3 Days In Siem Reap - What To See
Travel Itinerary
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Culture-Art Gallery
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Diverse-Market
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Eat & Drink-Bar
Eat & Drink-Cafe
Eat & Drink-Cocktail Bar
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Eat & Drink-Night Club
Eat & Drink-Pub
Eat & Drink-Restaurant
Eat & Drink-Take Away
Eat & Drink-Wine Bar
Start location: Angkor Wat - Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Duration: 3 days
A three-day itinerary that showcases the best that Siem Reap and the surrounding area has to offer!
From world famous temples and khmer artefacts to the infamous Pub Street, this itinerary gives you a fantastic taste of Cambodian culture and its people.
Having visited Siem Reap twice now, I feel this itinerary gives an excellent overview for those looking to make the most of their time in the area!
(Photo Credit: Binh Dang Nam, unsplash.com)
Day 1
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Temples, Temples & Temples!
Welcome to Siem Reap - the gateway to the world famous Angkor Archaeological Park. Day one will see you visit the most famous highlights of the Park, including Angkor Wat and the Bayon Temple before recharging the batteries over a cold beer in Pub Street.
Entrance Fees for the Angkor Archaeological Park;
Single-day pass – $37.00
Three-day pass – $62.00
Seven-day pass – $72.00
PLEASE NOTE - Your pass allows you entrance into ALL the temples at the Angkor Archaeological Park.
Although you can visit the main Temple complexes in one-day, for the purpose of this itinerary, you will require two days to explore the Park in more detail and at a more relaxed pace.
As you are visiting religious temples, shoulders and knees must be covered at all times.
Ensure you take plenty water and suncream with you as the Park can become extremely hot!
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06:00 - 09:00
Angkor Wat
Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is one of the most famous temples in the world and is high on many traveller's bucket lists. The showpiece temple in the Angkor Archaeological Park, Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world, covering over 200 acres and served as the capital of the Khmer empire. The most revered of all monuments in Cambodia, it is considered to be the symbol of the country with its silhouette appearing on the national flag.
Named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992, it now attracts over 500,000 visitors every year. Despite the crowds, it is best visited at sunrise to truly experience its glory and to capture that iconic image.
Angkor Wat is a unique temple, built on a scale you've not seen before and it is a fantastic starting point for your visit to the Angkor Archaeological Park. Visitors explore this complex first before moving on to further temples in the Park.
(Photo Credit: Florian Hahn, unsplash.com)
Article By: Scott McGlynn
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Getting there
The majority of people visit the Park either on a group or private tour. The best way is to hire a tuk-tuk and driver for both days to take you to and around the Park and then return you to Siem Reap. Your accommodation in Siem Reap can organise this for you, or alternatively, there are a number of tour operators and travel agents in Siem Reap that you can use. They will also be able to organise a private guide to accompany you and tell you more about the history of the Park.
Travel time
0 hours 30 minutes1592647200000
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10:00 - 12:00
Angkor Thom - Bayon Temple
Angkor Archaeological Park ក្រុងសៀមរាប, Krong Siem Reap 17000, Cambodia
Having enjoyed the sunrise at Angkor Wat, the next stop is the famous Bayon Temple located in Angkor Thom. Located not far from Angkor Wat, the Bayon Temple was constructed by the Khmer King Jayavarman and it is best known for its many towers with smiling faces on each side.
There are 50 stone towers within the ruined temples, containing over 200 faces. Each individual face is 4 metres tall, smiling serenely and they all geographically face either north, south, east, or west.
Like Angkor Wat, the Bayon Temple can be extremely busy with visitors but due to the size of the complex, it doesn't become too overcrowded.
Be prepared for some physical effort when exploring the Temple, as it involves a number of narrow passages, steep flights of steps and towers!
The Bayon Temple is a fantastic spot for photographs throughout the day, with plenty of stone faces to choose from.
(Photo Credit: Wei Gao, unsplash.com)
Article By: Scott McGlynn
Culture-Historical Building
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13:00 - 15:00
Ta Prohm
Angkor Archaeological Park, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Ta Prohm is another large temple built during the Khmer empire. The outside walls measure 1000m by 600m and when visiting, your driver will drop you off at one entrance and then collect you at the other end, allowing you to walk right through the whole temple complex.
Today, Ta Prohm is slowly being reclaimed by surrounding jungle, with large areas of the complex now in ruins. The temple is famous for the large trees that have grown over decades amongst the remaining buildings and they are a sight to behold.
Ta Prohm’s popularity has grown in recent years due to its appearance in the movie Lara Croft - Tomb Raider, starring Angelina Jolie.
Ta Prohm is a fantastic spot for photographs although be careful amongst the ruins as tourists have suffered injures in the past.
The complex can also provide welcome relief from the hot sun, due to the large number of trees.
(Photo Credit: Daniel Lienert, unsplash.com)
Article By: Scott McGlynn
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19:00 - 22:00
Pub Street, Siem Reap
Street 08, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Pub Street is the main tourist centre of Siem Reap and is also marked on maps as Street 8.
It's a thriving hub of bars and restaurants offering affordable food and drinks throughout the day and into the early hours. From pizza and burgers to fried ice cream and even fried scorpion - Pub Street caters to all tastes. Many bars offer Happy Hours with cocktails from as little as $1 and beer from just 50 cents!
There are also a number of massage stores and nail bars for those seeking some rest and relaxation after a long day of temple exploring.
(Photo Credit: Theang Rathana, unsplash.com)
Article By: Scott McGlynn
Eat & Drink-Bar
Eat & Drink-Cafe
Eat & Drink-Cocktail Bar
Eat & Drink-IceCream Parlour
Eat & Drink-Night Club
Eat & Drink-Pub
Eat & Drink-Restaurant
Eat & Drink-Take Away
Eat & Drink-Wine Bar
Getting there
Pub Street is located in the heart of Siem Reap and is easily located.
Day 2
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Hidden Temples!
Having visited the popular sites of the Angkor Archaeological Park on day one, day two sees you venture further into the park to visit some quieter, hidden gems.
Having allowed yourself two days to explore the Park, day two gives you time to relax and focus more on the spiritual side of your visit to this spellbinding area. Having already purchased your Park ticket on day one, you're all set to start your adventure.
On your return to Siem Reap, a stroll round the frenetic night market is not to be missed!
Like day one, as you are visiting religious temples, shoulders and knees must be covered at all times.
Again, ensure you take plenty water and suncream with you as the Park can become extremely hot!
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08:00 - 10:00
Banteay Kdei
Angkor Archaeological Park, Krong Siem Reap 17000, Cambodia
Banteay Kdie means 'Citadel of Monks' cells' and is the relaxing starting point of day two at the Angkor Archaeological Park.
Believed to have been built in the 13th century, it is similar in style to Ta Prohm but on a smaller scale. Unlike most of the Temples in the park, there is no record of why Banteay Kdei was built, or by whom, with no inscriptions having ever been found at the site.
Today, it is one of the quieter temples in the Park and visitors can stroll through the complex taking in the spiritual surroundings with Buddhist Monks and Nuns seen praying in the Temple.
Its entrance towers also contain face statues, similar to the ones at the Bayon Temple, providing ample opportunities for photographs.
Banteay Kdei is also a popular alternative for sunrise, with it being significantly quieter than Angkor Wat.
(Photo Credit: JJ Ying, unsplash.com)
Article By: Scott McGlynn
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Travel time
0 hours 30 minutes1592737200000
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11:00 - 13:00
Ta Keo
Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Ta Keo was one of the first temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park to be built out of sandstone and it consists of five 50 metre high towers and a 22 metre high pyramid.
Construction began sometime in the 10th century but it was abandoned and never completed, resulting in a unique and somewhat eerie atmosphere. Experts believe that if it had been completed, it would have been the finest example of Khmer architecture in the world.
Today, it offers glimpses of what could have been, with large sandstone blocks expertly carved in small areas.
With a large number of steps within the complex, ensure you've eaten and drank plenty of water before beginning your exploration!
(Photo Credit: Taylor Simpson, unsplash.com)
Article By: Scott McGlynn
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14:00 - 16:00
Preah Khan
Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Situated at the northern end of the Angkor Archaeological Park, Preah Khan is a fascinating temple complex occupying over 130 acres and it's a fitting final stop as you conclude your visit to the Park.
Built by King Jayavarman, Preah Khan is thought to have been his temporary residence while Angkor Thom was being constructed.
Due to restoration efforts, Preah Khan is very well preserved and is now a maze of corridors and galleries offering fantastic photo opportunities.
Most visitors enter through the east gate and meet their driver at the north gate, giving ample time to explore the whole complex.
(Photo Credit: Theme Inn, unsplash.com)
Article By: Scott McGlynn
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19:00 - 21:00
Night Market, Siem Reap
Angkor Night Market St, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Like many towns and cities in South East Asia, Siem Reap has a busy and frenetic night market.
The night market in Siem Reap caters to tourists and travellers, offering clothing, paintings and a wide and varied range of souvenirs. From elephant trousers to fridge magnets, the market has it all as well as providing cheap eating options.
The main rule when visiting any night market is HAGGLE and Siem Reap's is no exception!
The night market is open every day and comes alive from 6pm and runs until about 10.30pm.
(Photo Credit: Humphrey Muleba, unsplash.com)
Article By: Scott McGlynn
Diverse-Market
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Day 3
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Cambodian Culture
Having explored the wonders of the Temples at the Angkor Archaeological Park, day three sees us delve more into the Cambodian and Khmer culture.
Two fascinating and insightful museums are visited followed by a visit to a fantastic boutique market for those all important mementos of your time spent in Siem Reap!
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09:00 - 12:00
Angkor National Museum
No 968 Vithei Charles De Gaulle Siem Reap, Krong Siem Reap 17259, Cambodia
The Angkor National Museum was built in 2007 and offers comfortable, air-conditioned respite from the Siem Reap heat.
It consists of eight galleries and features a vast collection of Cambodian and Khmer artifacts.
For many, the first gallery is the most visually impressive, consisting of 1000 Buddha images. The walls are lined with hundreds of Buddha's made from a range of materials including wood, metal and gold.
In other galleries, you can view artifacts discovered at the Temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park, including a number of wooden and stone statues.
Allow two hours to explore the museum and then visit the small shop and cafe at the end of your visit.
(Photo Credit: Leonard Laub, unsplash.com)
Article By: Scott McGlynn
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Getting there
The Angkor National Museum is slightly outside the centre of Siem Reap, on the way to the Angkor Archaeological Park. Although walkable from the town centre, it may be best to get a tuk-tuk depending on how hot it is.
Travel time
0 hours 10 minutes1592830800000
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13:00 - 14:00
Cambodia Landmine Museum
67, Phumi Khna, Cambodia
Cambodia sadly is one of the most mined countries in the world, having faced years of conflict including the brutal Khmer Rouge and as an off-shoot of the Vietnam War. Even today, Cambodian citizens are injured and even killed by unexploded ordnance as they go about their daily life in the countryside.
The Cambodia Landmine Museum gives a fascinating but horrific insight into the challenges the country has faced and still faces even now.
Although small, the Museum is well worth a visit to appreciate and understand the horror of war and the legacy that it can have on a country for decades after.
Proceeds from your entrance fee go towards clearing the estimated 3 million land mines still in the country.
(Photo Credit: Humphrey Mule, unsplash.com)
Article By: Scott McGlynn
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Getting there
Located slightly out of Siem Reap, the best way to get to the Cambodia Landmine Museum is by tuk-tuk from Siem Reap. Organise with your driver to wait for you while you visit the museum and they will then return you to Siem Reap.
Travel time
0 hours 30 minutes1592841600000
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16:00 - 17:00
Made In Cambodia Market
Corner of 7-Makara & Achar Sva Street, Old Market Bridge, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Having visited the night market, the Made In Cambodia Market offers a completely different market experience in Siem Reap.
The Made In Cambodia Market offers a vast range of quality, artisan products that showcase Cambodian and Khmer workmanship, promoting responsible tourism.
There are a number of stalls offering unique art, jewellery and handicrafts. Stallholders are friendly and informative and it's a fantastic spot to spend an hour browsing out of the hot sun.
The Made In Cambodia Market is open every day from Noon until 10pm.
They also offer free Traditional Khmer Dance shows every Saturday evening.
(Photo Credit: Sen Sathyamony, unsplash.com)
Article By: Scott McGlynn
Diverse-Market
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Getting there
The Made in Cambodia Market is a short walk from Pub Street. It is on the south side of the river, close to the Hard Rock Cafe.
Travel time
0 hours 5 minutespublic
About the author
Scottish traveller who has been around the world twice - once each way! Over 60 countries visited and counting!
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