Things To Do in Siem Reap & Siem Reap Airport Layover Ideas

While most people come to visit Angkor Archaeological Park, the town of Siem Reap itself has worthwhile attractions and a number of beautiful modern Buddhist temples. If you find you have extra time on your hands try these layover suggestions in Siem Reap town:

Angkor National Museum

Exhibits covering the history of the Angkor complex as well as Khmer culture and clothing using high tech displays and video screens. Some say the 1,000 Buddhas room is as impressive as it sounds. Open daily.

Wat Bo
One of the oldest temples makes a nice contrast between the oldest and the glittering new ones. The architecture of the ramshackle open air hall next to the main building blends French style arches and balustrades with Thai influenced Buddhist details. A forest of chedi surround the main hall, inbetween frangipani trees and some fine topiary.  

Wat Preah Prom Rath
The glittering modern temple grounds gives a few hints to its 500 year history. Legend holds it that the site was established around 1500 when a famous monk landed ashore on a piece of his sinking boat. The boat wood was carved into the oddly foreshortened reclining Buddha installed in a swimming pool-like pit behind the imposing, yet despondent looking, seated Buddha in the main hall.

Cambodian Cultural Village
Cambodian culture in a nutshell, miniature of Cambodian landmarks, Cambodian ethnics traditional houses replica and cultural performances. The village is located between Siem Reap Airport and Siem Reap city center (national road number 6, 3km from the airport). Open daily.

Fish Massage
Dip your feet in a tank of fish and wince as they eat the dead skin off your toes. Trying a tank with feet already inside it will tell you if the fish are hungry. Some claim to have No piranhas while others offer a free beer to subdue any doubts.

Lemongrass Garden
Lovely little spa with a relaxing atmosphere and experienced staff. Offering  Khmer massages, oil massages, spiritual massages and manicures/pedicures. Treatment rooms have air conditioning, and they provide a cool drink before treatment and warm tea afterwards. They claim to pay higher wages than most places in Siem Reap, as well as provide other benefits to their workers. Still reasonable prices.

Angkor Archaeological Park

Stretching over some 400 square kilometers, the Angkor Archaeological Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing the magnificent remains of the Khmer Empire of the 9th to the 15th centuries. Passes are required to enter the Angkor area. If you are on a layover, get a 1-day pass at the front gate ($20).

You'll need some form of transportation to get you to and around the site. Options are: Car and driver, motorbike with driver, tuk tuks, bicycles (expect to spend a lot of time pedalling), electric bicycles, horse carriages, elephants, electric cars - or helicopter! You may want to hire a guide, or take a tour, to make the most of your time.


The temples can broadly be categorized into several groups:

Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom - the grandest temple of all and the ancient capital next to it

• Little Circuit (Le Petit Circuit) - taking in major sites to the east of Angkor Thom
• Big Circuit (Le Grand Circuit) - taking in major sites north and further out east
• Roluos group -  15 km east from Siem Reap along National Highway 6
• Outlying temples - located over 20 km from Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat

Located six kilometers north of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is one of the largest of Khmer monuments. Built around the first half of 12th century by King

Suryavarman II, the temple's balance, composition and beauty make it one of the finest monuments in the world. The size of the monuments makes it look overwhelming when one encounters it for the first time; study up ahead of time, if you can, or hire guide.
>Included in our Ancient Temples Private Tour (10 hours)
>Included in our Royal Temples Private Tour (full day)
>Included in our Majestic Angkor Private Tour (4 days / 3 nights)
>Included in our Angkor Adventure Small Group Tour (8-9 hours)

Angkor Thom - Bayon

Built in the latter part of the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, Bayon is one of the most widely recognised temples in Siem Reap because of the giant stone faces that adorn the towers of Bayon. There are 54 towers of four faces each, totaling 216 faces.
>Included in our Ancient Temples Private Tour (10 hours)
>Included in our Royal Temples Private Tour (full day)
>Included in our Angkor Adventure Small Group Tour (8-9 hours)

Angkor Thom - Baphuon

Located to the northwest of the Bayon, the Baphuon is supposed to represent Mount Meru (sacred to Hinduism), and was one of the largest and grandest structures in Angkor. Built into the western face of the Baphuon is a giant reclining Buddha, added in the 16th century after the region converted from Hinduism to Buddhism.
>Included in our Ancient Temples Private Tour (10 hours)
>Included in our Royal Temples Private Tour (full day)
>Included in our Angkor Adventure Small Group Tour (8-9 hours)

Angkor Thom - Phnom Bakheng

The first temple-mountain constructed in Angkor, with a commanding hilltop location, presently under renovation. Extremely popular (and crowded) spot for sunsets. Bring a flashlight.
>Included in our Ancient Temples Private Tour (10 hours)

Other Angkor Thom sights include The Elephant Terrace, The Terrace of the Leper King, and the Phnom Bakheng temple mountain.
>Included in our Ancient Temples Private Tour (10 hours)
>Included in our Royal Temples Private Tour (full day)
>Included in our Angkor Adventure Small Group Tour (8-9 hours)

Little Circuit

In clockwise order, exiting Angkor Thom by the Victory Gate, the temples of Le Petit Circuit are: Ta Keo, Ta Prohm,  Banteay Kdei, Sras Srang and Prasat Kravan.
>Most are included in our Angkor Explorer Cycling Tour (3 Days / 2 Nights)

Ta Prohm is the most notworthy of the circuit, and is best known as the temple where trees have been left intertwined with the stonework. Black and white film photographers especially love it and most of the stunning postcard shots of Angkor's trees come from here; pop culture fans, on the other hand, may recognize a few scenes from Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider.
>Included in our Angkor Explorer Cycling Tour (3 Days / 2 Nights)
>Included in our Majestic Angkor Private Tour (4 days / 3 nights)
>Included in our Angkor Adventure Small Group Tour (8-9 hours)

Big Circuit

In clockwise order, exiting Angkor Thom by the North Gate, the temples of Le Grand Circuit are: Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon, and Pre Rup. Preah Khan is the most popular of the group. Preah Khan was Jayavarman VII's first capital, before the completion of Angkor Wat. Large and atmospheric, yet somewhat overshadowed by Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm, this temple is partly in disrepair with strangler figs crawling up the walls, but has some excellent carvings and less visitors, and is well worth a visit.

Roluos Group

The ruins here are from the ancient capital of Hariharalaya, dating from the late 9th century and thus predating Angkor itself. The group includes:

Bakong (a five-terraced pyramid in the mountain-temple style), Lolei (an island), a temple.temple constructed in a baray, now dry), and Preah Ko (the first temple to be built here, dating from the 9th century).
>Included in our Ancient Temples Private Tour (10 hours)
>Included in our Majestic Angkor Private Tour (4 days / 3 nights)

As always, make sure you leave plenty of time to get back to REP Siem Reap International Airport and clear security in time for your connecting flight. Enjoy your transit city rather than whiling away the time leaning up against your luggage in the departures lounge.