Siem Reap City Area Guide

Welcome to Siem Reap City 

Hailed as “the gateway to ancient ruins,” Siem Reap (see-em ree-ep) is visited by thousands of tourists to experience the temples, chic hotels, top-class restaurants with range of cuisines, street foods and Cambodian delicacies, traditional markets, sumptuous spas, and cultural arts and scenes across many destinations. 

Related article: Siem Reap Area Guide: Svay Dangkum, the Heart of the City

Siem Reap city, or Krong Siem Reab in Khmer, is the capital city of Siem Reap province consisting of thirteen communes namely the following: 

COMMUNE ZIP CODE 

• Sla Kram– 171001 
• Svay Dangkum– 171002 
• Kouk Chak– 171003 
• Sala Kamreuk– 171004 
• Nokor Thum– 171005 
• Chreav– 171006 
• Chong Knies– 171007 
• Sambour– 171008 
• Siem Reab– 171009 
• Srangae– 171010 
• Ampil– 171011 
• Krabei Riel– 171012 
• Tuek Vil– 171013 

The most common residential areas are Svay Dangkum, where the city center is located; Sala Kamreuk is a popular commune with expats; and Wat Bo, just over the river and close to the city center. The great thing about Siem Reap is even the furthest commune is not more than a 15-minute trip to the centre of town, which means suburb commune are also popular for people wanting a more peaceful neighborhood. 

Krong Siem Reap is approximately 316 km or 196 miles located north-west of the capital city of Cambodia, and about 5 hours and 15 mins drive from Phnom Penh. There are 139,458 people residing in Siem Reap, recorded as the fifth most populous cities in the country.  

Daily Costs 

Below is a budget chart of 1 person staying, eating and visiting places in Siem Reap per day.  

Accommodation 

Siem Reap has a wide range of accommodation including apartments, condos, houses, villas and gated communities.

Apartments can be rented on a six-month or one-year contract with prices starting as low as $180 per month up to a maximum of $2,000 per month (depending on the number of rooms and the standard of design and furnishings).

Condominiums are not as common as in Phnom Penh; however, it is as fascinating as it is in the capital city like Rose Apple Square Residence, the most anticipated condo development located within the city center.

There are houses that can also be rented for about $350 per month up to $2,000 per month (depending on the location, size and number of bedrooms). Nevertheless, if you decided to retire and stay in Siem Reap, ready-built homes can be purchased for $55,000 up to $900,000 (depending on the location, size and quality).

Buying land to build your own dream home or business is a real option for people moving to Siem Reap. Low-priced land, and access to professional architect and construction firms make this a cost-effective approach to home ownership.

Since every building in Siem Reap has a height requirement (no greater than Angkor Wat’s height), it is very common for apartments and guesthouses to have stairs as the only access to upper floors. Although the airport and hotels are built with ramps and lifts, most have been designed with less accessibility in mind. So, for disabled or wheelchaired tourists, it is advisable to book earlier so as to reserve the rooms located on the ground floor.  

Asking for help is also easy because Cambodians are very kind and helpful towards the foreigners, plus the income rate for locals is very cheap so you can opt to hire someone for some manual work.  

Main Roads 

Siem Reap is not-so mobility-friendly city as there are many roads that are still unpaved, uneven, and have potholes and broken pavements. But as of today, there have been a lot of improvements in the city with several developed roads and streets.  

• National Road 6 – a national highway in Cambodia which starts from Phnom Penh going North to Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey and Poipet. 
• Apsara Road – the main road access to Angkor Wat because it is where the Angkor Wat Ticket Counter is located, alongside Apsara Authority and Siem Reap Provincial Hall.  
• Road 60 – a main road in Slor Kram which intersects Apsara Road and connects to Charles De Gaulle Road.  
• Charles De Gaulle Road – is also known as “The Road to the Temples” for it connects the center of Siem Reap to the temples of Angkor Wat. 
• Sivutha Boulevard & Wat Bo Road – are popular streets for its lined-up mid- to high-end restaurants, hotels, with a variety of cuisines including Japanese, Khmer, Indian, Thai, French, American, and Vietnamese cuisines.  

Medical and Criminal-related Emergencies 

For tourists, if you encounter accidents related to petty crimes, injuries, and diseases, you may visit the following authorities or ask for professional help from the following: 

Police Box is a small headquarters for urgent police response or assistance mostly for tourists’ incidents related to petty thefts and pickpocketing. It is located at the intersection of Pub Street, beside Siem Reap Referral Hospital.  

Fortunately, crime rates in Siem Reap is extremely low contributing to the city’s status as the most livable cities in Cambodia.

Whilst thefts and pickpocketing can be prevented through safety measures, diseases and illnesses can still find a way to get you to a hospital. Afar from the city center, most areas in Siem Reap are filled with abundant greenery that mosquitoes, bugs, and parasites inhabit.  

So, in case you happen to have any illness from these insects like dengue fever, you may want to be treated in the best hospital in town. Originally run by a Bangkok Hospital, Royal Angkor International Hospital is the best hospital to run to for emergencies because worse comes to worst, they can transfer you to Bangkok or Singapore which have high-quality medical facilities, medical professionals and treatments.  

Siem Reap city is known for its tranquility, so if you’re planning to visit or stay in this serene city, expect to embrace nature, simple lifestyle and a peaceful neighborhood.

Related article: Siem Reap Area Guide: Svay Dangkum, the Heart of the City

Map of Siem Reap City with Communes