Siem Reap Map
Siem Reap is compact and easier to navigate than it first appears. Most of what visitors need is concentrated in a small central area. Understanding the basic geography before you arrive will help you choose where to stay and save time once you get here.
The Key Areas
The Old Market area, known locally as Phsar Chas, is the heart of the city for visitors. The Old Market sits between Pub Street and the Siem Reap River. Pub Street runs north from the market and is the main nightlife and restaurant strip. The riverside walk along both banks connects the Old Market to the night markets to the north. This entire area is walkable in fifteen minutes end to end.
Wat Bo Road runs east from the city centre and has a quieter, more residential character with good independent restaurants, cafes, and guesthouses. Street 26, between the river and Wat Bo Road, is where many of the better bars and cocktail lounges are concentrated. This is where people who live here spend their evenings.
The French Quarter, north of the Old Market along the river, has some of the original colonial architecture worth walking through. The Royal Gardens and the Grand Hotel d’Angkor are at the northern end of this area.
Sivatha Boulevard runs north-south through the centre and is the main commercial street with pharmacies, banks, supermarkets, and local shops.
The Temples
Angkor Wat is approximately six kilometres north of the city centre. The ticket office for the Angkor Pass is on Road 60, north of the city on the road to the temples. Your tuk-tuk driver will know where it is. The main temples of the small circuit are clustered within a manageable area. The outer temples, Banteay Srei, Beng Mealea, Phnom Kulen, require longer travel times and separate planning.
Getting Around
The central area is entirely walkable. Most guesthouses in the Old Market and Pub Street area are within ten minutes on foot of restaurants, markets, and the river.
For longer distances and temple visits, tuk-tuks are the standard option. A ride anywhere in the central city costs $1 to $2 via PassApp. A full day at the temples by tuk-tuk costs $15 to $25 depending on the circuit. Bicycles are available for hire from most guesthouses for $2 to $5 per day. A dedicated cycling path runs from the city to the temples and is one of the better ways to visit.
Where to Stay
The Old Market and Pub Street area puts you within walking distance of most restaurants, bars, and night markets. It is the most convenient location and the noisiest at night.
Wat Bo Road and the area east of the river is quieter and five to ten minutes by tuk-tuk from the centre. A good base if you want calm without being far from anything.
The road north toward Angkor, the Sivatha Boulevard and Charles de Gaulle Road corridor, has the largest luxury resorts. Closer to the temples but further from the city’s restaurants and nightlife.
A full interactive map of Siem Reap including temple locations, restaurants, markets, hotels, and practical services is available in the Map section of SiemReapLife.com.
