The Angkor National Museum on Charles de Gaulle Avenue opened in 2007 and provides an excellent contextual introduction to the temples for visitors who want to understand what they are looking at before heading to the archaeological park. Eight themed galleries trace the history and culture of the Khmer Empire, from its pre-Angkorian origins through the height of the classical period. The centrepiece is the Gallery of a Thousand Buddhas, a dramatic space displaying over 1,000 Buddha images of varying sizes, periods, and styles.
Other highlights include a reconstructed royal palace chamber, detailed explanations of Khmer cosmology and temple symbolism, and multimedia presentations about the hydraulic engineering — the vast barays and canal networks — that made Angkor's population possible. The museum is air-conditioned and well-designed; admission is around USD 12. Critics note that the collections are somewhat thin and that the audioguide is more useful than the panels, but as a briefing before or after the temples it serves its purpose. The gift shop stocks better-quality reproductions than most souvenir markets.