21 Best Things to Do In Siem Reap with Kids
No one can deny that the best thing to do in Siem Reap is exploring Angkor Wat and all the other great temples of Angkor. But having visited Siem Reap with kids a couple of times we know all the great things you can do here as a family.
In this post I’ll share the 21 best things to do in Siem Reap with kids. Of course Angkor made the list, but also things like zip lining through the jungle, royal gardens, gibbons and a circus.
After sharing the top things to do I’ll share some things you can do around Siem Reap and I’ll leave you with some itineraries, from 1 day to 5 days in Siem Reap.
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21 top things to do in Siem Reap with kids
Here are 21 of the most fun things to do in Siem Reap with children. Number 20 is Angkor Archeological Park. But, you’ll find that Siem Reap in Cambodia is so much more than the temples and deserves to be on your itinerary for Cambodia. And I can’t wait to share them all with you, so let’s dive in!
Note that the opening hours and ticket prices have been updated in June 2026.
1. Angkor Wat Putt
Playing Mini Golf in Siem Reap probably isn’t the first thing you think about when planning a trip to this city. But it’s a very fun activity to do as a family and a nice break from visiting all the temples in this town. You can do this at Angkor Wat Putt.
The cool thing is that you can find some pretty accurate replicas of the Angkor temples in between the 14 miniature golf holes that makes this place even cooler to visit. And if you go to this place before you visit the temples of Angkor, the kids might have fun seeking out the temples they’ve seen while mini golfing.
Opening Hours & Ticket Info
Open daily from 8.00am to 8.00pm.
1 round costs ៛16,080 (about €3.45/$4 USD) per child (under 12) and ៛20,100 (about €4.30/$5 USD) per adult. You can also go for more than one round, check the site to get the prices of 2 and 3 rounds.
You can also arrange for a Tuk Tuk to pick your family up from your hotel or somewhere in the city and they will also drop you off. For 1 person the return trip costs ៛16.080 (about €3.45/$4 USD), for 2 people ៛20.100 (about €4.30/$5 USD), and for 3 or more it’s ៛8.040 (about €1.70/$2 USD) per person (max 4 people per tuk tuk).
Unless you have a rental bike or car, you won’t get a better price hailing your own tuk tuk or calling for a Grab.
2. Phare Circus
Phare The Cambodian Circus is a lovely show with dance, live music, a little bit of drama and of course amazing circus acts. Don’t worry, there are no animals doing any tricks and no scary clowns. It’s more like a cirque du soleil kinda circus.
Phare offers acts like human trapeze, juggling, acrobats and even fire-eaters, all without involving animals.
All artists are graduates or students of the Phare Ponleu Selpak’s training center in Battambang. So it’s safe to say they’re qualified enough to make sure you enjoy the show. And what’s good to know is that ticket fees contribute to the program of the students!
Unfortunately I can’t show you any pics, because the lighting caused us to mess up all the pictures. You have to take our word for it that a visit to Phare circus is one of the best activities in Siem Reap with kids.
Opening Hours & Ticket Info
Daily from 8.00pm to 9.00pm the Phare Circus performs their show.
Depending on the quality of the seat of your choice you’ll pay ៛40.200 (about €8.60/$10 USD) to ៛72.360 (about €15.50/$18 USD) for kids ages 5 to 11.
Kids from 12 to 18 and adults pay ៛72.360 (about €15.50/$18 USD) to ៛152.760 (about €32.70/$38 USD). Kids from 0 to 4 are free if they sit on your lap.
The show is from 8.00pm to 9.00pm, but you’ll get an itinerary from 5.30pm to 9.00pm.
From 5.30pm to 7.30pm you can get Street Food at the venue. Both local dishes as burgers, pizzas and fries. Happy hour is from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
Before the show you can also visit the Phare Boutique for some souvenirs and at 7.00pm students from the Khmer Angkor Cultural Training Club start a dance performance.
Your ticket includes seats to the Phare Circus at 8.00pm and the dance performance at 7.00pm. Food and drinks are not part of the ticket price.
Top Phare Circus tours in Siem Reap
3. Zip lining through the jungle
After watching all these trapeze acts, you might get the urge to hang from a rope yourself. Treat your family to an amazing zip lining adventure through the jungles of Siem Reap and visit Angkor Zipline, formerly known as Flight of the Gibbon Siem Reap.
This was the most amazing experience we had in Siem Reap. The sounds of the jungle surrounded us and there were very exciting challenges along the way. Some zip lines were scarier than others.
We saw children from 6 years old taking up this challenge. But I have to say that I did see some tears and heard some very frightened screams.
Our son was 11yo and said that he felt some anxiety in the beginning. He loved it, but I guess it kind of depends on the child. Some kids are a little more cautious than others. I think, generally speaking, somewhere between 8 and 10 years old is a good age for this challenge.
Opening Hours & Ticket Info
You can go zip lining daily from 7.00am and 4.00pm.
You can book different packages. Take a look if you like to combine zip lining with other activities.
When it comes to just zip lining there are 2 types of tickets.
One for 1 to 1,5 hours, known as the Silver Eco-Adventure Canopy. This one costs ៛201,000 (about €45/$49 USD)
And the Gold Premium Package that lasts 2 to 2,5 hours and includes a local meal and a complimentary gift. It costs ៛406,000 (about €91/$99 USD).
If you visited before 2026 you needed to have an Angkor Pass to get here, but they’ve now changed that. You can get to Angkor Zipline without the need of an Angkor Pass.
Top Zip line tours in Siem Reap
4. Cambodia Landmine Museum
The Cambodia Landmine Museum is located in the Angkor Archeological Park in Siem Reap, about 20km from the city center.
Cambodia remains one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. The people of Cambodia have been victims of their own regime, the Khmer Rouge in the 70s of the last century, by the Vietnamese occupation and by American bombings.
Till this day Cambodians get injured or killed by landmines and other unexploded weapons. Even though millions of landmines have been cleared it will still take a lot of work to clear the country in full. To help Cambodia with this task you can make a donation on site or via the website.
In the landmine museum you’ll learn more about the wars and the aftermath. A former child soldier will tell you the stories during your visit.
During your stay the things you’ll get to hear are quite explicit. There are also a few very graphic photos on the boards you’ll pass. And you’ll find bombs, guns and landmines that were found in the area on display.
Landmine museum with young kids
As always, it’s up to every parent to decide at what age they want to bring their children to sites like this. But due to the graphic stories and images I wouldn’t bring my kids here under the age of 8 and I would inform them about the history and what they’re about to see before the visit.
Opening Hours & Ticket Info
Open daily from 7.30am to 5.30pm.
Children under 13 can enter for free, everyone else pays ៛28.140 (about €6.05/$7 USD) for a ticket.
5. Biking through the city and jungle
A must do in Siem Reap is renting a bike. It gives you more freedom to explore Siem Reap on your own. Both the city as the jungle in the Angkor Archeological Park
As a foreigner you’re not allowed to rent a car. To get around town you have to either hire a private driver or hail a taxi or remorque. Getting to and around the temples is easy with your own bike. The city center is also very easy to get around by bike.
If you get a mountain bike you can go off road a bit, which is very fun with (pre)teens. And it’s a cheap thing to do in Siem Reap. Lots of hotels have bikes available for their guests and you can also rent bikes.
You’ll find lots of bike and e-bike rental companies in the center of Siem Reap. Renting an e-bike for 24 hours will cost around €10. A MTB will cost between €8 and €10.
6. Hot Air balloon ride
Get a bird’s eye view of Siem Reap from a hot air balloon. Every day at sunrise, in good weather, the balloons take off about a km from Angkor Wat.
The flight will take about 30-60 minutes, depending on the wind. The views you will get when soaring over the city will be breathtaking and kids will love it.
You’ll get fantastic views of Angkor Wat or Bakong. What you’ll see depends on the company you’ll pick. Every day the balloons depart at sunrise and sunset.
A hot air balloon ride is one of the best things to do in Siem Reap with kids. This is definitely a family outing you’ll never forget.
Top Hot Air Balloon Siem Reap tours
In 2022 the Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium opened right outside Siem Reap. We haven’t visited this zoo in Siem Reap. And while we didn’t read bad reviews on TripAdvisor there’s another source we check before visiting a zoo or aquarium and that is the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
Members of WAZA are dedicated to providing the highest standards of care and strive to achieve the most in conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.
At this time the Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium is not a registered member. That’s why we opted out. But, while we update our posts as often as possible, it’s possible that the zoo and aquarium will be a member at the time of your visit.
How can you check? Visit WAZA where you’ll find a map of the world so you can check all the WAZA members all over the world.
7. BBC Butterfly Centre
On the road to the landmine museum you’ll find the Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre (BBC). Within a netted tropical garden you’ll find thousands of butterflies flying freely through the garden.
This is Southeast Asia’s largest outdoor butterfly exhibit. And with the ticket revenue they invest in local poverty alleviation programs and conservation projects.
A guide will show you around and tell you all about the life of the caterpillars and butterflies in 30 minutes. Just long enough to make sure the kids stay entertained.
Before you leave, try the vegan ice cream in the shop. It was the first time ever that we had vegan ice cream and it was so good!
Opening Hours & Ticket Info
Open daily from 9.00am to 5.00pm. Adults pay ៛27,600 (about €5,50/$6 USD) and kids pay ៛13,800 (about €2,75/$3 USD).
Don’t visit Butterfly Paradise
Here’s my plea to NOT visit Siem Reap’s Butterfly Paradise. They keep wild animals in small cages, rabbits stacked in plastic crates and a crocodile that has no room to swim. They seem depressed and unwell.
Thankfully we read all this in TripAdvisor reviews before visiting. And that’s when we came upon the BBC Butterfly Centre as an ethical alternative.
8. Siem Reap FREE walking tour
Every time we arrive in a new town or city we use GuruWalk to book a FREE walking tour. You learn so much about a destination by discovering it on foot with a local tour guide to share interesting tidbits.
Of course this was also the case for Siem Reap. In fact, we booked 2! One to explore Siem Reap with a local guide and a Angkor Wat sunrise walking tour.
9. Angkor Silk Farm
Covid-19 caused a lot of companies to shut down temporarily. The Angkor Silk Farm dealt with a four-year shutdown and re-opened in July 2024.
During your visit you’ll learn everything about the process of making silk clothing. You’ll see how silkworm cocoons are transformed into handwoven fabrics. The only way to visit is by joining a free guided tour that takes around 30 minutes. Just don’t forget to tip the guide afterwards.
In the shop you can buy finished products like dresses, scarves and pillow cases. We bought the latter, as they were so easy to bring back in our backpack. A lovely souvenir that we’ve cherished for years.
The good thing is that the Angkor Silk Farm promotes the Khmer cultural heritage and hires locals only that are being trained on the job. Buying something from the shop at the silk farm means you’re giving back to the local community.
Opening Hours & Ticket Info
Open daily from 8.00am to 5.00pm.
Before closure in 2020 the guided tours were free. There are rumors going around that a small fee per person will be implemented. But I have seen no sign of that as of yet. I haven’t visited the silk farm since the re-opening in July 2024. If anyone has info about a fee, please let us know so I can update this post.
10. Siem Reap Night Market
The Made In Cambodia Night Market was the first night market in Cambodia. The aim was to not copy and paste Bangkok’s Khao San Road set-up, because they wanted a more family friendly vibe here.
The huts are made from natural materials and designed in Khmer style. The lights are warm and welcoming.
You can get everything here from clothing to paintings to jewellery and souvenirs. All products are local and handmade, so take that into consideration when looking at the prices. They’re not mass produced in some factory, so the prices are higher, but the quality much better.
It’s a smaller market that you can also visit during the day. It takes about an hour to see it all. And there are lots of restaurants and bars for a short break to soak it all in.
If you’re more into the old fashioned Southeast Asian Night Markets you should visit Angkor Night Market right in the heart of town near Pub Street. This is actually one of the best places to eat in Siem Reap. Cambodian cuisine dishes from other Asian countries as well as western food: you can find it all here and for a very reasonable price. Just find the stalls that are very busy. This way you’ll now they run out of produce fast and the produce is fresh.
Opening Hours
The Made in Cambodia Market is open daily from 12.00pm to 9.00pm and the Angkor Night Market is starts daily at 5.00pm and closes at 11.00pm.
11. Angkor National Museum
Visiting the Angkor National Museum is a must when you’re also visiting the Angkor temples. You’ll learn a lot about the history of Angkor and Khmer culture and you get a better understanding of the Angkor period and the architecture. It’s nice to visit it before you visit the Angkor temples.
It’s probably a better fit for families with (pre)teens, not so much because the focus is on the Khmer Rouge history, but because it’s mostly informative. No interactive experience, nothing that’s allowed to be touched and no kids corners here.
The artwork is beautiful and the audio guide was good. You can also opt to join a guided tour.
Our 8yo liked the audio tour and the museum, but I must admit he’s into history. If you have kids between 7-12 that are into history this will be a great thing to do with kids in Siem Reap. Otherwise you’ll probably have some grumpy kids tagging along ;).
Older teens will probably enjoy a visit to understand more about the history of Khmer and to know what they’re about to explore in Angkor Park.
Opening Hours & Ticket Info
Open daily from 8.30am to 6pm from April 1st to September 30th. From October 1st until March 31st you can visit from 8.30am to 6.30pm.
Tickets are ៛48.240 (about €10.30/$12 USD) per person. Kids under 6 can go in for free and if you’re 6 to 11 a ticket will cost ៛24.120 (about €5.15/$6 USD).
If you want an audio guide, you can get that for ៛20.100 (about €4.30/$5 USD) per set. There are about 10 languages available (including English, Spanish and Chinese and German).
12. Apsara Theatre
We already talked about the circus, but another one of the family-friendly activities in Siem Reap is the Apsara Theatre.
The Apsara Theatre focuses on the revival of Khmer traditional dances. Its building is a must see in itself as it’s built in a traditional semi-colonial style in wood.
The evening starts with a dinner show and is followed by an hour of performing arts. Dancers, singers and musicians, it’s a lovely show that will fly by way too quickly.
Opening Hours & Ticket Info
Every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday dinner is served at 7.30pm and at 8.30pm the show starts and will last an hour.
Top Apsara Theatre tours in Siem Reap
13. Khmer Pottery class
Creating Khmer ceramics is one of the most fun classes we’ve ever done as a family during our travels. A Khmer pottery class is an awesome family activity.
At the Khmer Ceramics Fine Arts Centre you’ll all be sitting behind the wheel, while a potter helps you create a bowl in Khmer design. You’ll even get a diploma, which is always a highlight for kids, right?
If you want your art to be shipped to your home, instead of stuffing it in your backpack, that’s a possibility. The fee is of course depending on where it has to be shipped to and how heavy the bowls are in total.
The centre employs local hearing impaired staff which we believe is a plus as well.
Top Khmer Pottery class tours in Siem Reap
14. Phsar Chas Old Market
The Siem Reap Old Market, as the Phsar Chas Old Market is also known, is an awesome way to immerse in Cambodian culture. You can find it right in the heart of historic Siem Reap.
Check out all the local produce, the weird food they eat and you might want to look but don’t touch (yep, those are bats on the picture) and the food you’d love to try. Of course there’s also no way to avoid all the cheap souvenir stalls at this market.
There are lots of other markets in Siem Reap for you to try like the indoor Phsar Leu Thom Thmey (the largest market and most authentic market in Siem Reap)
You can also visit the earlier mentioned Angkor Night Market and the Made In Cambodia Market during the day as well.
Visiting a local market is one of the best cheap things to do in Siem Reap.
Opening Hours
The Phsar Chas Old Market is open daily from 7am to 8pm and the Phsar Leu (as the locals call it) from 5.00am to 8.00pm.
15. Apopo Centre
A fascinating site to visit with your family is the Apopo centre. While most sites covering the gruesome past of Khmer Rouge and the Vietnamese occupation are not for all ages, this is an example that I think is possible for children of all ages.
The Apopo center is focusing on the tough job of removing landmines in Cambodia. Here giant African rats are trained and used to detect mines.
These giant pouched rats are used because they have an excellent sense of smell and are incredibly smart. They’re learned to search for traces of TNT. Because they are light enough not to trigger the mines, they are not harmed in the process.
There are strict rules to make sure the rats only work for a limited time every day so they can rest and play for the rest of the day.
It was clear from the tour that the rats look happy and healthy and get petted by the staff in a way that shows their affection for the rats.
The only thing we didn’t like is that everyone is allowed to touch them. We opted not to do it, because rats are wild animals and it’s sad enough that they’re needed for the job and we believe that the love and care of the staff is more than enough. They shouldn’t be passed around like a pet.
But there’s no denying that we need these rats to save the Cambodians from stepping on landmines. That’s why we decided to visit and learn how this process works and by paying our fee we contribute to the cause since the Apopo centre relies on the money that the visitors bring in.
Opening Hours & Ticket Info
The Apopo Visitor Center is open every day from 8.30am to 5.00pm.
You can join a tour for ៛40.200 (about €8.60/$10 USD).
Kids under 10 years old go in for free.
You can book your tour online in advance.
16. Angkor Botanical Garden
If you want to relax in a serene environment and away from the crowds, the Angkor Botanical Garden is a great option. It’s not the best we’ve seen, but it’s a very nice garden to stroll through and check out the ponds filled with koi fish.
The park is pretty well maintained and the air conditioning cafe is a great place to get a refreshment and escape from the heat for a bit.
Opening Hours & Ticket Info
Open daily, except on Tuesdays, from 8.00am to 6.00pm.
For a follow on Facebook you can enter. A bit of a weird request and they won’t check if you actually hold your promise. The entrance is free.
17. Spotting Gibbons
In 2013 the Wildlife Alliance started the Angkor Wildlife Release project. It’s an initiative to release wildlife into the Angkor Archeological Park.
Since 2013 about 60 animals have been released, like civets, otters, leopards and also gibbons.
While the other animals aren’t easily spotted, you do have a chance to see the gibbons as there are currently about 5 gibbon pairs in the jungle and all had babies.
So how do you get a chance to spot them? They often hang around at Angkor Zipline at certain times a day. And that’s how we got lucky!
When we arrived at Angkor Zipline, we heard monkeys. We saw the team of the zipline company running outside and pointing at some trees. We followed their gaze and spotted a family of pileated gibbons. A mom with a baby around her waist and their father making his way to the branch where she was sitting.
We got extremely lucky to see them up close like that. From what we’ve heard, you can often spot them while zip lining. But mostly from a larger distance. They’re not really a fan of humans and try to stay away from us. Since they are an endangered species it was amazing that we spotted a pair with a kid.
So when you’re here, keep an eye out for these beautiful (and big!) monkeys. Both before and during the zip lining.
The other way to spot gibbons is by joining a wildlife or bird tour in the forest and wetland area around Angkor Wat. Gibbons are not the main focus of these tours, because they’re not easy to spot. But you do get a chance and you might spot langurs, owls, different kinds of kingfishers, snakes and vultures. So even if you don’t get to spot a gibbon, you might see lots of other wildlife.
18. Khmer Cooking class
A cooking class with your kids is a great way to get to know the local cuisine. You’ll start by visiting the local market to buy produce and then you get to prepare and cook a meal together.
In Siem Reap you can learn how to cook a few Khmer dishes. Most involve Fish Amok and Tom Yum and fried or fresh spring rolls.
Before you book a tour, check the minimum age. Sometimes they’re 16+ only, but lots of them are suitable for kids as young as 8.
Top Khmer Cooking Class tours in Siem Reap
19. Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm Temple & Royal Gardens
The Royal Residence is far less impressive than the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, which is a must visit when in Phnom Penh with kids.
You can’t visit the Royal Residence, but you can wander into the Royal Gardens, full name: Royal Crusade for Independence Gardens, from the Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm, a lovely shrine next door.
But why would you? Well, I think the kids will be interested. Because you can see thousands of fruit bats hanging on the trees in the gardens behind the pagoda. That’s why locals also refer to the Royal Gardens as Bat Park.
After peeking at the bats you should pay a visit to the Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm pagoda. It’s made in Khmer style and is a beautiful temple that’s still in use. The temple is named after two princesses so the name is a combination of the two names.
Right in front of it, you’ll find a market. So basically you can check out 3 fun things while here: the bats, the pagoda of the princesses and you can score some yummy fruits at the market in front of the Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm.
Opening Hours & Ticket Info
The Royal Gardens are open 24/7. Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm opens at 8.00am and closes at 5.00pm.
Entrance to the gardens is free. Same goes for the Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm, but it’s recommended to make a small donation.
20. Angkor Archeological Park
I’ve shared all the things to do in Siem Reap other than temples of Angkor. But now that we’re nearing the end of the list it’s time to share some of the best Angkor Temples to visit with kids.
Angkor Wat is an awe-inspiring place to visit. And exploring the Angkor temples with kids is a very rewarding thing to do. There are so many temple complexes to check out, that you’ll need at least 3-4 days to explore.
It’s the country’s pride and joy and the national symbol of Cambodia. If 4 days is too much for your Cambodia itinerary, spend 2 full days at the temples and spend one day enjoying some of the other things that Siem Reap has to offer families. Get an Angkor Pass to get access to about 50 temples.
But, we’re wandering off. Let’s get back to the temples of Angkor. The great thing is that kids will enjoy the sights as much as you. They’ll feel like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft while exploring the best temples in Angkor Archeological Park.
The temples you must not skip are Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm. If you want to know all there is to know about visiting the temples of Angkor with kids, check out my guide.
Opening hours and ticket price
Most of the temples can be visited between 7.30am to 5.30pm. Pre Rup opens at 7.00am and Angkor Wat and Srah Srang open at 5.00am for sunrise.
If you want to visit the Angkor Park you have to buy an Angkor Pass. You can get an Angkor Day Pass, a 3 day pass or a 7 day pass at the Angkor Ticket Office (Road 60).
Bring your passports or you won’t be able to buy your tickets. After you’ve shown your passport they take your picture and print it out on your ticket. I have to say that it’s a great souvenir to bring back home.
You can pay by card and there are ATMs on site. You can pay cash in US Dollars or Cambodian Riel.
1-day ticket: ៛148.740 (about €31.85/$37 USD)
3-day ticket: ៛249.240 (about €53.35/$62 USD)
7-day ticket: ៛289.440 (about €61.95/$72 USD)
Children under 12 are free, just show their passports at the guards who perform random checks at the temples.
Top Angkor tours in Siem Reap
21. Day trip from Siem Reap – Tonlé Sap or Phnom Kulen NP
I end this top 21 with 2 very popular day trips people join from Siem Reap a lot. There is enough to explore in Siem Reap to keep yourselves busy for one or two weeks.
But, if you’re templed out and did it all before your time in Siem Reap is over then there are two great options. Go on a day trip to Phnom Kulen NP or to Tonlé Sap. Or if you want to check them out both, book a combo tour.
Day trip from Siem Reap to Phnom Kulen NP
Phnom Kulen NP is known for the Phnom Kulen Waterfalls on Kulen Mountain. Here you can swim and play in the water, hire inner tubes or hike around. It’s an easy hike to get to the waterfall.
And while in the park you can visit the reclining buddha, named Preah Ang Thom. You should dress appropriately because it’s located inside an active Pagoda.
The Phnom Kulen National Park is located about 48km from Siem Reap center.
Top Phnom Kulen NP tours from Siem Reap
Day trip from Siem Reap to Tonlé Sap
Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and it’s a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Lots of locals call this lake their home and life in one of the many floating villages on the lake. It’s nice to experience the serenity of the lake and the way of life, from a distance.
Be aware to not book tours that offer a visit to somebody’s house or a school. And check TripAdvisor to see pictures of the tours. More often than not you’ll stop at crocodile farms and get offered to take pictures with drugged up monkeys and snakes.
Top Tonlé Sap tours from Siem Reap
When visiting the lake, know that the majority of tourism here doesn’t benefit the locals at all. They don’t employ locals and don’t donate money to the local communities that they bring their visitors to. Make sure you book tours from companies that do work with locals, work on preservation of the ecology and donate to the local communities. Some examples of ecotourism are Osmose and Kompong Khleang Floating Village Tours.
10 Things to do in Siem Reap with kids
You’re going to Siem Reap, but you don’t have time to do it all? How do you know what things to pick for your Siem Reap family trip. Here’s the top 10 things to do in Siem Reap for your family!
- Angkor Archeological Park
- Phare Circus
- Ziplining through the jungle
- Landmine museum
- Angkor Wat Putt
- Angkor National Museum
- Khmer Pottery Class
- Phsar Chas Old Market
- Apopo Centre
- Khmer Cooking Class
Things to do around Siem Reap
There are lots of things to do near Siem Reap. There are lots of family friendly accommodations in town to make Siem Reap your base to explore the area.
- Tonlé Sap
- Phnom Kulen National Park
- Battambang city trip
- Multi-day Mekong River Cruise (from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, from Phnom Penh to Hanoi (Vietnam) or from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam))
- Ethical tour to a rural village in the area
Best Tours from Siem Reap with kids
Some of the best tours near Siem Reap for your family. When you want to explore more in Cambodia and don’t want to use public transportation.
Siem Reap itinerary for families
Now you know the best things to see and do in Siem Reap. The next step is to break things down for you in some (multi day) itineraries.
Pick the one that suits your family’s timeframe best and enjoy!
6 day Siem Reap itinerary
When you have 6 days in Siem Reap you’re in luck. You can spend 2,5 days exploring the Angkor Temples and 3,5 days to see everything else that Siem Reap has to offer.
The first day is spent exploring the town a bit and learning about Khmer history, so you know all about this period before checking out some of the most beautiful Angkor temples.
Day 1
- Angkor Wat Putt
- Angkor National Museum
- Sunset at the gates of Angkor Wat
- Siem Reap Night Market
Day 2
- Rent a bike and use it to explore Angkor with your kids
- Angkor Wat
- Bayon
- Ta Phrom
- Ziplining and hopefully spot some gibbons
Day 3
- Banteay Srei
- Ta Keo (tougher with younger kids)
- Drive around Siem Reap city center before returning your rental bike
- Khmer cooking class
Day 4
- Hot Air Balloon ride over one of the temples of Angkor
- BBC Butterfly Centre
- Landmine Museum
- Phare Circus
Day 5
- Angkor Silk Farm
- Apopo Centre
- Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm Temple & Royal Gardens
- Apsara Theatre
Day 6
- Khmer pottery class
- Angkor Botanical Gardens
- Phsar Chas Old Market
5 day Siem Reap itinerary
When you have 5 days in Siem Reap you can spend 2 to 2,5 days exploring the Angkor Temples. That leaves your family with 2,5 to 3 days to see what else Siem Reap has to offer.
Again, start exploring the town a bit and learn about Khmer history, so you know all about this period before checking out some of the most beautiful Angkor temples.
Day 1
- Angkor Wat Putt
- Angkor National Museum
- Sunset at the gates of Angkor Wat
- Siem Reap Night Market
Day 2
- Rent a bike and use it to explore Angkor with your kids
- Angkor Wat
- Bayon
- Ta Phrom
- Ziplining and hopefully spot some gibbons
Day 3
- Banteay Srei
- Ta Keo (tougher with younger kids)
- Drive around Siem Reap city center before returning your rental bike
- Khmer cooking class including market visit
Day 4
- Hot Air Balloon ride over one of the temples of Angkor
- BBC Butterfly Centre
- Landmine Museum
- Phare Circus
Day 5
- Khmer pottery class
- Apopo Centre
- Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm Temple & Royal Gardens
4 day Siem Reap itinerary
This is where you have to make some choices. If you come to Siem Reap to see as many of the temples of Angkor as possible, you’ll spend 2,5 days doing so. With 1,5 days left to explore Siem Reap.
What I’ve done here is give you 2 suggestions for day 3 in Siem Reap. One for the temple explorers and one for families interested in seeing more of the town itself.
Day 1
- Angkor Wat Putt
- Angkor National Museum
- Sunset at the gates of Angkor Wat
- Siem Reap Night Market
Day 2
- Rent a bike and use it to explore Angkor with your kids
- Angkor Wat
- Bayon
- Ta Phrom
- Ziplining and hopefully spot some gibbons
Day 3 – extra Angkor temple day
- Banteay Srei
- Ta Keo (tougher with younger kids)
- Drive around Siem Reap city center before returning your rental bike
- Khmer cooking class including market visit
Day 3 – extra Siem Reap day
- Hot Air Balloon ride over one of the temples of Angkor
- BBC Butterfly Centre
- Landmine Museum
- Phare Circus
Day 4
- Khmer pottery class
- Apopo Centre
- Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm Temple & Royal Gardens
3 day Siem Reap itinerary
Basically the same pattern as I followed with 4 days. The first and second day are the same. But I offer 2 itineraries for day 3. One with Angkor temples and one with more of Siem Reap.
Day 1
- Angkor Wat Putt
- Angkor National Museum
- Sunset at the gates of Angkor Wat
- Siem Reap Night Market
Day 2
- Rent a bike and use it to explore Angkor with your kids
- Angkor Wat
- Bayon
- Ta Phrom
- Ziplining and hopefully spot some gibbons
Day 3 – extra Angkor temple day
- Banteay Srei
- Ta Keo (tougher with younger kids)
- Drive around Siem Reap city center before returning your rental bike
- Khmer cooking class including market visit
Day 3 – extra Siem Reap day
- Hot Air Balloon ride over one of the temples of Angkor
- Khmer pottery class
- Apopo Centre
- Phare Circus
2 day Siem Reap itinerary
If you have only 2 days in Siem Reap I’m just going to assume your family came here for the Angkor temples. That’s why 80% of this itinerary is filled with temples and just a little bit of time is reserved for other activities.
Day 1
- Rent a bike and use it to explore Angkor with your kids
- Angkor Wat
- Bayon
- Ta Phrom
- Ziplining and hopefully spot some gibbons
Day 2
- Banteay Srei
- Khmer cooking class including market visit
- Sunset at Ta Keo (tougher with younger kids)
- Phare Circus
1 Day Siem Reap Itinerary
With one day in Siem Reap the focus should lie on the top 3 temples of Angkor ending with a trip to a Night Market for some local food and a little taste of the vibe of Siem Reap.
Here are the must do’s if you only have 1 day in Siem Reap with kids:
- Rent a bike and use it to explore Angkor with your kids
- Angkor Wat
- Bayon
- Ta Phrom
- Sunset at the gates of Angkor Wat or at Ta Keo
- Siem Reap Night Market
Planning your family trip to Siem Reap
We’re almost at the end of this post. Curious about all the things you should now before you go to Siem Reap, like where to stay, where to eat and how to get there? You can find all this and more in my Siem Reap family travel guide.
How to get around in Siem Reap
You’re in Siem Reap and wondering how to get to your places of interest? Getting around Siem Reap is easy if you pick any of the following modes of transportation.
Private driver
You could hire a private driver to bring you to all the different sites, either by remorque or car.
If you want someone to drive you around for about 4 hours, it will cost you between €30 to €40. If you want to hire a private driver for a few days, you should contact them beforehand to discuss all the sites you want to see and set a price.
There are also drivers that are licensed tour guides, you can book a tour to visit some of the Angkor temples with kids, including transport by car or remorque.
Best car tours to the Angkor temples
Remorque
I’ve mentioned the remorque a few times now, but was it? It’s nothing more than the Cambodian version of the Tuk Tuk.
In the center of Siem Reap and near the entrance of the Angkor Archeological Park you’ll find lots of remorques.
You can also get a Grab remorque if you download the Grab app.
Find an English speaking driver and see if you can make a deal. One remorque can fit 2 adults and 2 children max. Exploring Siem Reap by remorque for one day should cost you €20 to €25.
Best remorque tours to the Angkor temples
Bicycle
Our favorite is biking around Siem Reap. Lots of large hotels, but also guesthouses and AirBnB’s offer bikes for you to use during your stay.
With our own bikes we had the freedom of leaving and going whenever we wanted. It was awesome and highly recommended.
FAQ – Things to do in Siem Reap with Kids
No time to read this post? Pin it for later and check out this FAQ with the most asked questions about places to visit in Siem Reap Cambodia.
What to do in Siem Reap Cambodia?
Siem Reap is famous for being the gateway to the Angkor temples, but it has much more to offer!
Start with a visit to the Angkor National Museum, where you can introduce your kids to the rich history of Cambodia in a fun and interactive way. The town itself is buzzing with vibrant markets, delicious street food, and cultural performances like the Phare Circus and Apsara Theatre.
What to do in Siem Reap besides Angkor Wat and other temples?
Siem Reap is full of adventures beyond temples! Head to the Angkor Silk Farm, where kids can learn how silk is made from scratch, from the silkworms to the final beautiful fabric.
For some outdoor fun, visit the Angkor Zipline inside the Angkor Archeological Park—gliding through the treetops is bound to be a hit with your little adventurers.
A khmer cooking or pottery class is also a great family activity. And don’t miss a remorque ride around town.
Where can we find a kids playground in Siem Reap?
Siem Reap has a few hidden gems when it comes to playgrounds! The best known is located at The Little Red Fox Espresso Café in Kandal Village.
This cozy café has a small playground area where parents can relax with a coffee while kids play in a safe environment. Another spot is at Georges Rhumerie, where they have a play area for kids, so you can enjoy a meal or drink while the little ones burn off some energy.
What are the 5 top things to do in Siem Reap with kids?
Angkor Wat Sunrise: An early start might be challenging, but seeing the sunrise over Angkor Wat is magical for both kids and adults. Pack breakfast and let them explore the massive grounds after.
Phare, The Cambodian Circus: A fun, high-energy show that keeps kids entertained with acrobatics, juggling, and heartwarming stories.
Khmer cooking class: book a tour and start by doing groceries at the market, before cooking a few dishes together.
Artisans Angkor: A perfect spot for kids to get hands-on experience with traditional Cambodian crafts like stone carving and silk painting.
Angkor Zipline: Zip through the jungles near the Angkor temples for an adrenaline-packed adventure your kids will love! If you’re lucky you’ll spot gibbons.
What are some free things to do in Siem Reap?
There are a few ways to enjoy Siem Reap without spending much! Start with a visit to the local markets like Psar Chas (Old Market) or Made in Cambodia Market, where you can wander through stalls, sample free food, and soak in the atmosphere.
You can also explore the many pagodas (temples) scattered around the town for free. Wat Bo and Wat Preah Prom Rath for instance.
What should a tourist not do in Siem Reap Cambodia?
While Siem Reap is generally a friendly and welcoming destination, there are a few things to avoid. First, be mindful when visiting temples like Angkor Wat. Respectful clothing (covering shoulders and knees) is a must, and avoid climbing on ruins or disturbing sacred areas.
The best way of helping children in Siem Reap is to not buy items from them on the streets; this encourages child labor rather than schooling. If we stop buying stuff from kids, adults won’t force them to sell and they can go to school.
Another thing to skip is visiting unethical animal attractions. Avoid elephant rides and places that offer close interactions with wildlife, as they often mistreat animals.
Conclusion
These are the 21 best things to do in Siem Reap with kids. If you want to read my other blog posts about Siem Reap or Cambodia, check out the list below.
Did you enjoy the best things to do in Siem Reap with kids?
If so, read more about family travel in Cambodia:
- 3-Week Cambodia Family Road Trip Itinerary (& What to Skip If You’re Short On Time)
- 23 Best Things to Do In Cambodia with Kids
- 10 Things to Do In Phnom Penh with Kids
- Planning a Family Trip to Siem Reap: Things to Know Before You Go
- 21 Things to Do In Siem Reap with Kids
- 6 Best Temples of Angkor with Family (for First-Timers)
- How To Buy an Angkor Pass: Step-by-Step Guide to Buying your Angkor Wat Entrance Ticket
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