Siem Reap in 3 Days on a Budget (Daily Costs)
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3 Days Covers Angkor’s Core Without Rushing It
Three days is the sweet spot for a first Angkor trip: two days inside the park (the Small and Grand Circuits, plus Banteay Srei) and one day in Siem Reap town. For the fuller cheap-and-free rundown behind these picks, see the main Siem Reap guide ; if three days isn’t enough, the 4-day itinerary adds a Tonle Sap floating village.
Before You Go
- The Angkor Pass: since you’re inside the park on two separate days, buy the 3-day pass ($62, usable across any 3 days within a 10-day window) rather than two 1-day passes ($74). Only Angkor Enterprise sells it, at its ticket office or online, never at a temple gate.
- The e-Visa ($36, evisa.gov.kh only) clears in about 3 business days; apply before you fly.
- Land at the new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI), about 45-75 minutes from town; the old in-town airport no longer takes commercial flights.
- The Thailand land border has been closed since June 2025. Fly between Bangkok and Siem Reap rather than busing overland.
Day 1: Angkor Wat Sunrise and the Small Circuit
Start before dawn at Angkor Wat for sunrise over the reflecting pools, then work through its bas-relief galleries once the crowds thin. A long-sleeve layer matters here: the upper level (the Bakan) turns away anyone in just a draped scarf. From there, a tuk-tuk covers the rest of the Small Circuit: Angkor Thom’s South Gate, the Bayon’s 216 carved faces, the Terrace of the Elephants, and Ta Prohm, where strangler-fig roots swallow the stonework. Grab or PassApp (not Uber, which doesn’t operate here) works for anything outside the pre-booked tuk-tuk.
| Day 1 cost ($, per person) | Low | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | 8 | 30 |
| Breakfast | 2 | 6 |
| Angkor Pass (3-day, covers today and tomorrow) | 62 | 62 |
| Tuk-tuk full-day hire (split two ways) | 12 | 25 |
| Lunch | 3 | 10 |
| Dinner | 5 | 15 |
| Day 1 total | 92 | 148 |
Day 2: Banteay Srei and the Grand Circuit
Banteay Srei, about 37km out, is the finest carving at Angkor: pink sandstone cut so fine it looks almost soft. Pair it with the Grand Circuit on the way back: Preah Khan’s atmospheric courtyards, the island shrine at Neak Pean, and unfinished Ta Keo. End at Pre Rup or Phnom Bakheng for sunset, not sunrise; Phnom Bakheng caps its hilltop at 300 visitors, so arrive by around 4pm if that’s the plan. Your Angkor Pass, bought yesterday, still covers today.
| Day 2 cost ($, per person) | Low | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | 8 | 30 |
| Breakfast | 2 | 6 |
| Angkor Pass | 0 | 0 |
| Tuk-tuk/driver for the farther loop (split two ways) | 15 | 30 |
| Lunch | 3 | 10 |
| Dinner | 5 | 15 |
| Day 2 total | 33 | 91 |
Day 3: Siem Reap Town
Spend the morning at the Angkor National Museum for context on what you just saw, then the Old Market (Psar Chas) for lunch and souvenirs. In the afternoon, the Cambodia Landmine Museum ($5) and the APOPO Visitor Center ($8) cover Cambodia’s landmine history with the care a memorial site deserves, not as a novelty stop. Close the day on Pub Street, Siem Reap’s nightlife strip, for dinner and a first look at Phare, The Cambodian Circus (from $18) if the schedule lines up.
| Day 3 cost ($, per person) | Low | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | 8 | 30 |
| Breakfast | 2 | 6 |
| Angkor National Museum | 3 | 12 |
| Landmine Museum + APOPO | 13 | 13 |
| Lunch | 3 | 10 |
| Dinner | 5 | 15 |
| Day 3 total | 34 | 86 |
Getting Around on 3 Days
A tuk-tuk driver hired for the day ($20-25, split among your group) is the standard way to cover Angkor; agree on the route and price before setting off. In town, Grab or PassApp beats haggling with a driver blind. Bring clean, undamaged USD notes; Cambodia is dollarized, and torn bills get refused even at small stalls.