What’s up, guys? We’re here in Siem Reap, and in this blog, we’re gonna tell you our top things to do here, so enjoy it! Located in Northwestern Cambodia, Siem Reap is a bustling city known for its remarkable temples and rich cultural heritage. Visitors come here primarily to see Angkor Wat, the nation’s main tourist draw. However, thanks to the city’s increasing popularity among travelers, many other activities and attractions have emerged, offering more than just temple visits. In this blog, we highlight 10 of our favorite things to do in and around Siem Reap, including Angkor Wat and other top attractions. Now, let’s dive in! We’re Budget Venture Hub, and we make blogs about budget-friendly destinations around the world so you can easily plan your own adventures on a budget.
Nightlife in Pub Street
Siem Reap comes alive at night, and there’s no better place to experience the city’s vibrant nightlife than Pub Street. Located in the heart of the town, the street is known for its bustling atmosphere, diverse range of bars and restaurants, street performances, and food carts. It’s a magnet for tourists and locals alike. Come here to sample local food or enjoy a happy hour deal at one of the many bars.
Angkor Botanical Garden
Escape the hustle and bustle of Siem Reap and unwind at the Angkor Botanical Garden. This garden boasts an impressive collection of flora and fauna, including rare orchids and vibrant roses. Take a leisurely walk through the lush greenery and serene ponds while admiring the colorful flowers and plants. At the time of our visit, it was free to enter the gardens.
Floating Villages
Experience the authentic rural life of Cambodia by visiting one of the floating villages on Tonlé Sap. Kompong Khleang and Kompong Phluk are two popular options where you can witness the daily lives of locals, take a boat ride through stilted houses, and immerse yourself in the natural surroundings. Kompong Phluk is closest to Siem Reap and it’s also the one that we visited. It is more touristic and costs $25 per person to ride on the boat, but it’s a great option if you’re short on time. You also have the option to do a little mangrove tour on the local boats with local women, but that also costs an additional $5 per person.
Alternatively, if you have a bit more time, you can visit Kompong Khleang, which is a one and a half hour drive from the city. This is the largest floating village with over 10,000 inhabitants, and it’s a lot less visited by tourists.
Famous Palm Cake
The nearby village of Prey Dak is a famous food destination, with steamed pancakes gaining popularity as a local specialty. To make this sweet dessert, palm fruits are first squeezed and mixed with flour, then blended with coconut milk and palm sugar. Next, they are cut into individual cakes and steamed for about an hour. You can find many shops selling these cakes along the main road of the village. To get here, you can take a short detour from the Big Circuit in Angkor Park, which we will talk about later in this blog.
Siem Reap Markets
Siem Reap offers a wide range of markets where you can find unique souvenirs, handicrafts, and food. In the heart of the historic town, you can find the Old Market, Angkor Night Market, and the Arts Center Night Market. All of these places sell anything from pottery to clothing and textiles. Along the river, you can also find many food stalls that serve affordable local dishes. Right outside the town center, you can shop at the Made in Cambodia Market, which promotes and sells quality crafts and goods made by a range of designers and organizations in Cambodia.
Apsara dance show
For a cultural experience in Siem Reap, attend an Apsara dance performance in the evening. Apsara is a traditional Khmer dance that dates back centuries, featuring intricate hand movements, elaborate costumes, and enchanting music. The dancers bring legends and stories to life. There are a range of restaurants in town that host nightly performances. We went to Tonle Sap Restaurant, which combines a buffet dinner with a show. The buffet included a selection of Cambodian delicacies.
HeroRATs APOPO
Cambodia is one of the most landmine-affected countries in the world, but for the last 25 years, APOPO has worked to clear the landmines throughout the country. This nonprofit organization trains African giant pouched rats to detect the landmines. Also called HeroRATs, these animals are super-intelligent and can sniff out explosives with amazing accuracy. At the visitor center in Siem Reap, you can take a guided tour to learn about the lifesaving work they are doing in Cambodia and other countries around the world. After a short demonstration, you also get to meet these intelligent rats.
At the end of the tour, we had the chance to talk to our APOPO guide about what the organization has meant to his community. He explained that when they work to clear a piece of land suspected of having landmines, it feels like removing a thorn from their chest. Once the area is cleared, the community feels safe and relieved, no longer having to worry about landmines. This transformation has been especially impactful in making daily life safer and more secure for everyone.
Kulen Mountains Day trip
Another beautiful escape from the city is the majestic Kulen Mountains, located about one and a half to two hours away from Siem Reap. This mountain range is a dense green canvas of jungle that covers a giant plateau. It’s considered a sacred site by most Cambodians, and many Buddhists and Hindus come to make a pilgrimage here. Besides ancient temples and the reclining Buddha statue, there are also some picturesque waterfalls. The best way to explore this area is by embarking on a day tour from Siem Reap. We left a link in the description to the tour that we joined.
Angkor Archaeological Park
No visit to Siem Reap is complete without exploring the magnificent temples of Angkor Archaeological Park. Covering an area of over 400 km², this historical park is home to the temples and other remains of different capitals of the Khmer Empire, which thrived from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The most popular way to explore the important temples in the park is by following the Small or Big Circuit. While the Small Circuit includes the grandest temples like Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm, the Big Circuit takes you to more intimate and quiet temples like Preah Khan and Ta Som. Learn more about the different circuits and other things you need to know before you visit in our other full video all about Angkor Archaeological Park.
Angkor Wat Sunrise
The star attraction of Angkor Archaeological Park is definitely Angkor Wat. One of the best ways to experience this temple is by getting up early to witness the sunrise over the temple’s five towers. As the first rays of the sun illuminate the temple’s intricate carvings and reflect on the surrounding moat, you’ll be captivated by the magical atmosphere and sheer beauty of this ancient wonder. And even though this is the most popular activity in Siem Reap, it’s one you’ll never forget.
We hope this Article helps you to have a great trip to Siem Reap. If you’re planning your Cambodia travels, we recommend keeping things organized with our interactive travel planner. Thank you for reading. We hope you like it, if you do please subscribe our website for FREE then you will get all the important travel tips from us.
