Things to Do in Siem Reap: More Than Angkor Wat
Most travelers come to Siem Reap for one reason, the ancient temples of Angkor, and I was no different. But the town itself surprised me in ways I did not expect. Between the world famous temple complex, the lively streets, and the communities around the great lake, there is far more to do here than I had realized. Here is how I spent my days.
Rise Early for Angkor Wat
The reason most people visit is the great temple of Angkor Wat, and I am here to tell you it lives up to the hype. I got up before dawn to join the crowds at the reflecting pool and watched the sun come up behind the five famous towers, silhouetted against the sky. The scene was even more striking in person than in all the photographs I had seen. I then explored the vast complex itself, walking the galleries covered in carved reliefs and climbing to the upper level. Give yourself a solid half day here, and remember to dress with your shoulders and knees covered out of respect.
Take the Grand Circuit and See the Highlights
Beyond Angkor Wat lies an entire network of temples. My favorite part of the trip was taking a day to explore the other great sites. I spent time at the Bayon in Angkor Thom, whose massive stone faces stare down from every point of the compass, and at the atmospheric Ta Prohm, where the jungle has been left to grow over the ruins and tree roots wrap around the walls. I also climbed the steep steps of the jungle temple of Preah Khan and watched the sunset from a hillside temple outside the main circuit. A good driver and guide made this day much easier, and I would recommend hiring one through your hotel.
Visit a Floating Village on Tonle Sap
On my second day I took a boat trip out onto the great lake of Tonle Sap, which is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. I visited a village that is built entirely on stilts and floating platforms, where the residents move house with the rising and falling water levels between the dry and wet seasons. I drifted past the wooden houses, the floating school, and the shops on rafts, and got a clear picture of a way of life completely different from anything on land. It is an excursion that takes half a day and gives you a strong sense of how much of Cambodia lives on the water.
Explore Siem Reap Town and Its Markets
In the evenings I came back to town, and Siem Reap has a warm, easy energy. Pub Street is the lively center, full of restaurants and bars, but I preferred the quieter streets around it, where I found small cafes and shops selling crafts and clothing. I also visited the night market, where I tried local snacks and shopped among the stalls of textiles and hand carved items. For a calmer experience, I hired a bicycle one day and rode through the back streets, past markets and schools, and got to see the ordinary life of the town that the main roads hide.
Sample Khmer Food
Cambodian food deserves more attention than it gets, and Siem Reap is the perfect place to taste it. I ate a traditional amok, a fish curry steamed in a banana leaf, which I loved, and tried lok lak, a peppery beef dish that is a local favorite. I also made a point of trying fried rice with morning glory greens and the wide variety of fresh fruit available at every corner. There are restaurants to suit every budget, from street stalls to refined places set in the old wooden houses of the town’s French quarter.
Support the Local Craft Villages
Siem Reap is surrounded by small craft villages where you can watch traditional work being done by hand. I visited a workshop that makes silk, where I followed the process from the silkworm cocoons through the dyeing and weaving to the finished scarves and fabric. The pace was slow and unhurried, and the artisans were happy to explain what they were doing. I also stopped at a place making the traditional clay pots and other ceramics used across the region, and watched a potter shape a vessel on a simple wheel. Buying directly from these workshops means your money goes straight to the people who make the items, and every small piece I brought home reminds me of that afternoon.
Understand the Temple Pass Before You Go
Siem Reap is easy to reach with direct flights, and it is a compact town where a tuk tuk can take you almost anywhere you need to go. The best time to visit is the dry season from November to March, when the days are hot but the sun is reliable. I recommend at least three days: a full day for the temples, a day for the floating villages and the wider countryside, and a final day to enjoy the town and its food. Siem Reap gave me the grand temples I came for and a far richer picture of Cambodia than I expected, and I left planning my return.
