Top 12 Things to Do in Siem Reap

The city opens a vast option to explore and do activities. Some of the best things to do in Seam Reap include taking a tour to the museums, silk farm, rice paddies, and Cambodian cultural village, watching traditional Apsara dance performances, dining in a traditional restaurant, and having a delicious meal and collecting souvenir and handicrafts from the local shops. Start making your bucket list of things to do in Siem Reap and enjoy walking across the streets of Cambodia. Here is the list of 12 best things to do in Siem Reap that you can add in your bucket list too.

Angkor Wat Complex is located northern province of Cambodia in Siem Reap has an outstanding universal value. The complex is one of the most important archaeological sites of Asia and the largest religious monument in the world, stretching over 400 square kilometers. In the complex, you can see remains from the 9th to the 15th century.

It was originally constructed during the period of the Khmer Empire as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. Then at the end of the 12th century, the Hindu temple gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple. The whole complex of Angkor wat is built in the classical style of Khmer architecture. There you will see numerous indisputable artistic masterpieces. This complex contains high archaeological, architectural, and artistic significance, and hence, it is the best way to epitomize the cultural, religious and symbolic values of any community. In this complex, you can an entire idea of how people in the past managed to live without high tech technologies and yet managed to create a fantastic hydrological engineering system. You must go to this complex to know more about this World Heritage Site. Add this site in your list of things to do in Siem Reap.

Address: Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia

Bayon is a Khmer temple (now Buddhist temple) situated in the heart of the Angkor Thom, Cambodia. This richly decorated temple was built in the late 12th or early 13th century. The temple was built as the state temple of the Buddhist king.

The most distinctive feature of the Bayon is the smiling stone faces on the tower. The temples cover a total area of 1.2km and consist of a total of 54 towers and more than 11,000 figures that represent the Khmer Empire Period (Angkor period). The main tower of the complex is known as the “the Gold Tower,” and it shows four faces. The four faces on the tower symbolize different meanings according to different people, but according to the most common understanding, the faces symbolize four smiling faces that people use to wear; charming smile, sad smile, glad smile, and beautiful smile.

The architectural audacity of the temple is unique, and that brings millions of tourists from around the world every year to this place. If you are planning to visit Seam Ream, you have to include this spot in your list of things to do in Siem Reap.

It opens every day (Monday to Sunday) from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.

Address: Angkor Thom Angkor Archeological Park, Krong Siem Reap, 17000, Cambodia

Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Khmer Empire, built in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, and this place is truly an expression of the highest genius. People call this place as a magical temple. People having a historical interest will love this place; for them, this place is like a paradise.

The Angkor Thom is surrounded by an 8-meter long and 12-meter wide wall having with five gates. All gates allow entrance to the visitors. Here you will see a large number of temples and Palaces of different ages and styles. Walking around the wall is a great way to explore the Angkor Thom, so wear comfortable shoes before coming to this spot. You cannot take a tour of the entire complex in just one go, so sit back and relax for a while and then again start exploring the historical figures. Add this historical figure in your list of things to do in Siem Reap.

It opens every day (Monday to Sunday) from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.

Address: Angkor Archaeological Park ,17000, Cambodia

Ta Som is a small Buddhist temple in Cambodia, located at Angkor Thom. It was built for the king Jayavarman VII at the end of the 12th century. As compared to the other temples built under Jayavarman’s reign, this one is relatively small that consists of a single shrine located on one level.

The outer entrance gopuras of the temple are well-preserved towers that depict Avalokiteshvara (the bodhisattva of compassion). The main attraction in this beautiful temple is the tower that is enveloped by a large Ficus tree that provides a perfect background for a fantastic picture. The decorations of Ta Som are remarkable, and people who love ancient Khmer art will be mesmerized to see how beautifully it has been created without modern age tools. There are some extraordinarily large well-preserved stone carvings of female 'Apsara' and Mahayana Buddhist savior Avolokitheshwara called 'Lokeshwara.' Here you can see another version or angle of Angkor’s history and artistic treasures. Add this artistic treasure in your list of things to do in Siem Reap.

Address: Angkor Archaeological Park, Krong Siem Reap 17000, Cambodia

Pre Rup is an ancient temple of the Khmer Empire dedicated to Hindu god Shiva. It was built in 961 AD and is located in Angkor, Cambodia. According to the stories of legends, this temple was used for funeral ceremonies. Even the name of the temple Pre Rup means "turn the body."

The Pre Rup will greet you with its beauty as soon as you arrive at the spot. While walking toward the temple, the wall might appear to as a pile of distorted rubble, but by getting closer, you will see that detailed and precise work is done to create these beautiful walls and towers. The temple was built using laterite and bricks. You can climb up to the top of the temple to capture a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside jungle and rice paddies. It is a popular place for watching the sunset and sunrise. Do include this temple in your things to do in the Siem Reap list and click some pictures amidst the historical remains.

Address: Angkor Archaeological Park, Krong Siem Reap 17000, Cambodia

Neak Pean is a captivating artificial island with a magnificent Buddhist temple in Angkor, Cambodia. It is a small yet perfect temple constructed by Jayavarman VII that was built in the late 12th century. Neak pean probably represents a mythical lake of the Himalayas known as Anavatapta, whose waters are thought to cure all illnesses.

It has a huge square pool that is surrounded by four smaller square pools. There is a circular island in the middle of the larger pool that is encircled by the two nagas with intertwined tails. There was a time when water from the center pool flowed into the four peripherals pools via ornamental spouts. Well, this does not happen now, but you can still see the ornamental spouts in the pavilions at each axis of the pool and imagine how the view could be when the water has flown from the central pool. Do visit this temple and explore the beauty of the place. Add this place in your list of things to do in Siem Reap.

Address: Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia

Have you ever seen a royal bathing area of an ancient era? If no, then you must adjust your timing in Siem reap to visit Srah Srang, a reservoir or Baray in Angkor, Cambodia. It was dug in the mid-10th century, and later in 1200, it was modified by adding a laterite landing-stage. This place was given a name, “Royal bathing pool,” and despite its name, it was used by common people as well.

This waterbody is surrounded by greenery, which gives a very calming sense. It offers one of the most stunning points to view the Park of Angkor. This is a very popular spot for tourists to see the sunrise as well as a sunset. Watching the golden rising ray of the sun and its reflection in the water is truly mesmerizing. Walk or sit by the side of the pond and enjoy the tranquil beauty of the nature that is undisturbed and untouched by the hustle-bustle of the city. Add this beautiful place in your list of things to do in Siem Reap.

Address: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Preah Khan is a temple in Angkor that was built in the 12th century. It is located on the northern edge of Angkor Thom. It is one of the most significant buildings that was uprighted during the ancient Khmer empire. This is one of the largest complexes at Angkor. Many major festivals took place in the complex of this temple because the temple was dedicated to 515 divinities.

The jungle hundreds of years ago swallowed the temple complexes. The temple complexes were hidden mysteriously in the overgrown vegetation until the 19th century. Here you can see lichen-clad stonework and fine carvings on the wall of the temple. This large linear temple complex in a dense jungle setting will allow you to imagine and picturise how much the Angkorian people loved to live in with maintaining harmony with mother nature. Add this awesome place in your list of things to do in Siem Reap.

It opens every day (Monday to Sunday) from 7:30 am to 5 pm.

Address: Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia

Banteay Srei is a temple in Cambodia dedicated to Hindu god shiva. It was built in the 10th century. As compared to the Angkorian construction, the buildings of Banteay Srei are miniature in scale, and it is widely praised as a "precious gem" of Angkorian art. Banteay Srei means ‘Citadel of the Women’, and it is said that a woman must have built the temple, and this is supported by facts even.

Banteay Srei is built mostly using red sandstone that elaborate decorative wall carvings. The carving on the Red stone can be done like it is done on wood, and it brings out the perfect features of the carved art. You will notice that many of the carvings of the temple are three-dimensional. In the classic carvings of the temple, you will see carvings of women as well as breathtaking re-creations of Scenes from epic Ramayana. In the complex, almost every inch of these interior buildings are covered in decoration, and that is a delight to see. Add this place in your list of things to do in Siem Reap.

Address: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Beng Mealea is an ancient temple from the time of Angkor wat period, located in Angkor, Cambodia. Beng Mealea means “lotus pond.” It was built in the 12th century as a Hindu temple, but some carvings represent it as a Buddhist temple. It is a spectacular sight to view having some mysterious stories associated with it.

Once the temple was utterly consumed by the jungle, but in recent years some of the dense herbage has been cut back and cleaned up. Still, a large part of the temple is unrestored covered with trees and creepers. You can find several stop-and-dip food stalls on the opposite side of the temple entrance where you can wait for a while, relax and enjoy the view with a warm cup of coffee or some snacks. Include this spot in your bucket list of things to do in Siem Reap and come here to click some of the creepy pictures in this location.

It opens every day (Monday to Sunday) from 7:30 am to 5 pm.

Address: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Phnom Kulen is also known as Kulen Mountain, which means the “Mountain of Lychees.” It is a beautiful mountain range in Seam Reap, and it is a part of Phnom Kulen National park. This place is located 30 km northwards from the Angkor Wat complex. In Cambodia, Phnom Kulen is considered as a sacred mountain and has a special religious significance. Every year, many Hindus and Buddhists people come to the mountain in pilgrimage.

Here you can see a giant statue of the Buddha, hundreds of sacred images carved into a nearby riverbed and a stunning waterfall. This sacred mountain is crowded with devotees on weekends and during festivals. After entering the main entrance, you will have to walk through the path, having a spectacular jungle scenery, and that will lead you to the large reclining Buddha. This is the most important point of a pilgrimage, so to offer respect, you will have to take off your shoes and any head covering before climbing the stairs to the sanctuary. There are plenty of minor temples around the plateau which you can visit meanwhile. Add this in your list of things to do in Siem Reap.

Address: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Kbal Spean is the beautiful archaeological site of the Angkorian era that is located on the southwest slopes of the Kulen Hills of Angkor in Siem Reap. It is a spectacularly carved riverbed set deep in the jungle. This place is known locally as the "Valley of a 1000 lingas" or "The River of a Thousand Lingas." This place was constructed between the 11th and 13th centuries.

There you can see various Hindu mythological motifs, some of them are depictions of the god Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, Hanuman, Lakshmana, and Rama. There are also carvings of Buddha and Buddhist images in the rocks. To watch the carving, you have to walk for around 2 km uphills through Woodhill, so wear good footwear that can withstand the muddy and slippery routes. It will take around 45 minutes to reach the Kbal Spean. The carvings of the Kbal Spean won’t let you down whether you visit this place for a sense of adventure, archaeology, or simply in search of the history. Add this in your list of things to do in Siem Reap.

It remains open from Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 5:30 pm. It remains closed on Sunday.

Address: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Exploring the famous spots of Seam Reap can be fun when you have the list of best things to do in Siem Reap ready with you. You need to schedule your time and hop on the location to admire the beautiful places in Seam Reap. Journey to the Seam Reap sound pretty exciting if you keep certain things in your mind in your trip like food safety, checking on health condition, wearing sunscreen, and saving important phone numbers on your phone as soon as you land this city. Well, this is not to scare you; it's just a simple set of reminders that you must know and follow for each of your trips. Also, do not forget to bring or buy mosquito repellent if you are planning to do some thrilling activities in Seam Reap. With the above list of best things to do in Siem Reap, you can easily cover most of the popular tourist spots and learn about the life and culture of Cambodian people. Happy traveling to Seam Reap.