The essentials in 30 seconds
- Verdict: Use Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, which opened on 16 October 2023. The old airport closed on 15 October 2023, so every flight now lands at the new one, and your hotel choice follows its transfer time.
- Best for: Travellers comparing older guides with current advice, and anyone planning a first arrival in Siem Reap.
- Good to know: Sources differ on distance and drive time (40 to 50 km, roughly 55 minutes to 1 h 30), so confirm with your hotel.
- Next step: Book a transfer with your hotel, or pick one of the options below, and enter your arrival date on Agoda and Booking.com.
Older guides sometimes mention an airport close to town. That airport closed on 15 October 2023, and the new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport opened the next day, on 16 October 2023. For today's traveller there is a single airport to plan around, which makes the decision pleasantly clear.
This page covers what the new airport is, how far it sits from town, which ways of reaching your hotel exist, and when a stay that is organised around your arrival helps. Fares, hours and routes change often, so each such fact appears with a reminder to confirm it before you travel.
The rule in two lines
Fly into Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, in Soutr Nikom District, Siem Reap province. Then choose the hotel whose transfer you can arrange in advance, using the drive time the hotel itself states.
The relocation aimed to shield the Angkor temples from aircraft vibration and overcrowding. The old airport was about 5 km from town, northwest of the city centre, and a compensation agreement to close it was signed on 28 July 2023.
What the new airport offers
Facts from published sources
- Opening: 16 October 2023, confirmed by two sources.
- Runway: 3,605 m long with a parallel taxiway.
- Capacity: the airport can handle 7 million passengers a year.
- Airlines: Wikipedia lists carriers including AirAsia Cambodia, Air Cambodia, Bangkok Airways, Cambodia Airways, Emirates, IndiGo, Singapore Airlines, Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways, VietJet Air and Vietnam Airlines as listed in October 2026 (confirm before you travel).
- Routes: guides describe links to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and other cities. Check your airline for the current schedule.
The airport's official website lists 13 operating airlines according to Siemreap.net as listed in October 2026 (confirm before you travel). Cambodia Airways launched Phnom Penh to Siem Reap services with two daily rotations from 26 June 2026, as listed in October 2026.
Distance and transfer time
Sources differ on how far the airport lies from town. Wikipedia puts it 40 km east of Angkor Wat and 50 km east of Siem Reap, HelloAngkor says about 50 km northeast of the city, Gecko Routes says roughly 45 km, and IPS Cambodia says about 40 km east of Siem Reap. Drive times differ too: Gecko Routes gives 55 minutes to 1 h 30 depending on mode, HelloAngkor says around 60 to 80 minutes by taxi or hire car, and Siemreap.net estimates 1 hour 15 minutes. Please confirm the figure with your hotel.
Hotels give their own times: Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort states 45 minutes, FCC Angkor by Avani a 55-minute drive, Jaya House River Park about 60 minutes, Lotus Blanc Resort 60 minutes and Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor 48 km. Angkor Palace Resort & Spa states 45 minutes from the airport and city centre. Amansara is a case where sources differ (60 minutes on the hotel's page, 15 minutes on two guides), so confirm before booking.
Ways to reach your hotel
Transfer options as listed in October 2026 (confirm before you travel)
- Official airport bus: from US$8 (32,500 KHR) per person each way, daily from 09:30 to 22:00, with tickets sold at a counter inside the terminal.
- Private car for one to three passengers: sources differ, with US$35 at fixed fares and a Siemreap.net figure of approximately US$25 per car.
- Minivan for up to five people: US$45.
- Ride-hailing: Grab and PassApp private transfers start at US$25 for four passengers.
- Taxi: fares from the airport to the city centre are fixed, and airport taxis operate 06:30 to 23:00.
- Tuk-tuk: fares usually range from US$15 to US$25 with no official rates, and tuk-tuks may not be allowed to enter the airport, so drivers usually wait in the general car park.
Hotels can usually arrange the car for you. Jaya House River Park offers a complimentary transfer with a minimum stay that its pages state differently, Lotus Blanc Resort includes a free one-way pick-up in its Long Stay Special for 3 nights or more, and Shinta Mani Angkor states that its packages include round trip airport transfers. FCC Angkor by Avani can arrange a private airport transfer.
When a near-airport stay helps
A stay organised around your arrival helps in three cases: a late landing when you want a car waiting, an early departure when you want a confirmed pick-up time, and a long stay at a resort with grounds. The airport corridor and the Route 6 resorts are covered on the page about luxury hotels near the airport, and the road itself on the National Road 6 comparison.
Visa arrangements add a small planning step: a T-type tourist visa costs US$30 and is valid for 30 days, paid in cash in US dollars on arrival, and the visa can now be arranged online in advance through the official portal as listed in October 2026 (confirm before you travel). Allow a little time at the terminal on arrival.
Booking checklist
Hotels that state their airport transfer
Riverside boutique luxury
Colonial charm & riverside
Enter the arrival date from your flight ticket on Agoda and Booking.com, and read the airport-transfer and cancellation terms. For the wider picture of districts, return to where to stay in Siem Reap.
Compare the 10 hotelsTest your knowledge
Five questions on this guide.
Luxury hotels in Siem Reap: frequently asked questions
Is there more than one airport in Siem Reap?
Flights use the new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, which opened on 16 October 2023. The old airport closed on 15 October 2023.
How far is the new airport from Siem Reap?
Sources differ, with figures from about 40 to 50 km. Confirm the distance and time with your hotel.
How long does the transfer take?
Guides give about 55 minutes to 1 h 30, and hotels state times such as 45, 55 and 60 minutes. Confirm with your hotel.
What is the cheapest way to reach the city?
The official airport bus costs from US$8 per person each way and runs daily from 09:30 to 22:00 as listed in October 2026 (confirm before you travel).
Can my hotel arrange the transfer?
Many hotels can: FCC Angkor by Avani arranges a private airport transfer, and Lotus Blanc Resort includes a free one-way pick-up in its Long Stay Special. Confirm the terms.
Do I need a visa?
A T-type tourist visa costs US$30 and is valid for 30 days as listed in October 2026 (confirm before you travel), and it can be arranged online in advance.
Built by a French engineer based in Siem Reap since 2025, combining AI analysis (Claude, RAG pipelines) and Google Maps data to assemble the most complete local directory — 5,300+ verified businesses. No sponsored placements, no paid content.