District · Siem Reap
Angkor Wat
The great temple, 6–7 km (3.7–4.3 mi) north of the centre; the first stop for most visitors.The great temple, 3.7–4.3 mi (6–7 km) 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 (3.7–4.3 mi) north of the centre; the first stop for most visitors.The great temple, 3.7–4.3 mi (6–7 km) 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.
Shaded shapes: walking areas (click one). Black pins: sleep areas. Grey dots: places. Round badges: arrivals. Click the map to turn on scroll-wheel zoom.
Angkor Wat
see
The great temple, 6–7 km (3.7–4.3 mi) north of the centre; the first stop for most visitors.The great temple, 3.7–4.3 mi (6–7 km) 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. They are in the neighbourhood cards below.
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 (3.7–4.3 mi) north of the centre; the first stop for most visitors.The great temple, 3.7–4.3 mi (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 (19–31 mi) away; a trip, not a base.Floating and stilt villages on the lake, 19–31 mi (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
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.
Show 5 sectionsHideGetting there and around, Half-day walk, Photo and sunset spots, Safety at night and noise, Nearby districts
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
- Angkor Thom & BayonTuk-tuk north, about 20 min
- Old Market & Pub StreetTuk-tuk south, about 22 min
- Royal Gardens & museumAbout 5.4 km (3.4 mi) away in a straight lineAbout 3.4 mi (5.4 km) away in a straight line
- Wat Damnak & the riverAbout 6.7 km (4.2 mi) away in a straight lineAbout 4.2 mi (6.7 km) away in a straight line
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.