Attractions in Siem Reap

The Bayon is a richly decorated Khmer temple at the exact centre of Angkor Thom, built in the late 12th or early 13th century by King Jayavarman VII. It is famous for its 216 massive serene stone faces carved on 54 Gothic-style towers, believed to represent either Avalokiteshvara or Jayavarman VII himself.

Banteay Srei is a 10th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located 25 km northeast of the main Angkor group. Despite its small size, it is celebrated as the 'jewel of Khmer art' for its exquisitely detailed pink sandstone carvings, which are among the finest in the world.

Preah Khan is a vast 12th-century temple complex built by Jayavarman VII in 1191, serving simultaneously as a Buddhist monastery, university, and small city. Its name means 'Sacred Sword', and it was dedicated to the king's father. The sprawling labyrinth of corridors, courtyards, and galleries remains partially unrestored.

Ta Prohm is a 12th-century Buddhist monastery and university built by King Jayavarman VII, now famous for the massive silk-cotton and strangler fig trees whose roots have merged with the stone ruins. The temple was deliberately left in a semi-ruined state by French restorers to show the power of jungle reclamation, and gained global fame as a filming location for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001).

Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious monument, a 162.6-hectare temple complex built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu. Its five iconic towers represent the peaks of Mount Meru, the mythological home of the gods. Today it serves as a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on the national flag.

The Baphuon is an 11th-century temple mountain representing Mount Meru, originally one of the grandest structures in Angkor. After decades of painstaking restoration by a French team — interrupted by the Khmer Rouge era — the temple reopened in 2011 with its elevated causeway and massive reclining Buddha fully visible.

Banteay Kdei is a Buddhist monastery from the late 12th century, built in the style of Ta Prohm but on a smaller, more manageable scale. Its name translates to 'Citadel of Monks' Cells', and it offers a peaceful alternative to the more crowded temple circuit stops.

Kbal Spean, known as the 'River of a Thousand Lingas', is an archaeological site deep in the Kulen Hills where an ancient riverbed has been carved with hundreds of Hindu sacred symbols — lingams, yonis, and figures of Vishnu and Shiva — dating to the 11th and 12th centuries. The carvings were designed to sanctify the water flowing downstream to the temples of Angkor.

Neak Pean is a small but unique temple built on an artificial island in the middle of the Jayatataka baray (reservoir), dating to the late 12th century. The temple was designed as an Arogayasala — a healing sanctuary — with four pools surrounding a central tower, each connected by carved spouts representing different elements.

Ta Som is a small, atmospheric temple from the late 12th century, built by Jayavarman VII and located at the eastern end of the Grand Circuit. It is best known for its eastern gopura (entrance tower), dramatically engulfed by the roots of a large strangler fig tree.

The East Mebon is a 10th-century Hindu temple built by King Rajendravarman II on a now-dry artificial island in the centre of the Eastern Baray reservoir. The temple is noted for its well-preserved elephant sculptures at the corners of each terrace level and its commanding five-tower layout.

The Terrace of the Leper King is a compact but richly carved platform at the northern end of the Terrace of the Elephants, within the walls of Angkor Thom. Named after a 15th-century sculpture found on its summit (now a replica; the original is in the National Museum in Phnom Penh), the terrace features deeply carved walls with rows of mythological figures.

The Terrace of the Elephants is a 350-metre-long stone platform within Angkor Thom, used by King Jayavarman VII as a reviewing stand for royal ceremonies, military parades, and public audiences. Its walls are decorated with dramatic carvings of elephants, garudas, and mythical figures.

Angkor Thom was the last and most enduring capital of the Khmer Empire, built in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII after the Cham sacking of the previous capital. Enclosed by an 8-metre-high wall and a wide moat, the 9 km² city contained temples, palaces, and public buildings at the heart of a metropolis that may have housed a million people.

Wat Damnak is a Buddhist monastery on the east bank of the Siem Reap River that also houses the Center for Khmer Studies, an international research institution. The serene, leafy compound offers a quiet retreat from the tourist centre and a window into Cambodian academic life.

The Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) is a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and breeding centre located in the forest near the Angkor temples. It focuses on protecting endangered Cambodian species including pileated gibbons, leopard cats, pangolins, and several rare bird and turtle species.

Wat Preah Prom Rath is the most prominent Buddhist pagoda in central Siem Reap, located along the riverfront near the Old Market. The monastery features brightly painted murals, a large reclining Buddha, and well-maintained grounds that serve as a gathering place for the local community.