Siem Reap is home to Angkor Archeological Park which includes the famous temples of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon and many, many more. Other attractions in the city are Tonle Sap and floating villages, museums, Angkor Eye, Phare Circus, and much more: attractions and things to in Siem Reap.
This page features a map and list of attractions, ancient temples and archeological sites in Siem Reap Province Cambodia. For first-time visitors, please see: the “must-see” temples Angkor Archeological Park or a map of the Top 30 sites and the Top 100 sites.
The new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI/VDSA) is located about 50 km to the northeast of Siem Reap city in Soutr Nikom District and takes over from the old airport (REP) (now closed) that was located to the northwest of the city center. The new Siem Reap airport is much larger in all facets offering … Read more
Ak Yum (Khmer: ប្រាសាទអកយំ), also referred to as Ak Yom, is an ancient brick temple located near the West Baray in the Angkor Archeological Park. It is one of the oldest temples in the region and was also believed to have sat at the center of a larger urban area. It predates the Angkorian era, … Read more
A small shelter near Tor Temple and Spean Tor housing the remains of ancient boundary markers
Angkor Botanical Garden (សួនរុក្ខជាតិអង្គរ), previously known as the Angkor Spice Garden, has been undergoing upgrades for some time and is now open to the public. The 14-hectare site is educational and relaxing featuring local traditional medicinal plants & spices, flowers, a palm garden, Khmer inspirational garden, and Angkor forest garden. At the northern end, in the … Read more
Located in Siem Reap along the route to Angkor Wat from the city center, the Angkor National Museum is one of the country’s finest offering an excellently presented exhibition of ancient artifacts from across the Khmer Empire. Superior in every way to the museum in Phnom Penh, the offering in Siem Reap elegantly and informative … Read more
Angkor Thom is one of the most popular areas in the Angkor Archeological Park located minutes to the northeast of Angkor Wat and around 15 mins from Siem Reap city. Angkor Thom, literally: “Great City”, contains several of the must-see temples and ancient sites including Bayon Temple, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper … Read more
The grand outer enclosure wall of Angkor Thom is 3 km square constructed of laterite and further supported by an inner earthen buttressing. The enclosure has five monumental gates preceded by causeways that cross the 110m wide outer surrounding moat. The five gates are covered here: South Gate (Tonle Om), West Gate (Thvear Ta Kev), … Read more
Angkor Thom East Gate, or Thvear Khnoch/Kmoch Gate (Gate of the Dead), is one of the five gates that lead through the walls of Angkor Thom. It is a rarely visited site that is approached from Bayon temple via a dirt trail. That said, of all the gates this one certainly has a character and … Read more
Angkor Thom North Gate, or Dei Chhnang Gate, is one of the five gates (gopura) for entering Angkor Thom. It is similar to the other gates featuring the massive gopura with monumental smiling faces at each cardinal point. As per the other gates, South Gate (Thvear Tonle Om), West Gate (Thvear Ta Kav), Victory Gate (Thvear Chey), … Read more
The south gate of Angkor Thom is a very famous spot within Angkor Archeological Park and one that shouldn’t be missed. Standing on the causeway, and admiring the sheer scale, as you find yourself drifting back in time to imagine how it must have felt to approach this spectacular city in its heydey is quite … Read more
Thvear Chey, or Victory Gate of Angkor Thom, is one of the five gates of Angkor Thom, located on the eastern side and north of the Gate of the Dead. Interestingly, the other four gates are located on cardinal points having a particular symmetry from an overall design based on Hindu beliefs. Victory gate, however, … Read more
Angkor Thom West Gate (also recorded as Ta Kav Gate, TaKaov, Thvear Ta Keo) is one of the five ancient gates allowing entry into Angkor Thom. The other gates are the South Gate (Thvear Tonle Om), North Gate (Thvear Ta Nok), Victory Gate (Thvear Chey), and East Gate (Gate of the Dead or Thvear Khnoch). … Read more
Angkor Wat has four gopura (entry gates) each located at cardinal points while only the west and east gates have causeways crossing the moat. The western entrance is the main and grandest entrance of all. See here for the complete guide to Angkor Wat, and here we’ll continue on with the moat and outer gopura … Read more
Here we’ll introduce the many inscriptions at Angkor Wat, and, where to see them. Angkor Wat features a large array of fascinating and often hidden inscriptions that were, surprisingly to some, left mostly during the later eras and in the post-Angkor era. Some of the inscriptions are left by royalty who returned to Angkor around … Read more
Located on the second level of Angkor Wat, Preah Poan (cruciform gallery) is a sacred and significant place within the massive ancient temple. You can also see it noted as Brah Ban, Prah Pan, Preah Pean, or more commonly the English translation being Hall of a Thousand Buddhas. Here we will cover just that cruciform … Read more
The penultimate feature of the great temple of Angkor Wat, the third level, or Bakan, is the enormous thirty-meter high substructure that supports the amazing quincunx of towers. It rises 30 meters with sloping sides featuring narrow stepped staircases at each corner and a central staircase on its western side. Today you can reach the … Read more
Here we will cover each of the bas-relief scenes in the outer gallery of Angkor Wat, where they are located, a brief guide to the interpretation, and several curiosities that shouldn’t be missed. Undoubtedly, one of the most celebrated features of Angkor Wat is the incredible bas-relief friezes that line the inner walls of the … Read more
Prasat Angkor Wat, or Angkor Wat Temple, is one of the largest religious monuments in the world, featuring a spectacular moat that encloses temple grounds with grand entrances and causeways leading to the massive multi-level, multi-towered ornate sandstone temple. It’s the main attraction of the massive Angkor Archaeological Park of Siem Reap and the nation … Read more
Located 26 km east of Siem Reap along National Road 6 and near the village of Damdaek, the new Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium opened on November 1st, 2022. Featuring a 500m3 aquarium featuring freshwater species as well as a 600m3 saltwater aquarium. The main aquarium building houses freshwater species that are endemic to Cambodia, Thailand, … Read more
Located 28 km east of Siem Reap along National Road 6 and near Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium and the village of Damdek, Angkor Wonder Garden is a massive 7-hectare landscaped flower garden. Opening in December 2023, it adds to the attractions in the area and to the list of major attractions in the Siem Reap … Read more
Located atop the beautiful Kulen Mountain and is the first temple in what is a closely grouped set of sites on the eastern side of the mountain just south of the village of Anlong Thom. Interestingly, each of the sites in this grouping is open to the west. It is almost completely in ruin and … Read more
Also recorded (by Google Maps) as Prasat Wat Prasat (Khmer: ប្រាសាទវត្តប្រាសាទ). It’s an ancient temple site, still surrounded by its original moat, that now features a contemporary pagoda. Remains of the ancient temple are collected beside the pagoda including remnants of a lintel featuring a beautiful trio of elephants supporting an idol likely to have … Read more
Located northeast of Wat Khnar Thnong is Bak Roung Prasat, a single tall, square, brick tower. There are little if any ornamental features remaining. The tower features a false upper story and internally it can be seen where a ceiling would have been mounted. There is a trail to the brick prasat from the monastery … Read more
Located 500m to the east of Prasat Bakong, Bakong My Village offers a cafe, restaurant, and activities. It’s set on large landscaped grounds with ponds and tree areas with comfortable seating, private bamboo huts, and even an area for archery. It’s a handy pitstop in between exploring all the temples in the Roluos area. It’s … Read more
Prasat Bakong is the first great pyramid or mountain temple constructed in sandstone to be built by the ancient Khmer. Consecrated in the late 9th century during the reign of King Indravarman I, it was the centrepiece of the ancient city of Hariharalaya that we know today as Roluos. Visiting Bakong Temple The site is … Read more
Baksei Chamkrong (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបក្សីចាំក្រុង) is a temple located in the Angkor Archeological Park (Siem Reap, Cambodia). The temple can be seen on the left side when entering Angkor Thom at the southern gate. It was dedicated to King Yasovarman by his son, King Harshavarman I, and held Shiva as the main deity. The temple was … Read more
A group of at least three ruinous brick temples that are partially standing. It appears to have featured an entry gopura on the east, an outer wall, and perhaps other structures which are hard to determine from the rubble that remains. Nearby is a kneeling elephant statue.
Also recorded as Prasat East Angkouy, it’s the remains of a group of three temples constructed from laterite and brick with sandstone elements. Features “library” and an outer wall with gopura. It is located a short distance east of Bangkuoy Khang Lech Temple. On visiting in mid-January, and noting the overgrowth, I’ll return to the … Read more
Located to the northeast of Svay Leu district, Siem Reap, also recorded as Prasat Bangkouy West, it’s a standing sandstone temple with a “library”, and an outer wall with gopura on the east and west sides. It is a fascinating site, only partly cleared (01/23) that features some unique art features as well as sitting … Read more
The Banteay site is an expansive area that is believed to be the royal palace of Jayavarman II (802–850 AD) in what is now known as once being the ancient capital, Mahendraparvata atop Phnom Kulen. While there are no visible remnants of the royal palace to be seen today bar some scattered brick debris, excavations … Read more