Where to stay in Siem Reap

Siem Reap is the town most people use as a base for the temples of Angkor, the UNESCO World Heritage site that includes Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and the Bayon. The main temples begin a few kilometres north of town, so you sleep in Siem Reap and head out each morning by tuk-tuk, bicycle, car or with a guide.

The town itself is compact and easy-going. A small river runs north to south through the middle, the Old Market and Pub Street form the busy core, and the lanes around them are full of family-run guesthouses, social hostels and boutique hotels with pools, which matter a lot in the heat. Most of the places we list are small and independently run. Filter them by area, type and features below, or read the area guide first.

Nearest airport
Siem Reap–Angkor International (SAI), roughly 45 km east of town; it replaced the old airport in 2023
The temples
Angkor Wat is around 6 to 7 km north of the town centre; you need an Angkor Pass to enter the park
Getting around
Tuk-tuks, ride-hailing apps such as PassApp and Grab, bicycles and hired drivers
Driest months
Usually November to April; the rainy season runs roughly May to October

Places to stay in Siem Reap

33 hotels

Hotel in Riverside & Royal Gardens

K.K. Inn

Landscaped gardens, a cocktail bar and a restaurant near King's Road

  • garden
  • air-conditioning
  • free Wi-Fi
See today's offers

Hotel in Old Market & Pub Street

Solar Hotel

A newer hotel with a pool, gym and sauna, about a kilometre from Pub Street

  • pool
  • garden
  • air-conditioning
See today's offers

"Our order" puts hotels we have fully written up first. Commission doesn't affect the order.

Where to stay in Siem Reap, area by area

Almost everything is within a short tuk-tuk ride of everything else, so the choice is mainly between being in the thick of things or a little way out where it's quieter. The road north to the temples starts from the centre of town.

Taphul

Best for budget stays close to the centre

A grid of residential streets west of Sivatha Boulevard, long popular with backpackers and budget travellers. Taphul has plenty of guesthouses and simple hotels, local eateries and a more everyday feel, yet Pub Street and the Old Market are usually a 10 to 20-minute walk away. It suits anyone who wants walking access to the centre without sleeping right next to the bars.

Puok & the countryside

Best for rural homestays and village life

Beyond the edge of town, rice fields, stilt houses and pagodas take over. Puok district, to the west along National Road 6, is home to the Angkor Silk Farm and a handful of family homestays. You trade restaurants on the doorstep for space and quiet, and you'll need a tuk-tuk or driver for the temples and for evenings in town.

Old Market & Pub Street

Best for nightlife and first visits

The centre of tourist Siem Reap. Pub Street and the alleys around it are lined with bars, restaurants, massage shops and cafés, the Old Market (Psar Chaa) sells everything from spices to souvenirs, and the night markets open as the heat drops. It's lively until late, which is the point for many visitors and a drawback for light sleepers. Hotels a couple of streets back often give you the convenience with less noise.

Riverside & Royal Gardens

Best for walkable stays a little calmer than Pub Street

The Siem Reap River runs north from the Old Market past the Royal Gardens, the Royal Residence and the shrine of Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chom, where locals come to pray and leave offerings, with shady paths along both banks. On the east bank, the King's Road Angkor dining and shopping area faces the Old Market, and the lanes behind it lead into the Wat Bo neighbourhood, which has a good spread of boutique hotels and restaurants.

It's an easy walk to Pub Street from most of this area, but the evenings are noticeably quieter.

Road to Angkor

Best for early starts at the temples

Charles de Gaulle Boulevard leads north out of town towards the temples, passing the Angkor National Museum and a string of larger resorts. Further on, around Wat Thmei and the road towards the park, hotels get greener and more spread out. Staying on this side shaves a few minutes off the ride for sunrise at Angkor Wat; the trade-off is a tuk-tuk ride into town for dinner.

Questions about staying in Siem Reap

Which area of Siem Reap is best for a first visit?

Around the Old Market and Pub Street if you want restaurants, bars and markets on foot. If you'd rather sleep somewhere quieter but still walk into the centre, look at the riverside streets or Taphul.

How many days do I need in Siem Reap?

Most visitors spend two or three days at the temples, enough for Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and the Bayon, Ta Prohm and one of the outer sites. Add a day or two for the town, the Tonle Sap lake or the countryside. Angkor Passes are sold for one, three and seven days.

How do I get from the airport to my hotel?

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport is a long way out of town, roughly 45 km to the east, so allow around an hour by road. Taxis and an airport shuttle bus run into town, and many hotels arrange pick-ups. Check the latest options and fares before you fly.

Is it worth staying near the temples rather than in town?

Only if early starts are your priority. The main temples are a short tuk-tuk ride from the centre wherever you stay, and almost all the restaurants and evening life are in town.

When is the best time to visit Siem Reap?

The dry, slightly cooler months from November to February are the most comfortable and the busiest. March to May is very hot. The rainy season, roughly May to October, brings green landscapes, fewer visitors and usually short, heavy downpours rather than all-day rain.

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