Siem Reap is compact, and almost every hotel is within fifteen or twenty minutes of Angkor Wat by tuk-tuk, so you do not need to stay right by the temples. What matters more is the feel of your neighbourhood, whether you can walk to dinner, and whether you have a pool to cool off in after a hot morning at the ruins. Here are the three areas that work best for a first visit, with our picks in each.
The Old French Quarter: for heritage and a walkable riverside
The leafy streets around the Royal Gardens and the king’s residence, on the west bank of the river, are the most elegant part of town. The Angkor National Museum, Artisans Angkor and the cafes and boutiques of Kandal Village are close, and the Old Market and Pub Street are a pleasant walk along the river. Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor is the splurge: a 1932 landmark facing the Royal Gardens, with 119 rooms, a 35-metre pool, Raffles Spa and the Elephant Bar. FCC Angkor by Avani, built around a former French governor’s residence on Pokambor Avenue, is the stylish mid-range alternative, with 80 rooms, a pool, a spa and the Scribe bar.
Wat Bo: for boutique hotels and easy evenings
Across the river from the Old Market, the Wat Bo area is a quieter grid of leafy streets with some of the town’s best small hotels and restaurants, named after one of Siem Reap’s oldest pagodas. Viroth’s Hotel is our mid-range pick: 35 rooms in a crisp mid-century style, a 20-metre pool, a spa and vintage-car temple tours, a few steps from the market. On a budget, Lub d Siem Reap on Makara Street has private rooms and dorms, an outdoor pool, a bar and restaurant and a sociable crowd, about three minutes by tuk-tuk from Pub Street.
River Road: for calm and quicker temple starts
North of the centre, River Road follows the Siem Reap River towards Angkor, past pagodas, gardens and conservation offices. Staying here shaves a few minutes off the drive to the temples and feels peaceful, while town is still a short tuk-tuk ride away. Jaya House River Park is the pick: a 36-room boutique hotel with two pools, a spa, a Khmer restaurant, a plastic-free approach and free airport pickup on stays of two nights or more.
Matching base to trip
For a special occasion and a sense of history, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor. For character in a central spot at a lower price, FCC Angkor by Avani. For design and a great pool near the market, Viroth’s Hotel. For quiet gardens and an eco ethos, Jaya House River Park. For a budget stay with a social scene, Lub d Siem Reap.
Practical tips
November to February is high season, with the coolest, driest weather and the highest prices, so book early. A pool matters more here than almost anywhere, given the heat. The new airport is about an hour from town, so check whether your hotel includes or arranges transfers. Many hotels can pack breakfast boxes for sunrise starts, and most will book a trusted tuk-tuk driver for your temple days.
