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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

District · Siem Reap

Angkor Thom & Bayon

The walled city with the Bayon and the Baphuon; Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei are separate drives beyond it.

see

Key facts

Suits
The next morning
Sights here
3

What it's like

Feels:
Forest and stone, with faces at every turn
Suits:
The next morning
Best time:
Early morning
Watch out for:
Trying to see it all in the heat.
In short:
The walled city with the Bayon and the Baphuon; Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei are separate drives beyond it.

About these names

Tell the driver the temple and the gate, not just "Angkor": the park has several entrances and dozens of temples.

The town is a grid around the Old Market (Psar Chas) and Pub Street on the west bank of the Siem Reap river, with Wat Damnak and quieter guesthouses to the south-east, the royal gardens and museums to the north, and the Angkor Archaeological Park 6–10 km further north. Everything in town is walkable in the cool hours; the temples are a tuk-tuk ride.

Where exactly

This district is highlighted. Shapes follow this guide's walking areas and places, not official boundaries.

Angkor Thom & Bayon on the Siem Reap mapTap an area for what it is like and who it suits. Shapes follow this guide’s walking areas and places, not official boundaries.
Old Market & Pub Street: First nights, food and evening walksWat Damnak & the river's east bank: Quieter stays and a slower pace

Angkor Thom & Bayon

see

The walled city with the Bayon and the Baphuon; Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei are separate drives beyond it.

Suits: The next morning

On the map: Banteay Srei, Bayon, Ta Prohm

District guideWalk: Bayon & Angkor ThomIn the districts table

Off the map: Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI) (50–75 min by the usual route).

Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Sivutha Boulevard & the night market, Airport road & big resorts, Tonlé Sap villages. See the table above.

Where’s what, as a list:

  • Old Market & Pub Street: The busiest lanes: market stalls by day, bars and restaurants at night. Choose a hotel on a side lane, not on Pub Street. Suits: First nights, food and evening walks. Price band $$.
  • Wat Damnak & the river: A calmer strip of guesthouses and cafés south-east of the market, ten minutes on foot from Pub Street. Suits: Quieter stays and a slower pace. Price band $$$.
  • Royal Gardens & museum: The Angkor National Museum, the small shrine of Preah Ang Chek and shaded gardens on the north side of town. Suits: A heat break or rain plan.
  • Angkor Wat: The great temple, 6–7 km north of the centre; the first stop for most visitors. Suits: Sunrise, or late afternoon.
  • Angkor Thom & Bayon: The walled city with the Bayon and the Baphuon; Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei are separate drives beyond it. Suits: The next morning.
  • Sivutha Boulevard & the night market: Long strip of shops, cafés and the night markets; more spread out than Pub Street. Suits: Evening browsing.
  • Airport road & big resorts: Large hotels far from the lanes and the market; every meal or outing is a car ride. Suits: Pool-and-transfer stays.
  • Tonlé Sap villages: Floating and stilt villages on the lake, 30–50 km away; a trip, not a base. Suits: A half-day boat trip.
  • Sleep area Old Market & Pub Street: suits First nights, food and evening walks, price band $$.
  • Sleep area Wat Damnak & the river's east bank: suits Quieter stays and a slower pace, price band $$$.
  • Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI), 50–75 min by the usual route.

Stay here?

Not a base in this guide

No sleep area here has scores. The best-placed bases are Old Market & Pub Street, Wat Damnak & the river.

See

Opening hours and prices from each place page; (check) means typical hours, not yet verified.

  • BayonBook a time

    Go at first light or after 15:30: the carved faces work best in low sun; 60 minutes on the terraces, then the Baphuon on foot.

    Hours:
    Opens around 07:00 and closes about 17:30 (check; the park opens earlier).(check)
  • Ta ProhmBook a time

    Go at opening: the root-choked temple is shady and quiet before 09:00; allow about 60–75 minutes and follow the one-way route.

    Hours:
    About 07:30–17:30 (check; the park opens earlier).(check)
  • Banteay SreiBook a time

    A half-day trip 25–35 km north-east: go at opening for the small red-sandstone temple and its fine carving, then return by 11:30.

    Hours:
    About 07:30–17:00 (check).(check)

Getting there and around

Where to get off

  • Tuk-tuk or car about 45–60 min from town · for Banteay Srei
  • Tuk-tuk or car to the south gate of Angkor Thom · for Bayon
  • Tuk-tuk or car to the east gate, about 20–30 min from town · for Ta Prohm

Walks inside the district

  • Bayon → Baphuon: 8–12 min on foot (Walk north along the causeway)

On to the next area

Minutes are this guide’s typical walking and ride times (p50–p90); traffic and heat stretch them.

Half-day walk

In the day plans: Day 2 — Bayon and Angkor Thom in the morning (Siem Reap in 3 days)

Photo and sunset spots

  • The Bayon faces

    Light: First light or 15:30–17:00

    Low, warm light on the stone; go up to the upper terrace for the closest faces.

  • Ta Prohm roots

    Light: 07:30–09:00

    Soft light through the trees; people queue at the famous roots, so try the side courtyards.

  • Banteay Srei carvings

    Light: 08:00–10:00

    The pink stone glows in morning light; keep behind the barriers.

Safety at night and noise

  • Angkor Thom & Bayonday: oknight: caution

    Remote after dark; visit in daylight hours only.

Nearby districts

Built from this guide’s Siem Reap districts table, place, eat and sleep pages, route graph and city notes. Hours, prices and rules change: anything marked (check) is typical, not verified. checked: 2026-09.