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Basing Yourself in Siem Reap: A First-Timer's Guide

Siem Reap, CambodiaJuly 7, 20262 min read
By MASA Editors
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A resort swimming pool in Siem Reap ringed by travellers' palms and banana leaves, with white parasols, loungers and a thatched sala under a bright blue sky01
A resort swimming pool in Siem Reap ringed by travellers' palms and banana leaves, with white parasols, loungers and a thatched sala under a bright blue skyPhoto: Humphrey M / Unsplash

The temples are a short drive north, so what your base really decides is your evenings. A guide to the riverside, the French Quarter, Wat Bo and the road to Angkor — with the landmark hotels on each.

Siem Reap is a small town wrapped around a river, with the Angkor Archaeological Park beginning a few kilometres north of it. Almost everywhere in town is within a short tuk-tuk ride of the temple road, so your choice of base is really a choice about evenings: nightlife on the doorstep, or silence and a garden.

Key facts

  • Distance to Angkor: the main entrance sits a few kilometres north of town, typically 15 to 20 minutes by tuk-tuk.
  • Sunrise starts: most hotels will arrange a driver and a packed breakfast for pre-dawn departures.
  • Best months: the dry months are peak; the wet season brings lower rates and greener temples.
  • Currency: US dollars circulate widely alongside the Cambodian riel.

The French Quarter and riverside: the classic base

The colonial-era heart of town, around the old market and the tree-lined river, puts restaurants, markets and the night scene within walking distance. Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, open since 1932 beside the Royal Gardens, is the landmark: cage lift, colonnaded terrace and the largest hotel pool in town. Belmond La Residence d'Angkor sits directly on the river in a low, teak-heavy Khmer-inspired compound.

The pale roots of a giant strangler fig spilling over the moss-covered stone galleries of Ta Prohm temple in the Angkor complex near Siem Reap
The pale roots of a giant strangler fig spilling over the moss-covered stone galleries of Ta Prohm temple in the Angkor complex near Siem ReapPhoto: James Wheeler / Unsplash

Central, near Pub Street: convenience over calm

If you want everything on foot and do not mind noise until late, stay a block or two from Pub Street and the night markets. The Park Hyatt occupies a white art deco building on the main square and manages to feel serene despite the address. Rates here span the full range, from hostels to five stars, within the same few streets.

The road toward Angkor: resort territory

North and west of the centre, along the main approach to the temples, the larger resorts spread out into gardens and golf courses. Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra and Anantara Angkor sit in this belt, along with Shinta Mani Angkor, whose exuberant contemporary Khmer design came from the studio of Bill Bensley. This is the choice for people who want space, pools and an early temple run.

Banteay Srei, Siem Reap
Banteay Srei, Siem ReapPhoto: Deepavali Gaind / Unsplash

Wat Bo and Kandal Village: quiet with character

East of the river, the Wat Bo area is residential, low-rise and centred on one of the town's oldest pagodas, with a growing cluster of small hotels. Kandal Village, a short lane west of the centre, has become the boutique corner of Siem Reap, with independent shops and cafes. Both are five minutes from the action without being in it.

The design outlier

Amansara occupies the 1960s guesthouse built for King Norodom Sihanouk, a piece of New Khmer Architecture with a handful of suites behind a plain wall. It is the most exclusive address in Cambodia and priced accordingly.

Banteay Srei, Siem Reap
Banteay Srei, Siem ReapPhoto: Reena Yadav / Unsplash

Sok San Road: the budget strip

Guesthouses, hostels and cheap eats concentrated on one road. Loud, sociable and genuinely inexpensive.

Tip: Prioritise a good pool over a good room. You will be out from 4:30am and back by mid-morning, and the middle of a Siem Reap day is best spent horizontal and in water rather than sightseeing.

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