Temple stonework in Cambodia
The walled city

Angkor Thom and the South Gate

Understanding Angkor as a city rather than a set of temples

Temples and ruinsType
In short

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 the late 12th century. Its South Gate is the best preserved of the five, approached by a causeway lined with gods and demons hauling on a serpent - the single most photographed entrance in the park.

Checked

September 2026

Part of Heritage
At a glance

Visiting

Where
Angkor Archaeological Park, north of Angkor Wat
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
Time needed
Half a day with the Bayon, Baphuon and the terraces
Inside the walls
Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King
Best approach
Through the South Gate, on foot or by bicycle

Questions travellers ask

Is Angkor Thom the same as Angkor Wat?
No. Angkor Wat is a single temple; Angkor Thom is a walled city about 1.5 km north of it containing several monuments.
Can I cycle it?
Yes, and it is the best way - the distances inside the walls are exactly bicycle scale.
Nearby

Also in Siem Reap

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Siem Reap

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world by land area, built in the early 12th century under Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple…

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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Angkor Thom

Bayon Temple

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…

Where
Centre of Angkor Thom, Angkor Archaeological Park
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
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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
Read more
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
Read more