City: Cambodia
Top Things to do in Cambodia
Top Hotels in Cambodia
Things to do in Cambodia, Cambodia: The Best Historic Sites
in ASEAN (dark grey) – [Legend]
Restaurants in Cambodia
1. Angkor Thom
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8,614 reviews
This magnificent inner royal city was built by the end of the 12th century and is renowned for its temple grounds and towering southern gate.
Reviewed By BradJill - Hong Kong, China
Angkor Thom was the last great Khmer capital and the zenith of this ancient civilisation. The walled complex measures 10 square km and includes impressive entrances such as the famous South Gate which demonstrates the unique architecture of this time period in the form of a smiling stone face in the tower overlooking a causeway lined with collection of demons and gods both holding a 50 metre long Naga - seven headed snake figure. There are other impressive entrances, most notably the Gate of Death and Gate of Victory on the east side of Angkor Thom. Within the complex, you will also find the second most famous of the Angkor temples in Bayon Temple. North of Bayon, visitors can explore the grounds of Baphuon and Phimeanakas temples as well as the very interesting Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. Note: Most who are taking in the Short Circuit route through the Angkor Archeological Park will enter Angkor Thom from the South Gate after visiting Angkor Wat to the south. You then visit Bayon and the other attractions mentioned above. In the end, we very much enjoyed the South Gate entrance, Bayon Temple and the Terrace of the Elephants. These we would consider Must-Sees in Angkor Thom. The rest can be visited depending on the amount of time you have available.
2. Angkor Archaeological Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5,125 reviews
Angkor Wat, the one of the largest religious complexes in the world, and a stunning array of 9th to 13th century temples built by the kings of the Khmer Empire. The Angkor Archaeological Park is breathtaking, and still the principal draw for every visitor to Siem Reap.
Reviewed By eib2017
What an incredible place to see! Any one of the temple ruins would have been a wonder on its own and it seems almost unfair towards the smaller temples that the bigger ones get all the limelight. I hired a bicycle for a day and cycled both routes and I would recommend doing that to anyone who has a reasonable level of fitness and likes having some freedom of movement. (It's also by far the cheapest option.) But most people seem to hire a tuk tuk for a day. It's not expensive and you also have the option to go wherever you like - the tuk tuk driver is at your disposal for as long as you've hired him. Every tuk tuk driver in the city seems to offer tours, so don't bother wasting money to book a tour online. I don't recommend a van tour. It's generally the most expensive and it robs you of the pleasure to slow down as you pass some magnificent ruins and appreciate them briefly (or even stop and see them properly) on your way to the larger and more touristic ruins. Finally, I only bought a day pass because my time in the city was (unfortunately) limited. But the three day pass is DEFINITELY worth it. You will want to go back.
3. Choeung Ek Genocidal Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12,572 reviews
These were the execution grounds for the Khmer Rouge.
Reviewed By G3923TTandrews - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
If you’re new to Cambodian culture and history, a visit to the Cheoung Ek Genocidal Center AMS Killing fields is well worth a visit to for the educational aspect on the harrowing history of the Khmer Rouge. Only 30 minutes or so outside of the city center (easy to reach via tuk-tuk) and 1-2 hours is sufficient time to experience. Warning for families, may not be suitable for young children due to the nature of the experience (I.e the memorial Stupa at the beginning/end of the tour houses skulls and bones from the victims from the era) although again worth taking the family if history has anything to teach us for a better future!
4. Koh Ker Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 354 reviews
Koh Ker, three hours from Siem Reap, served as the capital of the Khmer empire from 928 to 944, and was built under King Jayavarman IV under whose reign colossal sculptures and lingas were constructed, leading to charges of megalomania. Some of the lingas remain, though the sculptures have been removed to the museum in Phnom Penh. The site, which has only recently been demined, is dominated by Prasat Thom, a 30 meter high pyramid temple. In view of the distance, there are far fewer crowds here, making a visit an easier and more pastoral experience.
Reviewed By kaareinge - Elnesvagen, Norway
Tired of visiting crowded temples? Koh Ker temple is located about 100 kilometers from Siem Reap, and if you go early in the morning with a private driver you can actually visit this temple (pyramid) alone, Something you seldom can experience these days! Absolutely worth the drive about 2-2,5 hours one way! If possible I would choose a english speaking driver!
5. Baphuon Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,063 reviews
Reviewed By itsandrool - Penang Island, Malaysia
I am not sure if our tuk-tuk driver meant for us to end up in this temple, but I am glad we did. It is a quiet place with not many visitors. Angkor Wat was the last place we visited hence we managed to appreciate the beauty and splendor of this temple. It has a long catwalk as I like to call it into the temple. It is a steep climb to the top part of the temple. I love this place and did take a lot of pictures here (hence me like calling the long walkway with moats at the bottom 'catwalk'). Climbing up does take effort as the steps are steep and in the afternoon sun, you're sure to get a few shades darker.
6. Beng Mealea
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,444 reviews
Reviewed By tangojohnDallas - Dallas, United States
I just returned from my fifth trip to Siem Reap and it was my first time to go to Beng Mealea. I was planning on paying the $ 5 admission cost but on January 1, 2020 they began requiring a regular temple pass to access. I have used the same tuk tuk driver for the past 3 trips and he had no issue taking us that far. While I really enjoy riding in a tuk tuk, a two hour trip each way is a bit much and if I did this again I would opt to hire a car and possibly combine it with other remote temple tours. We arrived around 3 pm (15) and I doubt there were more than 10 other visitors. We really felt we had it basically to ourselves and really enjoyed it. We really enjoy the less visited temples and this trip it was our focus.
7. Banteay Kdei
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 672 reviews
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
After visiting "Prasat Kravan", your next stop could probably be the neighboring "Banteay Kdei" - a Buddhist temple and monastery built, between the 12th and the 13th centuries, by the legendary Khmer King Jayavarman VII. It follows the characteristics of the "Angkor Wat" and "Bayon" architectural styles and is also known as the moated "Citadel of Monks' Cells", or as the "Citadel of Chambers". "Banteay Kdei" was built of soft sandstone and, due to sandstone's fragility, many of its galleries and structures collapsed down. As "Banteay Kdei" has never been restored, it allows visitors to really experience how it probably looked originally. "Banteay Kdei" is definitely a "jungle-temple" and will certainly pretty much remind you of nearby "Ta Prohm", one of the most iconic temples in the Angkor complex. Just opposite "Banteay Kdei", stands the large pool and terrace of "Srah Srang", the ancient "Royal Baths" of the Khmer Empire. Visit them all - "Prasat Kravan", "Banteay Kdei", "Srah Srang" and "Ta Prohm" - and remember, you are experiencing one of the most important archaeological complexes in the whole World. Absolutely unmissable! Enjoy
8. Banteay Samre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 808 reviews
Reviewed By abw0 - Los Angeles, United States
This temple is rather out of the way, so it doesn't get the huge crowds that others get. It's a very nice temple in really very good shape--in the end, I think it must be my favorite of all of them. It's not hard to reach and can easily be included on a trip up to Banteay Serei and/or Kbal Spean. The entrance fee is, of course, included in the normal Angkor Archeological Park ticket.
9. Preah Vihear Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 531 reviews
Reviewed By ramtraveler608 - Mumbai, India
It took very long time to drive to this place from Siem Reap to Preah Vihear temple, It was a life time of experience with setting in pickup car drive up to the top of high mountain Dongrak more than 500 meters high and You have to pay the car fee which wasn't included with the tour price. That mountain top has 5 temples and all those were amazing to see. We looked to the Cambodia land and the Thai country too. It was also good for walking over there, for who like to walk. Highly recommend to visit this temple.
10. Banteay Chhmar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 132 reviews
Banteay Chhmar (the “Citadel of the Cat”) has been called the "second Angkor Wat” and was constructed by King Jayavarman VII, who also built Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm and Preah Khan. This remote and vast site is currently under restoration and visitors find a stunning interplay of temple and jungle.
Reviewed By MartinCamberwell - London, United Kingdom
I second the enthusiasm of previous commenters. There's a now a wooden walkway through the site, avoiding the hazards of walking over the chaos of stone blocks. The remains are not as massive as the bigger temples around Angkor, and most are pretty tumbledown, but there are some fine carvings and plenty of walls swathes in vegetation All are enclosed in a wide moat, with the village spread along the sides. A moto ride can reach the tiny little temples hidden in the nearby woods. There are a modest number visitors, even in the 'shoulder' season towards the end of the rainy season. During two days there, a couple of groups came over from Thailand (the border is close) and other foreigners came up from Siem Reap - but it remains a very peaceful attraction. The Community Based Tourism organisation there provide a very efficient and friendly service, offering well-run homestays, guides with decent English, and generous meals at their centre near the temple entrance. They can lay on other activities, so tourists get a feel for the rural life. Heartily recommended.
