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If you are looking for things to do in Siem Reap with kids in 2025, look no further. In this article, we are going to share the greatest, the best, and the most exciting things to do in Siem Reap for a family. We will share activities that other websites do not mention.
Having lived in Siem Reap for many years and visited many times over the years, we have a huge amount of local knowledge and experience to share with you. We have loved visiting Siem Reap with our own kids and spent plenty of time finding the best things to do and the best ways to do them.
Traveling with kids can be both highly rewarding and exhilarating and yet also exhausting and challenging at times. Careful preparation, research, and planning are key to fantastic family travel. As long-term full-time family travelers ourselves, we have a passion for sharing our knowledge and experience with the community and we love to help equip you for your own adventures.
We are super excited to share our inside knowledge, tips, and experience with you to help you plan an amazing trip to Siem Reap with your own kids. The aim of this article is both to inspire and inform. We have included details such as opening times, transport information, and prices to help you plan and budget for your trip.
Looking for a place to stay? Don’t miss these Fantastic Family Hotels in Siem Reap
Looking for more inspiration? Don’t miss our Full and In-Depth Guide to Siem Reap with Kids
Visiting with a baby? Don’t miss our Full guide to Cambodia with a baby
Map of the best things to do in Siem Reap with kids
1 Explore Angkor Wat
This is one of the most iconic and important attractions in Cambodia. If you are visiting Siem Reap, we highly recommend spending at least one day exploring the stunning and magnificent temples of Angkor Wat. If you’re planning to explore this extensive Temple complex with kids, we recommend planning your day carefully. Many people start their day watching the sunrise over the main temple (Angkor Thom).
If you are traveling with kids, this is a very early start (you will probably need to be up by 4.30 am to make it for sunrise), and therefore it is likely to be a longer and challenging day. We recommend pacing yourself and not overdoing it. If you have enough time in your itinerary, you may want to visit Angkor Wat over three days (you can get a 3-day pass) rather than trying to cram all of the temples into a single day. If you only have one day to explore Angkor Wat, we recommend taking a break in the middle of the day and returning to Siem Reap to have some lunch and a rest. This is particularly important if you are visiting with kids. Remember the midday hours are the hottest part of the day in Cambodia.
The best way to see Angkor Wat with kids
If you only have one day to visit Angkor Wat, then we recommend visiting these temples in the following order (anti-clockwise loop): 1. Angkor Thom (sunrise – busy but amazing), 2. Ta Prohm Temple (Tomb Raider Temple), 3. Neak Poan, 4. Preah Khan, 5. Bayon (Temple with faces). Visiting the temples in this order means that you will see some of the more impressive temples before the crowds get there (most people do a clockwise loop of the Angkor Wat site). If you have the energy, you can also visit Bakheng Temple (popular sunset temple – beautiful but very crowded). If you have three days to visit Angkor Wat, then we recommend visiting some of the less frequented temples. For example: East Baray Temple, Baphuon Temple, Pre Rup Temple, and Banteay Srei Temple (further away but worth it!)
Angkor Wat tickets
A one-day pass costs $37, and a three-day pass costs $62. The ticket offices accept card payments. Children under 12 years old do not require a ticket (but bring a passport to prove their age). Children over 12 years old need a full adult ticket. If you are exploring Angkor Wat with kids, we recommend using a tuk-tuk. It should cost around $10 – $20 to explore Angkor Wat (a half-day trip to one or two temples may cost as little as $10, and a full day trip including sunrise is likely to cost around $20). Always barter and arrange your tuk-tuk a day or two in advance if you want an early start. Also don’t miss our full guide to getting around in Siem Reap.
You can also buy Angkor Wat Passes from The Official Angkor Wat Website (you need to register for an account to purchase tickets online)
2 Try wakeboarding
Wakeboarding may not be the first thing you associate with Cambodia. However, there is a new wake park situated around 5 km from Siem Reap town center. It is called the ICF Wake Park, and it offers an affordable and fun introduction to the world of wakeboarding. This is a great activity if you are traveling with active and adventurous teenagers. Wakeboarding is not suitable for younger children. The facilities at the wake park are excellent (showers, lockers & changing rooms).
There is also an artificial Beach area and a bar & restaurant serving a tempting menu of Cambodian and international dishes. The prices for wakeboarding are as follows: 2 hours: $24, 1 day: $32, 2 days: $49. This includes kit rental and an instructor. No need to pre-book, just show up. Here are the open hours for the ICF Wake Park: Tuesday to Friday: 12:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday: Closed. The ICF Wake Park is also part of the ICF charity organization. Not only is this a fun day out, but it is also a great way to support meaningful and ethical volunteering projects in and around Siem Reap.
3 Visit the Asia Plaza Playground
If you are visiting Siem Reap with young kids, then don’t miss the epic Asia Plaza playground. Situated on the top floor of the Asia Plaza Mall, you can find a fun and creative soft place which is suitable for kids 1 – 6 years old. This is a small and yet well-designed play space that has a range of engaging physical and creative activities for younger kids. It is best suited for young toddlers who love to bounce, slide, and throw themselves around.
The Asia Plaza playground is very unique in Cambodia. there are not many activities that are dedicated to younger kids situated in a shopping mall. This is also a great place to cool off because there is a good air conditioning system. We visited this epic play space several times with our kids. It is a perfect place to sit down and have a coffee whilst your kids have some excess cheeky beans. The Asia Plaza playground is also excellent value for money, costing only $1.50 for an entire day (6,000 Riel).
4 Try the Aqua Land inflatable obstacle course
If you are looking for something unique, fun, and challenging to do with kids in Siem Reap, we highly recommend the awesome Aqua Land inflatable obstacle course situated at the ICF Wake Park. This is a lot of fun and great value for money. Aqua Land has a range of inflatable obstacles, including platforms, slides, and balancing tubes. This is great fun for kids.
You need to wear a life jacket and helmet on the inflatable obstacle course, so your kid does not need to be a strong swimmer in order to enjoy this activity. The Aqua Land inflatable obstacle course is best suited for kids 6 years and older, especially if they are active and enjoy a challenge. You do need to supervise kids carefully on this activity, and this is a lot of fun for the whole family. You can visit the Aqua Land inflatable obstacle course for $8 per person, including a life jacket and helmet (full day access).
5 Explore the night markets
If you are spending a few days in Siem Reap with kids, then we strongly recommend spending some time exploring the night markets. Even if you are not bothered about shopping, strolling around the night markets is a fascinating, beautiful, and multi-century experience. The night markets are packed with hustle and bustle and color, and the whole experience feels magical and unique. Siem Reap has several different night markets selling a wide range of local gifts, clothing, art, and craft.
We love the friendly and lively atmosphere of the night markets in Siem Reap. If you are planning to do some shopping, you can find a nice range of products for kids. For example, most clothing stores include kids size clothing. There are also plenty of stores selling games and souvenirs for kids. If you do buy something on the night market, we recommend bartering to get a fair price. Some of the prices can be relatively high, especially if you don’t barter.
6 Watch a Movie at Cinemax
If you’re looking for a more relaxing and laid-back activity in Siem Reap, then check out Cinemax. This is a unique and innovative cinema that shows individual movies in private rooms (and they are super comfortable!) so you can relax and enjoy a film with your family. They have a wide range of movies to choose from (it costs $8 for a movie).
It is important to recognize that this is not a cinema showing new release movies (rather, they have a library of popular films). You can pay to watch a film anytime with your family. This is a great activity during the hottest hours of the day when all you want to do is rest and stay out of the intense midday heat.
7 Ride the Angkor Eye Ferris Wheel
If you are looking for unique and exhilarating things to do in Siem Reap with your family, then why not take a ride on the impressive Angkor Eye Ferris wheel, which towers a dizzying 85m high. From the top, you can see Dong Rek Mountain Range, Kulen Mountain, Bakheng Mountain, Angkor Wat, and Tonle Sap lake. This iconic attraction is situated on the airport Road around a 15-minute drive from Siem Reap town center. If you’re visiting with younger kids, don’t miss the kids playground next to the Angkor Eye.
It costs $12 for an adult (over 12 years old) and $6 for (under 12 years). It is free of charge for an infant (under 3 years old). You can pay by cash or bank card. The Angkor Eye is open daily from 9 am – 9 pm. The experience takes 18 minutes (one time around the wheel), and you are allowed a maximum of 4 people per cabin. The cabins have air conditioning. The best time to visit is around 5 – 6 pm to enjoy the sunset.
8 Try a fish spa
If you are looking for a giggle with your family, then why not try a fish spa? Just take a wander around Siem Reap in the evening, and you will see lots of small spas (especially around Pub Street) offering a fish spa for a few dollars. You can sit besides a pool of fish. If you dip your feet in the water, they will nibble the dead skin from your feet. It is a strange and slightly ticklish sensation. If you have a bit more time, you could also consider getting a foot massage, a neck and shoulder massage, or even a full-body massage. Massages in Cambodia are very relaxing and extremely affordable, normally costing around $5 – $8 for an hour.
9 Visit Tonle Sap
If you are hoping to get out of Siem Reap and experience the beauty of rural Cambodia, then we highly recommend a visit to the impressive Tonle Sap. This is a huge inland lake in Cambodia. There are many small villages and communities living around the lake, and you can also see floating villages. Floating villages are houses built on wooden stilts where the locals live over the water and make a living from fishing. Unfortunately, the main floating village attraction (at Phom Krom) is very touristy and inauthentic. It also has a scam school where tourists are tricked into buying unnecessary stationary and books, which are then returned to the shop and re-sold to the next tourists. The best way to visit Tonle Sap is to take a Tuk Tuk to a small, less-touristy village (for example, Kampong Phluk or Kampong Khleang).
10 Grab a Pizza at Temple Bar & Restaurant
If you are looking for a family treat, then we highly recommend the Temple Bar and Restaurant. There are actually two locations. One is called Temple Sky Lounge on Pub Street (this is the original Temple bar), and the other is Temple Design (on Sok San Road near the Garden Village Hostel). Both establishments are run by the same company. Temple Design has a more peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, and it is more family-friendly. They also have a stone-baked fire pizza oven. Watch out for special deals and discounts. This really is a great place for a family treat.
11 Watch a Cultural Performance
Cambodia has a very rich, beautiful, and unique culture and heritage. One of the best ways to help your kids connect with the traditional Cambodian culture is to attend a traditional dance performance. There are various places around Siem Reap where you can watch a traditional Apsara dance. This is a very unique and fascinating experience. Apsara dancers tend to wear vibrant traditional clothing. The dancers generally perform to local musical instruments, and their dances tell traditional folk stories, giving you an insight into Cambodian culture and history.
Apsara dance is characterized by graceful and beautiful movements of the hands and body. The costumes are particularly impressive. So if you get the chance, definitely make sure a dance performance is part of your itinerary in Siem Reap. There is a free dance performance at Temple Bar on Pub Street every evening at 7.30 pm (just buy a drink or a bite to eat and enjoy the show). Alternatively, Check out the stylish Apsara Theatre. They offer dinner and a cultural performance with tickets starting at around $30. They have performances each evening from 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm.
12 Find ways to give back
We have shared plenty of fun, exciting, and intrepid things to do in Siem Reap. However, we wanted to finish by encouraging you to find ways to give back. Traveling around Cambodia with kids is the perfect way to teach your children about poverty, compassion, and ethical charity work.
Many charities and NGOs in Siem Reap do not accept short-term volunteers. Getting a volunteering placement with kids is likely to be even more challenging. However, there are still ways that you can help out when you visit Siem Reap with kids. For example, in Siem Reap town, you are likely to encounter a lot of people begging. In some cases, children have been sent on to the streets to beg.
Giving money to these children is equipping and enabling the people who send them out (and the kids are very unlikely to get anything from the money). Instead you could buy lots of hot street food meals and give these to kids begging on the streets. Hot fresh food cannot be returned or exchanged so you are giving these kids a meal that they actually get to enjoy! Or what about ice creams? Just buy a load of ice creams to give out! The kids will be grateful if you open the ice creams before you give them to the kids so that can’t be returned to the shop.
Find out more about Ethical Volunteering in Siem Reap
Also look out for real needs in Siem Reap. You may see very poor families collecting plastic bottles around town. This is often extremely poor people who come from the villages. If you see people like this they have real needs so donate generously. Spending some time giving and serving is a great way for kids to learn about the complexities and nuances of charity work in a developing country.
