Siem Reap, the gateway to ancient temples and a unique area, should be a part of any Southeast Asia itinerary. Three days in Siem Reap is the perfect amount of time to get a feel for the temples and explore what this amazing city has to offer. It is also very easy to visit Cambodia using points to help save you some of your costs.
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History of Siem Reap
Siem Reap is best known as the gateway to the ancient temple complex of Angkor, once the capital of the Khmer Empire. While the city itself has relatively modern roots, the surrounding region holds deep historical significance dating back over a thousand years.
Following the decline of the Khmer Empire in the 1400s, the Angkor region fell into obscurity, and the area around modern-day Siem Reap became a quiet rural province. French colonial rule in the 1800s-1900s brought renewed interest in Angkor, leading to archaeological exploration and the beginnings of tourism. Siem Reap slowly developed into a small town supporting this activity.
Its modern transformation began in the 2000s, especially after the end of Cambodia’s civil war and the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. With increased global interest in Angkor’s temples, Siem Reap became one of Cambodia’s most visited cities, blending historical significance with rapid development in hospitality, culture, and tourism.
When to Spend Three Days in Siem Reap
The best time to visit Siem Reap is from November to March, as the weather is the coolest and driest. If you want fewer crowds and better prices, visit from May to October. There will be some rain in the afternoon, but the mornings will be great for visiting the temples.
How to Get to Siem Reap
Siem Reap has one main airport: Siem Reap Angkor International Airport. There are no direct flights from the United States, but you can catch a flight from most major cities in Southeast Asia, such as Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. Skyscanner is my favorite way to search for flights.
We spent time in Sri Lanka prior to visiting Siem Reap, so we flew Singapore Airlines via Singapore to get to Siem Reap.
Upon arrival at the airport, you will want to book some sort of transfer from the airport as it is about an hour’s drive from the city center. You can book a shared airport transfer or a private airport transfer. Additionally, if coming from Phnom Penh, you could book this Phnom Penh to Siem Reap transfer.
Transportation in Siem Reap
To get around Siem Reap, many of the parts of the town are walkable. Then, to get to some of the places, the best mode of transportation is a tuk-tuk. I recommend ordering one through Grab (the Asian version of Uber) so you do not have to worry about negotiating with them.
You can also opt to hire one for the day. ADD INFO HERE ABOUT OURS
Where to Stay in Siem Reap
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Check out the best hotels in Siem Reap here! You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price or try to price match a hotel. We opted to stay at the Park Hyatt Siem Reap, which is an amazing option! Alternatively, the Courtyard Siem Reap Resort and the Chateau d’Angkor La Residence are also great options. Most of the hotels are located in the walkable city center, so there is not really a bad location.
Visa
United States Citizens will need to get an e-visa. It costs $36/person and you will need to apply before you go. It is very easy to get through the Cambodian government website. You will need a picture of yourself, information about your flights and itinerary, a scan of your passport, and a credit card to pay.
What to do During Three Days in Siem Reap
Siem Reap is an enchanting city on the edge of the Angkor Wat temple complex. You will spend the majority of the time exploring this massive 500-acre area with over 72 temples. This itinerary will show you the best temples to visit during your three days in Siem Reap.
Day 1: Main Temples of Angkor Archeological Park
Angkor Archeological Park
Today you will embark on your first of three days in Siem Reap with a visit to the Angkor Wat complex. For this itinerary, I recommend buying the three day Angkor Wat ticket for $62. There are so many different ways you can opt to visit the complex.
An Angkor Wat small group tour is a good way to see the complex if you do not want to plan anything. The Angkor Wat sunrise tour allows you to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat. This Angkor Wat full-day tour gives you an entire day at the temples and is good if you are short on time. For those in for an adventure, check out this Angkor Wat bike tour. You can also hire a private tuk-tuk or a private car.
We opted to hire a private tuk-tuk for the full day. This gave us the flexibility to visit the temples we wanted to and spend as much time as we wanted to at each stop. The following is the itinerary we completed during our first day of visiting the complex.
Angkor Wat
Start your morning with a visit to the most well-known temple of the complex, Angkor Wat. This is the largest religious monument in the world. Originally built as a Hindu temple, it later became a Buddhist temple and is famous for its five lotus-like towers.
If you want to see the sunrise, you will need to get here early to grab a spot by the lily ponds. We also opted to hire a guide right outside the entrance to take us around this temple. We paid around $20, and he spent several hours with us. During that time, we learned the history of the complex and got to explore many areas of it.
Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple
Next, head to Bayon Temple, built almost 100 years after Angkor Wat. On your way into the temple, you will pass through the Victory Gate. Angkor Thom has five massive gates topped with faces of Bayon. The bridges to the gate are lined with statues of gods and demons.
This is another super popular temple and the main temple of the Angkor Thom complex. It is also known for its “forest” of over 200 massive stone faces carved into its 54 towers. You will want at least an hour to explore this complex.
Ta Prohm
You will not want to miss the Ta Prohm temple, the next stop for the day. Ta Prohm is famous for being left largely in the state it was found with trees growing directly out of the ruins. This is one of the most photographed temples in the world and was also the main filming location for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
Pre Rup
End the day by stopping at Pre Rup. Pre Rup is known as the mountain temple and is made up of red bricks. It was mostly used for royal funerals. This is a popular spot to watch the sunset over the temples.
Teacher Tip: Throughout Siem Reap there are many massage parlors. End each day with a nice foot massage which runs from $5-$10. It is the perfect way to unwind after a day of exploring the temples.
Angkor Hand-Pulled Noodles and Dumplings
Cost: $
Hours: 8am-9pm
To finish off your first of three days in Siem Reap, grab dinner at Angkor Hang Pulled Noodles and Dumplings. This local favorite is known for seeing noodle-making in action. You can watch the chefs expertly stretch and pull dough behind the counter. Their pan-fried dumplings are rated as some of the best in the city.
Day 2: Siem Reap Sites
TukTuk Tour
Start your day with a TukTuk Tour of Siem Reap. Since we stayed at the Park Hyatt Siem Reap, this was included in our stay. We could upgrade to making it hop-on, hop-off for $2, which we opted to do. This will stop you at all of the main sites to see in Siem Reap and includes the following.
- Wat Preah Prom Rath: This temple has colorful statues, a large reclining Buddha, and a series of dioramas that tell the story of Buddha’s life.
- Wat Bo: One of the most prestigious pagodas in Siem Reap, famous for its wall paintings and murals.
- Wat Damnak: Once a royal palace, this temple is now a monastery and center for learning.
Angkor National Museum
Cost: $12
Hours: Mon-Sat: 8:30am-4:30pm, Closed Sundays
Another stop you can add to the Tuk Tuk tour is the Angkor National Museum. This world-class museum showcases the golden era of the Khmer Empire through galleries with artifacts and interactive technology. It is a great way to gain some background knowledge before visiting the temples of Angkor Wat. Do not miss the Gallery of 1,000 Buddhas!
Cooking Class
Cost: $32
To finish off your second of two days in Siem Reap, opt to take a cooking class. This cooking class will pick you up, give you a market tour, where you will shop for what you need to cook. Then, you are taken to a residence with an area for cooking, and you will learn to prepare some traditional Cambodian dishes.
Day 3: Other Temples
For your last of three days in Siem Reap, you will head back to the Angkor Wat complex to explore several more of the temples. The following are ones that I recommend.
Terrace of the Elephants
Start the day with a visit to the Terrace of Elephants. This 350-meter-long terrace was used as a viewing stand for public ceremonies. It is named for its carvings of elephants that run along its length. It is definitely a cool place to take some photos and can be a relatively quick stop.
Preah Khan
This massive complex once served as a temporary city and Buddhist University. It features a lot of “trees over stones” like Ta Prohm, but is often a lot less busy. It offers a more labyrinth experience with endless corridors.
East Mebon
This temple was built on what was once an artificial island in the middle of a massive reservoir and was originally only accessible by boat. Today it stands on dry land and is recognizable by its five brick towers and large stone elephants guarding the corners.
Ta Som
This smaller and more intimate temple offers a quiet escape from the larger crowds. Its most famous feature is the entrance gate, which has been engulfed by a massive fig tree. This temple was built by King Jayavarman VII, and it follows a similar design to the larger temples, but in a much more manageable size.
Angkor Kitchen
Cost: $$
Hours: 8am-6pm
When you are hungry, stop at Angkor Kitchen, which is located within the Angkor Archaeological Park, so it makes for a good place to stop and grab some food. It is a more expensive option since you are paying for convenience, but the food was delicious! You can choose from many authentic Khmer dishes and classic Cambodian dishes.
APOPO Visitor Center
Cost: $5
Hours: Mon-Sat: 8:30am-4:30pm, Closed Sundays
After spending the morning at the temples, stop at the APOPO Visitor Center on the way back to Siem Reap. At this unique center, you can meet the famous “HeroRATs.” These giant African rats are trained to sniff out landmines. This guided tour explains the history of landmines in Cambodia. Visitors also get to witness a live demonstration where they can watch these rats find a deactivated mine in seconds.
Chili Hot Pot and BBQ
Cost: $
Hours: 4pm-11pm
Tonight for dinner, head to the Chili Hot Pot and BBQ. This restaurant has you as the chef, where you can cook your own meat in a grill or soup in front of you. This is a great place with a large group
Pub Street
Tonight after dinner, finish off the last of three days in Siem Reap with a visit to Pub Street. This street is known for being a street full of bars and a fantastic place to celebrate the end of the trip. Bar 43 is one of the bars we opted to stop at, but all of them have a unique theme!
More Than Three Days in Siem Reap
If you have more than three days in Siem Reap, you may want to add some of these fun activities to your itinerary. Alternatively, you could trade out some of the temples to do these activities.
- Angkor Eye: This is a ticket for Angkor Eye, a big ferris wheel in Siem Reap.
- Angkor Zipline: Go ziplining through the Ancient temples.
- Siem Reap Walking Tour: Acclimate yourself to the city with this walking tour.
- War Museum: Head to the war museum to learn about the history of the area.
- War Museum and Landmine Rats Tour: This tour combines the war museum and a visit to the APOPO Center.
- Kampong Phluk Floating Village: Take a day trip to a local village.
- Hot Air Balloon: Ride in a hot air balloon above the temples.
- Food tour: A food tour is a great way to get to know the local restaurants and cuisine.
Some other places to grab a meal include
- Wild (Spring Rolls)
- New Leaf Eatery
Final Tips for Three Days in Siem Reap
Three days in Siem Reap provide the perfect amount of time to see all of the main sites. If you have more time, pair Siem Reap with a visit to other amazing Southeast Asia cities such as Luang Prabang, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh, or Hanoi.
