What currency is used in Siem Reap?

Siem Reap uses the Cambodian riel (KHR); US dollars are widely used, with change under a dollar often given in riel.

What is the emergency number in Siem Reap?

In Siem Reap, call 117 for police, 119 for an ambulance, 118 for fire.

How much does a day in Siem Reap cost?

Roughly $25-40 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $60-110 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Siem Reap?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Siem Reap without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Siem Reap travel guide

Cambodia

The gateway to the temples of Angkor, Siem Reap is a laid-back riverside town of markets, guesthouses and garden restaurants, with Angkor Wat a short tuk-tuk ride to the north.

Essentials

Language: Khmer; English is widely spoken in the tourist trade
Currency: Cambodian riel (KHR); US dollars are widely used, with change under a dollar often given in riel
Plugs: Types A, C and G, 230 V
Emergency number: 117 for police, 119 for an ambulance, 118 for fire
Tipping: Not traditional, but appreciated, especially by tuk-tuk drivers and temple guides.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $25-40, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $60-110, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Siem Reap

Old Market: the central market area, close to restaurants and the busy Pub Street.
Wat Bo: a calmer area east of the river, built around one of the town's oldest pagodas.
Angkor Archaeological Park: Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm, spread across a wide forested park.

Getting around Siem Reap

Tuk-tuks are everywhere; for the temples, hire one with a driver for the whole day and agree the route and fare first. The town centre is easy to walk or cycle.

Best time to visit Siem Reap

November to February, the cool dry season; April and May are very hot.

Top things to do in Siem Reap

Watch sunrise over the towers of Angkor Wat from beside the reflecting pools
See the carved stone faces of the Bayon at the centre of Angkor Thom
Walk through Ta Prohm, where tree roots have grown over the temple walls
Ride out to Banteay Srei, a small temple of finely carved pink sandstone north of the main group
Catch an evening show at Phare, the Cambodian circus of acrobatics and theatre

What to eat in Siem Reap

Fish amok: fish steamed in a coconut curry custard, often in a banana-leaf cup
Lok lak: stir-fried beef served with a lime and black pepper dipping sauce
Nom banh chok: rice noodles with a green fish curry and fresh herbs, a breakfast staple
Kuy teav: a clear pork noodle soup eaten for breakfast

Day trips from Siem Reap

Beng Mealea: a vast, largely unrestored temple swallowed by jungle, about 90 minutes east
Kampong Phluk: a village of houses on tall stilts at the edge of the Tonle Sap lake, about an hour away
Phnom Kulen: a sacred hill with a waterfall and carvings in the riverbed, around 90 minutes north-east

Local etiquette

Remove your shoes and hat in pagodas, and women should not touch monks. A sampeah, palms pressed together with a slight bow, is the polite greeting.

Staying connected

Cheap SIMs from Cellcard, Smart or Metfone are sold at the airport and in town with a passport, and Wi-Fi is standard in guesthouses and cafés.

Staying safe

Petty theft, including bag snatching from passing motorbikes at night, is the main risk in town. Decline requests to buy milk powder for a baby and avoid orphanage visits; in remote countryside stay on used paths, as land mine clearance is not finished everywhere in Cambodia.

A local tip

Carry water and cover your shoulders and knees, which is required to climb to the upper level of Angkor Wat.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Siem Reap on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Siem Reap for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Siem Reap, you could be one of the first hosts.

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Questions about Siem Reap

What currency is used in Siem Reap?: Siem Reap uses the Cambodian riel (KHR); US dollars are widely used, with change under a dollar often given in riel.
What is the emergency number in Siem Reap?: In Siem Reap, call 117 for police, 119 for an ambulance, 118 for fire.
When is the best time to visit Siem Reap?: November to February, the cool dry season; April and May are very hot.
How much does a day in Siem Reap cost?: Roughly $25-40 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $60-110 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Siem Reap?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Siem Reap without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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