Siem Reap Guide – Things to Know Before You Visit 2025

Here is the ultimate Siem Reap Guide. In this article, we will share everything you need to know to plan a magnificent trip to Siem Reap in 2025.

Siem Reap may be an amazing place to travel, but it also has its own unique challenges. Being aware and planning well really is key to having an amazing trip to this extraordinary town. We have lived in Siem Reap and even ran a charity in the region. We have also visited many times over the years. So, we have a lot of in-depth knowledge, tips, and experience to share.

In this Siem Reap guide, we will share the best things to do, the best places to stay, and the best places to eat. We will even share plenty of practical tips, information, and advice about travel in Siem Reap.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP? – Don’t miss our Step-by-step itinerary 3 days in Siem Reap and How long should you spend in Siem Reap?

How do you get around in Siem Reap?

GETTING AROUND IN SIEM REAP – Full Guide – How to Get Around in Siem Reap

TAKING A TUK TUK IN SIEM REAP – How to take a Tuk Tuk in Siem Reap

If you are just exploring Siem Reap town, the best way to get around is to walk or rent a bicycle. The town is relatively small, and it is possible to walk across the length of the town in around 20 – 30 minutes. You can also rent bicycles very cheaply in the area; the town is flat and easy to cycle around. Most hostels and guest houses have bicycle rental starting at around $1 per day.

If you’re traveling further afield, you can take a tuk-tuk, which is essentially a wagon pulled by a motorbike that can seat up to four people. The price system is flexible, so you will need to agree on a fair price with a driver for a short one-way journey around town; it should only cost $1 – $3 depending on the distance. If you want to take longer journeys around the area, it is likely to cost $10 – $20. You can find plenty of tuk-tuks waiting around town, especially around Pub Street and the Old Market area.

You can also rent motorbikes in Siem Reap; motorbike rental starts at around $8 per day, and there are plenty of places to rent motorbikes in town. This is a fun, convenient, and cost-effective way to explore Siem Reap.

What are prices like in Siem Reap?

In general, Western products and Western food are quite expensive in Cambodia. Western products are seen as luxurious items and are generally marketed towards an average local. So, the prices of Western products are often significantly more expensive than local products.

FIND OUT MORE – how much does a 1 week trip to Cambodia cost?

What things can you buy in Siem Reap?

There are several supermarkets situated in Siem Reap (Lucky Mall and the Angkor Market are the biggest supermarkets in town). There are also a few convenience stores (There is a 7 Eleven near Pub Street and the Temple Minimart and the Night Minimart on Sok San Road). We have marked the location of these supermarkets and convenience stores on the map at the start of this article.

These supermarkets and convenience stores are significantly more expensive than cheap local street-side shops. The convenience stores and supermarkets also sell a good range of Western products, including things like milk, yogurt, imported sweets, and chocolates. You can normally find a wide range of alcoholic drinks, fresh bread, and baked goods. They also sell things like baby milk, nappies, and wet wipes. So if you are looking for specific foreign products in Siem Reap, we recommend going to one of the supermarkets in town.

Siem Reap also has a lot of bakeries; some of them are directed towards a more international crowd, and some of them are directed towards locals (Cambodians love their white bread!).

The night markets in Siem Reap are also very good for shopping. You can buy a wide range of gifts, including traditional ornaments, packets of spices, local soaps and oils. There is plenty of art and craft around; you can also buy a wide range of creative clothing and jewelry. If you are shopping in the night market, it is important to barter in order to get a fair and reasonable price.

Can you find ATM machines in Siem Reap?

You can find plenty of ATM machines in Siem Reap (especially around Pub Street, along the central section of route 63, and also along Sok San Road). Over our years of living in Siem Reap, we have found Canadia Bank (the red one) to be relatively reliable. They have several ATM machines around town.

The dual currency can be confusing in Cambodia – Find out Everything you need to know about Currency in Cambodia

ATM Charges in Siem Reap

ATM machines in Siem Reap accept foreign card transactions, including Visa card, Mastercard, and Maestro. There is a standard withdrawal fee of $5 for international transactions, and this is consistent across all of the ATM machines in Siem Reap. There are a couple of machines around which charge $7 for international transactions.

We recommend withdrawing higher amounts of money to minimize the number of times you withdraw from a cash machine; remember each time you withdraw money, you will be charged the $5 fee.

Also, be aware that your bank may have additional charges for withdrawing money overseas; we recommend finding a good international bank card (such as Starling or Wise). These international banks generally allow international transactions with minimal or no fees.

In some cases, ATM machines in Siem Reap may be out of order, or you may have trouble using your international bank card; we always recommend traveling with a spare bank card. Also, we recommend withdrawing money a day or two before your funds run out so you do not end up stranded without money.

International Card Payments in Siem Reap

International card payments are increasingly being accepted in Siem Reap; this is especially true if you are eating in touristy restaurants or shopping in westernized supermarkets. However, there may be additional charges for making card payments, and in many places, international card payments are not accepted.

What is the internet like in Siem Reap?

Wifi is relatively widespread in Siem Reap. However, internet speeds are not very fast, and connectivity can be unreliable. Just because a hotel or guest house advertises free wifi doesn’t mean it will be working or reliable. Some coffee shops and restaurants around Siem Reap offer free wifi. Again, this can be unreliable and slow. You can buy local SIM cards with mobile data packages. Mobile data is reasonably reliable, and the coverage in Siem Reap town and around Angkor Wat is generally pretty good.

Smart Sim is one of the most popular and reliable companies. You can get 7 day tourist sim cards with 15GB of data for around $5 – $8. There is a Smart Sim Shop located at the Cineplex near the Dragon Fountains Roundabouts (a short walk from Pub Street).

However, if you are planning to travel to some of the rural villages around Siem Reap, make sure you have downloaded everything you need beforehand.

What are the challenges of visiting Siem Reap?

Siem Reap is genuinely a beautiful and amazing place to travel and explore; however, you may encounter some challenges and problems when you are traveling around Siem Reap. Here are some examples of problems you may experience when you are traveling in Siem Reap.

1 Language barrier

Most locals in Siem Reap speak and understand a reasonably good level of English. This is particularly true of people who work with tourists. So you are likely to find English well spoken in your hotel or guest house; you will also find plenty of people with excellent English in the night market. Touristy restaurants will generally have menus in English, and staff will speak a good level of English. Furthermore, tuk-tuk drivers generally have a very high level of English. However, if you are traveling out of town, you may find the language barrier becomes challenging very quickly. We recommend using the Google Translate app and downloading the Cambodian language so that you can access it online if you’re traveling Off The Beaten Track in Cambodia.

2 Power cuts

It is important to recognize that Cambodia is a developing country; the infrastructure is less developed and not as good as other countries in the region. For example, Siem Reap often experiences power cuts. Some of the better hotels and guest houses will have backup generators which they can use in the event of a power cut. However, in some cases, you may find that you are left in the dark; we recommend traveling with a head torch in the event that you are left without power in the night.

3 Extreme weather

Cambodia can experience some very extreme weather; for example, it can get intensely hot in the dry season (November – April). We recommend considering sun protection, sunglasses, sun hat, and SPF 50 sun cream. During the rainy season (May – October), some areas can experience intense flooding. You may also get caught out in sudden and intense tropical downpours; we recommend traveling with an umbrella. We also find it useful to use a dry sack to protect our belongings when we are traveling around the tropics.

4 Illness

Many tourists in Siem Reap experience food poisoning; this is often just a mild case of a poorly tummy and a little diarrhea. However, in some cases, tourists are affected badly by the local microbes; some tourists can experience more severe cases of gastroenteritis. If you are not used to eating street food in Asia, we recommend that you start slowly and cautiously. If you do experience vomiting or diarrhea, make sure that you remain hydrated and rest well; you may also need to see a doctor if your symptoms are severe or persist. As ever, we recommend traveling with a good medical insurance policy; remember to contact your travel insurance company before you seek medical care.

5 Scams

You do need to be aware of scams in Siem Reap. There is a lot of poverty and begging around town, and in many cases, the begging is organized. In some cases, that goes from their use scams and techniques to get tourists to give them money. In general, we do not recommend giving money directly to beggars in Siem Reap.

Find out more about Ethical Ways to Volunteer in Siem Reap

6 Problems accessing your own money

We have already mentioned that there are plenty of ATM machines in Siem Reap; however, these machines can be unreliable, so we always recommend having some spare cash so that you don’t run out of money. In some cases, ATM machines can be out of order; we even had a situation where one of the ATM machines did not dispense any money but still charged us. We informed our bank who advised we wait a few weeks for a refund. Fortunately, the money was returned, and we didn’t need to take the matter further. Don’t leave the ATM until you are almost out of money uncase you have problems.

What are the best places to eat in Siem Reap?

Here are a few of the best places to eat in Siem Reap.

• Chubby Gonzo’s Siem Reap – Taco’s Mexican Salad & beer – great prices.
• Crep’Italy – Fresh tasty and creative menu – Italian & Western Cuisine.
• Il Forno – Classy fresh Italian food – nice ambiance one block from Pub Street.
• Khmer Kitchen – Just next to the Old Market – Traditional Cambodian Cuisine.
• Mesa Restaurant – Great Ambiance – Fusion of Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Japanese.
• Curry King Indian Restaurant – Great if you want that Indian fix – North Indian food.
• Gelato Lab – For a cheeky refreshing treat don’t miss the Gelato Lab Ice Cream Shop.
• Temple Design Bar & Restaurant – Contemporary and stylish. They serve tasty local and international cuisine.