Siem Reap has grown from a sleepy provincial town into Cambodia's tourism capital, and for good reason — it's the closest base to the Angkor Archaeological Park, one of the world's most extraordinary ancient sites.
The temples
Angkor Wat, Bayon's serene stone faces, and the jungle-swallowed ruins of Ta Prohm are the headline sights, but the wider Angkor complex holds hundreds of temples. Passes are sold for one, three, or seven days, and a sunrise visit to Angkor Wat is a rite of passage for most travellers.
Beyond the temples
Siem Reap's Old Market and Pub Street offer lively shopping and dining, while the Angkor National Museum provides useful context before or after your temple visits. For a change of pace, the floating villages of Kampong Phluk and Kampong Khleang on the Tonle Sap offer a completely different side of local life.
Day trips worth taking
Kulen Mountain, the birthplace of the Khmer Empire and home to a sacred waterfall, and the remote jungle temple of Beng Mealea both make rewarding half or full-day excursions from the city.
With a private guide and driver, Siem Reap's highlights — and its quieter corners — are easy to combine into a pace that genuinely suits you.