, Cambodia itself. This UNESCO World Heritage Site and one the 7 Man Made Wonders of the World, is hugely popular. The most famous of all of the temples is Angkor Wat, and usually the first stop on every tourist’s itinerary. Other popular temples include Bayon, Preah Khan and Ta Prohm. You will need transportation to get from temple to temple. You can easily hire a tuk-tuk to take you around to each of the temples. We were quoted a price of $15 for the 4 main temples and $20 if we wanted to go early to catch the sunrise over Angkor Wat before exploring the rest of the temples. The cost of the single day ticket was $32. Tip: We opted to arrive early for the sunrise over Angkor Wat. We were among the first to obtain tickets when the ticket office opened, but when we got Angkor Wat there were already many people and prime spots were taken. If you are going for multiple days we would recommend going on the second or third day of your multi day pass so that you can get there before the people having to purchase tickets.
Cambo Beach Club
Cambo Beach is a relatively new addition to Siem Reap and should be on everyone’s list. It’s a pool/beach entertainment complex, and the perfect place to cool off after a long day at the temples. The complex has one huge pool with a shallow end on one side and deep end with 2 high dive platforms on the other. There are also cabanas and lounge chairs surrounding the pool with food and drink service offered. We went twice during our stay in Siem Reap and had a blast! The cost, as of March 2019, was $5 for the entrance and no additional charge for the cabanas. I’m sure that will change once the popularity grows. You can check out their website here.
Pub Street
If you like to party, then Pub Street is your place. The street, in central Siem Reap, is lined with bars, clubs and restaurants. There vibe is fairly tame during the day and into dinner, but that definitely changes after the sun goes down. Many of the restaurants turn into clubs and everyone is blasting club music. The party goes well into the morning. We saw some people still out partying when we were headed to Angkor Wat to catch the sunrise. There are plenty of much chiller bars down the alleyways leading off of Pub Street, if that is more your speed. Check out Long’s Bar and Miss Wong for a more sophisticated cocktail experience.
Drag Show at Barcode
One of our best nights out in Cambodia was the Drag Show at Barcode. The music is loud, the drinks are cheap and the ladies give it their all! Hands down one of the best shows we have seen. You should definitely check it out if you have a night free in Siem Reap. Get there early if you want a seat.
Eat Like a Local Along the Siem Reap River
One of the best meals that we had while in Siem Reap was from one of the noodle bowl stands that line the Siem Reap River near down town. There were so many options to choose from and all of them were reasonably priced and delicious. If you are on a budget, this is your spot! Sitting outside on the tiny chairs and eating on the tiny table was also a fun experience. We highly recommend trying at least once while in Siem Reap.
Visit King’s Road Angkor
This shopping and dining complex sits just across the river from down town. You can grab a drink or some food at the various restaurants and cafes. Our favorite part was the Made in Cambodia Market where you can browse the stalls and check out the locally made crafts. It wasn’t too crowded when we were there and was a nice break from the crowded city center. Definitely worth a visit.
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