Siem Reap is located around 320km northwest of Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh. Many visitors decide to fly into Phnom Penh and explore the city before coming north to see the temples at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. There are many options for getting to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh and popular options include flying, buses, taxis, and boats. This article will explain how you can get to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh.

Flying

Flying is the fastest way to reach Siem Reap, but it’s also the most expensive option. There are regular daily flights by a number of national carriers including Bassac Air and Cambodia Angkor Air. Flights take around 40 – 45 minutes long. The total travel time including check-in at the airport is around 4 hours. If your hotel in Phnom Penh is near the riverside, there is a 45 – 60 minute drive to the airport, depending on the traffic. You also need to check in around 2 hours before your departure. Actual flying time is around 45 minutes. When you arrive in Siem Reap, it will take you around 20 minutes to get from the airport to the Grand Bayon Siem Reap Hotel.

Buses

Buses are one of the slowest options, but they are the cheapest option available. Most bus services take around 6 hours, but some may take longer as they have many stops along the way. You should try to choose a bus company which doesn’t stop to pick up passengers along the way as this will be faster. Recommended companies include Giant Ibis and PSD Express. Prices usually start from around $6 or $7 dollars but can be as much as $15 for a premium VIP service.

If you prefer to travel through the night, there are many night bus options available too. Night buses are sleeper buses and come with beds instead of seats. You can try to sleep along the way and you’ll arrive at Siem Reap very early in the morning. The Grand Bayon Siem Reap Hotel can offer early check-ins, but you should contact us first to arrange. There may be an extra fee to pay depending on the time of arrival.

The Grand Bayon Siem Reap hotel does offer a free pickup from bus stations in town. If you let us know your time of arrival and the bus company you’re using, we’ll be able to come and get you to bring you safely to our hotel.

Taxis

If there are a group of you coming to Siem Reap, it can be easier and faster to take a taxi. If you’re sharing a taxi with 4 people, prices can be similar to what you would pay for a bus, but the journey will be more comfortable and quicker. You can also choose when and where you want to stop (if at all) along the way.

Shared taxis are also available and many locals will share taxis with strangers to share the cost. However, some taxi drivers don’t worry too much about the rules and will put their profits first. It’s not unusual to have 6 or 8 people in one taxi, including the driver. In this case, it can be quite tiring because you’ll literally have people sitting on top of you!

Boats

Depending on the season, there is a boat which departs from the riverside near the Night Market. The boat departs in morning and will travel along the Tonle Sap to Siem Reap. There are both fast and slow boats. The slow boat is a great way to relax on the water and see the countryside from the river at the same time as travelling to Siem Reap town.

Again, we can come and pick you up from the boat port. Let us know what time you are due to arrive and we’ll come and meet you at the boat port.

Siem Reap is Cambodia’s most popular tourist destination and millions of people come to Siem Reap to visit the famous temples at Angkor Wat. A large number of guests come via Phnom Penh and this article gives you an overview of how to get to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh.