· SOUTHEAST ASIA · CAMBODIA ·
Two Day Itinerary in Siem Reap: More Than Just the Temples
Scribbled by Claire ⬩ 16 Aug 2025
Are you planning a quick trip to Siem Reap, and need to know how to plan your days around a visit to Angkor Wat? If so, have a look at how we’d spend two perfect days in the city, ensuring you see all of the best spots, along with ideal routes around the temples!
Siem Reap is a surprisingly dashing city with *a lot* of things to do.
It’s a vivacious, creative hub, with some of the finest food, nightlife, and vibes I’ve experienced across my years in southeast Asia. In fact, Siem Reap is one of my favourite cities in the region, which is a revelation since I usually love those high-rise Asian metropolises, like Bangkok. But, the thing is, Siem Reap has all of this old-timey, classical charm and it sucked me in right away.
We’ve visited several times and spent more than two weeks in the city, zipping about on scooters and in tuktuks, eating unexpectedly tasty spreads of traditional amok, hunting for local beverages and, obviously, photographing the unimitable Angkor Wat.
This charismatic city is way more than just the famous temple complex and food, though. There are the capable little detective rats of APOPO, outrageous acrobats at Cambodia’s (animal-free) circus, floating villages, museums, and local handicraft markets.
Honestly, it’s a town I could definitely live in and never get bored – which is high, high praise.
Anyway, I digress. This post is written for anyone on a flying visit, who doesn’t want to miss all the amazing spots around town. The itinerary is exactly how we’d choose to spend two days in the area. We’ve also included our top restaurants and hotels, plus our favourite ways to get around, to help you plan your own magical trip!
IN THIS GUIDE //
Siem Reap Adventures
How Many Days in Siem Reap?
About this Itinerary
Day 1
– Morning: History and Landmines
– Lunch: Quick bite
– Afternoon: Angkor Wat
– Evening: Craft and Quality
Where to stay in Siem Reap
Day 2
– Morning: Angkor Wat Sunrise
– Lunch: Spring Rolls!
– Afternoon: Galleries, Markets and Temples
– Evening: Cambodian Circus
– Dinner: Social Enterprises
Our Restaurant Round-Up
Map of this Itinerary
Where to Next
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How Many Days in Siem Reap?
So, Siem Reap is far more than just the ruins of Angkor Wat.
We’d suggest two or three days for a first time visit if you want to check out the temples, get a feel for the area, and do a few cool activities.
We’d also highly recommend a few extra days if you love photography, architecture and history, because capturing the superb Angkor Wat complex is an unmatched experience, in my opinion. We’ve always bought the seven-day passes and used every one of those days!
There are also day and overnight trips to Battambang, an artsy hub in northern Cambodia, a town that is definitely worth your consideration if you have a little extra spare time.
About this Itinerary
This itinerary is reasonably fast paced because you only have two days and there’s easily enough stuff in Siem Reap to fill those days up!
It’s also complicated to plan a schedule here because everyone wants to spend a different amount of time in Angkor Wat. So, we’ve split the trip to Angkor Wat over two days, which is a pretty standard thing to do – the complex is huge, Cambodia’s weather is hot, plus there’s lots of tiring steps and dust.
For the average person, spending an entire 12-hour day from sunrise to sunset would be exhausting, which is why we split the days and take a different temple route on each day.
Note – the two days are interchangeable, so you could easily do day 2 first, and then day 1. Be aware that before you go to a sunrise at Angkor Wat, you need to obtain your ticket the day before because the ticket office is not open at 5am. So collect it after 4pm on the previous day or buy it online in advance.
Getting Around
Getting around on this itinerary is easy. You can:
Rent a scooter; these cost around $8-15 a day.
Get a tuktuk-taxi; these cost $2-3 for a single journey within Siem Reap or $15-25 a day around Angkor Wat.
Rent your own tuktuk; this costs $18-20 a day
Hire a driver; this costs upwards of $25-30 dollars a day.
All of them are good options, depending on your preferences.
Day 1
Morning: Landmines and History
This morning is dedicated to lifesaving rats, learning about Cambodia’s tragic history, and some quirky antique local collections.
9am: APOPO
Now, I know some people don’t like rats, but even if that is you, APOPO is an incredible learning experience and you don’t have to get close to the rats (although you can hold one if you want)!
Situated within Siem Reap, just to the north of town, this NGO is a pioneering organisation that trains rats to identify unexploded ordinance, and even illnesses like tuberculosis.
It’s a fascinating little expedition for a very worthy cause, and we highly recommend it. Find out more about what it’s like and see some super cute photos on our post about the landmine detectives.
Fees: $10 – book your slot in advance.
10.30 am: Killing Fields Genocide Museum
Just a five-minute walk to the south of APOPO is the Killing Fields Genocide Museum, which is a small, rustic museum set in an active temple complex. It describes the Khmer Rouge genocide in the late 1970s, and its continuing impact today.
It’s a particularly worthwhile stop if you’re unable to visit Phnom Penh during your Cambodia trip and haven’t had the opportunity to learn more about this horrendously dark part of the country’s history.
As a photographer, I thought that the gallery of photos was particularly poignant and really shows the strength and significance photography has as a medium to purvey history.
Get the audio guide. Visiting this museum probably won’t take you more than an hour or so.
Fee: $3
Optional: Vimean Sokha Museum
We had been recommended this eccentric little spot but didn’t get around to visiting (much to my ire because I love weird collections). It’s basically a treasure trove of unconventional antique family collectibles, displayed throughout the owner’s house.
It’s a 10-minute walk from the Genocide Museum – check it out if you have time left this morning and think it might be for you!
Fee: $5
Lunch: Quick Bite
Grab a quick lunch near your accommodation, pack some water, sunblock and a hat, and get prepped for your first trip to Angkor Wat!
We’ve recommended a lot of our favourite restaurants below this itinerary, so take a look for something you might like.
Afternoon: Angkor Wat
Grab your tuktuk, motorbike, tuktuk driver or guide, and head to the ticket office (if you need to). It’s a really quick process – purchase a three-day pass if you’re following this itinerary.
Angkor Route
Now, it’s up to you exactly how you’d want to traverse your first day in Angkor Wat. We’d recommend taking in the main sites that are included on the ‘Small Circuit’, as it’s called.
This will include Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (Bayon, Baphoun, Elephant Terrace and more), the south gate of Angkor Thom, Thommanon, Ta Keo, and saving the best until last, Ta Phrom. Skip Ta Keo and Thommanon if you’re low on time.
We’d recommend visiting Ta Phrom later in the afternoon – it’s one of the busiest temples in the complex and is quite compact and narrow at places, so you really notice the crowds. We’ve visited at least six times now, and it’s always been the most serene later in the afternoon when everyone has already given up for the day! I also think that the light is nicest there later in the afternoon.
Optional: you can choose to watch the sunset at the popular mountain top spot of Phnom Bakheng, which involves an easy 20-minute walk up along a track, but we don’t think it’s all that impressive. I’d prefer to sit quietly with the monkeys along the tanks of Angkor Wat on the way home, and watch the reflections for a while during sunset.
Evening – Khmer Craft
We’d recommend having a classy dinner at Jomno, one of our favourite restaurants in Siem Reap.
It’s a genuinely beautiful place to try outstanding, modern Khmer cuisine, with an entire section of the menu dedicated to really imaginative, plant-based options (there are creative meat options, as well, if that’s what you’re after). The vibes and service are immaculate, too, and they even serve complimentary fresh baked bread.
For a more casual, affordable option, check out Sambo Khmer and Thai – it’s fun, central, and has a great price-point. We’ve eaten here a few times between visits to the craft beer bars and it’s always been a chilled out time with good food and really humorous staff!
Bevvies Option
After dinner, have a drink at our favourite low key place in Siem Reap: Embargo Craft Beer. This bar has a decent selection of incredible beers from a bunch of Cambodian microbreweries, like the truly unique Flowers Nanobrewery and Siem Reap’s own Krama Craft. Plus, some cool southeast Asian ones, like Vietnam’s absolute smashers, Heart of Darkness and Pasteur Street (which are the two breweries that got me keen on craft beer in the first place, many years ago!). This bar also has a whole bunch of restaurant menus, so they’ll order you in some food if you’re hungry.
Alternatively, check out the cracking IB Taphouse, which is a Japanese-owned craft beer bar that brews on site. It serves a particularly outstanding house IPA and has super lovely owners!
Both these craft places are nearby each other, and would make a fantastic pairing for anyone who loves interesting beers.
If you’re after a more riotous night out, head to the clubby, rowdy Pub Street for some late night beers, wine or cocktails (although bear in mind that you’ll be up early tomorrow).
For all the non-drinkers, there are so many wonderful places that do decent cocktails nowadays (fruity drinks, in particular, are not lacking in Cambodia). We particularly loved Wild’s amazing non-alcoholic offerings.
On a Budget?
If you are visiting Siem Reap on a budget, there are loads of super affordable places to grab some food around the river, near the Art Centre Night Market bridge.
For a dollar and up, you can have chocolate pancakes, rice, fruity things and stir fries. Plus, you can grab a cold bottle of Angkor Beer for a dollar, too!
So, grab a tiny red plastic chair and take a seat!
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WHERE TO STAY IN SIEM REAP
We’ve stayed multiple times in Siem Reap, each time trying out a few different hotels.
Our favourites have been:
Hari Residences and Spa ($$) | this hotel is simply outstanding value for money. It’s located in central Siem Reap by the river and old town, so everything is walkable. The staff take customer service *way* above and beyond, and the super clean and comfortable rooms are enormous, with large balconies furnished with swinging chairs. It’s such an arty, thoughtfully designed hotel, even down to the welcome drinks and cake (it was actually decent cake!).
The hotel has one of the best rooftop pool views in the city, too! Oh, honourable mention for their outstanding always-included breakfast, which was fresh, vegetarian friendly and massively varied.
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Viroth’s Hotel ($$$+) | this hotel was an immaculate dream that I never wanted to wake from (sounds dramatic, but it’s true). It’s bit pricier than our usual choices, but also worth absolutely every penny (it had a exceptional reputation and I wanted to test that out). With a location near the river, it’s perfect for exploring Siem Reap on foot, although we didn’t really want to leave after arriving.
The staff are second to none (I actually mean that, probably the best customer service we’ve received anywhere), the aesthetic design is top notch and the hotel is pristinely maintained. I’m a plant person, so this hotel was particularly magical for me. The rooms are modern, with extremely comfortable beds, and are way brighter than any others we’ve had in Cambodia. Everything about this hotel was just so thoughtful. Also, the exceptional pool and restaurant are worth staying for, alone.
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Day 2
Morning: Angkor Wat
This morning is all about sunrise and less visited temples around the Angkor Wat Complex.
5 am: Sunrise at Angkor Wat
This is the archetypal moment that most visitors to Siem Reap take part in – watching the sunrise over the main Angkor Wat Temple.
We honestly don’t think sunrise at the front of Angkor Wat is all that great, so have mentioned a few suggestions for alternative locations within our photography locations, if you’re interested (like Srah Srang Lake, Pre Rup, or Neak Pean).
It’s always a serene moment watching a sunrise around these majestic temples with absolutely no other people around.
Morning: Angkor Wat Exploration
The rest of the morning is dedicated to exploring the larger loop around Angkor Wat (sometimes called the Grand Circuit). It includes loads of more offbeat temples – some that we’d ensure you include on your itinerary are Banteay Kdei, Pre Rup, East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean, Preah Khan (in that order).
Then head back to Siem Reap through Angkor Thom where you can stop at Bayon again at a different time of day. Make sure you climb to the top of Baphoun, too, if you didn’t yesterday.
Lunch: Spring Rolls!
There are so many amazing places to eat in Angkor Wat that it’s inevitably difficult to choose.
One of our favourite lunches was at Wild, a cool, casual, veggie friendly spring roll restaurant. I know it sounds a bit strange to have a spring roll restaurant, but it was so good, and the garden setting’s chill vibes were immaculate. Also, they even have dessert spring rolls, too (would highly recommend these). There are loads of healthy options too, so order summer rolls rather than deep fried ones (with that said, we would highly recommend the cheese and sundried tomato fried ones – they tasted just like pizza).
Another option would be to take a food tour in the afternoon (or evening), but honestly I would not have the energy for it after a long morning at Angkor Wat! If you are interested in one, have a look at tours.
Afternoon: Galleries, Markets and Temples
On your final afternoon, take it slow and explore the masses of galleries, museums, markets, and temples on offer around the city. Have a nap, if necessary, too, because 5am was an early start!
Below includes some of our highlights after exploring Siem Reap for two weeks. We’ve designed two different options depending on your interests: shopping and culture, but you can mix and match between them.
1. For the Shoppers
There are loads of markets all around Siem Reap which are great for a bit of handicraft or clothes shopping:
Artisans Angkor: this absolutely awesome little social enterprise is really worth your time, even if you’re not usually into shopping. The super-friendly English speaking guides offer free tours around their traditional workshop – showing the process behind the silk weaving, wood and stone carvings and lacquer artwork that they sell in the boutique-feeling shop. They can even make custom-made products if you request it! Everything here is made by Cambodian people, on site. It’s the perfect place to buy a high-quality souvenir.
They actually offer silk weaving and dyeing classes, too, if you want to make your own personal gift!
Made in Cambodia Market: want to avoid the imported, factory-made crap that is estimated to make up 80 percent of Siem Reap’s souvenirs? If so, definitely visit this market – it has all sorts of unique products, like hand-woven bags, ornaments, recycled produce, local beverages and more. It’s a genuinely lovely environment to buy products to take home – the vendors are super friendly and not pushy at all.
Khmer Ceramics Fine Art Centre: if you’re into pottery, you can make your very own Khmer souvenirs at a pottery class, often taught by deaf and mute women. It’s a great socially-minded activity, and they have a lovely little café serving smashing coffee, too.
Old Market (Psar Chaa): this market mostly stocks ‘made in China’ tat, but is worth a little walk around if you’re right next to it. Just don’t expect to find anything thoughtful or original here! If it looks like it came from a factory, it probably did – and ignore anyone with aggressive sales tactics – it’s common in this market (can you tell it’s not my vibe?).
Art Centre Night Market: this one is open later in the afternoon and is mostly full of paintings. Some are painted by local artists, I think, but others appear a bit more mass-produced. I get a similar vibe in here as I do at the Old Market – it all appears a bit copy-paste and it’s uncomfortable to me. I’d be very careful to check the origin of whatever you purchase (I’m sure there are really great artists in the market, you just have to find them).
Phsa Kraom Market: a local produce and wares market, if you want to see where people in Siem Reap buy their ingredients from! I quite like meandering through local markets because they feel a world away from the (albeit often lovely) touristy equivalents. There are dead frogs, veggies, fish, street food, cane juice and textiles – have a wander around if you’re looking for a more local experience.
2. For the Culture Buffs
There are a few things you can do this afternoon if you’re not into shopping. Take a wander along the Siem Reap River through the below spots (it’ll take around 45 minutes without counting time at the stops). All of the sites are located along the way (Wat Bo is a little detour).
Wat Preah Prom Rath: one of the older Buddhist centres in Siem Reap, with manicured gardens, the traditionally alarming statues (like a man being eaten by crows, which we also saw in Battambang!), and outstanding frescos. It’s very pretty.
Wat Bo: a calming, free-to-visit, functioning traditional Buddhist temple, so you’ll likely see monks pottering around (be respectful). It’s not that large, so it’s easy to just pass through. The neighbourhood is lovely, too.
The River Gallery: this beautifully curated, progressive art gallery is one of my personal favourite places in Siem Reap. It displays art from the Colours of Cambodia Art School, and is set in such a cleanly-designed space. I don’t know much about art, really, but I loved everything here.
Royal Independence Gardens: adjacent to the Royal Residence, these gardens are free to enter and have loads of stern warrior statues and manicured lawns. Opposite the gardens is a giant exercise park which, in the evenings, gets so busy with Cambodian families exercising and doing aerobics by the river. It’s a wonderful, friendly spot for people watching.
Angkor National Museum: if you didn’t get enough of the museums yesterday, check out this excellent option which provides loads of information and perspective on the design and architecture you’ve just seen in Angkor Wat’s temple complex. Entry is expensive, at 15 dollars, but is absolutely worth it if you want to learn more about ancient Khmer, Buddhist and Hindu history.
Evening: Phare Cambodian Circus
This is the premier thing to do in the evening in Siem Reap. If I’m honest, I was initially sceptical about it, but my friends persuaded me to go and I’m *so* glad I did!
It’s a no-animal, acrobatics-type circus show, with really beautiful music and visuals, that trains young Cambodians in the arts. They tell traditional Cambodian stories (our show was called White Gold, which refers to rice). There’s a bit of humour, too, and it’s just a really good time.
To find out how to book, which seats are best, what it’s like, and whether it’s the evening experience for you, check out our post all about the Cambodian Circus.
Dinner: Social Enterprises
There are meals served at the Cambodian Circus, so you can grab dinner there, if you want, however the food is a little average, in my opinion. We’d recommend heading out after the show (it’s only an hour long) and getting something in the city.
Further down is our recommended list of restaurants that we’ve tried over several weeks in Siem Reap. However, if you’re trying to choose somewhere special, we’d recommend either of these community-forward restaurants (both train young adults in the service and food industry and help them learn English):
⬩ Haven is a socially-minded restaurant that provides vocational training to underprivileged youth in Siem Reap (they even get a place to live, hence the name). The menu has so many amazing dishes, many of which can be made vegetarian – we loved the tofu lok lak and the no-fish filet with green mango. It’s a fantastic place for Western options, too, and desserts – the carrot cake was magical.
⬩ Marum is another socially conscious restaurant which serves a compact menu of really beautifully presented, upmarket ingredients. It’s another really wonderful, enterprising set up. Try the chocolate and black pepper cake – I cannot explain how much this one changed my outlook on desserts (I don’t usually have much of a sweet tooth).
Our Siem Reap Restaurant-BAR-CAFE ROUND-UP
IB Taphouse – this newish bar is a very cool Japanese craft beer spot with loads of international options and homebrews made on site. It’s definitely worth a visit if you love beer! Try the Nishiyama – it’s a smashing hazy pale.
Special note to Krama Craft Brewery: the original Siem Reap craft beer, brewed on site. Grab a few bottles to take away and sit by the river or have them on your hotel balcony – they’re unique – try the black IPA, we highly recommend it.
Chanrey Tree: high end environment, full veggie options, nice vibes but slightly higher prices than other surrounding restaurants. We’d recommend the eggplant and tofu.
Kebabs and Falafel Time: excellent casual western food – all veggie with explicit vegan options, too. Try the smoothie bowls – they revived me after some late nights!
Wild: spring roll heaven in a pretty garden setting. The food was honestly incredible – try some interesting flavours, like cheese and sundried tomato – they tasted just like pizza.
Sala Thai Riverside: this tiny little Thai restaurant has a Thai lady chef that made the best green Thai curry I have ever eaten in my life. I mean, it was just absolutely perfect and with such punchy flavours. I have no idea how she did it.
Tevy’s Place: if you’re in the Wat Bo area and are on a budget, definitely check out this place. The food is great and so affordable too!
The Bean Embassy Roastery: lovely café with an outstanding speciality coffee selection, good wifi and veggie options! Oh, and proper quality matcha, too. It’s a lovely place to spend an hour calming down from the franticness of Siem Reap’s centre. It’s not the cheapest, but the vibes are immaculate.
Peace Café: this beautifully appointed, pure veggie restaurant supports and trains young people, and even offers monk chats and cooking classes. Get the amok – it’s the best one we had in Siem Reap.
Marum: has been training young people for more than a decade now, serving top notch, varied cuisine with smashing ingredients.
Haven: a vocational training sanctuary for underprivileged people, the varied food and lovely atmosphere made this one of our favourite spots in Siem Reap, and I cannot wait to go back!
Jomno: upmarket, imaginative, beautiful, peaceful. This restaurant was magic, from beginning to end.
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Map of this Itinerary
Below is a savable Google Map which marks all the places mentioned on this post, in layers:
Purple: Angkor temples
Yellow: shopping, galleries, museums
Red: food and drink
To save the map, select the star next to the title.
DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN RENT A TUKTUK IN SIEM REAP?
If you’re interested in having your own wheels around Angkor Wat and beyond, but can’t ride a motorbike (or maybe there’s a group of you), consider renting a tuktuk!
We did this for our most recent trip to Cambodia, and it was epic (and hilarious).
For more information on how to rent, what it’s like, and how we got on, check out our dedicated post on Siem Reap tuktuk rental.
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Where to Next?
Siem Reap is not the same city I remember it being when I first visited nearly ten years ago. I liked it then, of course, but now I absolutely love it. The city has become a progressive, artsy, community-minded hub which feels eminently liveable.
I feel that because so much of the population is young (two-thirds of the population of Cambodia are under 30), the forward momentum for change is huge and you can *feel* this explicitly in a modernising city like Siem Reap. And, from an outsider’s point of view at least, it seems like this is a fantastic move for the city.
There are so many thoughtful, intriguing things to do in Siem Reap beyond Angkor Wat – I hope you get to do some!
If you are visiting with a camera, have a look our photography tips for Angkor Wat – we spent two weeks exploring the complex on a motorbike and tuktuk – it’s easily one of the most photogenic spots in the entire world!
For anyone heading further afield, consider Battambang! It’s the centre of Cambodia’s arts culture and a really lovely city to spend a few days. Have a look at our two day itinerary to see if it interests you.
Have a great trip!
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