Shopping

The city is a good place to buy souvenirs, textiles and handicrafts. Apart from the wide variety of stores in town (ranging from cahotic general stores - I bought okay sunglasses here for $3) there are upmarket stores aimed at visitors - very zen and quite pricey. But the shopping heart of Siem Reap are there are three main markets including Central, Old Market and Samaki Market and all are worth a look. Souvenirs can be bought in the Old Market, but also in small shops or even in the hotels. If you buy souvenirs such as historic stone Buddhas please keep in mind it is illegal to buy and export these. Recommended to buy are temple rubbings as well as stone and wood carvings. Also silver boxes and the wonderful Cambodian silk are popular souvenirs. If you want to purchase gems please be careful.

Without a doubt the Old Market provides the best shopping experience. The north side of the market carries foods and sundries of interest primarily to locals, but the riverside has dozens of souvenir and curio shops some of which stay open well after dark. They have everything from post card and photocopy book to silks, carvings and jewelry.

Central Market is smaller, housed in new buildings but features a good range of tourist merchandise from t-shirts to silk, postcards etc. The food court here is a good place to eat good food inexpensively.