Things to do in Siem Reap

Though there are plenty of things to experience in Siem Reap, many top attractions lie just outside the city. The famous Angkor Archaeological Park is the most notable sightseeing destination. Stretching over 150 square miles (400 sq km), it houses some of the most important archaeological sites in Asia. More specifically, the park contains the magnificent remains of several buildings and monuments from the ancient Khmer Empire (9th to 15th century). The most famous sites include the Temple of Angkor Wat and the Bayon Temple. Adventurous travellers may want to visit temples like Beng Mealea, which nestles in the jungle. The Angkor temples can easily occupy visitors for several days, particularly as the Angkor Archaeological Park's landscapes are magnificent in and of themselves.

There are several notable tourist attractions within Siem Reap, including the Angkor National Museum, which is a useful complement to the archaeological wonders of the Angkor Temples. This modern museum is home to impressive galleries of artefacts taken from the temple complex. Another not-to-be-missed museum in Siem Reap is rather a different experience. Aki Ra's Landmine Museum lays out the modern strife of a country still struggling with landmines.

Visitors must be sure to visit Psar Chaa (the Old Market), a bustling collection of merchant stalls. This is a good venue for shopping and experiencing daily life in Siem Reap.

Villages on Stilts photo

Villages on Stilts

Most tuk-tuk and moto drivers in Siem Reap will be only too happy to take you on a tour of one of the area's famous 'villages on stilts'. Many of the houses lining Tonle Sap Lake a…

Tonlé Sap Lake photo

Tonlé Sap Lake

Boeung Tonlé Sap is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. Containing a rich and diverse ecosystem, it's home to a wide array of fauna such as crocodiles, turtles, macaques …

Temples of Angkor photo

Temples of Angkor

The magnificent Temples of Angkor are iconic symbols of Cambodia, the spectacular complex a vivid vestige of the ancient Khmer Empire. Built between the 9th and 13th centuries, mor…

Aki Ra's Landmine Museum photo

Aki Ra's Landmine Museum

The Aki Ra Museum provides a jarring counterpoint to the ancient Khmer glories on display at Angkor Wat, instead showcasing the more recent horrors of Cambodia's political and soci…

Psar Chaa (Old Market) photo

Psar Chaa (Old Market)

Psar Chaa, the Old Market, is Siem Reap's most popular shopping experience for visitors. Stalls sell all kinds of souvenirs including silk, carvings, stoneware and paintings, while…

Beng Mealea photo

Beng Mealea

For those charmed by Ta Prom's jungle-clad stones within the Angkor Wat temple complex, it's well worth making the five-hour round trip to visit Beng Mealea, the ruins of an ancien…

Angkor National Museum photo

Angkor National Museum

The Angkor National Museum is an archaeological institution dedicated to the preservation and presentation of the Angkorian articles. A source of rich insight, it provides importan…

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