First-time visitors, and anyone who came to Cambodia for one thing
Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world, built between 1113 and about 1150 by King Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple to Vishnu and later used as a Buddhist temple. It lies about 6 km north of Siem Reap, covers 162.6 hectares inside a 190 metre wide moat and is famous for its bas-relief galleries and sunrise views. It opens daily from 5:00 am to 6:00 pm, and entry needs an Angkor Pass: $37 for one day, $62 for three days or $72 for seven days.
September 2026
Photo: Jakub Hałun, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world, a 12th-century Hindu temple built by King Suryavarman II and dedicated to Vishnu, later a Buddhist sanctuary that has never been entirely abandoned. It stands about 6 kilometres north of Siem Reap, and its five lotus-bud towers, rising above a vast moat, are the symbol of Cambodia and the centrepiece of any visit to Angkor.
Photographs prepare you for the towers, but not for the scale. The outer wall alone runs for more than a kilometre on its longer sides, the causeway feels like a road, and the carved galleries could keep you busy for a day. Give it time, and ideally a good guide.
Angkor Wat is a model of the Hindu universe in stone. The central tower is Mount Meru, home of the gods, and the four corner towers are its surrounding peaks. The galleries are mountain ranges and the moat is the ocean around the world.
Unusually, the temple faces west, where most Khmer temples face east. West is associated with Vishnu and with death, which supports the idea that it was also Suryavarman II’s funerary temple. It is also why the classic view from the causeway is best at sunrise, with the towers silhouetted against the eastern sky. At the spring equinox the sun rises almost directly over the central tower when seen from the western entrance.
A long stone causeway crosses the moat to the western entrance, lined with naga balustrades. It is the first great view of the towers and still thrills after many visits.
Covered galleries on all four sides carved with epics, battles and the king’s own procession. One of the greatest works of relief carving anywhere.
More than 1,700 carved female figures stand on the walls, each with her own hairstyle, jewellery and expression. Look for the rare one showing her teeth in a smile.
Four sunken courtyards once filled with water, where you still find Buddha images left by pilgrims over the centuries, and a hall known as the Gallery of a Thousand Buddhas.
The steep upper level around the central tower, reached by a single wooden staircase. The views across the galleries and forest are superb. Access is limited; see the table below.
Angkor Wat is still a place of worship. You will see monks in saffron robes, offerings and incense, and families praying at the Buddha images.
The outer gallery of the first level is lined on all four sides with continuous carved panels, among the finest reliefs in Southeast Asia. Read them anticlockwise, starting from the western entrance and turning right, as they were meant to be seen.
The remaining panels show Vishnu and Krishna defeating demons, and a great battle between gods and demons. Some sections were completed later, in the 16th century, and are noticeably different in style.
Sunrise over Angkor Wat is one of the great travel experiences, and it is popular for good reason. Most people gather at the pond on the left, or north, side of the path inside the western entrance, where the towers reflect in the water.
| Angkor Pass | 1 day $37; 3 days $62 (use within 7 days); 7 days $72 (use within 30 days) |
|---|---|
| Where to buy | Angkor ticket office on Road 60, about 4 km from central Siem Reap, or online through Angkor Enterprise |
| Ticket office hours | Early morning to 5:30 pm; confirm opening time locally |
| Children | Under 12 free; bring a passport as proof of age |
| Angkor Wat hours | Daily, 5:00 am to 6:00 pm |
| Bakan (upper level) | From about 7:30 am to about 5:00 pm; closed on Buddhist holy days; not open to children under 12 |
| Time needed | Three to four hours for the temple; half a day with sunrise |
Your photo is printed on the pass, so it cannot be shared. Keep it with you all day, as it is checked at Angkor Wat and at most other temples.
One day at Angkor is enough for Angkor Wat, the Bayon and Ta Prohm. Three days is the honest answer if you want to enjoy the wider park without rushing. A good first morning looks like this:
If sunrise is not for you, visit in the afternoon instead, when the western facade glows in the sun and the light suits photography. The temple is also quieter at lunchtime, though it is hot.
Angkor Wat is about 6 kilometres north of central Siem Reap, roughly 15 to 20 minutes by tuk-tuk. The ticket office on Road 60 is on the way. Tuk-tuks, private cars with drivers, bicycles and electric bikes are all easy to arrange in town. For sunrise, agree the pick-up time with your driver the evening before.
Before or after your visit, the Angkor National Museum in Siem Reap gives useful background on the temples and the Khmer Empire.
We plan Angkor Wat around the light and the crowds, with a private driver, your own Khmer guide and time to linger in the galleries after sunrise. It is at the heart of our Cambodia Classic Highlights and Phnom Penh & Angkor Discovery journeys, and we can build it into any trip. Browse our heritage experiences or send us an enquiry.
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