Where to stay

Siem Reap's primary cultural attractions are the many temples and other structures that are part of the ancient Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom complexes a few miles north of the city. View the moat and tall towers in varying stages of decay, yet still impressive. Ta Prohm, just east of Angkor Wat, adds even more fascinating spots to explore. Choose a hotel in Downtown Siem Reap and travel to these temple sites within about 15 minutes. For other interesting experiences, stay near Sok San Road to see a Cambodian circus or visit cultural shows in neighborhoods across the city featuring performances of the beautiful traditional apsara ballet. Downtown is also a convenient place to stay to visit the War Museum Cambodia and Angkor National Museum, while the Cambodia Landmine Museum requires driving several miles beyond Angkor Thom.

Beyond the beauty of the ancient human-made wats, Siem Reap also has great natural beauty. Stay in a hotel in Downtown Siem Reap and drive north for 1 to 2 hours to reach Phnom Kulen National Park, where Kbal Spean features sacred ancient carvings in a natural riverbed as well as a pretty waterfall. Near the Banteay Srei temple complex on the return to Siem Reap is the Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre. Accommodations on the southern side of Siem Reap in the Sok San Road neighborhood are convenient for visiting the Chong Kneas Floating Village. The city center is farther in distance but shorter in time for visiting Kampong Phluk, another village on stilts to the east.

The Sok San Road neighborhood southwest of Downtown Siem Reap has a high concentration of restaurants, including some of the best in the city, ranging from Australian to Indian and Greek, as well as Cambodian. Many of the accommodations here have lovely pools and spacious rooms at a surprisingly affordable price. A few blocks away, the area informally known as Pub Street is a hotspot for nightlife. Here, visitors will encounter many bars offering great happy hour deals and a few guesthouses conveniently located a very short walk from drinking spots. To the east across the Siem Reap River, the Wat Bo area also has varied restaurants and a good selection of hotels overlooking the river. High-end accommodations and equally high-end restaurants and bars are just north of Downtown Siem Reap in the neighborhood surrounding the Royal Residence.