Siem Reap exists almost entirely because of Angkor (the largest religious monument complex in the world, sprawling across more than 400 square kilometres of jungle) but the town itself has developed a genuinely good food and nightlife scene to complement the temple-going.
Angkor Wat and Beyond
A three-day Angkor pass is worth the money over a one-day ticket, the complex is vast, and rushing it means missing Ta Prohm's jungle-swallowed ruins or Bayon's serene stone faces at Angkor Thom in favour of just the main temple.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat is the classic image, and worth doing once, but it also draws the largest crowds by far, sunset at Phnom Bakheng, or a quiet late-morning visit to Banteay Srei's intricately carved pink sandstone, can be just as rewarding with a fraction of the people.
Siem Reap Town
Pub Street, the town's nightlife strip, is unapologetically touristy but fun for at least one evening, cheap beer, night markets, and fish spas lining a few dense blocks.
For a better sense of the region beyond the temples, a boat trip on Tonlé Sap Lake shows floating villages and a way of life built entirely around Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake.
Recommended Stay · Siem Reap · Near Royal Residence
Amansara
A former royal guesthouse turned intimate resort, with private tuk-tuks and guides arranged for each guest's own temple itinerary, the most storied stay in Siem Reap, built around King Sihanouk's 1960s villa.
