9 Must-See Temples at Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is (perhaps unsurprisingly) the best-known of all the famous temples in Angkor Wat. It’s also the one many visitors see first, arriving at the ancient temple in the darkness of pre-dawn to watch the sun rise over the ornately carved towers. It’s the largest pre-20th-century religious structure in the world, so it’s worth taking your time as you explore the sprawling 12th-century complex, which is known for its long corridors and delicate bas-relief carvings. Arrive at sunrise on a full-day tour to marvel at the temple in all its glory.

Related: Know Before You Go: Visiting Angkor Wat

Sitting serenely at the heart of the city of Angkor Thom, the 12th-century temple of Bayon is one of Angkor’s most enigmatic temples—where 216 faces peer down at you from 50 temples. Believed to be modeled on King Jayarvarman VII, the temple offers a fascinating insight into the Khmer belief in devarāja, or god-kings.

However, it isn’t just the faces that are impressive; the carved bas-reliefs on the outer galley offer a rare peek into life in the Khmer Empire, including armies led by leaders on elephants, naval battles, and domestic and market scenes. Most people opt to explore Bayon as part of a full-day Angkor Wat temple tour in a tuk-tuk.

A city within a city, Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Khmer Empire before it moved to Phnom Penh. One of the best Angkor Wat temple attractions, the sprawling complex of Angkor Thom was ringed by a moat crossed by ornately carved bridges and imposing gates. Inside, you’ll find the ruins of Jayarvarman VII’s Royal Palace, along with Bayon, the Terrace of the Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King, and Baphoun.

You may have seen this must-visit temple in Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, in the movie, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. However, this temple has been around for more than 800 years. Back in its heyday, this Buddhist monastery had a staff of more than 80,000 people, including 615 dancers. Nowadays, it’s best known for the trees and roots that overrun and encircle the ancient stone walls, which were built without mortar.

Along with its picturesque exterior, Ta Prohm is known for its carving of a dinosaur-like creature. Opt for a guided historical tour of the temple complex to maximize your chances of seeing it.

One of Angkor's biggest temples, Preah Khan has some of the same epic roots and trees as Ta Prohm but is far less crowded, making it a popular spot for photographers. Built by Jayavarman VII on the site of the Khmer kingdom’s victory over the Chams in 1191, Preah Khan was once a massive administrative hub surrounded by wooden buildings. Now, only the crumbling stone remnants remain.

Although some small-group tours visit Preah Khan, it isn’t on every itinerary. Private or luxury tours give you the chance to customize your itinerary and get off the typical tourist trail, here.

Those passionate about exploring Angkor Wat temples won’t want to miss Banteay Srei. A little farther afield than the main temple circuit, this red sandstone temple, whose name means citadel of the women, was the only temple at Angkor not built by a royal. It’s also one of the ancient city’s most beautiful—the pink hues of the sandstone carvings are especially picturesque in the golden-hour glow.

The distance between Banteay Srei and the other temples makes getting there a bit tricky. Consider combining it with a visit to Phnom Kulen National Park or the waterfalls of Kbal Spean.

For years, Beng Mealea was too far from the main temples of Angkor Wat and too far off the tourist trail to reach. While a new highway has made access to the temple easier—it’s now just an hour’s drive east of Angkor Wat—the years of relative inaccessibility and distance from the other temples have led it to fall deeper into disrepair.

Half overgrown with jungle and half in ruins, Beng Mealea offers an insight into what Angkor Wat would have looked like when it was “discovered” by French explorers at the turn of the 20th century. Combine exploring this temple with visits to Banteay Srei or the Roluos Group (Roluos Temples).

Sitting atop a hill, Phnom Bakheng is one of the best temples in Angkor Wat for catching the sunset. However, while most visitors come purely for the golden views, Bakheng is fascinating in its own right. Built 200 years before Angkor Wat, Bakheng was the center of the Khmer capital when it was first established by King Yasovarman in the 9th century. Now one of the most endangered temples in the city, visitor numbers are limited to reduce risk to the site.

If you’re hoping to visit Phnom Bakheng or nearby Pre Rup at sunset, you’ll have to arrive a few hours ahead of time.

Close enough to Angkor Wat and Siem Reap to be visited on a day trip, Banteay Kdei is a historic monastery known for its cell-like cloisters and religious significance. It sits next to the royal bathing pool Srah Srang.

While most people come for the peace and tranquility of the temple and the lily-filled pool, Banteay Kdei is also of significant interest to historians, who found decapitated Buddha statues buried outside the crumbling temple—a symbol of the frequent clashes between royals over their contrasting religious beliefs.