Why Angkor Wat rose to number one in Asia
Cambodia’s monumental Angkor Wat has been named Asia’s top attraction in Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best 2025, a title reserved for the highest rated places based on millions of traveler reviews. Rising above a field that ranges from mountain vistas to urban museums, the 12th century temple complex keeps drawing visitors for its scale, symmetry and serene spiritual presence. Travelers single out the dawn spectacle when the lotus bud towers silhouette against a soft sky, and the way the bas reliefs read like a stone archive of myth, war and courtly life. The award places Angkor Wat in a rare company, fewer than 1 percent of the eight million listings on Tripadvisor receive Best of the Best recognition. It also confirms what many in Siem Reap already know. The temple is both a world wonder and a living place of worship that rewards unhurried exploration.
The 2025 recognition sits within Tripadvisor’s Things To Do awards, which rank top attractions in regions around the world by feedback posted between April 2024 and March 2025, then reviewed through an editorial process. In Asia, Angkor Wat leads a list that includes the Mutianyu section of China’s Great Wall, India’s Taj Mahal, and Japan’s Fushimi Inari Shrine. At the global level, Spain’s Basilica de la Sagrada Familia claimed the top attraction, while Angkor Wat appears among the world’s top five, underscoring its global pull. For Cambodia, the news arrives as international travel continues to recover. Strong word of mouth on platforms like Tripadvisor often converts attention into arrivals, and it puts a spotlight on the way Cambodia pairs ancient heritage with modern hospitality.
What the Travelers Choice Best of the Best means
Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best is the platform’s highest honor. It signals consistent excellence, service and visitor satisfaction across a long stretch of time, not a single viral moment. The methodology centers on the quantity and quality of user reviews. It considers star ratings, detailed write ups, and recency, then balances this data with editorial checks to avoid anomalies. The 2025 awards draw on one year of reviews, from April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025, across attractions and experiences worldwide.
Tripadvisor, the travel guidance platform, puts the criteria clearly in its awards explanation and editorial notes for 2025.
‘The awards are based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings posted on Tripadvisor over a 12 month period, along with editorial input.’
The awards separate attractions from experiences. Attractions are places you can visit without booking, such as temples, museums and viewpoints. Experiences are bookable tours and activities, for example guided walks, food tours or boat trips. Angkor Wat belongs to the attractions list in Asia. It earned its ranking from travelers who chose to rate the site itself, as opposed to specific guided tours within the Angkor Archaeological Park.
The 2025 Asia rankings at a glance
This year’s Asia list displays the region’s range, from ancient stones to contemporary memorials. Several countries appear twice, reflecting both cultural depth and strong visitor engagement with the sites.
Top 10 attractions in Asia
- Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. A UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its sunrise views, cavernous galleries and sweeping moats.
- Mutianyu Great Wall, Beijing, China. A well preserved stretch of the Great Wall with scenic ridgelines and accessible hiking routes.
- Taj Mahal, Agra, India. The marble mausoleum famed for symmetry, inlay work and gardens that frame the Yamuna River.
- Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine, Kyoto, Japan. Thousands of vermilion torii gates that climb a wooded hillside, a favorite of pilgrims and photographers.
- War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A museum that presents recent history through exhibits that many travelers find sobering and instructive.
- Hoi An Ancient Town, Quang Nam, Vietnam. A riverside trading port preserved with timber houses, yellow facades and glowing lanterns.
- Wat Phra Chetuphon, Bangkok, Thailand. Also known as Wat Pho, home of the Reclining Buddha and a center of traditional Thai massage.
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud, Indonesia. A lush grove with temple ruins and macaque troops, blending nature and spirituality.
- Temple of Dawn, Wat Arun, Bangkok, Thailand. A riverside spire clad in porcelain with striking views over the Chao Phraya.
- Qutub Minar, New Delhi, India. A soaring minaret in a historic complex that charts layers of Delhi’s past.
The full list extends to 20 places. Cambodia appears again with Bayon Temple at number 17. That second mention speaks to how visitors respond to Angkor’s variety, from the precision of Angkor Wat to Bayon’s enigmatic faces and tangled reliefs.
What the win means for Cambodia tourism
By July 2025, Cambodia counted 3.7 million international arrivals in the first seven months, according to the Ministry of Tourism. That pace suggests tourism is firmly in recovery mode. At Angkor specifically, Angkor Enterprise recorded 672,593 foreign Angkor Passes sold from January 1 through September 3, 2025. These figures show a steady return of long haul travelers to Siem Reap after a prolonged slowdown.
Ticket revenue is critical for preservation and site management. Angkor Enterprise reported about 28.6 million dollars in ticket sales between January and July 2025, a gain on the year before. Authorities reinvest proceeds in conservation, from stabilizing masonry to maintaining paths, and they support programs that manage visitor flow to sensitive areas.
Recognition is spreading beyond the temple walls. Tripadvisor’s destination lists place Siem Reap at number 14 among the Best of the Best Destinations for 2025 and number 10 among Culture Destinations. Phnom Penh ranks 17th on the Trending Destinations list as travelers discover the capital’s palaces, riverfront and museums. These nods point to a broader story. International travelers are looking for culture rich trips that mix heritage with food, craft and city life, and Cambodia fits that demand.
Behind Angkor Wat’s enduring appeal
Angkor Wat tells a complete story in stone. The temple rises on a raised terrace behind a broad moat, five towers shaping a lotus crown above stacked galleries. Its bas reliefs stretch for hundreds of meters and depict episodes from the Ramayana, royal processions and scenes of everyday labor. The plan is a cosmic diagram. It mirrors a sacred mountain with concentric enclosures, a design that can feel both grand and orderly as visitors climb from the outer causeway to the central sanctuary.
A living monument and a working sanctuary
Angkor Wat began as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, then evolved over centuries into a Buddhist sanctuary that remains active today. It sits within the Angkor Archaeological Park, a protected area of about 401 square kilometers with more than 90 temples and ancillary sites. Nearby are Angkor Thom and its Bayon Temple with serene faces, Ta Prohm woven with fig roots, and quieter shrines tucked along forest paths. The ancient city also features a sophisticated water management system of barays and canals that supported a thriving metropolis during the height of the Khmer Empire. This combination of artistry, engineering and living faith gives Angkor Wat a depth that continues to surprise repeat visitors.
Global context in 2025
In 2025 the global attractions list is led by the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. The Eiffel Tower follows in second, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida ranks third, and the Louvre Museum is fourth. Angkor Wat sits fifth globally, one of only two Asian entries in the top tier alongside China’s Mutianyu Great Wall. The pattern reflects a traveler preference this year for architectural icons and places with powerful stories.
Tripadvisor’s U.S. rankings underline this point. The Kennedy Space Center is the top attraction in the country, ahead of urban landmarks like the Empire State Building and Central Park. The platform also names the best experiences. A walking tour in Florence takes the global experience crown, while Oahu’s Grand Tour leads the U.S. list. The separation of attractions and experiences helps travelers decide whether they want to plan around a site or a guided activity.
Managing crowds and protecting heritage
Popularity carries risk for fragile stonework. Periods of peak visitation can strain stairs and gallery floors, and crowding can diminish the contemplative feel that many seek at dawn. Site managers also monitor heat, seasonal rains and vegetation, all of which affect sandstone and laterite blocks.
Local authorities coordinate with international teams on conservation projects inside the Angkor Archaeological Park. The APSARA National Authority sets rules on access to upper levels, clothing standards and behavior in sacred spaces. Revenue from Angkor Passes funds repairs, tree management and signage. These measures aim for a careful balance. Visitors want access, the temples need breathing room, and the heritage must outlast present trends.
Planning a visit with care
A thoughtful visit improves the experience and supports the site. The following pointers reflect common advice from guides and official visitor notices.
- Buy the correct Angkor Pass and carry it at all times, and avoid unofficial sellers.
- Dress modestly, shoulders and knees covered in sacred spaces.
- Respect that many spaces are active shrines, keep voices low and avoid touching altars.
- Keep to marked paths, do not climb on railings or onto carvings.
- Sunrise is popular, consider late afternoon or early mid morning for softer light and fewer crowds.
- Bring water and sun protection, midday heat can be intense.
- Hire licensed guides to gain context and plan routes that reduce pressure on narrow stairs and galleries.
- Take only photos and leave no litter.
Highlights
- Tripadvisor names Angkor Wat Asia’s number one attraction in the 2025 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best awards.
- Fewer than 1 percent of Tripadvisor’s eight million listings earn Best of the Best status.
- Top 10 in Asia includes Mutianyu Great Wall, Taj Mahal, Fushimi Inari, War Remnants Museum and Hoi An Ancient Town.
- Bayon Temple joins the Asia top 20, giving Cambodia two mentions.
- The 2025 awards are based on traveler reviews from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, plus editorial input.
- Cambodia recorded 3.7 million international arrivals in the first seven months of 2025, with 672,593 Angkor Passes sold by September 3.
- Ticket revenue supports conservation and visitor management across the Angkor Archaeological Park.
- Globally, Sagrada Familia ranks first in 2025. Angkor Wat places fifth and shares the global top tier with Mutianyu Great Wall.
