3-Day Siem Reap Itinerary (2026)

Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor, the largest temple complex on earth. Watch sunrise over Angkor Wat's towers, find the tree-strangled ruins of Ta Prohm, then recover with a fish amok and a 0.50 EUR draft beer near Pub Street.

3-day Siem Reap itinerary

1. Day 1: Small circuit - sunrise at Angkor Wat, the stone faces of Bayon in Angkor Thom, tree-covered Ta Prohm
2. Day 2: Banteay Srei's pink sandstone carvings in the morning, Preah Khan, sunset from Pre Rup temple
3. Day 3: Kampong Phluk stilted village boat trip on Tonle Sap lake, Angkor National Museum, Old Market and Pub Street in the evening

Where to stay: neighborhoods that make sense

• Old Market / Pub Street area - the nightlife and restaurant hub; convenient but loud at night
• Wat Bo - across the river from Pub Street, boutique hotels and calmer streets 10 minutes' walk from the action
• Kandal Village - a small pocket of cafes, galleries and guesthouses with the most charm
• Sok San Road - budget guesthouses and bars stretching west of Pub Street

What to eat in Siem Reap

• Fish amok - coconut fish curry steamed in banana leaf, about 4 EUR at a sit-down restaurant
• Beef lok lak - peppery stir-fried beef with lime dip, about 4 EUR
• Num banh chok - morning rice noodles with green fish curry from a street cart, about 1.50 EUR
• Khmer BBQ (phnom pleung) - grill-your-own meat platter, about 6 EUR per person
• Marum - training restaurant for disadvantaged youth, creative Khmer plates around 4-5 EUR

Mistakes most first-timers make

• Buying a 1-day Angkor pass (about 34 EUR) when the 3-day pass (about 57 EUR) is far better value even for two visits
• Not agreeing a tuk-tuk day rate upfront - a full temple day should cost about 15-20 EUR, more for Banteay Srei
• Giving money or sweets to child beggars or visiting 'orphanages' - both fuel documented exploitation; support training restaurants and NGOs instead
• Doing temples straight through midday - start at sunrise, break at the pool from 11am to 3pm, return for sunset

Worth leaving the city for

• Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean (1 hour) - the finest carvings at Angkor plus a riverbed of carved lingas after a jungle walk
• Kampong Phluk (45 minutes plus boat) - stilted village on Tonle Sap lake, best in wet season when houses float above water
• Phnom Kulen (1.5 hours) - sacred mountain with a giant reclining Buddha and swimmable waterfall

Getting around

Siem Reap Angkor International Airport lies about 45 minutes east; a taxi into town costs around 10 EUR. In town tuk-tuks cost 1.50-2 EUR per hop, and a tuk-tuk hired for a full temple day runs 15-20 EUR.

Why this plan won't send you to a closed café

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