Temple stonework in Cambodia
Siem Reap

Angkor Wat

First-time visitors, and anyone who came to Cambodia for one thing

Temples and ruinsType
In short

Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world by land area, built in the early 12th century under Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple to Vishnu and later used as a Buddhist site. It is the only major Angkor temple facing west, which is why the famous reflection shot happens at sunrise rather than sunset.

Checked

September 2026

Part of Heritage
At a glance

Visiting

Where
Angkor Archaeological Park, about 6 km north of Siem Reap
Ticket
Angkor Pass - 1 day US$37, 3 days US$62, 7 days US$72 (Angkor Enterprise, checked September 2026)
Park hours
Entry from 5:00, closing 18:30
Time needed
Half a day for Angkor Wat alone; three days to do the park properly
Dress code
Shoulders and knees covered to reach the upper level

Questions travellers ask

What time is sunrise at Angkor Wat?
The gates open at 5:00 and the sky starts working about forty minutes before the sun clears the towers. Arrive by 5:15 in high season if you want the pond.
Is one day enough for Angkor?
For Angkor Wat, the Bayon and Ta Prohm, yes - a long, hot day. Three days is the honest answer for the wider park.
Do I need a guide?
Not to enter, but the carvings are a narrative and without someone to read them you are looking at very good stonework and missing the story.
Nearby

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Angkor Thom

Bayon Temple

The Bayon sits at the exact centre of Angkor Thom and is the temple everyone recognises from the enormous serene faces carved into its towers. Built…

Where
Centre of Angkor Thom, Angkor Archaeological Park
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
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The jungle temple

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm is the Angkor temple deliberately left partly unrestored, so the silk-cotton and strangler fig roots that grew through its galleries are still holding the…

Where
Angkor Archaeological Park, east of Angkor Thom
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
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Pink sandstone

Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei is a small 10th-century Hindu temple about 25 km north-east of the main Angkor group, dedicated to Shiva and built from pink sandstone that…

Where
About 25 km north-east of the main Angkor group
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
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The walled city

Angkor Thom and the South Gate

Angkor Thom is the last and largest capital of the Khmer Empire, a walled and moated city of nine square kilometres founded by Jayavarman VII in…

Where
Angkor Archaeological Park, north of Angkor Wat
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
Read more