Here's the thing nobody's old guidebook mentions: Siem Reap's airport moved. The new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) opened in late 2023 roughly 40 km east of town, replacing the old airport that sat conveniently ten minutes from Pub Street. The flight in is the same; the arrival is not. Plan the transfer before you land and it's painless — wing it after a red-eye and it's the worst hour of your trip.
How Far Is the Airport from Siem Reap?
About 40 kilometers, which works out to roughly 45 minutes to an hour by car on the new airport road, depending on where in town you're staying. There is no train and no meaningful public bus for visitors — your options are private car, hotel transfer, shared shuttle, or (for the brave and lightly packed) a long tuk-tuk ride that takes well over an hour and is not the romantic introduction it sounds like at 11pm.
Your Transfer Options, Ranked
1. Hotel pickup (book it with your room)
Almost every hotel in our hotels guide arranges airport pickup, and several boutiques include it. This is the move on arrival day: your name on a sign, cold towel, no negotiation. Expect it to be billed around the going private-car rate or slightly above for the convenience.
2. Pre-booked private transfer
Private airport transfers typically run in the $25–35 range for the car (not per person) — fine value split between two or more. Booking ahead beats negotiating at the curb, and you can compare options online before you fly:
3. Ride-hailing apps
Cambodia runs on PassApp and Grab, and both work in Siem Reap. Coverage at the new airport has improved steadily, but at busy arrival times the queue of app drivers can be thin — treat it as a backup rather than the plan, especially for late-night landings.
4. Tuk-tuk
Fine for the adventure on a cool dry-season morning with a daypack; miserable with luggage, heat, or rain. If you want tuk-tuk time, save it for the temples — our tuk-tuk guide covers how that works.
Money at the Airport
ATMs at SAI dispense US dollars, which is what you'll spend everywhere in town (riel comes back as small change — about 4,000 to the dollar). Withdraw small denominations if the machine offers them; a fresh $100 bill is genuinely hard to break at a noodle stall. More in our budget guide.
Timing Your Arrival Around the Temples
If you land in the afternoon, resist the urge to "quickly do a temple" — by the time you reach town, check in, and sort your Angkor Pass, the park is closing. Better first evening: dinner from our restaurants list, an early night, and a proper sunrise start tomorrow. The pass office is on the way to the park, and most guided tours handle the stop for you.
Leaving: How Early to Go Back
Work backwards from the 40 km: leave town a solid 2.5 to 3 hours before an international departure. The road is good, but a 5pm flight means a 2pm hotel pickup, which means your last temple morning ends at lunch. Plan the itinerary so the final day is the relaxed one — town, markets, massage — not the day you attempt Banteay Srei with a suitcase in the car.