Before coming to Cambodia, I thought Angkor Wat was just that—Angkor Wat. But it’s actually just one temple of dozens in the area where the ancient Khmer city of Angkor use to exist. We were glad that we purchased the $40 three-day pass to allow us plenty of time to explore many different sites. And we happily did this exploring with our friends Kevin and Priscilla, who were also traveling through Southeast Asia during the summer!

But with so many places to choose from, and limited time to see the sites, where does one begin?

To have a bit of fun with this, here is our list of “superlatives” for the grand Temples of Angkor. (And note, we only visited 11 of the many, many sites to choose from!)

Best in Show: Angkor Wat

It’s hard to not let Angkor Wat win the big award. Surrounded by a huge moat, it’s one of the largest religious structures in the world and is the tallest of the Angkor temples. The art and architecture is also very well-preserved—spend some time walking around the perimeter where etched murals illustrate the Hindu epic Ramayana. It’s also fun to just ogle up at the towers extending into the heavens above.

Runner-up: Bayon

Bayon may not nearly be as well-known as Angkor Wat, but it is almost as equally impressive. It features 216 enigmatic faces across its many towers. I made a game out of standing still and counting how many faces I could spot from one angle, and usually I saw at least eight. Some say the faces belong to the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara—bodhisattvas are people who have attained enlightenment (like the Buddha), so that would explain the faces’ very peaceful gazes that seem to say “I know something you don’t.” (The faces have also been compared to the Mona Lisa.)

Best Place to Pretend You’re Lara Croft or Indiana Jones: Ta Phrom

The surrounding jungle has largely reclaimed the Ta Prohm temple. Throughout the complex, we scrambled over rubble and ogled at huge trees and roots growing over the walls. The untouched and decayed feel of the place makes it easy to pretend that you’re an adventurer in a Hollywood movie—and Tomb Raider actually was filmed on location here.

Runner-up: Banteay Kdei

This was the first site we visited, and it provided a great introduction to the grandeur and complexity of the Temples of Angkor. The temple never seemed to end, and it was easy to get lost among the different rooms and courtyards. If it hadn’t been for other visitors, it would have been a fun place to run around and play explorer. (Incidentally, Tomb Raider also shot some scenes here.)

Best for Climbing Up Steep Stairs: Ta Keo

Ta Keo was my personal favorite temple. As we approached it along the tree-lined road, it towered suddenly over us. Steep steps ran up each side of the central pyramid, providing a dizzying workout to get to the top!

Runner-up: Pre Rup

Pre Rup was the final temple we visited, and it was a great note to end our three temple-filled days. Like Ta Keo, there are tons of steep steps to climb up, which ultimately provide expansive and beautiful views of the Cambodian countryside.

Travel Notes:

• You can purchase one-, three-, or seven-day passes for $20, $40, or $60 respectively. The three-day pass is probably the best fit for most people; one day doesn’t really afford you that much time to explore the many temples, while seven days seems like too much time unless temples are really your thing and you want to seem them all.
• In our three days, we saw 11 temples and did two visits to Angkor Wat (once at sunrise, once in the broad daylight in the afternoon) … and we were pretty worn out at the end of each day.
• It cost $16 (split across the four of us) to hire a tuk tuk driver each day. We were there in the low season, when it’s easier to get cheaper rates and negotiate it down. The tuk tuk driver will drive you around and wait at each stop. Most drivers should have recommended itineraries, or you can just direct them if you have particular stops in mind.
• There are places to buy lunch, drinks, and souvenirs by most of the temples. It’s slightly overpriced but still not that expensive and your only option unless you pack a lunch. Some hotels and hostels provide packed lunches.