The buzzing heart of town — the Old Market (Psar Chas), the neon bars and restaurants of Pub Street, the night markets and the bulk of the hotels, all walkable. Lively, central and packed with places to eat, drink and shop; a little rowdy at night, but the most convenient and fun base, close to everything and an easy tuk-tuk from the temples.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
$45–110
typical per night in Cambodia
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Siem Reap — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Old Market & Pub Street and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- A Khmer cooking class7 min walk593 m
- Phare, the Cambodian Circus11 min walk900 m
- Exploring Angkor by tuk-tuk12 min taxi4.0 km
- Angkor Wat at sunrise20 min taxi6.6 km
- Sunset at Phnom Bakheng23 min taxi7.7 km
- Ta Prohm29 min taxi9.7 km
- Angkor Thom & the Bayon29 min taxi9.7 km
- Banteay Srei89 min taxi29.6 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 7.Angkor National Museum — A slick, air-conditioned museum in town that brings the temples to life — galleries of Khmer sculpture, a dazzling hall of a thousand Buddhas, and clear explanations of the empire's history, kings and religion. Do it before you tour the ruins and they'll make far more sense; a cool, rewarding couple of hours and a welcome break from the heat and dust.
- 8.Pub Street & the night markets — The neon-lit epicentre of Siem Reap's nightlife — a pedestrian strip of bars, cheap cocktails, live music and restaurants, ringed by sprawling night markets of handicrafts, souvenirs and street food. Rowdy, cheap and good fun after a long day at the temples; grab a 50-cent draught, try a fried-insect dare, and browse the stalls. Touristy, yes, but a lively rite of passage.
- 9.Khmer food — fish amok — Cambodian cuisine is a delicious surprise, and its signature is fish amok — a fragrant, mousse-like coconut curry of fish steamed in a banana leaf. Beyond it lie lok lak stir-fry, fresh Khmer salads, num banh chok noodles and Kampot-pepper crab; eat it at a smart Khmer restaurant or a humble market stall. Subtler than Thai, and a real highlight of any visit.
- 10.Old Market (Psar Chas) — The town's original market — a busy, atmospheric warren of fresh produce, spices, silver, silk scarves, krama checked scarves and souvenirs, plus cheap food stalls where locals and travellers eat side by side. A colourful browse and the best spot in the centre to pick up gifts and taste the local dishes; haggle gently, and dive into the food aisles for lunch.
- 13.An Apsara dance show — Apsara is Cambodia's graceful classical dance, its serene, gilded dancers and impossibly bent-back fingers echoing the celestial nymphs carved all over the Angkor temples. Watch a performance over a Khmer buffet dinner in town, or a more intimate staging; a beautiful, living link to the ancient reliefs you've spent the day admiring, and a lovely, cultural evening out.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Old Market & Pub Street; flights via Google Flights.