Siem Reap Itinerary for First-Timers: The Best Things to Do, See & Eat in 3 Days in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Best Siem Reap Itinerary ~ Unique Things to Do, See & Eat

Day 1 in Siem Reap Itinerary:

• Arrival
• Floating Village
• Sunset Boat Cruise
• Pub Street
• Khmer cuisines & drinks

Late Morning: Arrival from Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport

Where to Stay in Siem Reap

Accommodation: Two Seasons Siem Reap Hotel  (Where I stayed ~ I highly recommend for first-timers and solo travelers )

It’s conveniently located near attractions, but in a peaceful area with a rooftop infinity pool and lovely sunset views! The hotel is newly renovated with clean, spacious, and modern rooms.

Transportation: Book your airport ride early for a hassle-free trip.

How to travel around Siem Reap? Grab (App), Tuk-tuks, private cars.

I arrived at Siem Reap airport around 11:00 am after a 3-4 hour flight from Jaipur, India, with a 5-hour layover in Bangkok, Thailand.

This was my “first unique airport experience“: being picked up by a tuk-tuk driver and riding the tuk-tuk to get to my hotel.

It felt different at first, but it was memorable, and I was very thankful for the experience, especially seeing my name and meeting my driver as soon as I arrived.

Afternoon: Hotel Check-in + Kompong Phluk Floating Village Half-Day Tour + Sunset Boat Cruise

Depending on when you arrive, it’s best to rest and freshen up for a bit after arriving in Siem Reap on your first day before starting to explore.

Fortunately, my room was ready, as I also requested an early check-in prior to arrival.

I had a 5-hour layover in Bangkok with Priority Pass airport lounge access at the Coral Executive, so I ate there before the 1-hour direct flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Floating Village

Start exploring on Day 1 by taking a guided boat tour of the floating fishing village on Tonle Sap Lake. Learn about the village life, history, and culture.

Witness the simple life and friendly smiling  people living in the floating village. We got to walk around the village and see the kids playing.

We didn’t visit the school, but there’s an opportunity to help buy school supplies for the kids here. I was approached by a local kid, and I didn’t mind helping a bit.  It actually made me happy as kids lined up, smiled, and thanked me when I handed them the school supplies directly.

I appreciate seeing how closely connected the people in this community are, both socially and culturally.

The boat ride, scenery, visit to the village, and interacting with the children gave me a meaningful opportunity to reflect, show gratitude, give back to the community, and gain a deeper appreciation for my own life and the many blessings I often take for granted back home in the U.S.

This was the tour I booked and experienced: Kompong Phluk Floating Village Half-Day Tour (Siem Reap).

Sunset Boat Cruise

The guided boat tour of the floating village includes a beautiful sunset view.

Watching the sunset was one of the best highlights of the tour! The scenery was peaceful, and the atmosphere was relaxing.

For me, I thought the tour to the floating village was worth it, as it’s a unique way to get an introduction to rural Cambodian life, history, and culture. It’s all in one tour for an immersive experience, being surrounded by a different setting and atmosphere during the village visit, plus time with nature and a chance to reflect and watch the beautiful sunset.

Evening: Pub Street + Khmer cuisines

Pub Street

Must-try Khmer cuisines, drinks and desserts

Where to eat in Siem Reap?

Khmer Kitchen Restaurant (where I ordered all of these to-go) for just under $30!

End the first night with a feast of authentic, delicious local food, drinks, and desserts! Enjoy and get some beauty rest for the next day! Know you have to be up early for the Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour if that’s what you’re planning to experience!

My honest experience ~ Why I always order so much food whenever I travel solo?

Even when traveling solo, I always order for two because I always want to try everything that’s recommended!

I have this travel habit of wanting to taste almost everything the locals recommend that’s delicious and must-try for first-timers. I always feel I don’t want to miss  tasting something delicious and local, or I’m at least curious to try something I haven’t tried before I’m sure I can’t eat/have back home in the U.S. So, I always order a lot!

Perhaps yes, too much food for me, but I didn’t want to regret not trying when I knew I had the chance. 

I don’t feel as guilty when I can’t obviously finish everything, even if I’m hungry. Instead, I normally always eat/share food with my tour guide and/or give the untouched food to the homeless I see, or to anyone I see at the moment there where I’m eating and they want it.

Must-Try Cambodian Food & Drinks

• Khmer Curry (coconut cream, curry paste, potato, pumpkin, carrot)
  • Choice: fish, chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, tofu
• Amok (coconut cream, amok paste, long bean, onion, noni leaf, egg)
  • Choice: fish, chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, tofu
• Fried Spring Rolls with Sauce (vegetables)
• Khmer Style Soup Beef
• Fresh Fruit Salad
• Mango Shake
• Avocado Shake

Day 2 in Siem Reap Itinerary:

• Angkor Wat Sunrise
• Bayon Temple
• Ta Prohm Temple
• Banteay Kdei
• Khmer massage
• Fish Foot massage
• Souvenir Shopping
• (Phare) The Cambodian Circus Show

Early Morning: Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour + Bayon Temple 

Angkor Wat

Start Day 2 early for the beautiful Angkor Wat Sunrise! The peaceful and stunning scenery was worth waking up early for!

Your trip to Cambodia is incomplete without exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat! This is an absolute must-add to a Cambodia itinerary that can’t be missed!

Exploring Angkor Wat, built in the 12th century, was such an awe-inspiring experience! This massive Khmer architecture is an overwhelming wonder that will leave travelers with lasting emotional and visual impressions!

Did you know that Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is the world’s largest religious structure, spanning 162 hectares?

Experience the enchanting sunrise at Angkor Wat and immerse yourself in the peaceful morning atmosphere on your day trip from Siem Reap.

This was the exact *SUNRISE* tour I booked and experienced: I highly recommend!

• Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour with Guide from Siem Reap

Learn about the interesting history of Cambodia and Siem Reap and meet other travelers around the world by joining this small-group tour.

The complete Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour Itinerary:

• • Angkor Wat Sunrise
  • Bayon Temple
  • Lunch
  • Ta Prohm Temple
  • Banteay Kdei

Must-Know Before You Go 

• Hotel pick-up is between 4:15 AM – 4:30 AM, ending around 13:30.
• Includes ~ air-conditioned vehicle, cold water & cold towel, tour guide, and hotel pickup and drop-off
• Temple admission costs $37 per person (at your own expense)/payable on the day of the tour.
• Dress modestly. Must cover knees and shoulders when visiting temples

My Honest Angkor Wat Experience

Exploring the temples truly made me realize their magnitude and religious significance!

I’ll be honest ~ exploring Angkor Wat is unbelievably overwhelming and wondrous! 

Wow! It was built in the 12th century, and I still wonder how they constructed an incredibly massive and intricate structure, including the depictions of historic life with stone-carved sculptures and figures! Amazing!

At every corner and at every turn, different preserved sandstone carvings made me feel a sense of wonder and respect for this remarkable ancient religious structure!

It’s really worth visiting and the perfect way to experience the best of Cambodia!

Bayon Temple

The next exploration during the Angkor Wat tour itinerary is the Bayon Temple.

Admire the spiritual center of the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Appreciate the intricate bas-reliefs showing historic sculptural figures and religious designs of Khmer life, battles, and ceremonies!

See the giant smiling stone faces carved into towers here!

Afternoon: Lunch + Ta Prohm Temple + Banteay Kdei + Khmer massage + Fish Foot Massage

Cambodian-Style Lunch

 

Our tour guide took us to a local restaurant for lunch around 11:00am before visiting Ta Prohm Temple and Banteay Kdei.

Enjoy Cambodian-style food and drinks after sightseeing! Cambodian food is very similar to Thai food ~ very delicious!

I enjoyed my seafood stir-fry and fried spring rolls!

Due to the  hot weather, I personally always order (2) fresh smoothies. Sometimes, more (haha). I recommend watermelon, mango, avocado, and papaya. They’re really so good and refreshing!

AngKor Wat Travel Tips

• Bring a portable pocket mini-fan
• Download WhatsApp to communicate with tour operators/guides.
• Wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses +/- hat (optional)

Ta Prohm Temple

One of the unique things to do in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on a day trip to Ta Prohm Temple is admiring and photographing the huge tree roots intertwining with the ancient stone structure!

It’s amazing to see the preserved and wondrous scenery around here.

Surprisingly, it almost feels like being in an ancient fairy-tale jungle-themed adventure movie.

Banteay Kdei

If you’re looking for a less crowded area, Banteay Kdei is the Buddhist temple you’ll enjoy exploring.

Visit for a peaceful atmosphere and admire interesting sandstone carvings, ruined pieces of large stones, and the long maze-like corridors connecting different rooms.

Fish Foot Massage

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Things to Do

Experiencing a ticklish fish foot massage is one of the unique things to do in Siem Reap!

On my first night, I went to the lively Pub Street and saw many people seated relaxed with their feet dipped into the color-lit tanks full of tiny “fish”.

I learned it’s a unique way to get smooth feet and a foot massage. I was curious, so I tried it myself!

At first, it’s very ticklish, but you’ll get used to it, and it actually feels quite unique and nice after overcoming that!

Must-Know | Caution

Please ONLY do this if you have NO open cuts and wounds on your feet and legs to avoid the risk of infection.

Traditional Khmer massage in Siem Reap 

Experience traditional Khmer massage ~a dry massage with deep tissue techniques and pressure point stimulation.

The best way to relax after exploring Angkor Wat! It felt so good! Perhaps I was just very exhausted, but I got another one and squeezed it the next day as part of my Siem Riep itinerary!

I appreciate and love how affordable Siem Reap, Cambodia is!

The food, massages, and tours may be cheap, but I found the experiences were very enriching!

And honestly?  The more I travel, even if solo, the more I realize and appreciate that…Traveling provides a deep sense of wonder, depth, cultural exploration, immense gratitude, and emotional fulfillment that you can only get through experiences.

Evening: Souvenirs Shopping + Dinner + Phare, The Cambodian Circus show + Siem Reap nightlife

Siem Reap shopping for souvenirs

Take time to enjoy finding souvenirs to remember your trip to Cambodia!

Shopping in Siem Reap is extremely cheap! The people are also very kind and friendly! I honestly feel bad bargaining since the prices were already affordable! If you’re into shopping, I heard the Made in Cambodia Market is recommended by other travelers for shopping in Siem Reap.

Whenever I travel to a new country/city, I always look for and buy refrigerator magnet souvenirs, any Cambodian-themed locally made items, and sometimes clothes (if I like the quality and design).

Authentic Khmer food

I recommend getting a quick dinner before heading to the Cambodian Circus show, which typically starts at 8:00pm.

My tuk-tuk driver recommended this “Khmer Kitchen Restaurant”.  Anything I ordered here was seriously good!

If you’re still exhausted from the early Angkor Wat sunrise tour and your hotel has a restaurant, you can also just eat there!

I heard you can also order food from the Grab app and don’t need a Cambodian number, only WhatsApp to set it up.

Phare, The Cambodian Circus Show

The best way to spend an evening in Siem Reap is by watching a visually striking performance that meaningfully reflects authentic Cambodian culture.

Enjoy one of Siem Reap’s most popular evening shows, full of storytelling, music, and circus arts!

Travel Tips:

• Book tickets in advance to guarantee your preferred seat.
• Arrive early before the show.

Alternative

• Apsara Dance Show and Dinner with Hotel Pickup

Siem Reap nightlife

If you’re planning your Siem Reap itinerary for 2 days, don’t forget to visit the lively Pub Street before leaving.

Great ambiance, and the food and drinks here are so cheap!

Since my hotel is close to Pub Street, my tuk-tuk driver took me here because I was craving fried spring rolls and fresh smoothies!

I don’t drink, but I also wanted to experience the lively atmosphere, so I quickly walked around here while waiting for my food and felt very safe!

Day 3 in Siem Reap Itinerary:

• TukTuk City Tour/Countryside +/- Old Market (Psar Chaa)
  • Alternative(s)
    • ~ Lotus Silk Farm – Lake Experience
    • Cambodia Landmine Museum
• SPA experience (full body Khmer massage + manicure/pedicure)
• Street Food Tour
• Last minute shopping
• +/-Hotel Rooftop Sunset
• +/-Departure

Morning: TukTuk City Tour/Countryside + SPA/Khmer massage + Last minute shopping

TukTuk City Tour + Countryside +/- Old Market (Psar Chaa)

For Day 3 in a Siem Reap itinerary, consider having a relaxing day before ending your Cambodia trip!

I hired a tuk-tuk driver for half the day and asked him to take me to places I wanted to go. He toured me around the city and even showed me a bit of the countryside.

The most enjoyable part for me was simply sitting at the back of the tuk-tuk ~ feeling relaxed with the breeze blowing my hair while enjoying the cityscape, a delicious Cambodian-flavored ice cream in my right hand, and a fresh juice/smoothie on my left hand. I loved it!

I also had the opportunity to meet and talk with the local high school students during this mini city tour and thought their uniforms were adorable. It was also enjoyable to visit a couple of cafés and taste their specialty fresh juices and smoothies!

Alternative (s)

• Lotus Silk Farm – Lake Experience
• Cambodia Landmine Museum

Siem Reap Khmer Massage (SPA experience + manicure/pedicure)

Make your day 3 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, even more relaxing by getting a Khmer massage! I think it’s really worth experiencing and adding it to your Siem Riep itinerary!

I enjoyed my previous Khmer massage, so I made sure to get another full-body massage before leaving to feel more relaxed!

Since it’s also cheap to get massages in Cambodia, I chose the 90-minute body massage with a foot massage.  I thought, why not take advantage of this opportunity! I even got a manicure and pedicure!

Last Minute Shopping 

If you have more time in your 3-day Siem Reap itinerary, consider last-minute shopping.

Old Market (Psar Chas) and Made in Cambodia Market are great shopping places in Siem Reap to support the local community by buying locally made items to bring home for yourself or as a gift.

Browse for authentic Cambodian souvenirs like  handwoven Cambodian silk scarves/clothes, lotus-based products, Kampot pepper, and  handmade ceramics.

Afternoon/Evening: Street Food Tour +/- Hotel Rooftop Sunset +/- Departure

Street Food in Siem Reap

Please don’t leave without trying street food while in Siem Reap for a complete travel experience in Cambodia (as long as you’re not allergic to anything)!

For me, I found Cambodian street food delicious! I really enjoyed my trip in Siem Reap because of my food adventure experience here!

Looking for an authentic food adventure in Siem Reap? Here’s a highly rated food tour to consider adding to your Siem Reap itinerary!

• Street Food Experience by Tuk-Tuk (Siem Reap)

Hotel Rooftop Pool + Sunset

Before heading to the airport, I spent a bit of time relaxing at my hotel’s rooftop infinity pool and watching the lovely sunset !

I thought it was the perfect way to end my Siem Reap itinerary! Watching the sunset in Siem Reap is one of the best things to do in Siem Reap Cambodia.

I hope this Siem Reap travel blog gives you the most memorable experience that aligns with what you’re looking to experience!

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• Bangkok in One Day: A First-Timer’s Guide to What to Prioritize, What to Skip, and How to Make the Most of Your Time

May this post about a Siem Reap itinerary in 3 days help you plan your Cambodia trip to include the best things to do, must-see attractions, scenic views, where to eat, what to eat, and travel tips (First-Timer’s Guide)

I hope your whole trip to Cambodia and exploration of Angkor Wat will be safe and unforgettable, bringing you joy and peace when you look back on your memories, as it did for me!

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Thank you for considering this Siem Reap itinerary for first-timers on how to spend the perfect 3 days! I hope I have sparked your Cambodia trip planning!

~ Safe travels, and enjoy visiting Siem Reap, Cambodia 

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