Best Things to Do
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Siem Reap
Top 10 Best Things to Do in Siem Reap - 2024
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Explore the best things to do in Siem Reap! Uncover top activities and experiences for an unforgettable visit.
Updated Jun 2024
- 9.04.8/52693 ReviewFrom61.34
based on 48845 reviews"Awe-inspiring, mesmerizing, mesteriou. How did they do it? Really worth going on a temole tour. Quality over quantity or you will very quickly get templed-out. I went to Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and Bayon, all 3 very different, eqch with.their own unique charm and beauty."Siem Reap6.5km from downtownHighlights: • Angkor Wat is a magnificent twelfth-century Indian Buddhist temple with a moat in northern Cambodia.• Angkor Wat is known as one of the four wonders of the ancient East. The shape of Angkor Wat has also become a symbol of Cambodia and is printed on the national flag.• Angkor Wat is an unparalleled building in the world. It has towers, decorations, and all the refinements that human genius can conceive of.△ There are 49 pagodas and temples engraved with smiling Buddha faces in the Bajong temple complex. They seem to be sending out a friendly smile to tourists, and are known as the "Smiling Khmer".△ Feel the real stories and mysterious legends about Angkor Wat. Every place is an excellent photo spot.△ Today, Angkor Wat is still mysterious and majestic, attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world.Show Less - 5.34.7/5252 ReviewFree
based on 10124 reviews"The night is beautiful, the weather is very good, and the mood is super positive. I made an appointment with three or five friends and my girlfriends to have a drink. It is also a good way to uncompress and relax. The bar is in row, there are many choices, I am a value party, I must have a beautiful drink and a good look in the mirror. Good or bad to drink in the back."Siem Reap.Siem Reap Downtown52m from downtownHighlights: Siem Reap's Pub Street is located next to the bustling old downtown. This street has dozens of different bars, pubs and clubs, many of which are popular with tourists. The bars here are quite unlike traditional pubs and clubs, in that many of them also serve full meals. During daylight hours you can enjoy authentic Southeast Asian cuisine at the restaurants which line the street and, once night falls, you can relax with a drink at the bar while you experience Siem Reap's unique nightlife. Furthermore, many of the bars and restaurants on Pub Street also sell English-language books, postcards, souvenirs and handicrafts.Show Less - 5.34.7/5957 ReviewFrom15.33
based on 3363 reviews"Through the use of interactive exhibits, visitors will develop an understanding of religions and beliefs of the ancient Khmer empire.Angkor National Museum is open to welcome national and international tourists daily from 8:30 am to 6 pm."Siem Reap.Angkor1.4km from downtownHighlights: The Angkor National Museum mainly exhibits cultural relics and works of art from various periods of the Khmer dynasty, including stone carvings, images of Buddha, multimedia images, etc. The collections are vast and precious. The exterior shape of the museum is uniquely designed and the roof has the charm of the ancient tower of Angkor Wat. The promenade, the doorway and the window are inspired by the design of Angkor Wat. Modern elements are also blended in, making it more magnificent and spectacular.Show Less - 4.94.7/5900 Reviewbased on 20818 reviews"Bayon temple is famous for its architecture. it is one of the most beautiful temples in Cambodia. it’s a must visit if you wish to immerse yourself in history"Siem Reap9.6km from downtownHighlights: Bayon Temple is the center and the essence of Tongwang City (that is, Greater Angkor). It was built at the end of the 12th century as a temple built by King Jayavarman VII for himself. Not only can you find the famous "Khmer Smile" here, you can also admire the rich and vivid reliefs on the cloisters. Many people choose to watch the sunrise at the Bayon Temple in the morning, so there are often crowds in the morning. In fact, the Bayon Temple in the evening is also worth visiting, not only to appreciate its relatively quiet side, but also to watch the sunset here. The entire Bayon Temple building is divided into three floors, the lower two floors are square, and the walls of the cloister are engraved with reliefs; the top floor is circular, with large and small pagodas erected. Originally there were 49, but now there are only 37 left. The larger stupa in the middle is about 40 meters high, and the others are surrounded by stars like the moon. The over 100-meter-wide corridor originally had a wooden roof, but now only broken walls and huge stone pillars can be seen. On the walls of the existing cloister, you can see very rich reliefs. The inner layer is mainly about myths and religious stories, such as stirring the sea of milk and the image of God Vishnu. The outer layer is based on real life, ranging from ancient war accounts to ordinary People's life, the scenery of Tonle Sap Lake, etc. These vivid reliefs seem to be telling a distant story, and they are precious historical relics that must be seen. The top of the pagoda is engraved with a huge four-faced Buddha. The four sides of the Buddha statue represent compassion, compassion, joy, and equanimity, and they all have a peaceful smile. If you look closely, you will find that these smiles have subtle differences, and the slightly upturned corners of the mouth can't tell whether they mean tolerance or ridicule, as if there is a secret that the world will never understand. And this is the "Khmer Smile" that makes Angkor Wat famous in the world.Show Less
- 4.64.7/5387 Reviewbased on 8644 reviews"Angkor Thom is the name of the temple complex to the north of Angkor Wat. It includes, most famously Bayon, but also other dozens of other smaller gates and temples. You could spend days exploring around in here."Siem Reap9.4km from downtownHighlights: Tongwangcheng, also known as Great Angkor and Angkor Thom, was the last capital of the Khmer Empire. It was destroyed by war and rebuilt several times. It was the "heart" of Angkor's monuments. At its peak, it had a population of millions. Today, the moat bridge, the city gate, and the remains of the Bayon Temple, Bapuang Temple, and the Palace in the Sky are the main attractions of the tour. The entire Tongwang City is square, with a perimeter of 14 kilometers and a moat with a width of 100 meters. There are 5 city gates in the whole city, above which there are four-sided Buddha statues facing the four directions, and there is a bridge across the moat outside each gate. The south gate and the north gate are the gates for people to pass through, the east gate is used for funerals, and the west gate is for criminals. These four gates all lead to the Bayon Temple in the center of the city. The East Gate was once the filming location of the movie "Tomb Raider", and there is a "Victory Gate" on the north side of the East Gate that leads directly to the palace, which is dedicated to the king and the triumphant army. Tour guide The general way to visit Tongwang City is from the south gate. There are 27 stone statues on both sides of the moat bridge outside the gate. The stone statues are about 2.5 meters high and sit in a kneeling shape, holding the snake king "Wasuki" in his arms. This is the legend The Indian myth of "churning the sea of milk". From the south gate to the north to the center of Tongwang City, you can see the Bayon Temple, which is a magnificent and important building in the city. The top of its pagoda is the "Khmer Smile", and the reliefs on the walls of the cloister are also It is worth watching carefully, and it is recommended to spend more time visiting here. To the northwest of the Bayon Temple is the Ba Puang Temple. This common three-story platform building in Angkor used to be the center of the old royal city. The bottom floor was carved with various animal statues, but the top has collapsed. To the north of Bapuang Temple is the Palace in the Sky. Although it is called a palace, it is actually a temple in the palace. A golden pagoda was built on the top platform, but it is no longer visible. The real palace is about 200 meters northeast of the palace in the sky. Because it is a wooden structure, it no longer exists, and only the entrance remains. Not far from the original location of the palace, there are symmetrical war elephant steps and leprosy king steps. If you enter Tongwangcheng from the Victory Gate, you can see it if you walk straight ahead. The War Elephant Step is the king's reviewing stand, and it is also the place where the celebration ceremony and the elephant fighting meeting are held. The surviving giant elephant stone sculpture is its major feature. The Leprosy Steps were the site of the royal crematorium at that time, named after a genderless statue of the "Leprosy King" at the top of the platform. In addition to these well-known ruins, there are other buildings such as the Zodiac Pagoda in Tongwang City. If you have time, you may wish to visit them one by one. It takes a long time to visit Tongwangcheng in one visit. You can bring your own food to eat in the city, and then please take away the garbage. Of course, you can also enter and exit Tongwangcheng multiple times, and each time you see some scenic spots, it will be more calm.Show Less
- 4.54.7/5514 Reviewbased on 19403 reviews"Ta Prohm is a "must see" for all visitors to Angkor. However pretty much every tourist - foreign or local who comes to the archeological park comes here, and as it is not so big, it can get insanely busy - sometimes lines of 20 people waiting to have their photos taken. Come either in the first half hour after it opens (7:30~8am) or the final half hour before it closes (5~5:30pm), and it is significantly quieter."Siem Reap9.6km from downtownHighlights: Ta Prohm Monastery, also known as "Ta Prohm Monastery", is located in the east of Angkor Wat. It was built by Khmer King Jayavarman VII in 1186 to commemorate his mother, so it is also called "Mother Temple". It was built of large stones and was once a shrine with high monks, priests and dancing girls. It had the dual function of a temple and a monastery, but over time it was invaded by wild tropical trees, which climbed like python-like roots. The temple is full and penetrates deep into the building, causing the internal stone towers and walls to collapse, and the originally regular building has become a "labyrinth" due to the interlacing of gravel and plants. This unique natural and cultural wonder has also become the location for the film "Tomb Raider". In addition to the wonders of being integrated with the tree, the architecture of the Ta Prohm Temple itself is also very beautiful, especially the various sculptures are worth watching. It has 4 porticos and the main hall faces east. On the outer wall of the east gate, there is a depiction of a patron saint holding a mace and a stupa on his head. Entering from here, you will pass through the "Dancers Corridor". The top of the corridor is an elegant and romantic fairy relief. The temple is surrounded by trees and has not been renovated. It is dedicated to the "Goddess of Wisdom" (reportedly shaped in the image of the king's mother), and the dome is a delicate lotus pattern. Today, the temple is still being swallowed by nature, invading trees that grow within the stone, tearing the building apart while also supporting it so that it doesn't collapse completely. The temple and the tree roots are closely intertwined with me in you and in me, creating a difficult problem for the protection of cultural relics. Whether this amazing tangled spectacle will disappear in the future is still unknown.Show Less
- 4.24.5/5170 ReviewFreebased on 1601 reviews"Angkor Wat is famous, and to taste the Siem Reap style, you need to start from the Angkor Night Market. Walking on the streets of Siem Reap, the simple traditional Cambodian style, free and leisure Western life, become one of the most popular places in the city at night."Siem Reap.Siem Reap Sok San Road423m from downtownHighlights: An immensely popular place to shop and eat, the Angkor Night Market is filled with food stalls as well as casual clubs and bars.Show Less
- 4.24.6/5356 ReviewFreebased on 2129 reviews"Every day that I spend in Angkor, I discover a new favorite temple. Right now it is Preah Khan. A couple of km from Bayon, it is a massive place filled with intricate carvings, and the remnants of restored buildings. Easily worth half a day here."Siem Reap12km from downtownHighlights: Sacred Sword Temple is adjacent to the northeast of Tongwang City. It was built in the 12th century. According to legend, it was built by Jayavarman VII to commemorate his father. It is one of the largest temples in Angkor and is very imposing. It is said that it was the temporary residence of the king when Tongwangcheng was built. The interior of Shengjian Temple is in the shape of a cross, with the central church in the center, four gates in the east, south, west, and north connected by vaulted corridors on all sides, and a corridor outside the gate. To the east is the main entrance. There is a Tibetan scripture pavilion. It is a double-storey building of Angkor Wat. Its circular pillars have a Mediterranean style. It is said that this place was once used to store the holy sword. Many tourists will enter from the west gate and leave from the east gate after visiting the temple, which can save time and walk less. Play guide At the entrance of the temple, you can see several statues of Shura and Asura with long snakes in their hands "stirring the sea of milk", but many statues have no heads, and there is a sandstone lotus wall next to it, and the Buddha statues on it are also already destroyed. Outside the door, you can often see young people who set up stalls selling paintings. Entering the door is the vaulted corridor leading to the central church. Both sides of the corridor are supported by thick square stone pillars, which look like countless stone gates going deep all the way. The stone gate is decorated with statues of gods, and there are many statues of dancing fairies on the walls, with graceful postures. Although many statues have broken heads and limbs, and the reliefs are also incomplete, the skillful carving techniques and vivid figures are still worthy of careful appreciation. You can also see the "Linga" stone carvings in the vaulted corridor, which is a major attraction of Shengjian Temple, but many of them have been stolen, and only the base is left. This stone carving with a square base and a raised column in the middle is a sacred object for the worship and reproduction of the ancient Khmers, symbolizing the endless reproduction of life. It is said that touching these stone carvings will be prolific. Continue to go inside until the central church, there is a spiral-shaped Buddha stone pagoda, which is a precious treasure in the holy sword temple, tourists are eager to take pictures hereShow Less
- 4.04.5/5522 Review
based on 687 reviews"Bakken Mountain is a hill about 70 meters high, about1.5 kilometers northwest of Angkor Wat. To the west of the mountain is the open West Baray, and the jungle in the southeast is Angkor Wat. From the top of the mountain, you can overlook Angkor Wat. The Baken Mountains were the result of the relocation of Yasuo Samo I, who moved from the Lolo Temple to the Baken Mountains, where the buildings of the previous king were already rebuilt, and were not suitable for the young monarch to realize his urban planning. The site of Yasutara Buluo, centered on Bakan Mountain, was the capital of Cambodia until the 15th century."Siem Reap7.7km from downtownHighlights: Bakken Mountain is located about 1.5 kilometers northwest of Angkor Temple, near the south gate of Tongwang City. This hill is about 65 meters high, and it is the commanding height of the vicinity, where you can look down at Angkor Wat. There is Bakken Temple built on the mountain, which is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. There is nothing more attractive about Bakken Mountain than the magnificent sunset here. There are two ways to get to the top of Bakken Mountain, one is walking, the other is elephant riding. To enter the Bakken Temple on the top of the mountain, you need to climb steep steps. When you come to the top of the mountain, you will find the Bakken Temple. In addition to the central tower, there are several smaller towers below, which are symmetrically arranged according to strict geometric patterns, but many pagodas are now incomplete. Although the Bakken Temple has long been dilapidated, the view here is very broad. To the west is the vast West Pond, to the southeast there is the Angkor Temple in the jungle, and to the south you can overlook the Tonle Sap Lake. When the sun sets in the west, the beauty of Angkor under the golden halo is romantic and unforgettable.Show Less - 4.04.5/526 ReviewFrom23.85based on 12943 reviews"A very wonderful acrobatic performance, a group of young people full of vitality challenged various difficult performance actions, especially the balance performance on the drum, very rare to see, worth seeing."Siem Reap1.7km from downtownHighlights: TheCambodiaCircus, the original crew of the popular circus in Battambang has come to Siem Reap. With unrepeatable passion and touching folk stories, this star team created by a French NGO is working hard to revive Cambodia's traditional circus performance. There are neither collars nor animals, and the show combines high-level drama, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion to take you on an emotionally exciting journey into contemporary Cambodia. When you are in it, you can't help laughing, and you will be amazed by the excessive performance of the artist.Show Less
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FAQ
What are some Best Things to Do in Siem Reap?
Some Best Things to Do in Siem Reap include:Angkor Wat, Street 08, Angkor National Museum, Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Siem Reap?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Siem Reap include:Angkor Wat:4.8, Street 08:4.7, Angkor National Museum:4.7, Bayon Temple:4.7, Angkor Thom:4.7
At what locations in Siem Reap can Best Things to Do in Siem Reap be found?
The Best Things to Do in Siem Reap are mainly located in:Angkor Wat:Siem Reap, Street 08:Siem Reap, Angkor National Museum:Siem Reap, Bayon Temple:Siem Reap, Angkor Thom:Siem Reap
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