Bayon Temple
The Bayon Temple is a famous and ornately decorated Khmer temple located at Angkor, Cambodia.
Its walls are carved with exactly 216 gigantic yet serenely smiling faces. Although slow decay is evident in the carvings, the smooth curves of the faces with shadows cast by the sun are still a breathtaking sight.
Location
The Bayon Temple is around 6 kilometres west of Siem Reap, and about a 15 to 20-minute ride from the old French Quarter in the city.
Opening Days and Hours
The temple is open daily from 05:00 to 18:00.
Entry Fee and Bookings
Passes to the Bayon Temple can cost either USD 5, 10, or 20, depending on your intended stay.
How to Get There
The Bayon Temple is accessible via tuk tuks (travel time is around 25 minutes), rental car (travel time is around 15 minutes), or even bicycle (travel time is around 1 hour).
Suggested For
- Backpackers/solo travelers
- Couples
- Group of friends
- Families with older kids
Time to Spend
You can explore the Bayon Temple for around 2 hours or more.
Popularity and Best Time to Go
The best time to visit Bayon Temple is from November to February, when the weather’s drier and cooler. To avoid the crowds, you can go in the early morning, while most of the tourist crowds are still viewing Angkor Wat at sunrise.
Food
You can find a lot of food stalls at Bayon Temple. You can bargain with sellers and some even have hidden menus that offer dishes for as low as USD 1.50.
Nearby Attractions
- Angkor Wat
- Angkor Thom
Stay
You can opt to stay in Siem Reap hotels and guesthouses such as Palm Village and Angkor Way. Prices range from USD 40 to 150 per night.
Good to Know
You can opt to visit early and stand across one of the pools at the temple’s entrance, where you will be treated to the marvelous sight of the famous faces of Bayan gradually being illuminated as the sun rises in the sky.
