What You Need to Know About Visiting Angkor Wat

Getting the opportunity to visit Angkor Wat and to walk through 900 years of history was not only a *pinch me* moment, but an incredibly grounding and eye-opening experience.  The beauty and vastness of Angkor Wat is indescribable, and I had no idea what to expect before I arrived.  This is everything you need to know about visiting Angkor Wat in 2023.

Please note:  The complex of Angkor is so much more than Angkor Wat itself.  For purposes of this post, I’ll be referring to both Angkor Wat (the temple) and the larger Angkor complex itself.

 

Before reading further, make sure to check out the following Siem Reap guide to help you plan your trip to Angkor:

• The Ultimate 3 Day Siem Reap Itinerary

 

IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN A TOUR OF ANGKOR WAT, WHICH I WOULD RECOMMEND, CHECK OUT THIS SMALL GROUP TOUR OR THIS PRIVATE TOUR

 

Brief History of Angkor Wat/Angkor Complex

Angkor Wat literally means “City Temple”.  It was built in the 12th century between 1110-1150 and is the largest religious monument in the world.  It was originally a Hindu temple but then changed to a Buddhist temple when the country changed religions; so you’re able to see a mix of Hinduism and Buddhism in the temple.  Angkor Wat is the most iconic temple in the Angkor complex, but there are many other temples within the complex that hold special meaning.

The Angkor complex was the heart of the Khmer Empire and a major cultural and political center in Southeast Asia.  Over time, the Khmer Empire declined, and the temples were gradually abandoned.  They were hidden by the jungle until their rediscovery in the 19th century by French explorers.  Today, Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples are UNESCO World Heritage sites, attracting millions of visitors each year. They showcase the incredible architectural and artistic achievements of the Khmer civilization.

 

How to Get to Angkor Wat

If you’re visiting the Angkor complex, you’ll more than likely be staying in Siem Reap and transferring from there.  The best way to get to Angkor is by tuk-tuk.  You can also rent a motorbike and drive yourself or rent a bicycle (although this would be quite challenging and I’d only recommend it for very experienced bikers).  Depending on where you’re staying in Seim Reap, the drive to the Angkor complex should be between 10-30 minutes.

Your hotel can set you up with a driver – but know that there will be an up-charge because the hotel will take a cut of the profit too; so it would be more financially beneficial for you to find your own driver on the streets and negotiate a fair price.

 

IF YOU NEED TRANSPORTATION TO SIEM REAP, YOU CAN BOOK A BUS TICKET HERE

 

How to Get Around Angkor Wat

The easiest way to get around the Angkor complex is by hiring a tuk-tuk driver.  You can either arrange this with the hotel you’re staying at, or find a driver on the street and negotiate a price.  As of 2023, the price for an all-day driver ranges from $20-$35 for the day.  You cannot walk around the complex on your own – the temples are far too spread out to reach by foot.  Walking was something I  was originally aiming to do and when I realized just how massive Angkor was, I hired a tuk-tuk driver instead.

Like I mentioned above, you can also rent a motorbike and drive around on your own or rent a bicycle.  But the most convenient way would be by tuk-tuk.  Plus, the drivers are so knowledgeable about the area they are able to take you to some of the best temples that you may have not heard of!  My driver took me to so many hidden gems and had cold water waiting for me when I got back in the tuk-tuk; I was so thankful for him!

 

Where to Stay When Visiting Angkor Wat

If you’re planning to visit Angkor Wat, you’ll want to base yourself in Siem Reap, located just south of the complex.  Depending on your budget and what you’re in the mood for, the two hotels I’d recommend in Siem Reap include…

• Jaya House River Park (read about my stay at Jaya House here!)
• Sabara Angkor Resort

 

For more hotels in Siem Reap, don’t miss:

• 10+ of the Best Hotels in Siem Reap

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN SIEM REAP HERE!

 

The Best Time to Visit Angkor Wat

The most popular time to visit Angkor is during the dry season from November-May – with a particular uptick in tourists in January-March.  Rainy season lasts from May-October so if you visit Angkor at this time, you might be met with heavy rainfall.  I did visit Angkor in October, at the end of rainy season, and only experienced scattered rainfall.

No matter what time of the year you visit, Cambodia is warm year-round so you won’t be dealing with cold weather.

 

The Best Time of the Day to Visit Angkor Wat

When you’re visiting Angkor Wat, I highly recommend starting your day with sunrise.  The sun rises behind the temple, creating a magical, mystical experience.  Angkor Wat opens at 5 am every day for sunrise and if you’ve already purchased a ticket, you can go right in for a spot.  If you haven’t yet purchased a ticket, you’ll need to wait in line to get a ticket before going in.  Also, the best sunrise spot is about a 15-minute walk from the entrance of Angkor Wat so make sure that you arrive with plenty of time to grab a spot on the lawn.

As far as the Angkor complex, it’s my opinion that the earlier in the day you start – the better.  This is not only to avoid crowds, but also because Cambodia is so hot that you’re going to want to be walking around in the morning versus mid-afternoon.  Each temple opens at 7:30 am and closes at 5:30 pm; but Angkor Wat and Phnom Bakheng open at 5 am for sunrise and Pre Rup opens at 5 am for sunrise and closes at 7 pm for sunset.

 

Dress Code for Visiting Angkor Wat

There is a dress code for visiting Angkor Wat and the other temples in the complex. however the dress code is not enforced.  Because of its religious nature, it’s asked that tourists dress appropriately, covering knees, shoulders, stomachs, and chests.  I saw several people walking around in spaghetti straps with their abdomens showing so sure, you can get away with it, but I’d error on the side of caution and respect.

I did wear a wide-shoulder tank top (not spaghetti strap) one day and did not get any funny looks or have anyone stop me.

Another thing I’ll touch on in terms of dress code… I highly recommend wearing tennis shoes.  I wore flip-flops one day and immediately regretted it.  Not only are the stones slippery, but the grounds are uneven and its difficult to walk in flip-flops.

 

Don’t miss:

• The Ultimate Cambodia Packing List

 

Buying Tickets for Angkor Wat

To visit the temples in the Angkor complex, you do need to purchase tickets.  When you purchase a ticket, this not only gets you into Angkor Wat but also the other temples within the Angkor complex.  You can purchase tickets at the entrance of Angkor Wat (tickets go on sale at 5 am every morning) but perhaps the easiest way is to buy tickets online and have them sent to your phone.  If you buy tickets from Angkor Enterprise, it’s the same price as buying tickets in-person.

Pro tip:  Your tickets will be scanned several times throughout your time in the complex.  I recommend keeping your ticket handy by screen-shotting it and saving it in your phone photos!

There are three different ticket options you can choose from.  If you want to buy a single day ticket, the cost is $37.  If you want to buy a 3-day ticket, the cost is $62.  And if you want to buy a 7-day ticket, the price is $72.  The 3-day ticket is valid for 10 days and for three non-consecutive days.  The 7-day ticket is valid for one month and for seven non-consecutive days.

I personally think that the 3-day ticket is the most valuable.  The Angkor complex is so huge that more than likely, you’ll want more than one day to explore.  When you buy a 3-day ticket you can break your days up a bit more and even if you only use the ticket for two out of the three days, it’s still cheaper than buying two 1-day tickets.

 

Do You Need a Tour Guide for Angkor Wat?

If you’re a history nerd or interested in learning anything about Angkor Wat (or the complex), I’d highly recommend hiring a guide.  There are several ways to go about this.  You can hire a guide using Viator, or you can take your chances and hire a local, trained guide at the entrance of Angkor Wat.

I decided to take my chance on finding a guide at Angkor Wat and luckily, it paid off!  I was connected with an absolutely fabulous guide – Thay (featured in photo above) – who taught me so much about Angkor Wat and also made sure that we avoided the crowds.  If you want to hire Thay, you can contact him on WhatsApp – +85592163686.  I just had him show me around Angkor Wat, but if you want to have him guide you through other temples in the complex, make sure to ask about that ahead of time.

 

The Best Things to See in the Angkor Complex

 

ANGKOR WAT

Angkor Wat is a world-famous temple located in Cambodia (and by far the most well-known temple in the Angkor complex). It was built in the 12th century as a Hindu temple and later transformed into a Buddhist one.  This architectural marvel is known for its stunning towers, intricate bas-reliefs, and vast moat, making it a symbol of Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage and a popular destination for tourists from around the world.

 

BANTEAY KDEI TEMPLE

 

BANTEAY SAMRE TEMPLE

Banteay Samré is a small and beautifully preserved temple within the Angkor complex in Cambodia.  Constructed in the 12th century, it boasts stunning architecture and intricate carvings.  This temple offers visitors a more intimate and less crowded experience compared to some of the larger Angkor temples, making it a hidden gem for those exploring this ancient and historic site.

 

BANTEAY SREI TEMPLE

 

BAPHUON TEMPLE

 

BAYON TEMPLE

 

CAMBODIAN LANDMINE MUSEUM

The Cambodian Landmine Museum is an NGO opened by a local who was once a child soldier for the Khmer Rouge.  He was taken from his family at the age of 5 and given a gun at the age of 10.  He fought alongside the Khmer Rouge as a child soldier and buried thousands of landmines throughout Cambodia.  When he was older, he turned against the Khmer Rouge and fought alongside the Vietnamese army to defeat the Khmer Rouge.  Now he spends his time disarming landmines all throughout Cambodia.

The Cambodian Landmine Museum is not a part of your Angkor ticket.  Entrance to the museum is $5/person.

 

PRE RUP TEMPLE

 

SOUTH GATE AT ANGKOR THOM

 

TA PROHM

 

Proposed 2-Day Angkor Itinerary

If you’re visiting Angkor Wat, I would say that you need a minimum of two days to explore the complex and all that it offers.  Below you’ll find my exact 2-day itinerary, and every time you notice a * it means that I highly recommend it.  The temples without a * are worth a visit only if you have the time (and energy).

 

Day 1 Visiting the Angkor Complex

• Angkor Wat* (start at sunrise)
• Cross the South Gate at Angkor Thom* (request to get out and walk through the gate)
• Bayon Temple*
• Baphoun Temple (you can walk here from Bayan Temple)
• Preah Kahn Temple
• Neak Poan Temple
• Ta Som Temple
• Pre Rup Temple*

 

Day 2 Visiting the Angkor Complex

• Ta Prohm Temple* (visit at 7 am through the west gate)
• Banteay Kdei Temple*
• Cambodian Landmine Museum* (this museum is not included in your Angkor ticket and costs $5/person)
• Banteay Srei Temple*

 

WHAT IF YOU DON’T HAVE 2-DAYS TO EXPLORE THE ANGKOR COMPLEX?

If you don’t have two days to explore the Angkor complex or you only want to purchase a 1-day ticket, here’s my recommended itinerary:

• Angkor Wat (start at sunrise)
• Cross the South Gate at Angkor Thom (request to get out of your tuk-tuk and walk across)
• Bayon Temple
• Ta Prohm Temple
• Banteay Kdei
• Pre Rup Temple
• Banteay Srei Temple

 

How to Avoid Crowds at Angkor Wat

The best way to avoid crowds at Angkor Wat is to arrive early!  This means getting up for sunrise and heading to the complex around 5 am (remember Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng, and Pre Rup open early for sunrise; the rest of the temples open at 7:30 am).  If you specifically want to explore Angkor Wat without crowds, leave your sunrise spot minutes before the sun peaks, getting a head start of everyone who stayed to watch the sun peak.  Take your time wandering around the complex, and make sure to reach the third terrace of the temple by 6 am (the terrace opens at 6:30 am but a line forms beforehand).  If you start exploring early, you’ll probably be done with Angkor Wat by 8 am and you can venture to other temples in the complex.

The only other temple that was very crowded – aside from Angkor Wat – was Ta Prohm, where Tomb Raider was filmed.  If you want to explore Ta Prohm without the crowds, apparently you can arrive to the west gate at 7 am and they start letting tourists in earlier than 7:30.  I didn’t try this, but this was what my guide told me (his exact words were, “they are much more relaxed at the west gate than the east gate”).

You should also know, that in 2019 Angkor Wat saw around 2.2 million international visitors.  In 2022, that number was only 280,000+.  I don’t know when tourism will return to Cambodia but for now it seems that there are far fewer visitors than there were in the past.

 

Tips for Visiting the Angkor Complex

Below you’ll find my best tips for visiting and navigating the Angkor complex…

• Wear sunscreen
• If you’re visiting during rainy season, I recommend wearing rain boots (even if it isn’t actively raining, it will probably be muddy)
• Dress for hot weather, but dress appropriately
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Wear bug spray
• Negotiate with a tuk-tuk driver before requesting a ride (remember, finding a driver on your own will be more affordable than having your hotel call you a driver)
• If you’re a history nerd, you’ll want to hire a licensed guide
• Bring water
• There’s a few restaurants options throughout the complex, but nothing that looked particularly appetizing – consider an early breakfast or packing snacks for the day
• There are plenty of bathrooms to use throughout the complex
• You can’t walk between temples, you will need a driver (or a motorbike)
• Start early if you want to avoid crowds

 

Essential Cambodia – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Cambodia

 

When you consider the size of the Angkor complex, visiting can seem quite overwhelming.  In reality, as long as you have a driver, the complex is easy to navigate and quite enjoyable!  Hopefully this post gave you some great tips and will guide your visit to Angkor Wat and beyond.  If you have any questions, leave a comment below!

 

If you’re planning on traveling through Cambodia, don’t miss:

• Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Trip to Cambodia
• The Ultimate 10 Day Cambodia Itinerary
• 1 Day Phnom Penh Itinerary
• 10 of the Best Things to do in Kampot, Cambodia
• A Complete Battambang Itinerary – Everything You Need to Know About Visiting

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Ankgor, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppincambodia” or under my highlights for “Cambodia”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Cambodia” highlight

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