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How many days in Siem Reap? 3 days at Angkor, plus the lake and the town
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Siem Reap is the town next to Angkor, the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century, with hundreds of temples spread over 400 square kilometres of forest. Three days with the 3-day Angkor Pass is the ideal length: one day for Angkor Wat at sunrise and Angkor Thom with the faces of the Bayon, one for Ta Prohm and the 'Grand Circuit', and one for the pink-stone carvings of Banteay Srei and the more remote temples. Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the whole stay: it is cheap and the drivers know the best order to avoid crowds.
Short answer
Two days covers Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, the Bayon and Ta Prohm. Three days add Banteay Srei, the outer temples and a slower pace in the heat.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Sunrise at Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom
Morning. Buy the Angkor Pass at the official ticket office (about US$37 for one day, US$62 for three days, valid over 10 days; your photo is printed on it) and be at Angkor Wat at about 5:00 for sunrise behind the towers, reflected in the north pond. Then explore the temple, with 800 metres of bas-reliefs, including the Churning of the Ocean of Milk.
Afternoon. Enter Angkor Thom by the South Gate with its causeway of gods and demons, and visit the Bayon, with 216 smiling stone faces, the Baphuon and the Terrace of the Elephants. Rest at your hotel through the hottest hours.
Evening. Watch the sunset from Phnom Bakheng hill (visitor numbers are limited) or Pre Rup, then eat in town.
Upper levels of Angkor Wat require covered shoulders and knees, and close on Buddhist holy days.
Day 2: Ta Prohm and the Grand Circuit
Morning. Go early to Ta Prohm, the 'Tomb Raider temple', left partly to the jungle, with silk-cotton and strangler fig trees growing over the walls. Then Ta Keo, an unfinished temple-mountain, and Banteay Kdei.
Afternoon. Drive the Grand Circuit: Preah Khan, a huge monastery of corridors and carvings, Neak Pean, a temple on an island in an artificial pool, and Ta Som, with a gate covered by a tree.
Evening. See the Phare, the Cambodian Circus (about US$20-40), a theatre-circus by young performers from a social enterprise, then Pub Street.
A tuk-tuk with driver costs about US$15-25 per day for the inner temples, more for the outer ones.
Day 3: Banteay Srei and the outer temples
Morning. Drive about 45 minutes to Banteay Srei (10th century), the 'citadel of women', a small temple of pink sandstone with the finest carvings at Angkor. Continue to Kbal Spean, a riverbed carved with Hindu figures and lingams (about 40 minutes' walk uphill).
Afternoon. Visit the Cambodia Landmine Museum, founded by a former child soldier, or Beng Mealea (separate ticket, about 1 hour away), a jungle-covered temple you explore over fallen stones.
Evening. Alternatively, take a boat on Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia's largest lake, to see a floating village at sunset (Kompong Phluk or Kompong Khleang are less touristy than Chong Kneas).
Choose floating-village tours carefully; some ask for 'donations' at inflated prices.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 and Day 2 and buy the 3-day pass anyway if you might add a morning.
Got extra days?
With more time, visit Koh Ker, a remote 10th-century capital with a seven-tiered pyramid (about 2.5 hours), or continue to Phnom Penh (about 5-6 hours by bus) and the beaches of the south.
Where to stay in Siem Reap
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Guesthouses near Pub Street / Wat Bo | Cheap rooms with pools, walking distance to restaurants. | US$15-35 |
| Mid-range | Boutique hotels on the river | Pools, quiet, tuk-tuk ride to the temples. | US$50-110 |
| Mid-range | Villas in Wat Damnak area | Leafy streets, restaurants, close to the centre. | US$60-120 |
| Comfort | Luxury resorts | Colonial-style and design resorts with spas. | US$200-600 |
Getting around
Hire a tuk-tuk (about US$15-25 per day) or a car with driver for the temples; cycling around the inner temples is possible but hot. In town, use tuk-tuks or the PassApp and Grab apps. The new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is about 40-50 km from town (about 1 hour); shuttles and taxis are available. Most visitors need a Cambodian e-visa.
What to eat in Siem Reap
Khmer food is fragrant and less spicy than Thai. Try fish amok (fish steamed in coconut curry in a banana leaf), lok lak (stir-fried beef with a lime-pepper dip), nom banh chok (rice noodles with a fish-based green curry, a breakfast dish), and Khmer red curry. Many restaurants train underprivileged young people, such as Haven. A local meal costs US$3-6; a restaurant dinner US$10-20. The US dollar is used everywhere, with change given in riel.
Best time to visit
November to February is the cool, dry season, with highs of 30-32°C; it is the busiest. March to May is very hot (above 35°C). June to October is the rainy season, with short afternoon storms, green landscapes, fewer people and full moats at Angkor.
Month-by-month weather for Siem Reap →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | US$10 | US$40 | US$200 |
| Food & drink | US$10 | US$25 | US$60 |
| Angkor pass (per day of a 3-day pass) | US$21 | US$21 | US$21 |
| Tuk-tuk / guide | US$8 | US$20 | US$60 |
| Total per person, per day | about US$50 | about US$105 | about US$340 |
Approximate 2026 prices in US dollars, the currency used in tourism. Buy Angkor passes only from the official Angkor Enterprise outlets or website.
Before you go
Common questions
Is the 3-day Angkor Pass worth it?
Yes if you stay three days: it costs much less than three single-day passes, and its 10-day validity means you can take rest days in between.
Do I need a guide?
Not necessary, but a licensed guide for the first day explains the history and the bas-reliefs. Tuk-tuk drivers know the routes but are not guides.
When is the best sunrise at Angkor Wat?
From the left (north) pond in front of the temple. Around the spring and autumn equinoxes, the sun rises directly over the central tower.
What should I wear?
Light clothes that cover shoulders and knees, comfortable shoes for steep stairs, a hat and sunscreen.
Is Siem Reap safe?
Yes. Watch for scams, such as children asking for milk for a baby, and fake donations at floating villages.
Can I use US dollars?
Yes: prices are usually in dollars, with small change given in Cambodian riel. Bring clean, undamaged notes.
Is Siem Reap good for families?
Yes: older children enjoy the temples, especially Ta Prohm and the Bayon. Plan early mornings and rest at midday.
Can I visit Angkor by bicycle?
Yes: the inner temples, from Angkor Wat to Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm, form a circuit of about 25-30 km on flat roads, and many guesthouses rent bikes or e-bikes. Start early, carry plenty of water, and use a tuk-tuk for distant temples.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, from experience planning Southeast Asia trips. Prices are approximate for 2026; confirm on the official Angkor Enterprise, Cambodia e-visa and Phare websites before booking.
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