How to Explore Siem Reap, Angkor Wat and More – Stunning Attractions for the Culture Lover
The charming Cambodian city of Siem Reap would probably be best known as the entranceway to the famed Angkor ruins where you will find an array of ancient temples and other features of interest. However, you will also have the chance to visit the local night markets, savour the street foods and experience the other attractions in Siem Reap, as described below.
Visit the Old Market
On your tour of Siem Reap, look to add the interesting Old Market to your itinerary. By visiting this charming marketplace, you would have the opportunity to gain an authentic insight into the typical way of life of the locals. If you choose to visit this market during the morning, you would be able to observe the locals as they shop for their requirements for fresh produce. After strolling around this area, you may also enjoy a tasty meal at one of the restaurants located here.
Experience the Angkor National Museum
Before experiencing the Angkor Wat complex and the nearby attractions, it would be an excellent idea to gain an understanding of the culture and history of the Khmer kingdom. A great establishment at which to gain this knowledge would be Angkor National Museum where you could learn a great deal about these subjects. In fact, visiting this captivating museum would be a great way to spend an afternoon in Siem Reap.
Explore Angkor Archaeological Park
There would be no doubt that the vast Angkor Archaeological Park would be Siem Reap’s foremost attraction, including such cultural marvels as Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm. Taking pride of place at this UNESCO World Heritage Site would be Angkor Wat, considered to be the world’s biggest religious monument. One of Asia’s most significant historical sites, this complex demonstrates the engineering and artistic prowess of the Khmer people. A boutique hotel in Siem Reap to consider from which you could easily visit this complex would be Anantara Angkor Resort which offers guided VIP tours too.
You should also take the opportunity to head to Bayon which happens to be renowned for its enigmatic huge stone faces. Another engrossing religious attraction at Angkor would be Ta Prohm, a temple entwined with huge tree roots, which was prominently featured in a Tomb Raider movie as well.
Browse through the night markets
Another not-to-be-missed experience in Siem Reap would be browsing through the fascinating night markets, with several being in proximity to one another. You will find an array of attractive bargains at these night markets, in addition to interesting artworks and appealing souvenirs. If you take the opportunity to visit the Siem Reap Art Centre Night Market, you will find a selection of paintings on media such as parchment and canvas.
Enjoy Pub Street
In the night-time, the locality of choice to be in Siem Reap would undoubtedly be Pub Street, home to an array of interesting bars and restaurants. As you make your way to this street, you will encounter an array of street stalls offering tasty snacks. If you happen to be a traveller on a budget, you could select a dish of fried noodles that would be filling and cheap. Pub Street would also be a great place to enjoy rolled ice cream, with plenty of stalls offering this sweet treat to be found here. You will additionally find an abundance of more exotic food choices, such as fried scorpions, crickets and so on!
View an Apsara Dance performance
Your visit to Siem Reap wouldn’t be complete without experiencing one of the enthralling Apsara dance performances staged here. You will see that Apsara dancing is a variety of traditional Cambodian ballet that would captivate the culture lover. During the performance, you will notice that the Apsara dancer, dressed in white and representing the spirit, leads the performance with subordinates in colourful skirts supporting the lead dancer. Even if you are not a huge fan of dancing, you are likely to be enthralled by this kind of performance.
