You can't visit Siem Reap and skip Angkor Wat. But don't overlook the other parts of the city, which add plenty of charm and appeal to this historic corner of Cambodia.
From jungle adventures to vibrant culture and a lively nightlife, here are 10 essential things to do in Siem Reap beyond the famous temples:
Visit the temples of Angkor
The temples are what everyone comes here for, and Angkor doesn't disappoint. Whether you're a keen photographer or you simply want to see the temples at their best, a photo tour helps you catch the hidden landmarks you'd otherwise miss. The best time for photos is sunrise. Go in April to watch the sun climb right behind the sanctuary's main tower, and give yourself the best odds of a haze-free day.
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Or, if you don't mind working up a sweat, rent a White Bicycle from any of the outlets around town (your $2 daily fee helps support local NGOs) and spend the day exploring the main temple complex, Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm, at your own pace. Either option gives you plenty of time to see the big three, whatever smaller temples happen to catch your eye, and still make it up to Phnom Bakheng for the finest sunset views.
Arrive early to claim a spot, and be sure to climb up before access to the hilltop viewing platform closes at 5:30pm. Grab a pate sandwich from one of the roadside vendors and enjoy a picnic while you wait for the evening show.
Explore the other temples
Siem Reap is about far more than Angkor Wat when it comes to temples. If you fancy yourself a Cambodian Indiana Jones, head to Beng Mealea, where you can see what the temples would look like if they'd been left to nature. Full-day tours usually pair it with a trip to Koh Ker, an ancient capital, or a stop at Banteay Srei 2, a rarely visited temple and working monastery where you might hear monks chanting.
If you want a taste of the "real" Cambodia, book a tour of the fishing villages on the Tonle Sap, where you can see traditional stilt architecture, floating rice paddies, and chat with local fishermen who may even invite you home for a very fresh-caught lunch.
It's worth spending the extra time to venture further out. The nearest village, Chong Kneas, is packed with tourists and feels like a human zoo. To round out the day, pick a tour that also visits a bird sanctuary or one of several nearby NGO projects.
Hire a tuk-tuk guide
Even tuk-tuk fans will quickly understand why every market stall sells T-shirts reading, "No tuk-tuk. Not today. Not tomorrow," but don't let the pushy vendors scare you off missing this quintessential Cambodian ride.
Tuk-tuks are the local taxis and the easiest way to get around Siem Reap. You can reach anywhere in the main part of town for $2, and good hagglers can talk drivers down to a dollar. Tip your driver well and you'll have a friend for life, plus an energetic guide to show you the best of Siem Reap. Bonus points if you can track down the "VIP Batman" tuk-tuk.
Eat insects at the Old Market
At Psar Chas, the Old Market, you can soak up the atmosphere of a genuine Cambodian market. Baskets of spices, colourful rows of fresh produce, crispy fried tarantulas and meats ranging from octopus to chicken feet make for a wonderfully odd food circus.
If you're after something more familiar, there are vendors selling grilled banana kebabs, roasted corn on the cob or banana and chocolate pancakes (the vendor in the corner nearest the Warehouse has a devoted following). If you're too busy touring temples during the day, you can still get the market experience at the Angkor Night Market.
Try a fish foot massage
After a long day of temple walks, treat your tired feet to a little care to get ready for the next day's adventures. Spas offering reflexology, massages and much more can be found in nearly every hotel, but the independent Frangipani consistently earns top marks, and Spa Indochine's traditional treatments are prepared fresh each day with local ingredients.
If you don't want to splurge, the area around Pub Street is dotted with dozens of little shops. A half-hour reflexology session costs around $5, or try a "fish massage," where tiny fish nibble the dead skin off your toes. The going rate is $1 for 15 minutes, or $3 for 20 minutes plus a can of Angkor beer.
People-watch on Pub Street
Pub Street is the heart of Siem Reap's party scene, so grab a drink (or a scoop of Siem Reap's best ice cream at the Blue Pumpkin) and drink in the atmosphere.
Kick off your evening at the Red Piano, on the corner. The French cuisine here is good, but the place is best known as Angelina Jolie's hangout during the filming of "Tomb Raider." Try her favourite cocktail, Cointreau, lime and tonic, now named after the film, and if you're the lucky tenth customer, it's free.
Keep strolling down the street to find a spot for dinner. Every restaurant serves reasonably cheap Western and local food, but Soup Dragon's signature dishes always pull a crowd, and just two doors down sits the Angkor What? bar. The scrawls on the walls and tables are proof of this old favourite's popularity, and it's always one of the last to close.
If you're not too keen on the backpacker vibe, turn down a small side lane in search of Miss Wong, a stylish cocktail bar that whisks you back to 1930s Shanghai and makes a good refuge from the madness on the neighbouring street.
Watch a traditional Apsara dance
If your taste in nightlife runs a little more refined than the wild antics of Pub Street, get acquainted with more traditional Cambodian culture at a Khmer dance show, named after the "celestial dancers" that adorn the temples of Angkor. Most tourists opt for the combined dinner and performance offered at any number of local hotels and restaurants, but it's worth getting a recommendation, since cost and quality vary widely.
Apsara Terrace at the Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor is renowned for its impressive classical dance and martial arts performances, along with a superb barbecue buffet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but be prepared for fine-dining prices.
Apsara Theatre at the Angkor Village Hotel offers a more affordable dinner-and-show nightly at 8pm, but it's relatively pricey for average views and flavours.
If you want culture without breaking the budget, the Temple Balcony puts on a free Apsara performance. You'll have to buy a mediocre dinner, but sometimes you get what you pay for.
Give back
Responsible tourism is a buzzword in Siem Reap, and the many non-governmental organisations that have opened offices here make getting involved easy.
Get in touch with the staff at ConCERT Cambodia, who can connect you with any of Siem Reap's organisations and help you pick an activity that fits your interests and schedule. The bitter legacy of nearly three decades of war continues to haunt Cambodia; it's estimated that more than four million anti-personnel mines are still buried across the country, and there are around 40,000 amputees.
One organisation doing vital work is the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) (working with the Belgian NGO APOPO), which recently began testing the use of giant rats from Tanzania to detect mines and help clear the fields of landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Take a Khmer cooking class
If you've gotten hooked on tasty Cambodian curries, take a traditional cooking class and you'll be able to satisfy your cravings long after you leave Siem Reap.
Khmer chefs will walk you through the local markets and introduce you to all the mysterious ingredients you'll need to create a culinary masterpiece. Then put on an apron and chef's hat and cook up two dishes of your choosing at Le Tigre de Papier. Fish amok, Cambodia's national dish, is a must-try, as are the green mango salad and fresh spring rolls, plus a sticky rice dessert. You can buy a cookbook, with proceeds going to support a local NGO.
Find the perfect souvenir
Some of the souvenirs on sale are, admittedly, tacky and pointless. But in a country known for its traditional crafts, it's well worth splashing out (by Cambodian standards) on a unique keepsake.
Angkor Making Shoes will craft made-to-order footwear for just $12, with a quick turnaround that suits a traveller's schedule. Looking for silk? Try Samatoa, which offers custom silk clothing in under 24 hours with free delivery to your hotel.
If you're short on time, head to Artisans d'Angkor. Prices here are higher than elsewhere, but so is the quality, whether you're after classic Cambodian checked scarves, luxurious silk and sculptures, or pre-mixed spice packs to help you bring the flavours of Cambodia home.
