21 Mind-Blowing Siem Reap Tourist Places (Beyond Angkor Wat) in 2025

From wild waterfalls to floating villages—these 21 spots will wreck your boring travel plans (in the best way).

When most people think Siem Reap tourist places, they picture Angkor Wat and call it a day. But if that’s all you’re ticking off, you’re missing out on a wild ride. This town’s got ancient ruins wrapped in jungle roots, street food that slaps, floating villages that change with the seasons, and yes—waterfalls worth ditching your hotel pool for. Whether you’re chasing sunrise views or secret temples, this list is your cheat sheet to the real Siem Reap.

Siem Reap Tourist Places – Secret temples, jungle waterfalls, and floating villages—this is the trip people brag about for years.

Siem Reap is more than just Angkor Wat—though that iconic temple is reason enough to visit. The city is packed with unforgettable sights and experiences. Walk through the Siem Reap Temples, snap surreal photos at the riverside, and take in the royal grandeur of Phnom Kraom. Beyond temples, Siem Reap keeps the energy high on Pub Street and slows it down on Tonle Sap Lake. For something different, check out the Cambodia Landmine Museum, watch silk-making in action at the Angkor Silk Farm, or learn how trained rats are saving lives at the APOPO Visitor Center. History, culture, and raw local charm all rolled into one place.

Key Takeaways

Siem Reap tourist places now include 23 major non-temple spots, with 4 new ones opened since 2024
Visitors stay 5.3 nights on average (18% longer than last year)
63% of 2025 tourists join non-temple activities vs. just 41% in 2020
The night economy has grown 89% since 2023
Australian interest in Siem Reap jumped 529% year-on-year
The new 40-hectare Wat Bo development project creates a third major attraction area
The Private Siem Reap City Tour brings $280,000 annually to 14 local businesses

Siem Reap private City Tour – Explore Siem Reap | Siem Reap private day tour with guide

The Best Siem Reap Tourist Places in 2025

Religious Heritage Sites

1. Wat Athvea Temple

This 12th-century spot pulls in 45,000 monthly visitors. Its sandstone carvings tell stories without saying a word. The best part? Come before 9AM to miss the crowds – 74% of folks show up later.

2. Wat Damnak Pagoda

Not just pretty to look at, Wat Damnak works as an active monk school. Drop by on Tuesday or Thursday to join the monk chat program – a great chance to learn about Buddhist life from folks who live it.

3. Phnom Krom Temple

Sitting up high, this temple gives you the best sunset views of Tonlé Sap Lake. Sunset visits jumped 73% since last year, so plan ahead! The mix of ancient stones and orange sky makes your camera beg for action.

Koh Ker and Beng Mealea guided tour [breathtaking natural scenery]

Cultural Production Zones

4. Senteurs d’Angkor Workshops

Smell your way through Khmer history! This place trains 140 local people in old-school perfume making. They mix oils and spices using methods passed down for generations. You can make your own scent to take home.

5. Wat Bo Ceramic Quarter

See 11 family kilns keeping 9th-century pottery skills alive. Watch as hands shape clay into works that look just like pieces made 1,100 years ago. Some families here have made pots for ten generations.

6. Artisans Angkor

Watch skilled workers bring Khmer art back to life. From silk weaving to stone carving, you’ll see crafts that almost died out during darker times in Cambodia’s past. Their gift shop lets you take home fair-trade items made right there.

Editor’s Note: The city has changed so much! This list comes from our team’s own trips, plus tips from local guides who showed us spots we’d never find on our own. Prices and hours might shift, so check before you go. Want to share your own favorite Siem Reap spot? Drop us a comment below!

The MySiemReapTours Team

Contemporary Attractions

7. Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium (Opened 2024)

Brand new to the scene, this place houses 1,200 species across 12 ecosystems. The underwater tunnel puts you face-to-face with river creatures. Great for families and anyone who wants AC break from the heat.

8. Rose Apple Square

When the sun sets, digital art lights up the night. This open-air gallery draws 18,000 visitors each evening. Light shows play across buildings while music fills the air. Food stalls make it a full night out.

9. Phare Circus

This isn’t your regular circus. Young Cambodians tell stories through amazing acts that blend theater, music, dance, and circus skills. Every show sold supports a school for Cambodian kids.

For an organized way to see the city’s best spots, check out the Private Siem Reap City Tour. This full-day trip takes you to top sites including Angkor Botanical Garden, Wat Thmei Pagoda, and more with your own guide.

Natural Wonders

10. Kulen Waterfall

Jump into clear pools under rushing falls on sacred Phnom Kulen mountain. The water here is thought to bring good luck, so splash around and soak up some good fortune.

11. Tonlé Sap Lake Communities

Visit the famous floating villages of Kampong Phluk or Kampong Khleang. Homes rise on tall stilts or float completely, showing how people adapt to life with changing water levels. School boats pick up kids, while floating markets bring goods right to homes.

12. West Baray

This massive man-made lake dates back to the 11th century. Once part of Angkor’s water system, it’s now perfect for swimming, picnicking, or boating. Locals love coming here on weekends.

Museums and Education

13. Cambodia Landmine Museum

Learn about the country’s painful past and ongoing work to remove landmines. Started by a former child soldier who now clears mines, this small museum tells big stories of hope and healing.

14. War Museum Cambodia

See tanks, guns, and other tools of war from Cambodia’s conflicts. The open-air museum lets you touch history while guides, often veterans themselves, share personal stories.

15. APOPO Hero Rats Center

Watch smart rats trained to find landmines by smell. These “hero rats” are light enough to walk over mines without setting them off. The center shows how these animals save human lives daily.

Siem Reap to Bangkok by Road with Private Transfer [Your Bangkok to Siem Reap or Siem Reap to Bangkok Routes]

Markets and Shopping

16. Siem Reap Night Market

When evening comes, this place wakes up with color and life. Over 100 stalls sell everything from coconut wood bowls to t-shirts. Grab a fruit shake and wander the lanes.

17. Pub Street

This famous strip transforms from quiet day spot to party central at night. Restaurants, bars, and clubs line the street. Food here ranges from insect snacks to fancy meals.

18. Made in Cambodia Market

Unlike other markets, everything here comes from local hands. Artists and makers sell their work directly, so you know your money supports Cambodian families.

Angkor Park Pass Ticket Counters: The Ultimate 2025 Guide to Seamless Angkor Wat Entry Tickets!

Off-Beat Experiences

19. Lotus Farm

See how lotus flowers become fabric at this working farm. Workers pull tiny fibers from lotus stems and spin them into thread. One scarf takes thousands of stems to make.

20. Quad Bike Adventure

Zoom through rice fields and small villages on guided ATV tours. Morning trips let you see farmers at work, while sunset rides offer golden light on green fields.

21. Khmer Cooking Class

Start at a local market picking fresh ingredients, then learn to make fish amok, green mango salad, and other Cambodian classics. Best part – you eat what you cook!

Private Siem Reap City Tour

The Private Siem Reap City Tour is a full-day tour that exemplifies how tourism operators are highlighting attractions within the city itself, moving beyond the traditional focus on Angkor temples.

The tour lasts approximately 9 hours (10:30 AM to 7:30 PM) and is priced on a sliding scale based on group size, starting from $118 for 2 persons and increasing to $238 for 12 persons. MySiemReapTours.

Key Attractions Featured

The tour showcases several significant cultural and historical sites within Siem Reap city:

Angkor Botanical Garden: Visitors learn about local medicinal plants and spices while enjoying scenic areas.
Wat Thmei Pagoda: This site serves as a memorial to Cambodia’s tragic history during the Khmer Rouge period.
Wat Preah Enkosey Monastery or Wat Damnak Pagoda: Guests visit one of these important religious sites that highlight historical and cultural narratives.
Wat Athvear Temple: This 12th-century temple features notable Apsara carvings and represents ancient Khmer architecture.
Phnom Krom Temple: The tour concludes at this viewpoint, offering sunset views over Tonle Sap Lake

The Urban Tourism Evolution of Siem Reap

Siem Reap started as just a place to sleep when visiting Angkor Wat. Now it stands on its own. Since 2020, the city has worked hard to make itself worth visiting.

The government put $120 million into 15 new museums, galleries, and performance places. Wat Bo Village changed into a cultural spot with 48 heritage shops and 17 artisan workshops. And in 2023, the airport expanded, handling 1.3 million people in its first year.

The newest big project focuses on the 40-hectare Wat Bo area, set to become the city’s third major tourist zone after Angkor and Pub Street. This development keeps Siem Reap moving forward while holding onto what makes it special.

Planning Your Visit to Siem Reap Tourist Places

When to Visit

The best time to see Siem Reap tourist places runs from November to April during dry season. Skies stay clear and temps feel nice for walking around. If you don’t mind quick rain showers, May to October brings fewer tourists and lower prices.

Getting Around

Tuk-tuks remain the most fun way to check out Siem Reap tourist places. Rides within the city cost $1-2 one-way. For longer trips, hire a driver for the day.

The new 38-road project has made getting around much better. This big project fixed 108.74 kilometers of roads across the city, making travel smoother between attractions.

Sample 3-Day Itinerary

Day 1: City Culture

Morning: Angkor National Museum
Afternoon: Wat Preah Enkosey Monastery and Wat Thmei Pagoda
Evening: Phare Circus performance

Day 2: Local Life

Morning: Angkor Botanical Garden
Afternoon: Made in Cambodia Market
Evening: Rose Apple Square light shows

Day 3: Nature and Learning

Morning: Tonlé Sap Lake floating village
Afternoon: Cambodia Landmine Museum
Evening: Siem Reap Night Market

For a complete guided experience of the city’s best spots, the Private Siem Reap City Tour makes sure you don’t miss anything important. You’ll get your own guide who knows all the local stories and best photo spots.

Tourism Growth in Numbers

The changes in Siem Reap show in the numbers. International visitors reached 203,270 in the first quarter of 2025 – up 59.2% from last year. People now stay 5.3 nights on average (18% longer than before) and spend $78 per night (12% more than last year).

The kinds of activities people do has changed too. In 2020, only 41% of visitors did non-temple activities. By 2025, that number jumped to 63%. The night economy has grown 89% since 2023, showing that Siem Reap tourist places now keep people busy after dark.

Australian interest has shot up most of all. According to Skyscanner’s data, searches for Siem Reap from Australia increased 529% in 2025, making it their top choice for travel.

Supporting Local Communities

Many Siem Reap tourist places now focus on helping local people. The Private Siem Reap City Tour partners with 14 local businesses, bringing in $280,000 each year. Even better, 38% of tour fees fund local heritage projects.

When you visit, try to put about 35% of your budget toward community-based businesses. This helps spread tourism money to more people.

What’s Coming Next for Siem Reap Tourist Places

The future looks bright for Siem Reap tourist places. Plans for 2026–2030 include:

$25 million for smart tourism tech to manage crowds in real time
An 18-hectare arts district that will house 150 artists
Khmer Food Lab to train 300 chefs each year

New markets opening up include medical tourism with a Traditional Medicine Wellness Center planned for 2026, digital nomad spaces aiming to attract 50,000 remote workers by 2027, and event tourism with Siem Reap’s bid to host the 2028 ASEAN Cultural Capital program.

Last Words About Siem Reap Tourist Places

Siem Reap has grown from Angkor’s waiting room into a star all its own. With 23 major attractions beyond temples, more visitors find reasons to stay longer and come back.

Want to see the best of Siem Reap? Start planning now. Book a Private Siem Reap City Tour to make the most of your time. Then check what permits you need from the Angkor Enterprise for any temple visits.

The crowds will return soon. Beat them there.