City Guide
Siem Reap is a laid-back town in northern Cambodia, best known as the gateway to the temples of Angkor. With its walkable centre, small hotels with pools and very low costs, it is a lovely place for a slower workweek.
Best for
Remote workers who want a slower pace, culture and a pool after work
Best months
November to March (dry and cooler)
Time difference with CET
+6 hours in winter, +5 hours in summer
Cost per day
Roughly €35–€70 including a good hotel
Internet
Good in hotels and cafés; check reviews before you book
Less suited if you want a big city or a large remote work community.
Most hotels and cafés in the centre have good WiFi. A local SIM or eSIM gives you a cheap backup for calls. Read my guide to eSIMs for workations.
AngkorHub
A coworking space with 24-hour access; monthly coworking in Siem Reap costs around $80–$120.
Several highly rated hotels in Siem Reap include access to a workspace in the room rate, so you may not need a coworking space at all. Otherwise, work from a hotel with a good desk or one of the cafés in the centre.
Stay within walking or tuk-tuk distance of the Old Market and the river, where most cafés and restaurants are. Many small hotels have a pool and a garden, which makes a long workday easier.
Stays I list in Siem Reap, three of which include a workspace in the room rate:
A rough week for one person with a good hotel, excluding flights:
Stay
€170–€400
For a hotel room with a desk and pool
Food
€50–€100
Coworking
Often included in your hotel, or around $80–$120 a month
Transport
€10–€20
On tuk-tuks
Also budget for
Cambodia is six hours ahead of CET in winter and five in summer, so your mornings are free for focused work or an early temple visit.
Nov–Mar
Dry and a little cooler, the best time for work and temples
Apr–May
Very hot
Jun–Oct
Rainy season; green and quiet, with heavy afternoon showers
Siem Reap has a new international airport about an hour from town. Buses connect it with Phnom Penh in about six hours.
The centre is walkable. Tuk-tuks are cheap for everything else, including a day at the temples.
EU citizens can apply online for a Cambodia e-visa, which costs US$30 plus a processing fee of about US$6 and allows a single stay of up to 30 days for tourism. All air arrivals must complete the free Cambodia e-Arrival card within seven days before arrival. A tourist visa does not allow local employment.
Explore the temples of Angkor, ideally early in the morning or late in the afternoon
Watch the Phare circus
Take a cooking class in Khmer cuisine
Visit the floating villages on the Tonlé Sap lake
Cycle through the countryside around town
Yes, for a slower workweek. Hotels have good WiFi, some include a workspace, and costs are very low.
A three-day pass is a good balance with a work week: one sunrise, the big temples and a few quieter ones.
Yes. EU citizens can apply online for a 30-day e-visa for US$30 plus a small processing fee.
Siem Reap is part of my Cambodia guide, next to Phnom Penh. Compare it with the rest of the region in my Southeast Asia guide.
