12 Best Things to Do and See in Angkor Thom
Exploring Angkor Thom on foot is one of the best ways to feel the city’s atmosphere, connect its landmark places and discover its neighbourhoods at a more natural pace.
In this guide, you will find the attractions not to miss when planning a walking route in Angkor Thom, with simple reference points.
To go further, you can also enjoy a private guided tour in Angkor Thom. It is a smoother way to connect places, understand details you might miss on your own and enjoy a more human, personal discovery adapted to your trip.
1. Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat, near Siem Reap in Cambodia, is one of the most famous religious complexes in Southeast Asia. This vast archaeological site impresses with its galleries, soaring towers, and finely carved bas-reliefs, which reflect exceptional craftsmanship. Once a Hindu temple and later also a Buddhist place of worship, it offers a visit that is cultural, spiritual, and visually spectacular. As you explore its courtyards, sanctuaries, and stones steeped in history, you discover a major symbol of Cambodia’s heritage.
2. Bayon
In the heart of the Angkor Archaeological Park, near Siem Reap, the Bayon is one of Cambodia’s iconic temples, blending Hindu and Buddhist influences. This historic site impresses with its stone architecture, towers decorated with numerous carved faces, and galleries lined with bas-reliefs. As you explore it, you’ll discover a network of corridors, sanctuaries, and terraces that reflect the artistic and spiritual richness of the ancient Khmer capital. The atmosphere is peaceful, mysterious, and especially photogenic.
3. Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is a Buddhist temple in the Angkor complex that captivates visitors with its atmosphere, both majestic and overtaken by the jungle. Visitors can explore stone galleries, partially collapsed towers, and vast tangles of roots wrapping around the walls, creating a striking setting. The site offers a fascinating walk among architectural remains, shaded passageways, and an almost surreal ruins atmosphere, perfect for experiencing the meeting of Khmer heritage and tropical nature.
4. Angkor National Museum
Angkor National Museum offers a valuable introduction to the Khmer world, bringing together works linked to the temples and history of Angkor. Discover sculptures, architectural fragments, and artifacts that help you better understand the artistic forms developed around Angkor Thom and the great civilization that shaped the region. The presentation focuses on heritage, styles, and the religious meaning of the exhibits, in a setting designed to enhance a visit to the nearby archaeological sites.
5. Phnom Bakheng
Phnom Bakheng is a Hindu temple perched on a hill in the heart of the Angkor site in Cambodia. This sandstone sanctuary attracts visitors with its ancient architecture, tiered terraces, and peaceful atmosphere amid lush vegetation. As you climb the site, you discover galleries, stairways, and carved remains that reflect the refinement of Khmer art. The site is also prized for the open views it offers over the surrounding area, especially at the end of the day, when the light highlights the contours of the landscape.
6. Preah Khan
Preah Khan is a vast Buddhist temple located within the Angkor complex in Cambodia, and it captivates visitors with its atmosphere, both majestic and partly reclaimed by vegetation. As you wander through its galleries, successive enclosures and stone passageways, you discover bas-reliefs, finely carved openings and corridors that invite exploration. The site offers a fine example of Khmer architecture, harmoniously blending ruins, silence and nature, making it an especially immersive visit for understanding the grandeur of Angkor.
7. Pre Rup
Pre Rup is a mountain temple known for its powerful volumes, stacked terraces and regularly arranged sanctuary towers. Visitors can discover Khmer architecture in brick, laterite and sandstone, where geometric lines still dominate despite the wear of time. The site offers a close look at the composition of a great Angkorian sanctuary, its gradual rise and the way stone frames the sacred space. The whole monument has a sober, solid and highly legible presence.
8. Royal Independence Gardens
Royal Independence Gardens is a tourist space in Angkor Thom, in the Siem Reap area, along National Route 6. It stands out less for monumental ruins than for its landscaped setting, garden atmosphere, and location in a highly accessible area. Visitors discover a place where greenery, pathways, and the nearby city create a visual break between traffic and the surrounding heritage. Its location makes it a useful landmark for understanding the contemporary side of the Angkor region.
9. Made in Cambodia Market
Made in Cambodia Market is a tourist market in Siem Reap focused on products made in Cambodia. Visitors will discover stalls showcasing local crafts, decorative objects, textiles, and other creations linked to Cambodian know-how. The market offers a practical glimpse of how local production is presented to travelers in a shopping space designed for discovery. Located on Oum Khun Street, near routes connected with Angkor Thom, it fits into a wider visit to the Angkor region and Siem Reap.
10. Cambodian Cultural Village
Cambodian Cultural Village is a discovery park dedicated to Cambodian culture in the Siem Reap area, near Angkor Thom. The site lets visitors explore landscaped spaces focused on Khmer architecture, arts and traditions, in a setting designed to bring together several aspects of the country’s national heritage. It offers an environment created to showcase Cambodia’s cultural diversity through scenography, installations and references to local practices.
11. Terrace of the Elephants
The Terrace of the Elephants is a vast remnant of Angkor Thom in Cambodia, attracting visitors with its long, finely decorated stone platforms. Located in the heart of the former Khmer capital, it offers an impressive glimpse into the monumental architecture of Angkor and once served as a reception and viewing area. As you walk along its steps and bas-reliefs, you discover a solemn ensemble open to the surrounding ruins, giving a better understanding of the grandeur of the archaeological site and the unique atmosphere of Angkor Thom.
12. Neak Pean
Neak Pean is a small complex of pools and sanctuaries located in the Angkor site in Cambodia, at the heart of a peaceful setting surrounded by water and vegetation. This place stands out for its original layout, with a central platform connected to pools, creating an atmosphere that is both spiritual and contemplative. As you explore it, you will discover galleries, walkways, and pools that offer a wonderful insight into Khmer architecture and its symbolic relationship with water. It is a short but very pleasant visit, appreciated for its calm and charm.
13. Baphuon
The Baphuon is an iconic temple-mountain of Angkor Thom in Cambodia, located in the heart of the ancient Khmer city. As you walk through it, you discover a vast elevated terrace, stone galleries and passageways leading to a sanctum perched above, with beautiful views over the Angkor surroundings. The site impresses with its monumental architecture, carved reliefs and peaceful atmosphere, which reflect the artistic richness of the Khmer Empire. It is a must-see visit to appreciate the history and grandeur of Angkor.
14. Banteay Kdei
Banteay Kdei is a vast Khmer temple located in the Angkor complex in Cambodia, near Angkor Thom. This stone site offers a peaceful atmosphere, with partly ruined galleries, shaded corridors, and successive enclosures that invite visitors to wander. Here you will discover an architectural ensemble rich in carved details, typical of Khmer art, where vegetation sometimes intertwines with the ruins. Less visited than other monuments in Angkor, it offers a quieter visit and a beautiful immersion in the history of the site.
15. Leper King Terrace
The Terrace of the Leper King, located within the Angkor Thom complex, is a remarkable ensemble of carved stone that attracts visitors with the richness of its bas-reliefs and the site’s mysterious atmosphere. Here, you will discover a long wall decorated with mythological figures, divinities, and finely carved ornaments, bearing witness to the skill of Khmer artisans. As you walk along the terrace, you can also admire the details shaped by time, which give the place a unique presence. It is a must-see stop for experiencing Angkorian art up close.
Antony M
During my travels, I looked for guides who spoke my language. This search turned out to be long and tedious. That is why I created MYTOGU (My Tourist Guide): a matching site between tourists and professional tourist guides.
