Landing at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport and heading straight for Pub Street or the Old Market area is the classic start to an Angkor adventure. The new airport sits roughly 50 kilometres east of town, so the journey is longer and more deliberate than it was from the old in-town airport. With taxis, shuttle buses, hotel cars and a patchwork of private drivers now competing for arrivals, choosing the right option makes a big difference to your first hour in Cambodia.
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Understanding the Route from Siem Reap Angkor Airport to Pub Street
Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (often abbreviated to SAI) opened in October 2023 and replaced the old airport that used to sit just outside town. Today, every commercial flight into Siem Reap lands at this new facility in Soutr Nikom district, about 50 kilometres from the Old Market and Pub Street area in central Siem Reap. That distance translates to roughly 45 to 60 minutes by car, depending on traffic, weather and time of day.
The drive follows a modern highway that connects the airport with Siem Reap city. Most transfers use the Angkor highway and then merge into town near major streets such as 7 Makara Street and roads leading into the riverside and Pub Street districts. Unlike the old airport run where you could be at the Old Market in 15 minutes by tuk-tuk, this is now a proper intercity-style drive. That means planning ahead is far more important than in past years.
Pub Street itself is a compact, pedestrian-focused entertainment strip surrounded by dozens of small lanes filled with guesthouses, hostels, boutique hotels and mid-range properties. When you book a transfer, you will rarely find “Pub Street” listed as a formal destination. Instead, you simply give your hotel name in the Old Market area and drivers know they are heading into the cluster of streets around Street 08, the river and Psar Chas (Old Market).
For most visitors, the priority is straightforward: get from SAI to a hotel within a short walk of Pub Street without overpaying or dealing with complicated changes. Because the route is now longer, small details like how many bags you carry, what time you land and whether your hotel offers pickup matter much more than they used to.
Airport Shuttle Bus: Cheapest Route into the Old Market Area
The official airport shuttle bus is the most budget-friendly way to travel from Siem Reap Angkor Airport to the city centre. Operated in conjunction with Cambodia Post and private partners, the shuttle runs between the terminal and central Siem Reap multiple times per day. Typical fares at the time of writing are around 8 to 10 US dollars per person one way, which is usually a fraction of what a private car costs for solo travellers.
The shuttle drops passengers near the centre of town along 7 Makara Street, not far from the Old Market and Pub Street districts. From this drop-off point, most Pub Street and Old Market hotels are a 5 to 15 minute tuk-tuk ride away, or a 10 to 20 minute walk if you travel light and the temperature is manageable. Travellers report that some services now include or coordinate onward tuk-tuk connections into the core tourist streets, sometimes free within a small radius and sometimes for a modest additional fee, but you should always confirm this when buying a ticket at the airport desk or online.
As an example, a couple arriving on a mid-afternoon flight can walk out of the arrivals hall, follow the signs to the shuttle counter or dedicated desk, and purchase two seats on the next bus. After a 45 to 60 minute ride, they step off near 7 Makara Street and either hop into an awaiting tuk-tuk for a few US dollars to reach a Pub Street guesthouse, or roll their bags along relatively flat streets for 15 minutes to a hotel near the Old Market. For light-packers staying around Wat Bo, the bus can actually be more convenient than a taxi because it stops close to that neighbourhood.
The limitations are timing and luggage. Shuttle timetables tend to favour daytime and evening flights, with the last departures often around 22:00. If your flight lands after the last bus, you will need a taxi or hotel pickup. Buses have space under seats and in rear compartments for normal suitcases and backpacks, but if you are carrying oversized sports equipment, extra-large suitcases or multiple checked bags per person, squeezing everything on board can be awkward. In that case, a private transfer is less stressful, even if it costs more.
Official Airport Taxis and Private Cars: Door-to-Door to Pub Street
For most travellers heading straight to a hotel around Pub Street or the Old Market with standard luggage, an official airport taxi or prebooked private car is the simplest and most comfortable option. These services offer door-to-door transfers, meaning you step out of the terminal and arrive directly at your hotel entrance without having to change vehicles in town.
Inside the arrivals area at SAI, you will find transport counters or a Tourist Transport Assistance desk shortly after customs. Here, staff can arrange an official taxi at a fixed or clearly quoted price to central Siem Reap. Recent traveller reports suggest one-way fares from SAI to a hotel near Pub Street typically fall in the 20 to 30 US dollar range for a standard car, with SUVs and vans for families or small groups costing a little more. Prices are per vehicle, not per person, which makes taxis good value for couples and groups of three or four compared with the per-seat shuttle bus.
Real-world examples illustrate the trade-offs. A solo backpacker might pay around 8 dollars for the shuttle bus plus 2 to 3 dollars for a tuk-tuk from the drop-off point to a hostel off Pub Street, for a total of roughly 10 or 11 dollars. A couple, on the other hand, could split a 24 dollar taxi and each pay about 12 dollars to be taken directly to their riverside boutique hotel with air conditioning and luggage in the boot, avoiding any haggling or transfers after a long-haul flight.
Many hotels and guesthouses in the Old Market and Pub Street zone now offer prebooked airport pickup in a private car. It is common to see rates between 25 and 35 dollars quoted by mid-range and higher-end properties for a one-way transfer from SAI, occasionally bundled as a complimentary perk for guests staying in suites or on special packages. The advantage is coordination: your driver knows your name and arrival time, waits in the greeting area with a sign, and usually has your hotel location pinned in a smartphone app. For families with small children or travellers landing late at night, that extra predictability is often worth a few dollars more than arranging a taxi on the spot.
Hotel Pickup, Tuk-Tuks and Ride-Hailing Around Pub Street
Once you reach central Siem Reap, tuk-tuks take over as the default way of moving between the Old Market, Pub Street, Wat Bo and other neighbourhoods. For the last leg from a shuttle bus stop to your hotel, or from your hotel back to the bus pick-up point at the end of your stay, an idle tuk-tuk driver is almost always within sight. Short hops within the centre typically cost 2 to 3 US dollars in practice, though you should confirm the price before you get in or rely on a ride-hailing app where available.
Some hotels in the Pub Street and Old Market zone coordinate with specific drivers, allowing them to pick you up from the shuttle bus drop-off or even from the airport if you arrange this in advance via email or messaging apps. For example, a small guesthouse on a side street off Pub Street may send “their” tuk-tuk driver to meet the airport bus scheduled to arrive around 18:00, holding a simple sign with your name. They then bring you and your bags the final kilometre to the front door for a pre-agreed fare. This hybrid approach combines the price savings of the shuttle bus with the reassurance of a known driver for the last stretch.
Ride-hailing services operate intermittently in Siem Reap and are useful mainly for city journeys rather than the full airport run. Where available, an app-based ride from the 7 Makara Street drop-off into the Pub Street area can be comparable in price to a street-hailed tuk-tuk and offers the benefit of a set fare shown on your screen. However, coverage varies and you should not rely solely on apps for late-night arrivals or departures. Around Pub Street, it is often quicker to flag a tuk-tuk than to wait for an in-app match, especially at peak dining and nightlife hours.
From a practical perspective, if you are staying in a small alley or deep within the grid of streets around Pub Street, it helps to save your hotel’s name and a simple map screenshot offline. Drivers may recognise landmark properties and bars rather than exact street numbers, so telling a tuk-tuk “near the Old Market, behind Pub Street, close to X hotel” often works better than reciting a full address.
Travel Time, Traffic and What to Expect With Luggage
Under normal conditions, the drive from Siem Reap Angkor Airport to the Pub Street area takes around 45 to 60 minutes by car, sometimes a little longer during peak holiday periods when domestic tourism is strong. Shuttle buses can take slightly more time because of loading, unloading and occasional short stops, but the difference is usually modest. Weather is a secondary factor: during the wet season, heavy downpours can slow traffic, particularly near town where surface water collects on some stretches.
Luggage capacity is an important consideration when choosing your route. Standard taxis and hotel cars from SAI typically accommodate two full-sized suitcases and two carry-on bags comfortably in the boot and interior. If you are a family with several large bags, or travelling with bulky camera tripods or sports gear, ask for an SUV or minivan when booking. Shuttle buses store luggage either in an underfloor compartment or in a rear section, and drivers are used to handling typical tourist baggage. However, if you show up with multiple oversized suitcases or hard cases, be prepared for the driver to assess space on the specific departure you are trying to catch.
With the longer transfer now required from the new airport, it is wise to pack a small cabin bag with water, a light snack and any medicines or valuables you might need in the first hour. On a late arrival into SAI, there may be limited food options by the time you reach your hotel, especially if you are not staying directly on Pub Street. Having something small in your daypack ensures you can head to bed immediately rather than going out hunting for a late snack.
Families and older travellers may want to think carefully about how much walking they want to do after the journey. If you are carrying heavy luggage and staying at a guesthouse tucked deep into the Old Market backstreets without a direct drop-off point, a door-to-door taxi is usually worth the extra cost over taking the shuttle bus and then walking or changing to a tuk-tuk. Conversely, solo travellers with a single backpack and a centrally located hostel often enjoy the flexibility of the shuttle bus and a short stroll through town as an informal orientation.
Night Arrivals and Early Morning Departures
For flights landing late in the evening at Siem Reap Angkor Airport, transfer options narrow slightly compared with daytime arrivals. Official shuttle buses generally run until late evening, but the very last departures can vary by season and operational changes. If your scheduled arrival is after 22:00 or close to midnight, it is safest to assume you will need a taxi or hotel car, especially if you are checking in with immigration and then waiting for checked bags.
Taxi counters inside the terminal usually remain staffed to match incoming flights, and drivers are accustomed to late-night runs into the Pub Street and Old Market area. The main difference at night is not security, as Siem Reap’s main roads between the airport and town are considered reasonably safe by regional standards, but rather fatigue and the reduced number of alternative options if something goes wrong. Prebooking a hotel pickup or private transfer can be particularly reassuring if you are travelling with children, arriving from a long-haul flight via another hub, or carrying multiple bags.
For early morning departures out of SAI, you should work backwards from your flight time. For an international flight at, for example, 09:00, most travellers aim to be at the airport between 06:00 and 06:30. From a hotel near Pub Street, that means leaving around 05:00 to 05:30, allowing 45 to 60 minutes for the drive plus a margin for any traffic or minor delays. At these hours, taxis and prebooked cars are far more reliable than trying to coordinate a shuttle or a last-minute arrangement.
In practice, many hotels in the Old Market district offer fixed-rate early morning transfer services. A small boutique hotel on the riverside might charge 25 to 30 dollars for a private car that collects you at 05:15 and delivers you to the departures drop-off with time to spare. For groups catching the same morning flight, sharing a van not only keeps costs per person low but also simplifies the logistics of moving luggage and ensuring everyone arrives together.
Choosing the Best Option for Old Market and Pub Street Hotels
For travellers staying within walking distance of Pub Street or the Old Market, there is no single “best” transfer option from Siem Reap Angkor Airport, but a few patterns emerge. Budget-conscious solo travellers and backpackers tend to favour the official shuttle bus combined with a short tuk-tuk ride or walk. This combination keeps costs down to around 10 dollars or slightly more in total, while still offering a straightforward route into central Siem Reap.
Couples and small groups often find private taxis or hotel cars provide the best mix of comfort and value. Splitting a 22 to 28 dollar door-to-door transfer means each person pays only a little more than the shuttle bus, without the hassle of a transfer in town or any uncertainty about reaching a smaller guesthouse tucked behind the Old Market. This is especially true if you are arriving after dark or during the wet season, when stepping directly from an air-conditioned car into a hotel lobby can be a welcome relief.
Families with young children, travellers with mobility issues and those carrying heavy or multiple pieces of luggage will almost always be better served by a private car or van. The longer distance from the new airport amplifies any inconvenience involved in changing vehicles, lifting bags multiple times or navigating with tired kids. In these cases, asking your Pub Street area hotel to organise a pickup ensures that the driver has clear instructions and that the vehicle is appropriately sized.
For frequent visitors and those spending several days in Siem Reap, it can make sense to establish a relationship with a specific driver for both airport transfers and temple tours. Many taxi and tuk-tuk drivers working around the Old Market advertise combined services such as airport pickup, Angkor temple circuits and day trips to Tonle Sap or Kulen Mountain. If you find someone reliable on your first ride into town, you can often negotiate a fair rate for further trips, turning that first airport run into a broader transport solution for your stay.
The Takeaway
Reaching Pub Street and the Old Market from Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is now a longer but still straightforward journey. The key change with the new airport is distance: you are committing to a 45 to 60 minute transfer along a modern highway rather than a quick 15-minute hop from just outside town. That makes it worth giving real thought to how much you want to spend, how much luggage you have and what time of day you will be travelling.
The official airport shuttle bus offers the most economical route into central Siem Reap, especially attractive to solo travellers with manageable baggage. Official taxis, hotel cars and private transfers dominate for couples, families and anyone arriving late at night or leaving very early in the morning, when convenience and certainty trump small cost savings. Around Pub Street itself, tuk-tuks and short rides fill in the final gaps, ensuring that whatever main option you choose, the last few streets to your hotel are easy to cover.
By matching your choice of transport to your budget, arrival time and luggage, you can turn what might otherwise be a tiring transfer into a smooth, almost scenic introduction to Siem Reap. Whether you roll into the Old Market on a shuttle bus after watching rural rice fields slip past your window, or step from a hotel car directly into the neon buzz of Pub Street, planning ahead for this first leg sets the tone for the rest of your Angkor experience.
FAQ
Q1. How long does it take to get from Siem Reap Angkor Airport to Pub Street?
The drive usually takes 45 to 60 minutes by car or taxi, depending on traffic and weather, with shuttle buses sometimes taking slightly longer due to loading times.
Q2. What is the cheapest way to reach the Old Market area from the airport?
The cheapest practical option is the official airport shuttle bus into central Siem Reap combined with a short tuk-tuk ride or walk to your Pub Street or Old Market hotel.
Q3. How much does a taxi from the airport to a Pub Street hotel typically cost?
Recent traveller reports suggest a typical range of roughly 20 to 30 US dollars per car one way to hotels around Pub Street, with larger vehicles costing a bit more.
Q4. Is the airport shuttle bus drop-off close to Pub Street?
The shuttle usually drops passengers in central Siem Reap near major streets such as 7 Makara Street, from where most Pub Street and Old Market hotels are a short tuk-tuk ride or 10 to 20 minute walk away.
Q5. Can my hotel near Pub Street arrange airport pickup?
Yes, many hotels and guesthouses in the Old Market and Pub Street area offer private car pickups from Siem Reap Angkor Airport, often for a fixed fee that you can confirm when booking your room.
Q6. Is it safe to arrive late at night and travel to the Pub Street area?
Night arrivals are common and the main road between the airport and central Siem Reap is generally considered reasonably safe; the main concern is reduced transport choice, so prebooking a taxi or hotel car is advisable.
Q7. How should I plan transfers if I have a lot of luggage?
If you are travelling with several large suitcases or bulky gear, a private taxi, SUV or van arranged in advance is more comfortable than the shuttle bus and avoids repeated lifting and transfers.
Q8. Are tuk-tuks a good option all the way from the airport to Pub Street?
Given the airport’s distance from town, most travellers use cars, vans or buses for the main leg and reserve tuk-tuks for shorter trips within Siem Reap once they are already near Pub Street or the Old Market.
Q9. How early should I leave my Pub Street hotel for a morning international flight?
As a rule of thumb, aim to reach the airport about three hours before departure and allow 45 to 60 minutes for the drive, which often means leaving your Pub Street hotel roughly four hours before your scheduled flight time.
Q10. Can I pay for airport transfers with US dollars?
Yes, US dollars are widely accepted in Siem Reap, and most shuttle services, taxis and hotel cars quote and accept fares in dollars, though small change may sometimes be given in Cambodian riel.