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Beyond Angkor Wat: The Best Things to Do in Siem Reap That Aren’t Temples

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Siem Reap is one of those places in Asia that completely surprised me. I came for Angkor Wat (like everyone does), but I kept extending my stay because I fell in love with the city. Yes the temples are absolutely the main draw and I spent my fair share of time exploring them, but there is also so much more to do here, from quiet mornings on a lotus farm to fun evenings at night markets.

If you’re planning a trip to Siem Reap and considering staying a bit longer and wondering how to fill your days, this is the ultimate guide to the best things to do in Siem Reap besides temples, including cultural experiences, countryside adventures, food tours, day trips, and hidden gems that will make your trip unforgettable.

18 Best Things To Do In Siem Reap Besides Angkor Wat

As always I’ll start with the fun part first, namely the top things to do Siem Reap. If you also want more practical information like where you should base yourself, how to get around and my favourite restaurants, just scroll further down and you’ll find everything you need.

Visit a lotus farm

Outside of visiting the stunning temples this was a real highlight for me in Siem Reap. A short drive outside the city you can visit a lotus farm that grows lotus flowers and create vegan silk and other products from the flower and stem.

woman rowing through a lotus field in siem reap, cambodia
a pink lotus flower in bloom in siem reap, cambodia
Lotus farm in Siem Reap

They organise multiple workshops and tours you can choose to join, the shortest one being a 30 minute tour of how everything is made, to workshops where you make something yourself over the course of a couple of hours.

For me the highlight was a tour on the water where the cutest lady rowed us around through the lotus fields and showed us around. She picked some of the flowers and made both a hat and a bouquet for me.

a woman holding a lotus flower on a lotus farm in siem reap, cambodia
Lotus farm in Siem Reap

They also have a really nice café if you're biking around the area and just want somewhere nice to relax for a bit.

You can choose to organise it on your own or book a tour like this one depending on what kind of experience you want.

plenty of pink lotus flowers in a field surrounded by green leafs and a village in ciem reap, cambodia
a woman smelling a lotus flower in siem reap, cambodia
Lotus farm in Siem Reap

Grab a drink at Asana wooden house

It’s not technically a sight, but I thought it was really nice so I'm adding it here anyways. This wooden house is a really charming bar, but used to be a traditional family home. It's renovated, but they have kept the charm and design from the way people used to live in the area before. So, this is the only original house left in this area.

If you want somewhere nice and calm to grab a drink in the evening, and want to get away from the hustle and bustle of pub street, I highly recommend this place. If you want more tips on where to eat and drink i Siem Reap, Check out my full Guide on Best Places to Eat & Drink in Siem Reap next.

an old cambodian house that is now renovated into a bar in siem reap, cambodia
a pink drinks and some popcorn on a table in siem reap, cambodia
Asana Wooden House
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Explore Pub street (At least once)

So this is the kind of place you probably either hate or love depending on many various factors. It’s the most touristy street in all of Cambodia I would say, but still not as bad as the party streets in Bangkok or Phuket if you’re familiar with those.

It’s chaotic, loud, and very touristy… but also kind of fun. For one night at least. We walked through it a couple of times in the evening and had one really fun night out celebrating the Khmer New years here in April. It was insanely fun, but one night was enough for me.

Even if it’s not fully your scene, it’s worth walking through, grabbing a drink and people-watch for a bit. The energy here at night is wild.

a neon lit sign that says pub street surrounded by bars and lights in siem reap, cambodia
Pub Street
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Eat at the night markets

Along the river, close to the city centre you’ll find rows of stalls selling all kinds of street food. It was pretty packed with people every time we walked past, with both tourists and locals alike enjoying all kinds of different dishes and deserts.

It definitely has its charm with small tables and plastic chairs along the river front. At parts the vendors can be quite pushy, but in my experience it was better the further up the river you walked.

If you’re a real foodie and want to try the best dishes, I recommend joining this guided food-tour where you spend a couple of hours with a local tasting your way through Siem Reap.

a neon sign that says riverside night market in siem reap, cambocia
Night Market, Siem Reap

Visit APOPO visitor centre & the hero rats

After the recent war in Cambodia there are still huge amounts of landmines laying around in fields and along roads. To help clean this up, they've trained rats to help locate them. The African rats they use have incredibly strong sense of smell and are just small enough to not set of the landmine if they step on it, so it’s the perfect animal for the job. And don’t worry, the rats are treated very well.

poster signs inside the apopo centre that describes how they work with rats to detect land mines in siem reap, cambodia
Apopo center

At the visitor centre you can learn more about this work, watch how it's done and actually hold one of the rats (if you want to). It’s a very fascinating and surprisingly fun activity, that also supports an important cause.

I think it's the perfect activity for everyone visiting, maybe especially if you're a family travelling with kids.

You can easily take a tuk-tuk there on your own, just remember to book a time slot first, or join this guided tour that takes you both to APOPO and the Lotus Farm.

Apopo center
Apopo center
Apopo center

Explore the Old market

In the middle of the city centre, and right next to Pub Street you'll find the Old Market. It’s a huge area filled with different stalls selling all kinds of souvenirs and clothes, so you can pretty much find anything here. However, as I'm travelling full time and don't have room to buy anything I didn't explore this to the fullest, but I walked through it a couple of times and it was always quite fun.

bags and souvenirs at a market in siem reap, cambodia
a pink food stall along the streets of siem reap, cambodia
Old Market

Grab a souvenir from Handmade in Cambodia market

Compared to the Old market mentioned above, I do think that the Handmade in Cambodia market offers a much better variety and quality of things you can purchase if you're looking for a souvenir or gift to bring home.

Whether the things are actually handmade in Cambodia I cannot say for sure, but I personally think the market was a better experience in general. Again I didn't buy anything because I just don't have room for it, but it was worth a visit. It’s a bit outside the city centre compared to the Old market, but it has a bit more charm in my opinion.

purses in various colours on display at the handmade in cambodia market in siem reap, cambodia
various jewellery on display at the handmade in cambodia market in siem reap, cambodia
Handmade in Cambodia market

Walk along the Siem Reap river

Sometimes the best moments are the simplest ones. Just taking a walk along the river, especially in the late afternoon or evening was such a nice way to explore the city at a slower pace. In addition to some of the food stalls, you’ll find lots of boats and bridges all lit up, making it a very charming evening stroll. It's not long, and it's a good combo after visiting the Handmade in Cambodia market on your way back to the city.

plastic chairs along the river front in siem reap, cambodia
Siem Reap at night

Visit the floating villages on Tonlé Sap Lake

Visiting one of the floating villages near Siem Reap is an interesting way to see a different side of Cambodia beyond the temples of Angkor. These communities are built around the water, with houses, schools, shops and other buildings adapted to life on the lake.

boats along the river at the floating villages in tonle sap, cambodia
two women waking down a wooden ladder to reach the boats in tonle sap floating village, cambodia
Floating Village, Siem Reap

However, there is one important thing to know before booking a tour. The experience can be very different depending on whether you visit during the rainy season or the dry season. I’ve done both and it was to very different experiences.

During the rainy season, the water level rises significantly, and you can spend more time travelling by boat through the village and its surrounding waterways. During the dry season, when the water level is much lower, the boat journey through the village is considerably shorter, meaning you might spend most of the time out on the open water, not really seeing the village.

three blue houses on stilts in the floating village of tonle sap in cambodia
Floating Village, Siem Reap

Most tours also include a stop at a viewpoint for sunset. The sunset itself can be beautiful, but I wouldn't make this the main reason for booking a tour. The particular spot I visited was a somewhat sketchy crocodile farm, which I personally didn't enjoy, so I wouldn't consider doing a sunset tour here a must. It’s the village in itself that’s interesting.

a heart shaped bench to take pictures at when watching the sunset in siem reap, cambodia
Floating Village, Siem Reap
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Phnom Kulen national park

Phnom Kulen national park is a really cool day trip you can take from Siem Reap. You can either go on a guided tour or just hire a driver for the day. There are multiple spots in the national park to visit, everything from beautiful temples to really cool waterfalls you can swim in.

woman standing on the edge of a rock in mount kulen national park in siem reap, cambodia
Pnom Kulen national park

The area in itself is beautiful and I had such an amazing day driving around the national park. You can check out different viewpoints, or just spend the day swimming and relaxing, it’s all up to you.

There is enough water there even during dry season for it to be worth a trip, but if you want to just come here and swim I recommend the rainy season because the water is clearer and it feels a bit fresher.

flowers in front of a waterfall in mount kulen national park
kulen waterfall in Phnom kulen national park in cambodia
Pnom Kulen national park

During weekends and holidays it can get quite crowded, so if you want to swim or just prefer a more peaceful day I recommend planning your visit to a weekday.

We just hired a driver for the day, but after exploring the area I think it would have been much better to go on an organised tour like this one, with a guide who speaks English and could’ve shown us more around and actually explained the significance of the area and the different spots we saw.

a woman being prayed for by a monk on phnom kulen national park, cambodia
Pnom Kulen national park
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Treat yourself to a boutique hotel stay

Siem Reap has some of the best value-for-money hotels I’ve ever seen. Think beautiful pools, lush gardens, and stylish rooms, often for way less than you’d expect. It’s the perfect place to slow down and recharge between adventures. I tried so many different hotels during my time in Siem Reap, and some of them I just never wanted to leave.

If you're looking for a budget friendly, but stunning stay I highly recommend this one. If you just want to spend some time relaxing by the pool this is a great option. They have two pools, both equally stunning.

a swimming pool and chairs at the khmer house resort in siem reap cambodia
So many stunning boutique hotels in Siem Reap

Visit the landmine museum

This museum is actually almost an hour outside town so I unfortunately never made it there. I was visiting so many similar museums throughout Cambodia that I prioritised differently here. However, if Siem Reap is your only stop in Cambodia, visiting a museum like this and learning more about the history of the country is very interesting. If you’re visiting some of the temples a bit further outside town or the national park it can be a good day to add this.

Get a traditional khmer massage

After long days of temple-hopping, your body will definitely thank you if you book a massage. A khmer massage is usually a bit firmer than Thai ones in my opinon, but you can get it pretty much how ever you like it. There’s no shortage of great spots to choose from with amazing treatments for really affordable prices all over town, so just find one close by where you decide to stay and relax.

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Try local khmer food

Before you leave Cambodia you should try a couple of the local dishes like fish amok, khmer red curry, lok lak and mango sticky rice. I promise you wont be disappointed.

The food is very similar to Thai food in some ways, but still has its own tastes. There are so many great restaurants in Siem Reap, from street food to more upscale spots where you can try it. Check out my Guide to the best places to Eat for more tips.

Alternatively you can choose to set aside some time to join a khmer cooking class and actually learn how to make some of the famous dishes or join this really fund street food tour to sample many different local dishes at once as well as learn about the city and culture as you go.

Local khmer food
Local khmer food
Local khmer food

Join a pottery class

If you have some extra time, want to bring home a souvenir or just feeling creative, a pottery class might be a fun thing to check out.

The classes are led by local artisans who walk you through traditional Cambodian techniques, and it quickly becomes less about making something perfect and more about the experience itself. By the end, you’ve made yourself a handmade souvenir that actually mean something. It’s a nice, slower-paced activity to break up your itinerary.

Take a day trip to Battambang

If you have a bit of extra time in Siem Reap, a day trip (or even better, an overnight stay) to Battambang is 100% worth it.

Battambang is known for its laid-back atmosphere, and quirky experiences like the famous bamboo train. You can explore temples, watch bats fly out of caves at sunset, and just enjoy a slower, more raw version of Cambodia.

If your itinerary allows it, this is such a rewarding escape from the crowds around Angkor. I personally stayed a week there and had such an amazing time.

If you don't have time to add an overnight stay in Battambang to your itinerary, I recommend this day trip that takes you to all the highlights in one day. If you decide to stay for a while you can read my Guide to the Top Things to Do in Battambang for inspiration.

a group of people taking the bamboo train in battambang, Cambodia
Bamboo train in Battambang

Explore the countryside outside Siem Reap

Just a short drive outside the city centre, everything changes. The roads get quieter and bumpier, and suddenly you’re surrounded by rice fields, wooden stilt houses, and locals going about their daily routines. Whether you explore by tuk-tuk, bike, or on a guided tour, the countryside gives you a glimpse into real Cambodian life beyond the temples.

I found it incredibly fascinating to see how country life unfolds and even watching people living almost on top of an Angkor ruin, or elementary schools as the next door neighbour to a temple ruin that's not yet extracted. If you want to slow down and see a more local side of Siem Reap, this is something you really shouldn’t skip.

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a local stilt house in siem reap, cambodia
a woman walking around a village in siem reap, cambodia
Exploring Siem Reap

Watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat

Yes, I know this article is about the things to do other than the temples, but I just can't skip watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat. It's honestly one of the best mornings I've had in a long time.

We might have been extremely lucky, but when I walked into the temple complex and saw the sight of the sun rising above the temple I was awestruck. It was just something completely different and I'll remember it forever.

If you also want to read more about what temples I recommend visiting and how to properly plan your visit to the Angkor Wat Complex, check out my specific guides for that like What Temples to Visit or Skip, and my Guide to all The Practical Things to Know before your first visit.

sunrise over the angkor wat temples in siem reap, cambodia
sunrise over the angkor wat temples in siem reap, cambodia
Sunrise in front of Angkor Wat
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What are the Best Areas to Stay in Siem Reap?

Here is a quick overview of the best neighbourhoods to consider when deciding where to stay in Siem Reap.

Siem Reap is relatively compact, so you don't necessarily need to stay right beside every attraction. Tuk-tuks make it easy to get around, and most visitors will arrange transport to Angkor Archaeological Park regardless of where their hotel is located. I would choose your area based on how you want your evenings to feel rather than simply looking for the hotel closest to the temples.

Below you’ll see my three favourite hotels that I recommend checking out first. This is my personal favourite, and I highly recommend staying there if you want a peaceful stay in Siem Reap.

Viroth's Hotel
Viroth's Hotel

This is the definition of boutique perfection with mid-century design, tropical landscaping and an iconic pool. It feels stylish without trying too hard and somehow every detail just works.

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Zannier Phum Baitang
Zannier Phum Baitang

This hotel offers a different kind of luxury stay, with traditional Khmer-inspired villas set among rice paddies and lush tropical gardens. The property feels more like a peaceful countryside retreat than a conventional city hotel, with a beautiful pool, spa and plenty of space to slow down.

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Khmer House Resort
Khmer House Resort

This is a great option if you want a tropical atmosphere without paying luxury-resort prices. The property has swimming pools, spacious rooms and traditional Khmer-inspired details, creating a relaxed setting away from the busiest parts of town.

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Map of the Best Hotels in Siem Reap

Below you'll find a map where I've pinned my favourite hotels in Siem Reap to make it easier for you to navigate when you're looking for where you want to base yourself.

Is Spending More Time in Siem Reap Worth It?

I absolutely think so! Most people come here for just a couple of days, and yes you get to see the highlights, but it’s really a destination you can spend much longer in without getting bored.

Don’t make it all about Angkor Wat. Yes, wake up early, explore the temples, and take it all in. But Siem Reap is so much more than just a gateway to Angkor Wat, it’s a destination in its own right. So give yourself time to slow down, wander, and experience everything else this place has to offer.

And don’t be surprised if you end up staying longer than planned… I definitely did.

Plan Your Trip to Siem Reap

Hopefully this guide has given you everything you need to plan what to do in Siem Reap. To make planning the rest of your trip even easier, I've included all the resources I personally use when I travel.

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Every recommendation is based on tools and services I genuinely use and would recommend to friends and family.

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-Ingrid

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