Located in Northwest Cambodia, Siem Reap sits on the outskirts of the ancient city of Angkor, once the throne of the Khmer empire. Originally a cluster of villages, the town saw a huge boom with travellers coming to re-discoverer the ancient wonders nearby. Nowadays, Siem Reap is a bustling city with much of its trade evolving around tourism, with cute cafes, markets and hotels lining the colonial old quarter streets.
How long to stay in Siem Reap
I recommend 2 full days in Siem Reap; one day for exploring the temples, and another for catching the sunrise and either exploring more of the temples, or other sites around the city.
History buffs might want 3 full days to explore the temples further, but otherwise, the temples can get repetitive and you only really need 1 full day to see the highlights.
Best time of year to visit Siem Reap
As with the rest of Cambodia, Siem Reap has a monsoon climate with wet season from May to November and dry season from December to April. The stable weather of the dry season makes it an appealing time to visit, but having visited during this period I can attest that it is not for the faint-hearted with temperatures around 35°C.
In my opinion, the best time of year is the shoulder period between seasons when the weather is more stable and temperatures are cooler.
