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Angkor Wat Location Map
Angkor Wat is the No.1 must-see spot in Cambodia. Where is it located?
Unfold the map of Cambodia and you will quickly find the squid-shaped Tonle Sap Lake in the middle of the map. A little further north from the tip of the northern end of the lake, you will find the grand Angkor Wat right there.
On this Angkor Wat Location Map, you can see that Angkor Wat is located in northern Cambodia, just 6 km (about 15–20 minutes) north of Siem Reap City, the nearest major city and tourist base.
Angkor Archaeological Park Map
When we talk about Angkor Wat, it often means the entire archaeological site of Angkor Archaeological Park. However, in reality, Angkor Wat is just part of that site. It’s the magnificent central temple, the one with the iconic five towers that you often see in pictures.
In this Angkor Wat Map, you can see the clear layout of the main temples in Angkor Archaeological Park, including the central core area and remote outer area:
- Angkor Wat – Located in the south-central part of the park. This is the largest and most iconic temple, facing west.
- Angkor Thom (Royal City) – Positioned north of Angkor Wat, it’s a large, walled city with five entrance gates.
- Bayon Temple – In the center of Angkor Thom, famous for its giant stone faces.
- Phnom Bakheng – Just northwest of Angkor Wat, on a small hill between Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. A popular sunset viewpoint.
- Ta Prohm – Located to the east of Angkor Thom. Known for trees growing through the temple ruins.
- Preah Khan – Found to the north of Angkor Thom. A large temple with long corridors and peaceful surroundings.
- East Mebon – Located northeast of Angkor Thom. Built on an island in the former East Baray reservoir.
- West Baray – A huge water reservoir on the west side of the park.
- Banteay Srei – Further north of the main park area, known for its pink sandstone carvings.
- Beng Mealea – Located in the far northeast, a remote, jungle-covered temple often visited on a day trip.
To make your visit easier and more smooth, the temples are usually grouped into three circuits: Small Circuit, Grand circuit, and Outer circuit. These circuits make it easy to plan your itinerary for 1-3 days.
Next, we’ll pictures the 3 circuits on maps in details.
Angkor Wat Small Circuit Map - Most Popular, Best for First-Time Visitors
Angkor Wat Small Circuit covers the core and most famous temples: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm, and Phnom Bakheng. They are close to each other and ideal for 1-day visits.
Angkor Wat Temple (小吴哥) Map
Angkor Wat is the core temple complex surrounded by a wide square moat. It looks like a mini city built with stone. Check out the folllowing Angkor Wat Map to clear its layout and highlights.
In the Angkor Wat Map, you can easily learn how it stands out with the following spots:
Outer Moat– A giant water-filled square around the whole temple, like a protective wall.
Main Entrance – On the west side (unusual, because most temples face east). Visitors cross a long stone bridge over the moat to enter.
Outer Wall – After the moat, there's a high stone wall that forms a square, enclosing the entire complex.
Long Walkway – Inside the gate, there's a long stone path leading straight to the center. Along the way, you’ll pass smaller buildings and libraries.
Central Towers – At the heart of Angkor Wat are five towers, shaped like lotus buds. The tallest one (65 meters) in the center symbolizes Mount Meru, a sacred mountain in Hindu belief.
Levels – The temple has three levels. Each level gets higher and more sacred, with steep stairs to the top.
Bas-reliefs – Along the outer gallery walls, you’ll see stone carvings (called bas-reliefs) that tell ancient stories and battles.
In short, Angkor Wat is like a giant stone pyramid inside a moat, with beautiful carvings and sacred towers rising in the middle. It's designed to impress and it definitely does!
Angkor Thom Map
Angkor Thom means "Great City", and it really was one! It’s a huge walled city built by King Jayavarman VII, located just north of Angkor Wat. The city is square-shaped, surrounded by a tall stone wall and a wide moat (narrower than the one around Angkor Wat).
It has five gates - north, south, east, west, and a bonus one called the Victory Gate on the east. Each gate has giant stone faces watching you from above, and the bridge to each gate is lined with statues pulling a giant snake!
- North Gate – Often used by locals.
- South Gate – Most visited; leads to Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm.
- East Gate – Rarely used today.
- West Gate – Least visited.
- Victory Gate – Near East Gate, leads to the Royal Square and Terrace of the Elephants.
Check out the Angkor Thom Map to clear its layout and highlight points.
Bayon Temple – Smack in the center. It’s the one with all the smiling stone faces. Super famous and a bit mysterious.
Baphuon Temple – Just behind Bayon. It’s big, tall, and a bit of a climb — great for a mini adventure.
Royal Palace Area & Phimeanakas – This was the king’s crib. There’s a temple here too, right in the middle of what used to be the palace grounds.
Elephant Terrace – A long stone platform with cool elephant carvings. The king used to chill here and watch performances or parades.
Leper King Terrace – Right next door. It’s got cool carvings and a statue with a mystery — is he really a leper king? Who knows!
Other Stuff – Little temples like Suor Prat Tower (12 towers in a neat row) and peaceful spots for wandering around.
Angkor Wat Grand Circuit Map - Less Crowded, Adds More Variety
The Grand Circuit expands on the Small Circuit and takes you to larger, quieter temples surrounded by nature. It’s perfect for travelers who want to dive deeper into Angkor’s beauty without the crowds.
Look at the Angkor Wat Grand Circuit Map, and see what to see:
Preah Khan – North of Angkor Thom, large and peaceful.
Neak Pean – A small temple in a pond, symbolic and tranquil.
Ta Som – Known for a giant tree over the east gate.
East Mebon – Temple built on a former island.
Pre Rup – Beautiful reddish temple, popular for sunrise/sunset.
Prasat Kravan – Small brick temple with unique carvings of Vishnu inside.
Banteay Kdei – Quiet, tree-covered temple with a similar style to Ta Prohm.
Srah Srang – Large royal pond, peaceful spot often visited at sunrise.
This circuit is perfect for Day 2 of your Angkor trip — a balance of history, scenery, and peaceful vibes.
Angkor Wat Outer Circuit Map - For the Adventurous, Full-Day Trips
Temples that are farther from the main park but worth visiting if you have extra time.
From the Angkor Wat Outer Circuit Map, you can see that these temples is quite far away from the central temples. If you’re looking for a quiet experience, that’s exactly what you want!
Banteay Srei – Pink sandstone temple with fine carvings, about 25 km north.
Beng Mealea – Jungle temple 40 km east, partially collapsed but mysterious.
Roluos Group – Some of the oldest temples, located southeast of Siem Reap.
How to Get to Angkor Wat - Airport and Flights Map
Step 1: Fly to Siem Reap
Most travelers arrive by air at Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI).
This airport serves international flights from regional cities like Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, and Kuala Lumpur. You can choose to fly from these cities to Angkor Wat.
Step 2: Airport to Siem Reap City
Then, you need to reach hotels in Siem Reap City, which is 50km west of the airport and it takes about 1 hour for driving.
You can choose Taxi/Private Transfer (Comfortable and fast), Shuttle Service or Hotel Pickup (Offered by many hotels), or Tuk-tuk (Some offer long-distance rides, but less common from new airport).
Step 3: Siem Reap to Angkor Wat
From your hotel in Siem Reap, it’s quite a short drive to Angkor Wat:
- Tuk-tuk (most popular) – ~15–20 mins
- Car or Van – great for groups or multi-temple tours
- Bicycle – ideal for active travelers who want to explore slowly
Angkor Wat Travel Map
Exploring Angkor Wat is super convenient thanks to the three temple circuits. Each one takes about a full day, so you can choose from 1-3 days. The ticket is 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day pass, and we suggest you choose the 3-day pass. Let’s see how to plan the trip.
Day 1 (Small Circuit): Angkor Wat Sunrise → Angkor Thom South Gate → Bayon Temple → Baphuon Temple → Elephants Terrace → Leper King Terrace - Victory Gate → Ta Prohm
Day 2 (Grand Circuit): Prasat Kravan → Banteay Kdei → Srah Srang → Pre Rup → East Baray → Ta Som → Prasat Preah Khan → Phnom Bakheng Sunset
Day 3 (Outer Circuit): Hotel → Banteay Srei → Hotel → Beng Mealea → Hotel (Each section needs 1-1.5-hour drive)
Heads-up: The Angkor area is hot year-round.
To stay cool and comfy, you should start your visit early in the morning, avoid midday sun when it’s hottest, and bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and wear light, respectful clothing.
If you have any questions about this article, please contact us by submitting the following form and we'll immediately get back to you.
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