Every year millions of tourists flock to Cambodia to see the Siem Reap temples. The Angkor Wat temple complex is one of the largest religious sites in the world, with ongoing restoration. Exploring these ancient structures is truly an amazing experience, regardless of the crowds. Between the magnificence of Angkor Wat, to the mystery of Ta Prohm, each temple is unique and worth exploring. But for a first timer here, you may be wondering, which ones should I see? So we’ve rounded up some of our favorites. We were able to see these in just 3 short days during our family trip to Cambodia. But if you have more time, they will definitely be a great starting point.
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13 Siem Reap Temples Worth Visiting
In This Article
Angkor Wat Temple Passes
Tips On Visiting the Temples
Siem Reap Temples: 3 Day Guide
Angkor Wat Temple Passes
Before entering the Angkor Wat temple complex, you must buy a pass. There are 1 day ($37), 3 day ($62) and 7 day ($72) pass options to choose from. If you plan to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat, we recommend buying the day before. This is so you’ll have the passes ready and go straight to the temple gate. Here’s more info on the passes.
Carvings at Angkor Wat temple
Tips Before Visiting the Temples
There are a few things to keep in mind while visiting the temples.
1. Dress conservatively: The temples are religious sites and you want to be respectful. Have your legs or shoulders covered, for women maxi skirts or harem pants work great.
2. Go early: Although you may not be a morning person, the early bird gets the worm in this case. Going early helps you beat the crowds and get nicer shots. It also gets very hot later in the day. So you definitely don’t want to be out exploring in the heat.
3. Take time to explore: Let’s be honest, the Angkor temples do attract quite the crowds. But there are always more quiet parts with practically nobody around. You just have to look for them. Take some time to walk around and go off the beaten path. I got so many great shots by doing this.
4. Don’t try to rush it: Spend more quality time at each temple, even if you see less of them. There’s so much detail to see, especially at the larger ones.
5. Customize your tour: The small and grand circuit tours are quite common. Consider doing the reverse route in order to avoid crowds. Ask your guide or tuk tuk driver for recommendations.
Siem Reap Temples: A 3 Day Guide
There are so many Siem Reap temples to explore within the Angkor complex. It can be overwhelming trying to decide what to see in the time you have. Here we’ve rounded up our favorites from our trip.
See more: How to Spend 3 Days in Siem Reap
Walking towards Angkor Wat from the front gate
Admire the magnificence of Angkor Wat
Visiting Angkor Wat is a must while in Siem Reap. Built by King Suryavarman II in the 12th century, Angkor Wat is one of the largest and now considered a Unesco World Heritage site. Like many of the others there are beautiful bas reliefs and details to admire here. The Khmer architecture is quite stunning, and not to be missed.
We entered here from both the back and the front. You need at least 2-3 hours to fully take in everything. You can also climb to the central towers for stunning views from above. The best part is discovering those empty and quiet hallways and nooks throughout. The lighting in the morning was so magical. You can book a tuk tuk or tour in advance along with a guide, which comes in handy as you explore the temple complex.
Tip: The towers are closed on Buddhist holidays, so plan ahead for that. You may get lucky and be able to be blessed by a monk on these special days as well.
Explore more: How to Capture Sunrise at Angkor Wat
Entering the South Gate of Angkor Thom
Walk through the South Gate at Angkor Thom
Entering the South Gate at Angkor Thom is such a cool experience. There are all kinds of transportation entering at once. It was pretty crowded by the time we got there, so early morning is best to get a quiet view. Angkor Thom was built by King Jayavarman VII around the 12th century.
It’s a large complex surrounded by walls and a moat with bridges that lead you inside each gate. Along each side of the entrance to the South Gate are devas (gods) and asuras (demons). They represent the “Churning of the Ocean of Milk”, an ancient Hindu story about immortality. There are faces and mythical creatures on the entry tower, also repeated throughout the temples.
Entering Bayon temple
Check out the faces of Bayon
One of the first temples you’ll come across through the gate is Bayon. This was one of our favorite temples. It’s located in the exact center of the capital to represent the core of the universe. It evolved into a Hindu temple after the death of King Jayavarman VII.
The most recognizable part are the 200 or so faces carved into the stone towers. They seem to be looking at you from every angle as you explore, as if you’re being watched. They all had a peaceful smile, possibly symbolizing a state of nirvana.
The temple consists of three levels with bas reliefs on the outer and inner galleries. These scenes depict war, daily life, and other ancient stories. It’s not difficult to find quiet areas of the temple despite the crowds. Like most places, it’s always best to come in early morning to avoid the peak amount of tourists.
Private Transport
Cambodia can get extremely hot and humid, even early in the day. This tour by car provides transportation in a van with A/C for a full day of temples, as well as your own guide. It’s the most comfortable way to temple hop, and perfect for families!
Looking towards Baphoun Temple
Explore the beauty of Baphuon
Built in the 11th century, Baphuon is a three-tiered temple built for the Hindu god Shiva. You can climb to the top, however due to lack of time and the heat, we decided to just briefly walk by. It looked so grand we wish we could have seen more of it. You will need at least an hour here to fully explore.
Pass by the Terrace of the Elephants and Leper King
The Royal Terraces are located right near Baphuon and consist of the Terrace of the Elephants and Leper King. These are likely where public events and parades were held. There are carvings of elephant heads along the walls, and a statue of a “Leper King” on the terrace. Along the walls are carvings and reliefs of animals, warriors, apsaras and horses. They are quite small and can easily be explored in less than an hour.
Climb the stairs of Ta Keo
Ta Keo is one of the tallest in the complex. It has a rather unfinished feel to it and isn’t a common one to see. It’s definitely worth a look, and make sure to climb the stairs to the top. From way up there you’ll be rewarded with some amazing views. We noticed this one was less crowded than some of the others, so it’s a nice escape. The top is extremely hot, so bring plenty of cold water!
Tip: Use caution when climbing. The stairs are rather rustic and very short, so be careful.
The beautiful temple of Pre Rup
Check out the reddish tones of Pre Rup
Since it’s constructed out of brick and laterite, Pre Rup has a gorgeous reddish tone color. It was built by King Rajendravarman and dates all the way back to 961! The name means “turning the body” and this temple might have been used for cremation purposes. There are five towers here, with a stairway leading atop a pyramid structure. The views here are spectacular during sunset, but it’s a popular spot to be.
Exploring the ruins of Ta Prohm
Witness the power of nature at Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm, also known as the “Tomb Raider” temple is quite a glorious one to see. You should allow at least a few hours here to see most of it. It’s quite amazing to see all of the tree roots overtaking the temple ruins. It does get quite crowded, so there will be some queues for those famous shots.
As we explored deeper we found some parts with nobody around. It truly felt like being in a movie for a moment. The moss and greenery from the trees combined with the earthy stone was just beautiful. Not to mention all the delightful carvings and details. It’s totally understandable why so many people go here. Nature is just incredible isn’t it?
If you’re an adventure lover, you should totally check out this jeep tour of the temples. It’s the perfect way to get around, and allows you to have fresh air and convenience. Definitely booking this when we go back!
Take in the ornate beauty of Banteay Srei
Next up is Banteay Srei, a Hindu temple also called the “Citadel of Women.” It’s about a 30 minute drive by car from Siem Reap and well worth the trip. Since it’s made out of pink sandstone, the colors here are so unique. It’s not too large, but the details are so intricate that you can easily spend hours here. We noticed several lintels, with mystical creatures guarding the towers.
To explore, you pretty much walk around a rectangular area, with the towers within the center. It’s one of the most detailed temples we have seen, and the Khmer craftwork truly shines here. The whole site felt very enchanting as the forest surrounds it.
Tip: Take a brief break to check out the band playing behind the temple. They are land mine victims trying to earn money to support their families.
Closeup detail of Beng Mealea temple
Uncover the jungle temple of Beng Mealea
Entering Beng Mealea temple will make you feel like you’re discovering it for the first time. It’s fully immersed within the jungle, and is a wonder to see. It’s one of the few that still remains relatively untouched. You can get a glimpse at how it might have been years ago. Similar to Ta Prohm, there are roots, vines and trees all interweaving throughout. Absolutely loved the vibes here, and you will too.
The 1.5 hour drive here was totally worth it. Combined with Koh Ker, it makes for an awesome day trip. Because it’s further away, this temple tends to be less crowded. There’s a walkway along the inside and outside which makes most of it pretty accessible now. You will notice a lot of greenery, moss and crumbling stone as you walk through. We spent a few hours exploring, which felt perfect. Not to mention, we did have to race back to make it in time for our sunset plans!
Note: You must buy a separate pass for this temple. The cost is $5.
Explore the Lost Cities
There are some amazing temples to see that are off the beaten path. You’ll love exploring in this tour which brings you to Koh Ker, Beng Mealea, Prasat Pram and more. It also includes all temple fees, car transportation, and a guide. Perfect for photographers like myself.
The massive pyramid of Koh Ker
Ascend the tall pyramid of Koh Ker
Another off the beaten path temple to see is Koh Ker. It’s very remote, located within the jungle of Preah Vihear about 2.5 hours away from Siem Reap. You will hear sounds of the forest here as you reach the massive structure of Koh Ker. During wet season, it’s quite a beauty seeing the greenery covering the temple. You will walk through some other crumbling ruins of the temple before reaching the pyramid. It’s so amazing seeing it suddenly appear before you.
Six tiring flights of stairs will take you to the top. Once there you’ll be able to admire the forest all around. In the distance we saw some rural homes and glimpses of some of the other temples in the complex. Not all of them are accessible, since the area around still may contain land mines. Like Beng Mealea, we truly enjoyed the untouched feel of this place.
Note: You must buy a separate pass for this temple. The cost is $10.
Watch the sunset over Phnom Bakheng
Lastly is the beautiful Phnom Bakheng atop Bakheng Mountain. It’s quite the treasure and a stunning sight at sunset. You must hike about 20 minutes up the mountain to reach it. The temple itself consists of 7 levels with several towers that have collapsed.
Once you reach the top the views are just amazing. You can see Angkor Wat from afar, and also the hot air balloon. The sun setting across the land is a sight not to miss. It’s definitely one of those touristy things that is worth the effort.
Tip: Only 300 people are allowed up at a time here for sunset. So we recommend to get here by 4pm in order to be guaranteed a prime viewing spot. Because we arrived around 5pm, we got here just in time as the sun went down.
Siem Reap temples will leave you in awe
There is so much rich history to admire in the Angkor temples. It’s definitely a dream exploring these ancient wonders. We merely scratched the surface of the temple complex. There is still so much to explore here, and yet to be discovered. You will be forever changed when you experience the spirit of the Khmer culture. If it’s not on your bucket list, I’m sure it is now!
Discover more: Reasons to Travel to Cambodia
So which out of the temples was your favorite? We’d love to hear!
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