Flights from Xiamen (XMN) to Siem Reap (SAI)

About Siem Reap

Discover Siem Reap

Why visit Siem Reap?
Siem Reap is the gateway to the legendary Angkor complex, where atmospheric ruins rise from the jungle just beyond a welcoming riverside town. You will find a relaxed base with leafy streets, boutique hotels, and cafes that make it easy to balance exploration and downtime.

What to expect
In town, heritage shophouses, art galleries, and contemporary spaces sit alongside the river, while nearby villages offer views of rice fields and traditional wooden homes. Evenings are lively but unhurried, with a compact centre that is easy to navigate on foot or by tuk-tuk.

Plan your trip
Most travellers use Siem Reap as a base for exploring Angkor Archaeological Park, floating communities on the Tonlé Sap, and countryside cycling routes. With growing flight connections, it also works well as a starting point for wider journeys through Cambodia and neighbouring countries.

Top sights in Siem Reap

Angkor Wat

Explore the vast main temple of Angkor, renowned for its towers, intricate carvings, and spectacular sunrise views over the surrounding moat.

Bayon and Angkor Thom

Wander through Angkor Thom to see Bayon, famous for its many serene stone faces and maze of galleries and terraces.

Ta Prohm

Discover Ta Prohm, where massive tree roots intertwine with ancient stone walls, creating one of Angkor’s most atmospheric sites.

Tonlé Sap Lake

Take a boat trip on Tonlé Sap Lake to see stilted and floating communities and experience life along Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake.

Angkor National Museum

Visit Angkor National Museum in town to learn the history and symbolism behind the temples before or after your park visit.

Siem Reap Old Market

Browse the Old Market area for souvenirs, textiles, and everyday local goods in a lively central location near the river.

Phare, The Cambodian Circus

Enjoy an evening performance of contemporary circus that blends storytelling, acrobatics, and live music in an intimate big-top setting.

Countryside cycling

Join a cycling tour along red-dirt tracks passing rice paddies, small villages, and quiet back roads just outside the town centre.

Experience Siem Reap’s everyday rhythm

Getting around
Tuk-tuks are the most convenient way to move between town, hotels, and the Angkor temples, offering open-air views along the way. For longer days in the park, arrange a driver through your hotel, and use bicycles or walking to explore smaller paths around the ruins.

Local life & culture
Around the riverside and central streets you will find galleries, craft studios, and small performance spaces that showcase local creativity. Neighbourhood cafes and relaxed bars create an easy-going atmosphere where visitors and residents mix, especially in the early evening.

Where to unwind
Many hotels offer pools and leafy courtyards where you can cool off after time at the temples. Outside town, quiet lanes and rice fields provide gentle walking or cycling, while sunset is an ideal moment to pause by the river or a rooftop terrace.

A taste of Siem Reap

Street food & local specialties
You can sample local dishes at small eateries and street stalls around the Old Market and riverside areas. Noodle soups, grilled snacks, and rice dishes are easy to try, and many venues have simple menus with pictures to help you choose.

Casual & modern dining hubs
Central streets close to the river offer a wide mix of casual restaurants, from local kitchens to Asian and Western options. Many menus are designed for sharing, so you can try several smaller plates across an unhurried evening meal.

Signature & scenic dining
For something memorable, look for restaurants in restored heritage buildings or modern spaces with garden views. Some hotels and rooftop venues offer open-air terraces where you can dine with a view over the town’s treetops and soft evening lights.

Retail therapy in Siem Reap

Malls & lifestyle hubs
Siem Reap’s shopping is centred more on smaller complexes and standalone boutiques than large malls. In the town core you will find compact centres that combine shops, cafes, and services in one convenient stop.

Markets & local crafts
The Old Market area and nearby streets host stalls and small shops selling textiles, handmade accessories, artwork, and homeware. Neighbourhoods just off the main streets often hide independent ateliers where you can discover locally produced designs.

Evening retail scene
After dark, central streets become livelier with illuminated shopfronts and stalls staying open into the evening. Night-time browsing fits easily around dinner, and short tuk-tuk rides make it simple to reach different pockets of shops around town.

Best time to visit Siem Reap

Cool dry season (peak season)
From November to February, temperatures are usually around 22–30°C (72–86°F) with lower humidity and clear skies. This is peak season, ideal for full days at Angkor, cycling in the countryside, and comfortable evenings by the river.

Hot season (shoulder season)
March to May brings hotter days, often 26–35°C (79–95°F), with intense sunshine and a bright, hazy sky. As a shoulder season, it rewards early-morning temple visits, quieter sites in the midday heat, and long, warm evenings by the pool or in shaded cafes.

Green rainy season (low season)
June to October is the green season, with short, often intense showers and temperatures around 24–32°C (75–90°F). Lush rice fields, dramatic skies, and fewer crowds make this a relaxed low season, and the moats and reservoirs around Angkor look especially full and reflective.

Frequently Asked Questions