2 days in Siem Reap is the minimum you need — for the perfect itinerary and if planned well, it is enough to experience the most magnificent temple complex in the world, a spectacular cultural show and the warm, surprising energy of this Cambodian city.
Here is exactly how I would spend 2 days in Siem Reap — based on our own family trip.
For our complete experience — read our Siem Reap Travel Guide
Before You Arrive
Book in Advance
- ✅ Angkor Wat sunrise tour — book through your hotel or Klook
- ✅ Apsara dance show with dinner — popular, fills up fast
- ✅ Airport transfer — arrange with hotel
Visa
Apply for Cambodia e-visa at evisa.gov.kh — $36 USD, processed in 3 business days. Much easier than visa on arrival!
Day 1 — Angkor Wat Sunrise and Temple Complex
3:30am — Wake Up
Yes, really. This is the price of the most magnificent sunrise of your life!
Your hotel will have packed breakfast ready — Embassy Angkor Wat Hotel did this for us without being asked. One of the most thoughtful gestures of our entire trip. We booked our Ankor Wat tour on Klook. Do this before hand so you do not have to earlier than 4am for the tickets.
Book your Angkor Wat sunrise tour on Klook →
4:00am — Depart for Angkor Wat
- Tour bus picks you up from hotel
- Drive through empty Siem Reap streets — magical in itself
- Arrive at Angkor complex before dawn
5:00-5:30am — Angkor Wat Sunrise
- Find your spot at the reflecting pool
- Watch the sky change — grey to pink to gold
- The silhouette of Angkor Wat’s five towers emerging from darkness is something words cannot fully describe
- Stay until full sunrise — the golden stone in morning light is equally magnificent
Read our Angkor Wat Sunrise Guide for more details.
8:00am — Explore Angkor Wat
- Enter the temple complex properly
- Walk the galleries — Sanskrit inscriptions, bas relief carvings, Hindu iconography
- Climb to upper levels for views across the jungle
- Allow 2-3 hours inside
11:00am — Bayon Temple
- Drive by tuk tuk to Bayon — 15 minutes from Angkor Wat
- Over 200 enormous stone faces on every tower
- Every angle reveals a new face — deeply fascinating
- Allow 1 hour
1:00pm — Lunch Break
- Return to hotel or nearby restaurant
- Rest during hottest part of day
- Recharge for afternoon!
3:00pm — Ta Prohm
- Ta Prohm — the jungle temple — in afternoon light
- Massive silk-cotton tree roots growing through ancient stone walls
- Most photogenic temple in the complex
- Allow 1-1.5 hours
- Tip: Go late afternoon — better light for photos and slightly cooler
Evening — Rest and Freshen Up
- Return to hotel
- Shower and change
- Ready for Day 1 evening activity!
7:00pm — Pub Street and Dinner
- Walk along famous Pub Street — buzzing with energy
- Try local Khmer cuisine
- Angkor Beer — mandatory! 🍺
- Early night — you’ve earned it after that 4am start!
Day 2 — More Temples and Apsara Dance Show
Morning — Angkor Thom Complex
- After a proper sleep — explore Angkor Thom
- The walled city surrounding Bayon
- South Gate — massive stone faces on causeway
- Baphuon temple
- Phimeanakas
- Allow 2-3 hours
Afternoon — Rest and Explore Siem Reap City
- Siem Reap city is worth exploring!
- Old Market (Phsar Chas) — local produce, souvenirs, street food
- Artisans Angkor — traditional Khmer crafts
- Walk along the Siem Reap River
- Good roads, beautiful city — surprisingly calm despite tourist numbers
Evening — Apsara Dance Show with Dinner
- This is the cultural highlight of Siem Reap — do not miss it!
- 3 hour show with dinner buffet included
- Classical Cambodian dance telling stories from Hindu mythology
- For Indian travellers — deeply familiar stories told through extraordinary movement
- Costumes, headdresses, precision — genuinely moving performance
Book Apsara Dance Show with Dinner on Klook →
2 Day Siem Reap — Quick Reference
| Day 1 | Day 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Early morning | Angkor Wat sunrise 4am | Rest! |
| Morning | Angkor Wat + Bayon | Angkor Thom complex |
| Afternoon | Lunch + Ta Prohm | Old Market + city explore |
| Evening | Pub Street + dinner | Apsara Dance Show |
Getting Around
Tuk tuk is the best and most fun way to get around Siem Reap!
- Negotiate price upfront
- Most hotels can arrange a dedicated tuk tuk driver for the day
- Approximately $15-25 USD for full day tuk tuk hire
- Drivers are knowledgeable and friendly — many speak good English
Practical Tips
- Dress modestly for temples — cover shoulders and knees
- Start early — temples are cooler and less crowded before 9am
- Stay hydrated — Cambodia is hot and humid
- Carry USD — widely accepted everywhere
- Angkor Pass — buy 1 day or 3 day pass depending on your stay
Should You Stay Longer?
Yes — if possible! 2 days is the minimum. With 3 days you can:
- Visit Banteay Srei — the pink sandstone temple
- Take a boat trip on Tonle Sap lake
- Spend more time in the city
- Visit Landmine Museum — sobering and important
Read our complete Siem Reap Travel Guide for hotels, food, visa tips and everything you need.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links are affiliate links. I only recommend places I have personally experienced and loved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are 2 days enough for Siem Reap?
Yes. If you only want to cover the Angkor Wat and other temples and Apsara dance.
What can you do in Siem Reap in 2 days?
Angkor Wat sunrise,other temples, Apsara show.
How many days do you need for Angkor Wat?
1 day for main temples, more for the wider complex.
What is the best 2-day Siem Reap itinerary?
Reach, relax, watch sunset at a temple ( a small climb), then Apsara dance show. Next entire day visit 4 main temples and relax and catch a night flight or next day flight.
How much does 2 days in Siem Reap cost?
₹29,900–41,400
What is the best time to visit Siem Reap?
We travelled at end of October. But between mid October – December/January
How do you get around Siem Reap?
Pre-booked tours and Tuk tuk for the day.