10 Best Things to Do in Siem Reap with Kids (2026 Guide)

Featured image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Quick Picks by Age

Match each stop to your child's energy before you book anything. Phare lists child tickets from age 5, and the Landmine Museum is free under 13. Butterflies and a hotel pool suit toddlers best.

10 Best Things to Do in Siem Reap with Kids

Each pick below names the best age, the time it takes and who should skip it. Prices and hours checked November 2026.

1. Phare, the Cambodian Circus

Phare is a one-hour acrobatic show with live music, and no animals appear in any performance. Child tickets start at age 5, and the main show runs nightly at 8:00pm. Arrive by 7:30pm for the show alone, or at 6:00-6:30pm to browse the street food area and Phare Boutique.

From November 2026 to March 2027, a 5:00pm matinee runs on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Child tickets (ages 5-11) cost $18 in Section A, $15 in Section B and $10 in Section C. Adults pay $38, $28 and $18 for the same sections. Skip it with toddlers: some shows use smoke, loud music or strobe lights, and themes include war, poverty and ghosts.

2. Cambodia Landmine Museum

Cambodia Landmine Museum explains how landmines and unexploded ordnance have affected Cambodia, and it suits ages 10 and up in our editorial assessment. It sits about 25 km north of Siem Reap on the road to Banteay Srei, roughly 30 minutes by tuk-tuk or taxi. It opens daily 7:30 AM-5:30 PM; adults pay $7 and children under 13 enter free.

Most visitors spend one to two hours, and a free audio tour runs on your phone through QR codes, so pack headphones. No Angkor Pass is needed, because the museum is independent of Angkor Archaeological Park. Skip it with children under 8, and use the Apopo visit below as a gentler introduction to the subject.

3. Angkor Butterfly Centre

A butterfly garden visit is slow, flat and short, which suits toddlers and young children after a temple morning. Little ones can watch the butterflies at their own pace instead of keeping up with a guide. Hours and ticket prices are not listed here, so check the centre's own site or ask your hotel desk.

Pair it with a pool afternoon for a low-effort day. Skip it if your kids are teens who want action; the quad bike or countryside ride suits them better.

4. Ta Prohm and Ta Keo on the Small Loop

Ta Prohm is the best temple pick for kids, with jungle roots wrapped around the stonework and plenty to spot and photograph. Ta Keo, on the same Small Loop, is a tall temple with steep stairs, so supervise children closely. Go at opening time, before the heat builds, and finish by late morning.

Entry needs an Angkor Pass in 1, 3 or 7-day versions, and children under 12 are reported free, so bring passports; see Apsara Authority for current rules. Uneven surfaces make strollers difficult, so carry toddlers in a soft carrier. Skip the sunrise start with young children, since an early alarm often wrecks the rest of the day.

5. Bayon and the Grand Loop

Bayon is known for its massive stone faces, and kids can play a face-spotting game as you walk its carved galleries. It is compact, so it works for children who tire quickly. Grand Loop temples such as Preah Khan, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup have forest paths and shade.

Cap the day at one or two stops and be done by midday, when the heat peaks. Skip stacking three temples in one day, because kids under 8 usually fade after the second.

6. Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei is farther out, about 25-30 km northeast of Siem Reap, and tends to be quieter than the main park temples. Temple access runs generally 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM. A satellite Angkor Pass counter at the temple lets you buy tickets here if you visit it first.

The counter takes USD cash and major credit cards, including Visa and Mastercard. Its climbs are less challenging than at Angkor Wat, which helps with younger children. Skip it if your kids dislike long rides; the road is the same one that leads to the Landmine Museum.

7. Apopo Visitor Centre (Hero Rats)

Apopo teaches visitors how trained Hero Rats help clear landmines in Cambodia. The guided tour lasts about one hour and includes a live demonstration and a chance to see a rat up close. Kids from about age 5 usually follow the story well, and it opens conversations about Cambodia's history.

Check Apopo's own site for current hours and prices before you go. Skip it if your child is frightened of rodents, and swap in the butterfly garden.

8. Quad Bike Countryside Tour

Quad bikes take you off the tourist trail through villages and rice-field tracks outside town. Teens are the best fit, but age and licence rules differ by operator, so ask about minimum age and passenger seats. Our Siem Reap quad bike guide covers what to expect.

Plan it for late afternoon, when the dust and heat ease. Skip it with toddlers and children who are anxious about engines.

9. Tuk-Tuk or Bike Ride Through the Countryside

A slow tuk-tuk ride through village roads gives kids a view of daily life without any climbing. Agree the fare before you set off, or ask your hotel to arrange the driver. Make sure the driver understands your plan for the day, including any stops for water.

For more than three people, a hired van gives more room and shade. Late afternoon is the coolest time for it. Skip it at midday, when open tuk-tuks offer little protection from the sun.

10. Hotel Pool Afternoon

Many Siem Reap hotels let non-guests use their pools for a small fee, often redeemable against food or drinks. Navutu Dreams Resort is one name families mention; call ahead to confirm day passes and children's rules. Plan it at midday, after the temple morning and before the evening show.

If you are staying in town, a pool at your own hotel is a must-have criterion. Skip it only if you have booked a fully shaded indoor option instead.

How to Plan Your Days

Use a heat-proof rhythm: temple early, pool at midday, activity late afternoon, show in the evening. Mornings are cooler and less crowded, and a pool break resets children before Phare at 8:00pm.

• One day: Ta Prohm at opening, a hotel pool at midday, then Phare at 8:00pm.
• Two days: add Banteay Srei when it opens at 6:30 AM, then the Landmine Museum, which opens at 7:30 AM and is on the same road.
• Three days: add Bayon, the Apopo tour and a late-afternoon quad bike or tuk-tuk ride.

Costs, Tickets and Opening Hours

Phare and the Landmine Museum publish clear prices, and most other stops are cheap or free. Angkor Pass options are 1, 3 and 7 days; the Cambodia Ministry of Tourism is the place to check wider travel rules. For no-cost days, see Free Things To Do in Siem Reap (What's Actually Free and What Isn't). Phare's Tini Tinou festival shows on 18-19 November 2026 cost $10 per adult and $5 per child, and the pop-up street performances are free.

Best Time to Visit with Kids

Dry season runs roughly November to April. March and April are the hottest months, so push temples to the first hours of the day. In the rainy season, use our Siem Reap rainy day ideas for indoor swaps.

Safety, Water and Dress Code

Drink bottled or filtered water, not tap water, and pack sun protection. Cover shoulders and knees at temples, and carry a light scarf. Watch children on steep stairs at Ta Keo and Angkor Wat. Carry small US bills, because change is often returned in riel. Agree tuk-tuk fares before you ride, and bring passports for the Angkor Pass.

Angkor Wat with Kids: Keep It to One Morning

Angkor Wat can feel more manageable than a full temple circuit when you treat it as a single morning stop. Start early, move at your child’s pace, and focus on the galleries, moat and exterior views rather than trying to see every corner. Bring water and sun protection, since the approach has little shelter. Watch children carefully on steep stairs, and use a carrier instead of a stroller on uneven surfaces.

An Angkor Pass is available in 1-, 3- and 7-day options. Children under 12 enter free, but bring their passports for the pass process. A 1-day pass suits families who want Angkor Wat as one memorable visit. A 3-day pass gives more room for Ta Prohm or Bayon without rushing. Skip a pre-dawn sunrise plan with toddlers if an early wake-up will spoil the rest of the day.