About Siem Reap

Siem Reap is the capital city of the province of Siem Reap. Located about 314 km northwest of the capital Phnom Penh,
this city is close to the archaeological site of Angkor.
It is therefore a must-see destination for tourists in Cambodia.
It is considered the gateway to the famous temples of Angkor, the most important tourist attraction of Siem Reap and Cambodia.

History of Siem Reap

The word Siem Reap, which means "Siamese struck down", evokes a battle between the Siamese and Khmer armies.
The Siamese army was an army that came from the kingdom of Siam, now known as Thailand.

The province of Siem Reap was, in 1907, dominated by the Siamese army.
A century later, it was returned to the Cambodian administration.
The EFEO, the French School of the Far East, was designated as responsible for clearing, restoring and maintaining the Angkor site.

Siem Reap Today

The city of Siem Reap is a city in full development. Its tourist attractions are booming.

The tourism sector has therefore begun to accelerate since the 2000s.
Guarantor of the entry of foreign capital, most of the hotels and shops in the city are built around the old market.
The rest is concentrated in the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport area and along National Highway 6.
Since 1994, the temples of Angkor have also begun to flourish touristically.
The architecture of the city today is shaped by a modern and colonial style.
This reflects the history of the passage of the French to Cambodia.

Siem Reap is thus home to a French quarter which is located around the old market.
The structure there is a colonial-style design with many elements of traditional Khmer architecture.
In 2008, the population of Siem Reap was approximately 175,000.

The majority of its inhabitants have Vietnamese origins. In the 1970s, during the war against the Americans,
many Vietnamese fled their country to settle in this part of Cambodia.

The activity most appreciated by tourists in the region is eating like a Khmer.
Khmer gastronomy is considered by locals as a culinary heritage in its own right.

In general, Khmers have the habit of eating while sitting on the ground. In contrast to this, by its colonial history,
the city also sees the development of foreign gastronomy.
During your visit, you can find French and Italian gastronomy.

Siem Reap is also known for its liquor called Sombai.
This is a local drink inspired by Sraa Tram, a steeped wine that Cambodians traditionally drink.
The bottles of these drinks are painted by hand, which makes these drinks handicrafts very popular among tourists in Cambodia.
In town, there is even a tasting room reserved for this drink in a traditional Khmer-style wooden house.
This fair is now one of the city's tourist attractions.

To retrace the entire history of Khmer civilization, the Angkor National Museum remains an essential destination during the visit to the city of Siem Reap.

It presents several galleries that preserve the cultural and historical heritage of the region.
These objects also testify to the richness of local art in ancient times.
The Tonlé Sap is the guarantor of the biodiversity of the city of Siem Reap. The word Tonle Sap means in Khmer "a great river of fresh water".

It is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.
There are nearly 300 species of freshwater fish and more than 100 varieties of aquatic birds such as storks and pelicans.

Located a few kilometers from Siem Reap, the temples of Angkor remain the most important attraction of the province of Siem Reap and Cambodia. 
It is also one of the major places of Buddhist pilgrimage in Southeast Asia. This is a vast archaeological site that is classified as the Museum of Angkorian Civilization.

Between the ruins and ancient architecture, during your visit, you can discover the last great capital of the Angkorian Empire.

Siem Reap Weather

The city of Siem Reap enjoys a tropical climate with a dry winter and a very humid summer with a high rate of precipitation. It records an average rainfall of 29.9 mm. 
In September, during the rainy season, it is subject to more than 500mm of precipitation.
The average temperature throughout the year is 28.9°C. April is the hottest month of the year, the temperature can reach 41°C.
During the coldest time of the year, in December, the temperature can drop to 26°C.

How To Go To Siem Reap

By Plane

The city has an international airport called Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport. It is a 30-minute tuk-tuk ride from the city center.

By Boat

Every day at 7 am, the city of Siem Reap connects the city of Phnom Penh by boat going up the Tonlé Sap from a small village located 13 km from Siem Reap. 
The boat connects the two cities in about 4 to 5 hours.

By Bus

Siem Reap has a bus station which is located 8 km from the city center. From Phnom Penh, the trip can take 6 to 7 hours. 
It is also served by several local or cross-border bus lines such as buses from Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

How to Get Around Siem Reap

Bike

To discover the beauty of the city, it is more convenient to travel around the city by bicycle.
Widely used by Cambodians, this means of transport remains the best way to adopt the local color.

Tuk-Tuk

Siem Reap is served by tuk-tuk. It is the most common means of transport in the city.
The fare will depend on the route to be taken and the number of passengers on board.

What to Do in Siem Reap

Explore the famous temples of Angkor to know the ancient Angkorian civilization. Go to Tonlé Sap Lake and let yourself be guided by small boats to discover the floating villages.
Visit the Angkor National Museum.