Angkor Wat Siem Reap Sunrise

Temples Galore in Cambodia: 5 Top Temples in Siem Reap Not to Miss

Bayon Temple in Angkor Cambodia with text overlay Sunrise at Angkor Wat in Cambodia with text overlay Sunrise at Angkor Wat in Cambodia with text overlay Bayon Temple in Angkor Cambodia with text overlay

Wander around what was once the largest city in the world. Read on for essential tips for visiting Angkor Wat and beyond.

I recently wrote about visiting Siem Reap with my family, it was a fantastic experience and the heritage and culture was breathtaking. It’s one of those places that more and more people and tour groups are heading to, so I would recommend that if you haven’t been yet, go – stat.

Sunrise at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap Cambodia

There is a lot to see, and you can easily get sucked into trying to visit every single temple in the UNESCO-listed Angkor areahere is a list of which temples in Angkor are must-sees in my books to add to your Cambodia itinerary.

What you should know before you visit Siem Reap

Angkor Archaeological Park tickets: In order to enter the Angkor area to visit the Siem Reap temples you will need to buy a pass that grants access to all the temples and monuments. The Angkor temple complex tickets are currently priced at US$37 (1 day), $62 (3 days), $72 (1 week), $100 (1 month*), $150 (3 months*) and $200 (6 months*) depending on how many days you need it for – your 3 day Angkor pass can be used on non-consecutive days within a week, and your 7 day pass can be used on non-consecutive days within a month.

It’s a small slip of paper, but do not lose it – there are guards at every temple that will ask to see your ticket before you’re allowed to enter. Your photo is taken and printed on the ticket so it is non-transferable.

*Conditions apply. You must hold a long-term visa that is valid for at least 3 months.

Angkor ticket office in Siem Reap Cambodia

Angkor ticket office: Wondering where to buy tickets for Angkor Way? The ticket office is located about a 15-minute drive away from Angkor Archaeological Zone. It opens at 4 am so it is possible to buy a ticket and then head straight to Angkor Wat for a sunrise if you only have 1 day for Angkor Archaeological Park. This is a photo of the ticket office at 4:30 am – in this case it really is true that the early bird gets the worm!

Did you know? Even though many people often interchangeably refer to the great Angkor zone as “Angkor Wat’, they are not one and the same. Angkor was the capital city of the Khmer Empire and a sprawling complex that houses thousands of individual temples, including Angkor Wat.

Ticket for Angkor Archaeological Zone in Siem Reap

Do I need a guide for Angkor Wat? No, you don’t have to hire a guide to visit Angkor Wat or the other temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park. However, if you’d like some insider knowledge and a local guide who knows the abundant history behind the monuments then look into one of these local-led Siem Reap tours via TakeMeTours! I’ve been on their private tours through Thailand and the local insight can only amplify your experience at expansive ruins like Angkor.

Weather in Siem Reap: Siem Reap is hot throughout most of the year, in general you can expect it to get up to the mid-high thirties (Celsius, or 95-104 Fahrenheit), so we found that the best time to visit the temples was bright and early in the morning as it starts to get hot and crowded by around 9 am.

Best time of year to visit Siem Reap: Peak season is from November to March, but we have been twice in both April and May and the crowds tend to thin out (but the heat goes way up). If you have an aversion to crowds I recommend September/October or April/May.

Keep reading for which temples in Siem Reap you absolutely shouldn’t miss!

Looking for more Southeast Asia travel tips? Click here for 10 things you should know before you visit Southeast Asia!

Where to stay in Siem Reap

Navutu Dreams Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap Cambodia

During my first two trips to Siem Reap stayed at a lovely little boutique hotel called Navutu Dreams Resort, located just 10 minutes away from the entrance to the Angkor archaeological site. As part of the (very reasonable) room rate, you also get a private tuk tuk driver for 12 hours who can take you around to the different temples and night markets. If you love fresh & healthy food, practicing Yoga, beautiful pools and private cabanas then Navutu Dreams is the place to be! Click here to book your stay at Navutu Dreams!

House Jane Siem Reap

If you are looking for something a little more low-key and private, House Jane is another fantastic option. This boutique hotel only has a handful of rooms and is a short 15-20 minute walk away from the Old Market. The villa-style hotel has its own pool surrounded by greenery and can help you organize tours to Angkor, Tonle Sap and beyond. It even has its own poolside massage cabana for in-house treatments. Click here to book your stay at House Jane!

Looking for other options? Click here to see what hotels are available in Siem Reap!

Code of Conduct in the Angkor Archaeological Park

South Gate of Angkor Archaeological Zone in Siem Reap Cambodia

Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire and once the largest city in the world. It remains an active religious and spiritual site so it’s important to respect the community who engage in worship. It’s important to observe the following when you are visiting any of the temples around and within the Angkor ruins.

Temples in Angkor Siem Reap Cambodia

Cover your shoulders and knees – you might get away with it and not get turned away (as you would if you were not properly dressed to visit churches in Italy), but respectful dress is strongly encouraged.

Don’t touch the monuments – many of the carvings and structures are extremely fragile. Don’t sit on the balustrades or lean on the walls.

Keep your voice down – it goes without saying that loud conversation should be kept to a minimum!

Follow the signs – most of the temples, especially ones that are more maze-like, will have directions that you should follow as you walk through. Follow these directions!

Don’t smoke and litter – Angkor is a smoke free site. Make sure you don’t litter and take any trash with you or place it in one of the many trash cans. I saw a monkey playing with a plastic bottle that someone had obviously chucked to the side – not great!

Respect the monks – this is a big one and hits close to home for me, especially after hearing all the horror stories about what goes on during alms giving ceremonies in Asia. Read more about my thoughts on alms giving in Luang Prabang here. You may see processions during your time at Angkor, and the beautiful saffron robes are eye-catching, but please don’t charge towards the monks and start snapping away. It’s not a human zoo! Monks are revered and respected – if you want to take photos, please ask for permission. If you are a female tourist you should not touch the monks.

Skip the drone – flying drones requires a permit from the APSARA National Authority.

*Adapted from the official Apsara Angkor Visitor Code of Conduct pamphlet.

5 Incredible Temples in Siem Reap That You Won’t Want to Miss

There are more than 70 temples in the Angkor ruins, and if you only have 2 or 3 days in Siem Reap there isn’t nearly enough time to cover all the ground that this historic park has to offer. If you’re short on time, here are a few must-see temples in Angkor.

1. Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat Siem Reap Sunrise

Angkor Wat is almost always synonymous with Angkor, but the difference is that Angkor Wat is but one temple within the Angkor Archeological Park complex, along with many many others. Is the Angkor Wat sunrise trip worth the hype? Obviously, this is the “crown jewel” and the temple everyone hears about and visits. I might get shot for saying this, but this was the most underwhelming temple of all the ones that we saw.

Crowds at Angkor Wat at sunrise in Siem Reap

Here’s what you need to know about visiting Angkor Wat: most people head here to watch the sunrise, but when we visited for the first time (April 2015) the little lake in front of the temple had dried up, there were a million people around and the sunrise lasted all of 2 minutes. The second and third times I went for the Angkor Wat sunrise it was beautiful, but still didn’t get the “shock and awe” effect of the photos you might see in National Geographic – so it’s really just down to luck and what the weather is like.

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap Cambodia

If you don’t mind waking up super early and want to check this off your to-do list, then by all means! You will need to get there by 5:15, 5:30 AM latest in order to secure a good spot.

Angkor Wat Siem Reap

Once the sunrise is over make sure you walk around explore some of the quiet corridors – they’re stunning and if you’re there early enough you’ll get it all to yourself.

2. Angkor Thom: The Bayon

The Bayon in Angkor Thom Siem Reap Cambodia

If you only visit one temple in the Angkor complex, make it this one. The Bayon stands in the middle of Angkor Thom and there is so much to see as you weave your way around the columns and walk up and down the old stone stairs. It’s very easy to get lost (in a good way) in here.

Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom Siem Reap

The faces carved in the columns are incredibly intricate and fairly well preserved, and there are reliefs on almost every wall depicting mythological and historical events as well as every day life.

Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom Siem Reap

Can you see why it is one of the most unique temples in Siem Reap? The Bayon doesn’t open until 7:30 am, but it gets crowded so you should aim to be there as soon as it starts letting tourists in.

3. Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm in Siem Reap Cambodia

AKA “the Tomb Raider temple”, which makes it one of the most famous temples in Siem Reap. Well worth visiting to see the trees that have melded themselves with the ruins and taken root (literally). If you are taking a tuk tuk, ask your driver to pick you up on the other side of the temple so that you can walk straight through without having to double back.

Ta Prohm in Siem Reap Cambodia

However, what most people don’t know is that this is not the only temple in Angkor that has been enveloped by trees and their thick roots. Head to Ta Som temple if you have more time and are after some peace and quiet.

Ta Prohm stone reliefs in Siem Reap Cambodia

Looking to venture beyond the most iconic and popular temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park? Click here for 5 lesser-known and underrated temples in Siem Reap that you shouldn’t skip

4. Preah Khan

Preah Kahn in Cambodia

A slightly smaller temple but there is a corridor of door frames and columns right down the center that makes it unique. Once you step past the door frames there are beautiful reliefs and carvings on the stone walls on either side. This place is a lot quieter than the three I mentioned above, which makes it the perfect place to wander around and explore.

5. East Mebon

East Mebon Temple in Angkor Siem Reap Cambodia

My personal favorite of all the temples in Angkor city that we visited – a vertical temple structure slightly further away from the main Angkor temples. There are steep stairs and some climbing involved, which translates into: not as many people – perfect.

East Mebon Temple in Angkor Siem Reap Cambodia

Once you get to the top, the 360 view surrounding the temple is amazing, and there are beautiful, well preserved statues of elephants on each corner of the temple which let’s be honest, is the main reason I wanted to visit East Mebon.

Have a few more days to spare and want to get off the beaten path and explore a little deeper beyond Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm? Click here for some lesser-known temples in Angkor!

Where to eat in Siem Reap

Spoons Cafe Siem Reap

There are many restaurants, cafés and training facilities in Siem Reap dedicated to helping young Cambodian people gain valuable work skills and employment opportunities. If you are planning a visit to Siem Reap to visit the incredible temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park, you can also get your fill of delicious food while ensuring that your tourism dollars are going towards sustainable community development and ethical projects. Read on for 7 socially responsible restaurants and cafés to check out in Siem Reap!

Spoons Cafe Siem Reap Num Krok

I hope this list of must see temples in Siem Reap helps you to better prioritize your time in this amazing city! What are some of the other must-see places in Siem Reap? Comment and tell me all about it below!

Ready to book your trip to Siem Reap? I recommend staying at Navutu Dreams, an elegant boutique hotel with a fantastic in-house restaurant and yoga shala. The hotel can also arrange a private tuk tuk driver for you to visit Angkor Archaeological Park, or you can also click here to see what other hotels are available in Siem Reap!

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26 Comments

  1. Hello Flo,

    Is it possible to tour this five temples in one day if we hire a tuktuk? Is there any entrances to each temple aside from the One-day Pass?

    1. Hi Leng, yes it’s totally manageable – just get an early start so you can get out of there before it gets too hot. Your one-day pass covers entrance into all of these temples. Have fun!

  2. These temples are absolutely breathtaking. With so many sites to see you would have to buy at least the 3 day pass. I would be interested in seeing the Bayon temple for sure. Great tips on the code of conduct.

    1. Thanks for checking this out, Riely! I think a lot of people forget that these are living monuments and need to be treated with the utmost respect.

  3. That’s a nice list to keep for future reference if visiting Siem Reap. Prices have skyrocketed though in 2 years time.

    1. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this, Bruce! Such a massive and amazing complex – I don’t know how you could (or would want to) see it all in one day, but this is a good starting point!

  4. This reminded me of my time in Cambodia and Angkor Wat. I had heatstroke a day before my pre-scheduled temple booking but so glad i dragged myself out of bed. Sunrise was awesome and so was the sunsets. Love your pictures.

  5. I visited Angkor Wat and the surround temples about 20 years ago, I can’t remember having to buy a pass back then or how much I paid, but I do plan on returning and it’s good to know the current situation for visiting the temples. You have photographed the temples beautifully, my favorite picture is the one of the tree from the Lara Croft movie

    1. Thank you so much for checking this out! Ta Prohm is stunning, especially before the busloads of tour groups arrive! 😛

  6. Siem Reap was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The sunrise at Angkor Wat was a life changing experience.

  7. Cambodia looks so peaceful and beautiful! I’d never really considered going here, but now you’ve made me think twice and look into it more seriously – hmmm…may have to make it happen! Looks incredible. Also your post URL slug title made me laugh so hard 😉

    1. Haha – it can be extremely busy and hectic during peak season! Haha you noticed the original slug title! I changed it after a few months because I wasn’t sure if people would get it 😛

  8. Oh these temples look soat mysterious, terrying and glorious. Don’t know which adjective describes them best ! I sooo wanna go there !

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