Visiting Siem Reap & Angkor: a practical guide

Planning a trip to the Angkor temples, or already in Siem Reap? This page gathers the practical rules travellers ask us about most often, checked against official Cambodian sources. Prices and rules change: always confirm on the official links at the bottom of this page before you pay anything.

Last checked: 28 October 2026.

Before you go

Visa

  • Most visitors need a visa. The official online e-Visa is issued only at evisa.gov.kh (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The tourist e-Visa (type T) costs US$30, is single entry, allows a stay of one month, is valid for 3 months from issue, and processing takes about 3 business days.
  • e-Visas are accepted at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI), Techo International Airport (Phnom Penh), Sihanoukville airport, and the Bavet and Tropaeng Kreal land borders. Poipet and Cham Yeam are temporarily closed for e-Visa entry.
  • If you do not have an e-Visa, a visa on arrival is available at airports; bring a passport photo and US dollars. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date.
  • Since 3 October 2026 Cambodia no longer puts visa stickers in passports; visas are issued digitally.

Cambodia e-Arrival card (all air travellers)

  • Every traveller arriving by air must complete the Cambodia e-Arrival form, even with a visa. It is free and can be submitted within 7 days before arrival or on arrival.
  • Only arrival.gov.kh and the official "Cambodia e-Arrival" app are genuine; the Immigration Department has warned against copycat websites that charge fees.

Coming overland from Thailand

  • As of 28 October 2026, the UK Foreign Office reports that land border crossings between Cambodia and Thailand remain suspended, and advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of that border. Check before planning an overland trip from Bangkok.

Arriving in Siem Reap

  • Flights land at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI), which replaced the old airport near town in October 2023. It is well outside the city: allow about an hour by road.
  • The official airport shuttle bus costs US$8 each way and stops at its town station on 7 Makara Road; the ticket counter is on the left after you exit arrivals. Hotel drop-off is not included.
  • Grab and PassApp are the ride-hailing apps we recommend in town.

Angkor pass: prices, hours and where to buy

Pass (Angkor Archaeological Park) Price Must be used within
1-day US$37 1 day
3-day US$62 7 days
7-day US$72 30 days

Other temple sites have their own tickets: Koh Ker US$15, Beng Mealea US$10, Kbal Spean US$5 (1 day each).

  • Park hours: entry from 5:00, closing 18:30. Individual temples vary, e.g. Angkor Wat 5:00–17:30, Bayon 7:30–17:30, Phnom Bakheng 5:00–19:00, Banteay Srei 7:30–17:30.
  • Where to buy: only official Angkor Enterprise tickets are valid — tickets bought elsewhere are not. Buy online on the official website or mobile app (cards or KHQR, e-ticket by email), at self-service kiosks, at the main ticket office on Apsara Road at the corner of Road 60 (about 4 km from the centre), or at the Angkor Pavis counter near the Angkor Wat entrance.
  • Ticket office hours: daily 5:00–17:30. Tickets bought after 17:00 are valid from the next day. Counters accept US-dollar cash and major cards (Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, JCB, Discover, Diners Club).
  • Photo: 3-day and 7-day passes carry your photo, taken when you buy. The 1-day pass needs no photo.
  • Children under 12 enter free and need no ticket, but may be asked for a passport as proof of age. They cannot climb Angkor Wat's upper tower (12 years and over only).
  • Keep your ticket (printed or on your phone): it is scanned at every checkpoint.

Temple etiquette (official code of conduct)

  • Dress: shorts and skirts above the knee and bare shoulders are prohibited in sacred places; you may be refused entry.
  • Monks: ask before taking photos. Women should not touch, or stand or sit too close to, monks.
  • Do not touch carvings, sit or lean on fragile structures, or climb loose stones. Backpacks, sharp-tipped umbrellas, tripods and high heels are discouraged inside temples.
  • Angkor has been smoke-free since 2012. Please do not give money, candy or buy items from children; donate to a recognised charity instead.

When to go

  • The rainy season runs roughly May to October; heavy monsoon storms are most likely from June to October.
  • November to March is the high tourist season in Siem Reap.
  • Angkor Enterprise publishes the number of foreign visitors buying an Angkor pass each month. In 2025 the total was about 955,000; January was the busiest month (146,140 visitors) and September the quietest (35,650).

Money

  • Cambodia's own currency is the riel (KHR), issued by the National Bank of Cambodia, but US dollars are used for most transactions (more than 60%, according to the central bank).
  • Check the dollar notes you receive as change: fake or damaged notes have been reported.

Getting around and staying safe

  • Use Grab or PassApp so the destination and price are fixed in the app.
  • Most thefts are bag or phone snatchings by thieves on motorbikes, including from tourists on foot or in tuk-tuks: use your hotel safe for valuables and take extra care at night. Riding a motorbike without a helmet can bring an on-the-spot fine.

Buying gemstones in Siem Reap

Siem Reap has many sellers of synthetic, treated or imitation stones sold as natural, and drivers, guides or hotel staff can earn commissions of up to 50% for bringing tourists to a shop. A few habits protect you: book your own ride to the shop you chose, walk away from sudden "50% discounts", don't rely on improvised "tests" shown in the shop, and for any stone sold as natural ask for a certificate issued by a gemologist from a recognised gemological laboratory. Read our full guides: How to buy natural gemstones in Siem Reap and Gemstone scams.

Visiting GEMIC in Siem Reap

GEMIC (Gemological Institute of Cambodia) opened in Siem Reap in 2014 and is currently the only gemological laboratory operating in Cambodia.

  • Where: Ground Floor, Retail Zone, Rose Apple Square, Rose Apple Road, Siem Reap 17252 — about a one-minute walk from the main entrance of Rose Apple Square.
  • Getting there: in Grab or PassApp, enter "Rose Apple Square" as the destination and don't change it, even if a driver suggests another gem shop. From Pub Street or the Old Market it is roughly 1 km by road (about 800–900 m on OpenStreetMap routing).
  • Opening hours: every day, 9:00–20:30.
  • Free museum: the gem museum is free to visit, with no obligation to buy. Synthetic and man-made stones are displayed in the museum for comparison, so you can see the difference yourself.
  • Shop: natural gemstones only, each one tested in our own laboratory on site, with the price displayed on every item. Our blue zircon comes from Ratanakiri, in north-east Cambodia. Authenticity is stated on your invoice. → Gem shop, Cambodian zircon, Blue zircon
  • Laboratory: independent gem testing and certificates — verbal assessment $50, brief report $100, full report $200; about one week from deposit to return. Identification and valuation are paid services by prior arrangement; we don't buy stones from the public, identify stones for free from photos, or repair jewellery. → Gemstone laboratory, Online stone testing
  • Gemology courses: taught in English or French, Monday to Friday, from a 3-hour beginner class to one month; book at least one week ahead. A half-day beginner class is $200 for one student ($120 per student for 2–4). A certificate is given at the end of each course. Free hotel pick-up in Siem Reap is available for course students on request. → Gemology courses
  • Contact: phone / WhatsApp +855 92 486 772 (ask for Ms. Iet Thoan), [email protected]. → Plan your visit, Contact

FAQ

How much is the Angkor pass? US$37 for 1 day, US$62 for 3 days (used within 7 days) and US$72 for 7 days (used within 30 days), at official Angkor Enterprise prices checked on 28 October 2026. Children under 12 enter free.

What time do the Angkor temples open? The park opens at 5:00 and closes at 18:30. Angkor Wat is open 5:00–17:30, Phnom Bakheng 5:00–19:00, and most other temples 7:30–17:30.

Where can I buy a genuine Angkor pass? Only from Angkor Enterprise: its official website or app, its kiosks, the main ticket office on Apsara Road (corner of Road 60) or the Angkor Pavis counter. Tickets bought anywhere else are not valid.

Do I need a visa for Cambodia, and how much is the e-Visa? Most visitors do. The official tourist e-Visa costs US$30 at evisa.gov.kh, allows a one-month stay and takes about 3 business days. A visa on arrival is also available at airports.

What is the Cambodia e-Arrival card? A free online arrival form that every air traveller must complete, even with a visa, within 7 days before arrival or on arrival. Use only arrival.gov.kh or the official app.

What should I wear to visit Angkor Wat? Cover your shoulders and knees: shorts and skirts above the knee and bare shoulders are prohibited in sacred places.

Can I cross by land from Thailand to Siem Reap? As of 28 October 2026, land crossings between Thailand and Cambodia are reported suspended by the UK Foreign Office. Check the latest status before you travel.

Is the GEMIC gem museum free? Yes. The museum at Rose Apple Square is free to visit every day from 9:00 to 20:30, with no obligation to buy.

How do I get to GEMIC from Pub Street? Book a Grab or PassApp to "Rose Apple Square" and keep that destination. It is roughly 1 km from Pub Street and the Old Market.

Official links