District · Siem Reap
Angkor Wat
The great temple, 6–7 km north of the centre; the first stop for most visitors.The great temple, 3.7–4.3 mi north of the centre; the first stop for most visitors.
Key facts
- Suits
- Sunrise, or late afternoon
- Sights here
- 1
- Eats here
- 1
What it's like
- Feels:
- Vast, silent at dawn and crowded at sunrise
- Suits:
- Sunrise, or late afternoon
- Best time:
- 05:00–09:005:00 AM–9:00 AM
- Watch out for:
- Midday tours and the heat.
- In short:
- The great temple, 6–7 km north of the centre; the first stop for most visitors.The great temple, 3.7–4.3 mi north of the centre; the first stop for most visitors.
About these names
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 Wat
see
The great temple, 6–7 km north of the centre; the first stop for most visitors.The great temple, 3.7–4.3 mi north of the centre; the first stop for most visitors.
Suits: Sunrise, or late afternoon
On the map: Angkor Wat
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.The great temple, 3.7–4.3 mi 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.Floating and stilt villages on the lake, 19–31 mi 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
See
Opening hours and prices from each place page; (check) means typical hours, not yet verified.
- Angkor WatBook a time
Sunrise or late afternoon, not midday: buy the Angkor pass at the official office the day before, dress covered, allow two hours, and leave by 09:30.
- Hours:
- About 05:00–17:30 daily; the upper level runs separate hours (check).About 5:00 AM–5:30 PM daily; the upper level runs separate hours (check).(check)
Eat
What to order and what locals pay, from each eat page. Prices are estimates; check the menu.
- Angkor Wat gate noodle stalls
Breakfast after sunrise at the stalls near the east gate: noodles, rice and coffee; prices are a little higher than in town.
Order: Kuy teav (គុយទាវ): Point and say it.
Getting there and around
Where to get off
- Tuk-tuk or car to the west causeway · for Angkor Wat
- Walk from the Angkor Wat east gate or the road stalls · 6 min walk to Angkor Wat gate noodle stalls
Walks inside the district
- Angkor Wat → Angkor Wat gate noodle stalls: 6–9 min on foot (Walk to the gate stalls)
On to the next area
- Tuk-tuk north: about 20 min to Bayon & Angkor Thom
- Tuk-tuk south: about 22 min to Old Market & Pub Street
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 1 — Angkor Wat at sunrise, a 12:30 lunch table (Siem Reap in 3 days)
Photo and sunset spots
Angkor Wat, west causeway and pond
Light: 05:30–06:30
Arrive before first light for a place at the pond; the towers reflect in still water. Sunrise crowds are heavy.
Safety at night and noise
Angkor Watday: oknight: caution
Dark before sunrise: go with your driver and a torch.
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.