Siem Reap walking tour & city guide

The town and the temples of Angkor

The centre of town is the Old Market, Psar Chas, surrounded by streets of low shophouses, cafés and craft shops. The Siem Reap River runs just beside it, with shady paths and small bridges along its banks, and several Buddhist pagodas, such as Wat Preah Prom Rath, sit in quiet courtyards right in the centre. After dark, the streets around the market and the night markets fill with people.

A few kilometres north lies the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, is famous for sunrise over its towers; Angkor Thom, the walled city, holds the Bayon temple with its many carved stone faces; and Ta Prohm has been left half-swallowed by giant tree roots.

A classic walk: the Old Market and the riverside

Start early at the Old Market, when locals shop for fish, fruit and vegetables, and then walk along the river under the trees, crossing back and forth by the footbridges. Stop at Wat Preah Prom Rath and the Royal Independence Gardens on the way north.

Spend the afternoon at the temples, then return to town at dusk to walk through the night markets and the streets around Pub Street, busy with street food and music in the evening.

Good to know

November to February is the best time, dry and comfortably warm; April is the hottest month, and the green rainy season from about June to October brings lush scenery and fewer visitors. An Angkor Pass, sold for one, three or seven days, is needed for the temples. Tuk-tuks and bicycles are the usual way to get around. Cover shoulders and knees inside the temples, and bring water and a hat.