Temple stonework in Cambodia
Angkor Thom

Bayon Temple

Anyone who wants the faces, and the best bas-reliefs at Angkor

Temples and ruinsType
In short

The Bayon sits at the exact centre of Angkor Thom and is the temple everyone recognises from the enormous serene faces carved into its towers. Built for Jayavarman VII around the turn of the 13th century, it marks the point where the empire shifted from Hindu to Mahayana Buddhist patronage, and its outer gallery carries scenes of ordinary Khmer life.

Checked

September 2026

Part of Heritage
At a glance

Visiting

Where
Centre of Angkor Thom, Angkor Archaeological Park
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
Time needed
60 to 90 minutes
Best light
Mid-morning, when the sun reaches into the upper terrace
Don't miss
The outer gallery reliefs - markets, cockfights and a naval battle

Questions travellers ask

How many faces are there?
Estimates differ because several towers are ruined; a little over two hundred faces across the surviving towers is the usual figure.
Is it busy?
Yes, from about 9:00. The tour groups arrive after Angkor Wat sunrise, so going straight there instead is the standard trick.
Nearby

Also in Siem Reap

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Siem Reap

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Where
Angkor Archaeological Park, about 6 km north of Siem Reap
Ticket
Angkor Pass - 1 day US$37, 3 days US$62, 7 days US$72 (Angkor Enterprise, checked September 2026)
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The jungle temple

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm is the Angkor temple deliberately left partly unrestored, so the silk-cotton and strangler fig roots that grew through its galleries are still holding the…

Where
Angkor Archaeological Park, east of Angkor Thom
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
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Pink sandstone

Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei is a small 10th-century Hindu temple about 25 km north-east of the main Angkor group, dedicated to Shiva and built from pink sandstone that…

Where
About 25 km north-east of the main Angkor group
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
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The walled city

Angkor Thom and the South Gate

Angkor Thom is the last and largest capital of the Khmer Empire, a walled and moated city of nine square kilometres founded by Jayavarman VII in…

Where
Angkor Archaeological Park, north of Angkor Wat
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
Read more