Siem Reap

Food & Drink

• Dad & Son Banh Mi Cart – yes, that's the name; the sandwiches are so good, best enjoyed sitting by the river
• El Toro Grill – a tourist spot with a huge range of cuisines (the empanadas were unreal)
• Pub Street – touristy, but has an enormous range of cuisine

Sights

• Made in Cambodia Market — a craft market where I picked up an art piece
• Riverside Night Market
• Central Market — the most traditional of the bunch
• Wat Preah Prom Rath, right in town

Experiences

• Angkor Wat at sunrise — get there early, the best spot is the front of either the north or south library. The sunrise itself is hit or miss and gets crowded, but you have to take the chance — it's worth it
• Sunset at Phnom Bakheng on your first night — go early, it packs out fast (Pre Rup and Angkor Wat itself are other sunset options)
• A guided tour on your first full day — see the best of the complex and actually learn something
• Renting a TukTuk for a day to explore the rest of the 300+ temples at your own pace
• Phare Circus — a world-record cultural storytelling performance; get tickets ahead, go in the evening, and don't skip the food stalls either

Getting Around

• Rent a private TukTuk by the day to reach the wider temple complex beyond the main sites

Travel Tips

• Budget more time than you think — 300+ temples means you won't see them all, even with several days
• Phnom Kulen Waterfall is a worthwhile day trip and a sacred pilgrimage site, said to be one of the more underrated spots in Cambodia (didn't make it myself)

Overall Review

The biggest snub of all time has to be Angkor Wat being left off the Seven Wonders of the World list — it's considered the 8th wonder for a reason. It's something you'll only see once in a lifetime, so take full advantage. We spent a sunrise, a sunset, and 2 full days touring the grounds, and still didn't see all 300+ temples around Siem Reap and the Angkor Wat complex. Siem Reap itself is laid-back, serving mostly as home base and gateway to the temples, but there are still plenty of things worth checking out in the evenings or on an off day. I'd recommend a sunset hike the day you arrive, a guided private tour on your first full day, and a private TukTuk on any day you return to explore on your own.