From temple visits and wellness retreats to delightful dining and modern takes on traditional crafts, Cambodia’s cultural heart overflows with experiences you shouldn’t miss
Every year, travellers from around the world make a beeline for the ruins of Angkor. This was the seat of the once-mighty Khmer Empire, just outside Siem Reap, Cambodia’s second-largest city. At its peak, the empire stretched across much of mainland Southeast Asia, boasting some of the pre-industrial world’s most advanced cities, with sprawling temples, innovative water-management systems and incredible art. Today, what remains of the glorious past stands as a jewel in the crown of Cambodia’s tourism landscape.
Come for the Unesco-inscribed World Heritage Site and stay for the many ways Siem Reap rewards visitors: a scenic, compact urban centre you can explore on foot; a wide variety of adventures from temple-hopping and hiking to wakeboarding and cycling; and, if you choose, a slower pace of long, hotel brunches, three-hour massages and sound bowl therapy sessions.
The ideal time to spend in Siem Reap? At least a week, though with thoughtful planning, you can squeeze the highlights into three full days. Here’s how.
Friday
Morning. Angkor Archaeological Park is vast, with over 70 temples and water bodies in varying sizes and stages of restoration, so plan your stops well. Secure a temple pass (angkorenterprise.gov.kh), pre-book transport and a professional guide through your hotel concierge and start your visit before dawn to catch the jaw-dropping sunrise.
For first-timers, the usual route includes the iconic Angkor Wat and several temples within Angkor Thom, the 12th-century city built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, the empire’s first Buddhist king and perhaps its most revered ruler. Angkor Thom is considered the last major capital of the Khmer empire, and within its walls, Jayavarman led a massive building campaign of temples, hospitals and libraries.
Highlights include Bayon, with stone-carved Buddha faces said to be modelled on the king’s own; Ta Prohm, made famous by Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider; and the quietly sublime Preah Khan, with its atmospheric corridors, inner sanctums and fortified walls adorned with garuda – mythical, eagle-like divine creatures – dedicated by Jayavarman to his father. These ancient ruins are alive with stories, and the key to truly appreciating them is to go slowly, take your time and notice the small details.
Afternoon. Indulge in a feast of traditional food that tastes as good as it looks. Butterfly Pea (National Rd 6; butterflypearestaurant.com), set in a colourful old wooden house, serves set menus featuring some of Khmer cuisine’s most beloved dishes, including smoked duck salad, sour soups and prahok ktis (dipping sauce), a fermented fish paste bursting with umami, usually served with blanched vegetables.
Walk off lunch at Satcha Handicraft (256 BBU Rd; satcha-handicraft.com), an open-air craft museum and incubation centre where weavers, jewellers, painters and carvers work on site. Satcha’s bamboo tent-like structures are impressive, reflecting the centre’s mission to foster a sustainable craft industry for highly skilled local artisans.
Evening. Return to the archaeological park in time for the spectacular sunset from Phnom Bakheng, one of the best sunset-viewing hilltop spots in Siem Reap. End the day immersed in heritage with a traditional Khmer dinner and a mesmerising classical dance performance at Apsara Theatre (Wat Bo Rd, St 26; apsaratheatre.asia), a stunning, gilded venue in the heart of the city.
Saturday
Morning. Hire a car for Phnom Kulen National Park, a sacred mountain massif about an hour from town and considered the birthplace of the kingdom of Angkor. Ideally, this is a full-day trip, but if you’re pressed for time, make sure to take in the cliffside viewpoints. Visit the 16th-century Preah Ang Thom Pagoda and its 8m-tall reclining Buddha carved into sandstone, then hike to the River of a Thousand Lingas where, as the name suggests, thousands of lingas – phallic symbols representing the Hindu god Shiva – are carved into the riverbed.
Afternoon. Enjoy a late lunch at Haven (Chocolate Rd; havencambodia.com), a social enterprise and training restaurant for underprivileged young adults. The menu is thoughtful and extensive, featuring Cambodian and Asian dishes, with plenty of plant-based options. Don’t leave without trying their vegan spiced carrot cake, served with a side of mango-passionfruit sorbet.
Day two is perfect for a well-deserved pampering. Head to Bodia Spa (Pub Street or Old Market; bodia-spa.com) for the Angkor Package, a 150-minute treatment including a 70-minute massage, a body scrub and a facial. You’ll leave feeling completely renewed.
Evening. Settle in for dinner along centrally located Street 26 in Wat Bo Village. Options include vegetarian institution Banlle (@banlle_restaurant) with its tofu-based prahok ktis (dipping sauce); French restaurant La Cabane (@lacabanesiemreap) for galettes or steak; and the delightful Tevy’s Place (@tevysplace), offering Khmer and Western dishes – the pan-fried chicken leg and ginger fish are must-tries.
Enjoy an evening stroll along the photogenic river to the Old Market for souvenirs – don’t miss the roasted Cambodian cashews – before soaking up the lively beats of Pub Street, Siem Reap’s late-night dining and entertainment hub.
Sunday
Morning. If you’re in town on the first Sunday of the month, book a brunch at Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor (Khum, Preah Sihanouk Ave; raffles.com/siemreap). A long, leisurely buffet meal by the Royal Gardens (across from the Royal Residence) offers more than a filling spread; it’s also a glimpse into a bygone era of luxury travel. Opened in 1932 as the Grand Hotel D’Angkor, the venue has welcomed a parade of notable guests, from Charlie Chaplin and Somerset Maugham to Michelle Obama.
Afternoon. The best souvenirs tell the story of a place. Begin at Satu (shopsatu.com) on Pokambor Avenue for small, easy-to-pack items: jars of Unesco-inscribed Kampot pepper, hand-knitted stuffed elephants inspired by Cambodia’s beloved creatures and handcrafted perfumes by Saarti (saarti-cambodia.com) that capture the scents of the country.
End at Kandal Shopping Street, lined with boutiques stocking artisan-made wearable art. Browse endless options from rattan handbags and homeware at Manava (manava-cambodia.com) to silk and cotton scarves at Louise Loubatieres (louiseloubatieres.com) and silver jewellery at Garden of Desire (gardenofdesire-asia.com).
Evening. Book an early, private sound bowl session at Alchemy Movement and Wellness (Vihear Chin Village, 25 Smiling Circuit; alchemymovementandwellness.com) to close out your holiday. It usually lasts an hour, leaving you relaxed and ready for a final meal at Jomno (Wat Damnak Siem Reap; jomnomodernkhmercuisine.com), which serves modern takes on Siem Reap street food in fancy plating. If you’re up for a gourmet experience in a swish setting, book a table at Embassy by chef Kimsan Pol (Corner Street 5 Sangkat Mondul 1 Village; embassy-restaurant.com) – a tasteful, flavourful send-off to the weekend.
Best of the boutique stays
Maison Polanka
Cosy and highly atmospheric, with traditional wooden villas and gorgeous interiors. maisonpolanka.com
Viroth’s Villa
Imagine a glamorous, chic 1960s summer villa in the tropics, paired with charming and attentive service. viroth-villa.com
Treeline
This design-led property has a fantastic spa, a Brown coffee shop and a gorgeous restaurant with a riverside view. treelinehotels.com
