Siem Reap is not like any other place. It is the city that houses the largest concentration of Khmer temples in the world, and an archaeological park classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992. People come for Angkor, but stay for everything else: the cuisine, the markets, Tonlé Sap, and the surrounding countryside. This page gathers what we tell our friends upon arrival — and especially, what we wish we had known before our own first visit.
The Angkor Pass: price, duration, where to buy
Access to the Angkor archaeological park has been paid since 1999, and the revenue directly funds the protection and restoration of the temples by Angkor Enterprise, the public body that manages the tickets. Three options exist, and the choice strictly depends on how much time you want to spend in the park.
Where to buy the pass (and only there)
The Angkor Pass can only be purchased at the official Angkor Enterprise center, located about 4 km from the center of Siem Reap, at the intersection of Apsara Road and Route 60, or online at the official site ticket.angkorenterprise.gov.kh. The ticket office is open every day from 5 AM to 5:30 PM (which gives early risers plenty of time to catch the sunrise). Tickets purchased after 5 PM are valid for the next day.
Beware of offers from tuk-tuks, drivers, or shops selling "passes" in town: these are counterfeits, and you will be turned away at the entrance to the park, losing both your money and half a day. When you purchase the ticket, you will be photographed on-site: the photo is printed on the pass, which cannot be lent or resold.
Free entry and special conditions
- Children under 12 years old: free entry, passport required to prove age.
- Cambodian nationals: free entry upon presentation of a Khmer ID card.
- Cambodian diaspora (K visa): free entry — see section below.
- Foreign residents for more than 2 years: can obtain a free annual pass upon request from Angkor Enterprise, with proof of residence.
- Diplomats, personnel from international organizations, technical experts assigned to ministries: free passes upon request, as well as for their families.
Free Angkor Pass — who benefits
Cambodian nationals
Holders of a Khmer ID card (identity card) enter the archaeological park for free upon presentation of this document.
Cambodian diaspora — K visa
The K visa is a special visa reserved for people of Cambodian origin traveling with a foreign passport (Franco-Cambodians, Khmer-Americans, Cambodians from Australia, etc.). It is free, allows multiple entries, and is valid until the expiration of the passport on which it is affixed. K visa holders are treated like Cambodian nationals — they enter for free into the Angkor archaeological park, upon presentation of their foreign passport bearing the K visa.
How to obtain the K visa?
It is requested at the Cambodian embassy in your country (Paris for France, Washington, Canberra, Ottawa…) by providing: your foreign passport, your birth certificate, and proof of Cambodian nationality from at least one parent (former Khmer passport, Khmer ID card, Cambodian family book). It can also be issued upon arrival at a Cambodian international airport upon presentation of the same documents. It must be renewed on the new passport with each renewal.
Children under 12 years old
Free entry for children under 12 years old, regardless of nationality. A passport or identity document proving age is required.
Foreign residents for more than 2 years
Foreigners legally residing in Cambodia for more than two years can apply for a free annual pass valid for Angkor and the Koh Ker site. The application is made online at spass.angkorenterprise.gov.kh, upon presentation of a copy of the passport and the last two visas. Processing time: 7 working days.
How many days to plan
The answer we always give: three days of visits, four nights on-site. This corresponds exactly to the format of the 3-day pass, which offers the best time-price-coverage ratio. One day for the "small circuit" (Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Bayon), one day for the "big circuit" (Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Pre Rup), one day for Banteay Srei and the peripheral temples, with a half-day in between to relax, visit Tonlé Sap, or engage in an activity outside the temples.
Below one day, you just skim the surface. For a single day, focus on Angkor Wat at sunrise, Ta Prohm late in the morning, and Bayon in the afternoon: it's very packed, but doable. Beyond four days, you enter the 7-day pass and can explore the more distant sites (Beng Mealea, Koh Ker, 2 hours away), perfect for enthusiasts.
Must-see temples
Angkor Wat
The world's largest religious building, facing west, dedicated to Vishnu then Buddha. The outer gallery bas-reliefs are among the finest in Southeast Asia.
Angkor Thom & the Bayon
The royal city and its temple-mountain covered with 216 carved faces — one of Asia's most photogenic sites. Nearby essentials: the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Ta Prohm
The temple swallowed by strangler figs and silk-cotton trees, made famous by Tomb Raider. One of the few deliberately left partly unrestored, evoking how early explorers found Angkor.
Banteay Srei
« Citadel of Women », about 30 km northeast of Siem Reap (45 min–1 hr by road). Small in size, unforgettable for its pink sandstone carvings — often the temple visitors remember best.
Preah Khan & Neak Pean
Preah Khan is a wooded labyrinth, quiet and photogenic. Neak Pean is a temple-island in an ancient reservoir, reached by a boardwalk — a very different mood from the great temple-mountains.
Beyond the temples: what to do in Siem Reap
Many travelers leave Siem Reap thinking they have only seen stones. Too bad: the city and its countryside offer a density of activities rarely found elsewhere in the country. Here are those we wholeheartedly recommend.
English & multilingual guide at Angkor
Private tours in English or other languages — typical supplement around 40 USD/day on top of transport. Our guide to booking and what to expect.
Read the guide →Tonlé Sap & countryside excursions
Operators and trips to floating villages — compare offers in the directory.
View listing →Khmer cuisine & Siem Reap tables
Cuisine Wat Damnak in Phnom Penh is a premier dining destination that blends authentic Cambodian flavours with French culinary techniques.
Browse listings →Phare Circus & nightlife
Shows, bars and night markets — all Siem Reap « going out » listings.
See Siem Reap listings →Quad & bike in the countryside
Village Quad Bike Trails in Phnom Penh: a recommended spot for an enjoyable stay.
View listing →Pub Street & surroundings
Two Bodia Spa locations in the heart of Siem Reap — facing the Old Market and near Pub Street — offer a serene retreat after a day of temple exploration.
View listing →Book your activities in Siem Reap
The most popular tours fill up quickly (sunrise, floating villages, French-speaking guides), especially in high season.
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Where to sleep in Siem Reap
Siem Reap offers the best value for money for accommodation in all of Cambodia. The four main areas to know:
- City Center / Old Market: just steps from Pub Street, restaurants, and markets. Convenient, lively, sometimes noisy.
- Wat Bo / east bank: calm, peaceful, with nice guesthouses and boutique hotels at reasonable prices. Our favorite for a first stay.
- Airport Road / west of the city: large international hotels and luxury resorts, a bit out of the way.
- Countryside / rice fields: Zannier Phum Baitang, Phum Baitang Village, and a few boutique resorts for an immersive experience in the rice fields.
Budget-wise: you can find excellent clean and welcoming guesthouses starting from €15 a night, charming boutique hotels from €60-120, and the Zannier Phum Baitang palace (where Angelina Jolie stayed during the filming of First They Killed My Father) at over €600 per villa. Between the two, the offer is plentiful and well-rated.
Where to eat
Siem Reap has seen a remarkable culinary scene emerge over the past fifteen years. Traditional Khmer cuisine, contemporary fusion, street food, fine dining: there is something for every taste and budget.
- Quality Khmer cuisine: Cuisine Wat Damnak (by French chef Joannès Rivière, multiple times ranked in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, first Cambodian restaurant to feature), Pou Restaurant, Mie Café.
- Street food and markets: the Angkor night market for num banhchok, skewers, and grilled bananas. Psar Leu market for a local breakfast.
- Fusion cuisine and ambiance: Marum (cooking school supporting youth in reintegration), Haven.
- In the evening, around Pub Street: a bit of everything, including tourist traps. Prefer side streets (Street 11, The Passage).
Getting around the park
The Angkor archaeological park covers over 400 km². It's impossible to visit on foot. Three options for getting around:
- Day tuk-tuk: the most pleasant solution, from 20 to 30 USD per day. The driver waits for you at each temple. Reasonable comfort, natural air, ambiance.
- Car with air-conditioned driver: 40 to 60 USD per day. Essential for Banteay Srei and distant temples, or if the heat is really intense.
- Bicycle or e-bike: starting from 5 USD per day, a sporty and very satisfying option for the small circuit. Leave early and bring plenty of water.
A licensed French-speaking guide costs about 40 USD per day in addition to transportation and completely changes the visit for those who want to understand what they are looking at. Visits without a guide are obviously possible — it’s just that you miss out on the essence of the beauty of the temples, which lies in the stories they tell.
When to go
- November to February: cool dry season, 25 to 30 °C, blue skies. The best time, and the most touristy — book hotels in advance.
- March to May: hot dry season, up to 40 °C. Fewer people, lower prices, but the heat makes visits challenging after 10 AM.
- June to October: rainy season. Daily showers in the late afternoon, never all day. Advantages: stunning jungle, temples half-empty, water everywhere in the moats. This is our favorite season for the light.
Our tips from residents
- Proper attire in temples: shoulders and knees covered, mandatory to enter the central tower of Angkor Wat. A light sarong in your bag saves the day.
- Water, lots of water: 3 liters per person for a full day is a minimum in the hot season. Vendors at the temple entrances offer cold bottles for 1 USD.
- Prioritize sunrise: you experience an irreplaceable moment and avoid the harshest heat. Plan to be at the ticket office by 5:15 AM and at Angkor Wat by 5:45 AM at the latest.
- Respect the places of worship: the monks you encounter in the park are not actors. No photos without permission, nor posing on statues.
- Drones are prohibited throughout the archaeological park, except with official permission from Angkor Enterprise.
- Currency: the US dollar is accepted everywhere. Small expenses (water, tuk-tuk) can also be paid in riels (4,000 riels ≈ 1 USD). No need to exchange before arriving.
- Airport: the new Siem Reap-Angkor international airport (SAI), opened at the end of 2023, is located 50 km from the center — expect a 1-hour drive and about 20 USD by taxi. The old airport is closed to commercial traffic.
Frequently asked questions
Official Angkor Enterprise rates are 37 USD for a 1-day pass, 62 USD for a 3-day pass (valid 10 days, non-consecutive visits) and 72 USD for a 7-day pass (valid one month, non-consecutive visits). Children under 12 enter free with a passport proving their age.
Three cases: Cambodian nationals (Khmer ID), visa K holders (Cambodian diaspora on a foreign passport — treated like nationals), children under 12 (passport required), and foreigners legally resident in Cambodia for more than 2 years (free annual pass via spass.angkorenterprise.gov.kh).
Three days of visits, four nights on site. That matches the 3-day pass, which offers the best value. Less than that feels rushed; more opens distant temples with a 7-day pass.
Only at the official Angkor Enterprise centre (Apsara Road / Route 60 junction, about 4 km from downtown Siem Reap) or online at ticket.angkorenterprise.gov.kh. Open daily 5 AM–5:30 PM. Any other seller is fraudulent.
5 AM for Angkor Wat and Srah Srang (sunrise). 7:30 AM for other temples. Closing at 5:30 PM (Phnom Bakheng until 7 PM for sunset).
Yes, without issue. Once you have your pass, access is open. We still recommend a French- or English-speaking guide for at least one day — about 40 USD, and it changes the visit.
No — neither necessary nor recommended. Buy on arrival or online the day before if you prefer. Passes never sell out.
November to February: dry season, mild temperatures, blue skies. Rainy season (June–October): superb landscapes, quiet temples, short afternoon showers.