All the temples I visited in Angkor: ranked

The Angkor Archaeological Park in north-western Cambodia is something that many people have only dreamed of seeing. Widely considered the eighth wonder of the world, Angkor Wat is one of Earth’s largest religious complexes.

I loved visiting Angkor and, if you know me, you also know I love a ranking system. Right after visiting, I couldn’t help but go through all the temples I visited to figure out which ones were my favourites; hence, this list.

Read on for an overview of the temples of Angkor, paired with my thoughts on each of them, and ranked in order of worst to best (in my humble opinion).

By the way, I’ve written a guide to visiting Siem Reap, which is worth checking out if you’re looking for things to do in between checking out Angkor’s many temples.

A quick introduction to the rankings

Before I get into the temples and other ruins at Angkor Archaeological Park, I’ll explain how I came up with the order.

To figure out which ones were nicest to visit, I rated them out of five across the following categories:

• Interesting features: does the temple / ruin have any unique aspects that set it apart from the other parts of Angkor? Does it have any interesting decorations or architecture? Is its history particularly unusual or intriguing?
• Business: how many people go to the temple? Does it get too busy? (In this case, a quiet temple received a score of 5.)
• Impressiveness: how grand is the temple / ruin? Was I in awe of what I saw?
• Preservation: how well preserved is the temple / ruin?
• Ease of access: how easy is it to visit the temple? Is it easy to get to and easy to explore?

I averaged the scores for each temple. As they all ended up clustering between 3 and 4, to distinguish between temples with the same score I took impressiveness as the most important rating, followed by interesting features.

15. Royal Palace

First up, the Royal Palace.

Angkor Archaeological Park contains many temples, which is what it’s known most for due to these stone buildings standing the test of time. However, in its prime, Angkor was much more than a religious monument; it was a big city, with the royal part, Angkor Thom, at its centre.

There isn’t much left of Angkor Thom, with most of the buildings made from wood which has since decayed away. However, you can still see relics of the former city. One such relic is the Royal Palace, from which the kings of the Khmer empire used to reign; you can still see the walled citadel with one main temple – Phimeanakas – and other ponds and smaller ruins.

I can’t lie – I visited the Royal Palace just before lunchtime. I was hot, sweaty and hungry, plus I had already seen a lot of ruins over the past few days. So I didn’t explore Phimeanakas thoroughly and I didn’t check out the other relics in the palace. Reading about them, I wish I took a bit more notice. Honestly, though? I just thought the other areas of Angkor were more exciting.

14. Ta Keo

When we visited, our tuk tuk driver described Ta Keo as: “no carvings, no story”.

In reflection, I can kind of see what he meant. Ta Keo is big and impressive, with multiple tiers, but it is also bare, with minimal carvings. A naked Pre Rup, I would say!

Reading around the temple, I learned that Ta Keo was never finished, and it was only just being decorated when construction stopped. That doesn’t stop it from being impressive, but for me it just felt a little empty. Whilst it was worth the time to see it, I preferred most of the other temples I visited.

13. East Mebon

Next up, we have East Mebon, on the eastern side of the park. This temple once formed an island within a large reservoir, the East Baray – if you look at maps you’ll also see West Mebon, which is still located in its twin reservoir, on the other side of Angkor Thom.

I visited East Mebon right after Pre Rup, and these temples are very similar, so I was less excited; to be honest, I think Pre Rup does it better. But still! It’s a fun temple to visit on the grand temple circuit.

Unlike Pre Rup, East Mebon features some well-preserved elephant statues at each of its corners. Why? Elephants are associated with prosperity and wisdom, plus they have an association with Indra, the Hindu god of rain: the perfect guard over a reservoir temple!

12. Baphuon

Back into Angkor Thom, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire, you’ll find Baphuon. I thought this large temple was super interesting to visit. It’s a temple mountain featuring undercover walkways across three levels. I’d say it’s falling apart a little more than some of the others, but to me it had a jaded essence which only added to the experience.

To get to Baphuon, you have to walk across a 200 m long stone walkway, which connects to the Terrace of the Elephants. I thought walking along this walkway was so fun, but ironically this makes it less popular for those who want to hide from the Cambodian sun!

However, Baphuon has a few problems which just pushed it down for me. Firstly: the steps up and down the tiers were the steepest I saw at any temple; even with wooden steps to help with the gradient, it was a challenge. Plenty of people didn’t bother going up to the second and third levels when I was there because of that. If I had vertigo, I’d definitely have been in the same boat.

Secondly: Baphuon hosts a healthy monkey population. We aren’t talking cute monkeys: these ones are absolute menaces, who stole a baby bottle and water bottle from tourists when I was there. They were 100% off-putting and wrecked my spirit for adventure a little.

11. Neak Pean & Krol Ko

Visiting Neak Pean is completely different from all the other temples. It’s a shrine in the middle of four pools, sat on an artificial island in the middle of an ancient reservoir, which is now a swamp (Jayatataka Baray). The pools were thought to be able to cure disease (if only!).

I found Neak Pean a bit underwhelming, so I’d say it’s skippable. That being said, its water setting makes it serene and completely different to the other temples.

When visiting, check out Krol Ko, a small temple on the opposite side of the road by Neak Pean. When I visited, it was quiet despite it being peak time, which made for a pleasant exploration. Its preservation is poor (I’d rate it 1 on its own), but if you take a private tour, it’s well worth sticking your head in as you go past.

10. Banteay Kdei

Banteay Kdei was a temple I ran out of time for but would’ve liked to explore more. It forms three enclosures within a larger outer wall, and has a similar vibe to Ta Prohm. The way I’d describe it is that it felt like it had been knocked over by a giant.

Now, when visiting, Banteay Kdei feels like it’s falling apart. There are lots of pillars without a roof to hold up, lots of moss, and little chambers to get lost in. I loved that about it.

Unlike some of the other temples, Banteay Kdei has been home to a Buddhist monastery over the centuries, and I’d say it’s imbued it with a strong spiritual energy. I very much enjoyed my (way too quick) visit.

When visiting, also take a look at the viewpoint over Srang Srang lake, by the east gate.

9. Pre Rup

Another temple mountain to check out is Pre Rup, in the east of the complex. Expect a LOT of stairs to visit this one (fortunately, not quite as steep as Baphuon!).

Pre Rup was used as a royal crematorium and features many stupas where ashes were laid to rest. Nowadays, it’s popular for sunrise or sunset, where you can stand atop it and watch the sunlight across the vast surrounding Angkor landscape.

I visited early in the morning, and there were only a couple of other people wandering around. As one of the least busy temples I went to, it holds a special place in my heart.

8. Bayon

At the centre of Angkor Thom, you’ll find Bayon, one of the most important state temples in the Khmer empire. This temple is enigmatic as one of the last temples of this scale to be built during the Angkor period – originally called Jayagiri, its name, Bayon, is simply a transcription of what 19th century explorers heard from the locals of that time. It was built across a period where the Khmer empire transitioned between Buddhism, Hinduism and back, so it has a range of Buddhist and Hindu imagery gracing its walls: a fine contradiction.

I visited Bayon as part of a small circuit tour, so my visit was super fast and at peak time, when the temple was busy. I wish I had more time to fully explore it, because there’s a lot about this temple that I still don’t know and wish I’d seen. Keep an eye out for the towers with their smiling faces – arguably the temple’s most distinctive feature.

As with Baphuon, my least favourite thing was the temple monkeys, which were sitting outside like evil gatekeepers!

7. Thommanon & Chau Say Tevoda

You’ll find these two small temples close to the Victory Gate entrance to Angkor Thom, on its eastern side.

I visited Thommanon and its neighbour, Chau Say Tevoda, during the Water Festival, a public festival in Cambodia. Angkor Wat was so busy and the roads going in and out, right next to Thommanon, were in heavy traffic. However, these temples were so empty!

Whilst smaller and less impressive than some of the other Angkor period temples, they’re still interesting to visit and make for a peaceful stop between the busier temples.

6. Ta Som

To to the east of Jayatataka Baray, you’ll find Ta Som. This temple has a similar architecture to Ta Prohm (that oh-so famous tomb raider temple), hidden in the jungle. Like Ta Prohm, it even has a tree coming up through the ruins.

Ta Som was one of the many temples constructed by King Jayavarman VII; he certainly built a lot of them during his reign. He dedicated it to his father.

I liked visiting Ta Som and think it’s well worth a visit if you have multiple days in the complex. There’s a good reason why it’s on the Grand Circuit!

5. Terrace of the Elephants & Terrace of the Leper King

Right next to the Royal Palace in Angkor Thom, you’ll find the Terrace of the Elephants, a raised walkway covered in elephant carvings, where King Jayavarman VII watched returning armies enter the city.

Right next door, you’ll find the Terrace of the Leper King, a similar platform which is instead decorated with garudas, nagas and royal figures. The original building is thought most likely to have been used as the royal crematorium.

Both terraces are unusual against the wider backdrop of temples, but wouldn’t be worth a visit on their own. Fortunately there is so much else to see in Angkor Thom, so you can easily add a visit to the terraces once you’ve checked out Phimeanakas and Baphuon.

4. Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei is a detour and a half from the main Angkor complex, being around 15 km north. The distance isn’t just what sets it apart from the other temples. Unlike the others, it’s in miniature form, intricately carved and (this is the best bit) pink!

This temple is unusual because it’s the only major Angkor temple to have not been built by a king. Instead, it was constructed by Yajnavaraha, a courtier to King Rajendravarman II, as a shrine to the Hindu god, Shiva. Perhaps this explains why it’s so different to all the others.

Is Banteay Srei worth the extra journey from the other temples? I’m not sure. However, if you want a change or to see a temple that’s quite a bit different, I’d recommend it. It was very busy when we visited due to tour groups, so be warned.

3. Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm is probably the second-most visited temple in Angkor (after Angkor Wat itself). You probably would recognise it, even if you don’t remember its name: it was used as a setting for the Tomb Raider film.

There’s a mysticism about Ta Prohm which I adored. The temple feels like it’s being taken over by the jungle again. There are trees literally growing out of the temple, their hefty roots decorating the enclosures. It feels like it’s right out of a movie (naturally).

Unfortunately, lots of other people also seem to adore Ta Prohm. Whilst it’s a big temple, the enclosures themselves are quite small, so it gets busy and hectic. I didn’t like that side of it. Still, it’s just one of the Angkor temples you have to visit.

2. Preah Kean

Preah Kean was possibly my favourite temple in the Angkor Archaeological Park. It’s got all the best things: it’s massive; it has character; and for some reason, it’s also quiet.

Preah Kean is similar in style to Ta Prohm and Ta Som, dating to around the same time, although the World Monument Fund has carried out a lot of conservation work to this temple, so it’s better preserved. There is so much to see in this complex, from towers and enclosures to a wide moat, all spread out over 140 acres.

Particularly interesting are the bridges which pass over the moat at the gate entrances to the temple. These feature statues of people holding a very long naga (snake). Also keep an eye out for the large garudas which decorate the temple’s outer walls. 

One sad thing about Preah Kean was that the guards here were the most diligent I’ve seen of any temple. I got the impression that Preah Kean has been the victim of plenty of looting and art theft. It’s disappointing to see, but at least the guard presence provides reassurance they are trying to reduce it. 

1. Angkor Wat

Last but not least: Angkor Wat.

After visiting Angkor Wat I’m not surprised why it’s the most popular temple to visit within the Angkor Archaeological Park. It’s the biggest single temple in the complex and, with three levels, there is a lot to see.

Not to mention, Angkor Wat’s architecture is so intricate. Some of the other temples have similarly intricate carvings, but they tend to have been weathered over the centuries. However, Angkor Wat was cared for as a Buddhist monument, so it is much better preserved.

Gracing Cambodia’s flag, if there’s one temple you have to see when visiting Siem Reap, it has to be this one!

Conclusion

So, there you have it: my opinions on the main temples and ruins within Angkor Wat. The most famous temple came out on top, naturally, but for me I enjoyed some of the other smaller or less visited temples just as much.

That being said, there weren’t any bad temples or ruins, and I’m glad I visited them all. Ranking them doesn’t really do them justice!

If you’ve visited Angkor, what was your favourite temple? Which one would you like to explore most? Let me know in the comments.

More guides to my favourite temples and ruins

• My Son Sanctuary, Vietnam – this temple complex was important in Champa, a kingdom in South Vietnam at around the same time as the Angkor period of the Khmer Empire. It’s an interesting place to visit!
• Ciudad Perdida (or the Lost City), Colombia – it takes two days of hiking to reach this ancient Tayrona city, but that only makes a trip more worthwhile.
• Hue, Vietnam – this city is a good choice for temples and buildings which are slightly younger than Angkor Wat (say, 19th century). It’s a history buff’s paradise.