ValidaTrip / Things to do in Siem Reap
Things to do in Siem Reap in December 2026
By ValidaTrip Research · Updated May 20, 2026
Quick answer: Siem Reap in December 2026 usually runs near 30C by day, 22C at night, with about 2 rainy days.
Good starting points are APOPO Visitor Center, Old Market and Pub Street, and Artisans Angkor.
Check the dated events and venue hours below before assigning fixed dates.
Events, festivals, and public holidays for Siem Reap, Cambodia, in December 2026.
The point is making sure the places you already want to see are actually open on the days you'll be there.
Planning a Siem Reap trip in December?
Paste the recommendations you've collected — from friends, a ChatGPT itinerary, or blog listicles. ValidaTrip checks every place against your December dates: opening hours, closures, what needs booking ahead, and which Siem Reap events overlap your trip.
No account needed to try it.
Month context
Siem Reap in December: weather, seasonal timing, and what changes.
Siem Reap weather in December
High
29.8°C
Low
21.8°C
Rain
2d
17mm
11.2h daylight
What to prioritize in December
Prioritize APOPO Visitor Center, Old Market and Pub Street, Artisans Angkor, Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Bayon.
Dates to check
Events, festivals, and closures in Siem Reap.
Public holidays & closures in December 2026
No national public holidays fall in Cambodia during December 2026. Individual venues still keep their own closed days — ValidaTrip checks each place on your list against the exact dates you're there.
City context
What Siem Reap is known for before you choose what to prioritize.
Known for
City context
Siem Reap is the Cambodian base for Angkor Archaeological Park, with the Siem Reap River, Old Market, Pub Street, Wat Bo, and Kandal Village forming the city map after temple hours. The city itself adds Khmer performance, Angkor National Museum, craft workshops, and Tonle Sap village access, so a good route alternates Angkor mornings with Old Market, Wat Bo, and river evenings.
Food & drink
Local flavor
Siem Reap food includes fish amok, beef lok lak, kuy teav, num banh chok, Khmer curry, bai sach chrouk, palm-sugar sweets, and green mango salad. Old Market stalls, Wat Bo Road restaurants, Pub Street kitchens, Road 60 vendors, and Sombai workshops give the first food route.
Things to do
Attractions and sights to consider in Siem Reap.
Things to do in Siem Reap
Map of top sights in Siem Reap
- 1APOPO Visitor Center
- 2Old Market and Pub Street
- 3Artisans Angkor
- 4Angkor Wat
- 5Angkor Thom and Bayon
- 6Ta Prohm
- 1
APOPO Visitor Center
4.9★ · 1,950outdoorOpen dailyThe center explains the mine-detection rats used in Cambodian demining work, with demonstrations and context for the landmine problem around the country.
- 2
Old Market and Pub Street
4.4★ · 7,061outdoorOpen dailyPsar Chaa sells fruit, spices, souvenirs, and food stalls beside Pub Street bars and restaurants. It is the easiest evening anchor in central Siem Reap.
- 3
Artisans Angkor
4.4★ · 2,867outdoorOpen dailyThe craft workshop teaches stone carving, lacquerware, silk painting, and woodwork in a town where temple tourism supports many craft businesses.
Wikipedia
Show 7 more sights
- 4Angkor Wat
- 5Angkor Thom and Bayon
- 6Ta Prohm
- 7Phare, The Cambodian Circus
- 8Wat Bo
- 9Angkor National Museum
- 10War Museum Cambodia
Areas and routes
Neighborhoods, day trips, and getting around Siem Reap.
Siem Reap neighborhoods
Each district has its own character — knowing which one you're in changes what's realistic to fit in a day.
Old Market and Pub Street
This is the busiest visitor core, with Psar Chaa, Pub Street, night-market lanes, bars, souvenir stalls, and tuk-tuk queues beside the river.
Wat Bo Village
Wat Bo is calmer and restaurant-heavy, with the pagoda, small hotels, cafes, guesthouses, and local streets east of the Siem Reap River.
Kandal Village
Kandal Village is compact and design-minded, with coffee shops, boutiques, Common Grounds, galleries, and walkable lanes north of the Old Market.
Taphul Road
Taphul Road is practical and guesthouse-oriented, with budget hotels, laundries, travel desks, small restaurants, and easy airport-road access.
Sok San Road
Sok San Road runs west from the Old Market area, mixing hostels, massage shops, bars, street food, and late-night movement.
Charles de Gaulle and Royal Gardens
The Angkor approach road has larger hotels, Angkor National Museum, Royal Gardens, and a quieter route toward the temple checkpoints.
Day trips from Siem Reap
Doable as a long day or comfortable as an overnight — each one is a destination on its own.
37km / 50-60min by tuk-tuk or car from Old Market
Banteay Srei
The pink-sandstone temple has unusually detailed carvings and works best as a morning extension from the Angkor pass route.
30km / 45min by car plus boat from central Siem Reap
Kampong Phluk and Tonle Sap
The stilt village and flooded forest show Tonle Sap seasonal water levels, with the most dramatic lake scenery during high water.
50km / 1.5-2h by car from Siem Reap
Phnom Kulen
The mountain has waterfalls, riverbed carvings, temples, and picnic areas tied to Khmer history outside the main Angkor complex.
Getting around
Tuk-tuks, remorks, taxis, bicycles, and hotel cars handle most movement, with temple circuits usually priced by small loop, grand loop, or day rate. Buy the Angkor pass before temple touring and group Old Market-Wat Bo-Kandal Village on foot after dark.
How to plan Siem Reap in December
- 1
Anchor the month
Use the Siem Reap weather, seasonal timing, and attraction list as the spine because the dated December event list is still sparse.
- 2
Protect closure days
Confirm weekly closed days for museums, markets, and major sights even though Cambodia has no national public holidays in December.
- 3
Group and validate
Group each Siem Reap day by nearby neighborhoods, then validate the saved places against your trip dates before exporting the checked route to Google Maps.
What to pack for Siem Reap in December
Pack from the monthly climate profile, not a generic Siem Reap checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 30C.
- A light evening layer because nights average 22C.
- Sun protection and comfortable walking shoes; rain is usually limited this month.
How many days do you need in Siem Reap
4 days covers the main Siem Reap highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
Is Siem Reap worth visiting in December
Yes. Siem Reap in December: 29.8°C high, 21.8°C low, 17mm rain over 2 days, 11.2h daylight. Hot and dry — outdoor friendly, hydrate.
Validate your list
Turn this into a Siem Reap plan that actually works
All your recs in one place
Paste what friends, ChatGPT, and blogs gave you for Siem Reap. ValidaTrip pulls out each place and sorts it — no spreadsheet by hand.
Open on your dates
Every place checked against the days you're actually in Siem Reap, with timed tickets and reservation-only spots flagged while you can still get a slot.
Export to Google Maps
Send the cleaned, checked, and neighborhood-grouped plan to Google Maps so your Siem Reap days are ready to navigate.
Questions
- What's on in Siem Reap in December 2026?
- We're still compiling the December 2026 event list for Siem Reap. Public holidays and opening-hour checks still apply to whatever you're planning.
- Are there public holidays in Siem Reap during December 2026?
- No national public holidays fall in Siem Reap during December 2026, but individual venues still have their own closed days.
- Will the places on my list be open when I'm in Siem Reap in December?
- Not always. Opening days and hours vary by weekday, season, and holiday. Paste your Siem Reap list into ValidaTrip and it checks every place against the exact dates you're there, flagging closures before the trip instead of at a locked door.
- How do I plan Siem Reap days without crossing the city twice?
- ValidaTrip groups your places by neighborhood so each day stays in one or two areas instead of zig-zagging. It also flags what needs booking ahead, so timed tickets and reservations don't fall through.