2 Days in Siem Reap: First-Timer Plan
Two days is tight for Angkor, but it covers the essentials if you buy the right pass and start early. This plan uses the 1-day Angkor Pass ($37) on day one and the Small and Grand Circuits split across both mornings, since the far temples need more time than two days allow.
Before you land: the new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI) sits 45-75 minutes from town, so build that transfer into your first-day timing rather than planning to hit the temples right off the plane. Buy the Angkor Pass at the Angkor Enterprise office or ticket.angkorenterprise.gov.kh, never from a temple-gate reseller, and bring a passport for the on-the-spot photo.
Day 1
Start at 4:30am for Angkor Wat sunrise - the reflecting pools in front of the temple fill up fast in peak season, so arrive before the sky starts to lighten. Spend the morning inside Angkor Wat itself; if you plan to climb to the Bakan, the upper level, wear a shirt with real sleeves and pants or a long skirt, since a scarf draped over bare shoulders gets turned away at the top.
By mid-morning, head to Angkor Thom. Walk through the South Gate, stop at the Bayon to see the 216 carved faces across its towers, then pass the Terrace of the Elephants on your way out. Grab lunch around $5-10 at a spot near the Angkor Thom gates, then spend the afternoon at Ta Prohm, where tree roots are left draped over the stonework rather than cleared.
For dinner, budget $15-25 at a Pub Street restaurant, then walk Pub Street itself for an hour before calling it a night - day two starts early too.
Day 1 tip: hire your tuk-tuk driver for the full day (around $20-25) rather than piecing together separate rides between temples - it’s cheaper and means someone’s waiting when you’re ready to move.
Day 2
Spend today on Banteay Srei and the Grand Circuit, both covered by your Angkor Pass. Banteay Srei is about 37km out, pink sandstone with the finest carving in the park - go in the morning before the heat peaks. On the way back, work through the Grand Circuit: Preah Khan, Neak Pean, and Ta Keo, roughly 26km of driving that your tuk-tuk driver will handle at a comfortable pace.
Lunch is worth timing around a $5-10 stop near the Grand Circuit temples rather than heading all the way back to town. In the late afternoon, aim for a sunset spot: Phnom Bakheng caps at 300 visitors on the summit, so arrive by 4pm if you want a spot, or go to Pre Rup instead for a lower-key alternative with fewer crowds.
Finish with dinner on Pub Street or nearby ($15-25), and if you have energy left, catch the tail end of the night market for souvenirs.
Day 2 tip: confirm your Phnom Bakheng plan before 3pm - if the summit looks full when you arrive, Pre Rup is a short drive away and won’t leave you empty-handed for sunset.
Getting around both days
A tuk-tuk driver for the day runs about $20-25 and is the simplest way to cover this pace without haggling at each stop. Grab and PassApp both work in Siem Reap if you’d rather book rides individually - there’s no Uber here. Cambodia is dollarized, so carry clean USD bills; a few dollars in riel will come back as small change.
Read more: the full Siem Reap Travel Guide 2026: What to Know covers the Angkor Pass, entry requirements, and when to go in more depth, and 3 Days in Siem Reap: First-Timer Plan shows how a third day changes the pace.