Angkor Wat? A Guide to Cambodia's Iconic Temples, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is the epitome of Khmer architecture. It’s a rite of passage for travellers in Cambodia to visit Siem Reap’s iconic temples which attracted 2.6 million visitors in 2018. What I didn’t realise is that Angkor Wat isn’t just one Temple, but a huge Temple complex housing many stunning, ancient buildings. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, Angkor Wat is considered to be one of the seven wonders of the world, and is the most important religious complex in South East Asia. Within the Angkor Archaeological Park, there are around 72 Hindu and Buddhist Temples dating between 9th and 15th Century.

So how do you choose which temples to visit? Should you buy a one-day pass or three-day pass, and how much do they cost? What are the best temples to visit in one day? Which is the best temple for sunset? Is sunrise at Angkor Wat worth it? Where was Lara Croft Tomb Raider filmed? Feet Do Travel help answer these questions. This is our ultimate guide to Cambodia’s Iconic Temples; Angkor Wat and the best temples to visit in Siem Reap.

Angkor Archaeological Park Temple Complex is within the district of Angkor Thom, Siem Reap Province and it’s huge. A clue is in the name; Angkor means “City” and Thom means “big”. Spread over 400sqkm it has around 72 Temples, some of which are unfinished or are in a state of dis-repair which you will see when wandering around the complex. The district of Angkor Thom served as the Capital of the Khmer Empire and was also a military post. The large, elaborate and most famous Temple within the complex is Angkor Wat, and was dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu. It has such historical importance to Cambodia, in 1850 it was added to their national flag, it also features on Cambodian Riel banknotes. It is estimated that 50% of tourists coming to Cambodia visit the Temples at the Angkor Archaeological Park, which generated revenue of $117 million USD in 2018. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).