5 Tips You Need to Know Before Visiting Angkor Wat

I just visited Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Wow! This ancient temple is indeed worth the hype. Now that I’ve had a chance to explore Angkor Wat and its surroundings, I want to share 5 tips you need to know before visiting this very famous, historic site.

A Few Simple Facts About Angkor Wat

Did you know that Angkor Wat is one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions? As I write this, in November 2019, almost 2 million people have already visited this year. And that’s a ‘low’ number for them. Peak years have been up to 5 million! It is also considered the largest religious monument in the world.

Angkor Wat is located just north of Siem Reap, a small, manageable, and lively city in North Cambodia. Most people stay in Siem Reap, which is a short drive from Angkor Wat and the other historic sites in the area.

Because Angkor Wat is such a popular destination, there are many international flights in/out of Siem Reap daily. Many people combine a visit to Angkor Wat with Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s flourishing capital city.  You might also want to consider visiting Vietnam, Thailand or Laos while here, as all 4 countries are in close proximity to each other.

Originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, Angkor Wat was later transformed into a Buddhist temple. It was constructed by the Khmer King Suryavarman during the first half of the 12th century. Unlike most temples, the complex faces west. To this day, historians do not have a definitive answer as to why the structure was built this way. One popular theory is that it was built as a funerary temple and eventual mausoleum for King Suryavarman, which is why it faces the West instead of the East, as most Hindu temples do.

There is much more to the history of Angkor Wat that is best learned while you are there, exploring. So let’s get to the 5 tips you need to know for your visit Angkor Wat.

5 Tips You Need To Know Before Visiting Angkor Wat

1. Buy a 3-day ticket 

If possible, you should plan your trip so you can spend at least 2-3 days in Siem Reap, exploring Angkor Wat and the surrounding area. A 3-day ticket is technically a pass for the Angkor Archeological Park, which gives you access to all of the region’s main monuments and temples. It costs $62. If you are planning to first visit Angkor Wat for sunrise, purchase your ticket the day before at the central ticket office just outside of Siem Reap. If you buy the ticket the same day, you won’t get there in time to see the sunrise. Also, do not lose your ticket! Security guards will ask to see it every time you visit one of the temples or historic sites.

2. Hire a guide to take you around the complex the first time you visit

There is so much to see in Angkor away and the surrounding area. To get the best out of your trip, I highly recommend hiring a private guide for at least one of the days of your visit. All of the guides are well trained and knowledgeable about the history, architecture, and culture of the Angkor region. For the other days, I recommend hiring a tuk-tuk driver to take you around to all of the temples. They are local and know the area well, so you will benefit from their expertise. Plus, it will be much cheaper than hiring a car for the day or hailing a tuk-tuk each time you need to go to your next destination.

3. Visit the temple at sunrise (But expect big crowds)

One of the most popular things to do at Angkor Wat is visiting the temple at sunrise. In particular, there is one spot where everyone lines up to watch the sunrise and take photos. It is by one of the reflecting pools just in front of the monument on the West side of the temple. A word of warning though. It gets extremely crowded for sunrise. If you want to get a good spot right by the reflecting pool, I recommend getting to Angkor Wat right when it opens at 5 am.

4. Make sure you’re wearing appropriate clothing

Make sure you wear appropriate clothing to the temple and surrounding sites, or you could be turned away by the guards. For women, that means covering your shoulders and your knees. I recommend wearing a top that covers your shoulders versus a scarf. The weather is very hot and humid in Cambodia and you could get uncomfortable with the heat if you have to wrap a scarf around yourself. Men should also cover their shoulders and knees, although I did see many men wearing shorts and it seemed to be fine.

5. Plan your visits in the early morning and late afternoon

As I mentioned above, the weather in Cambodia is consistently hot and humid. Also, some of the historic sites do not provide much shade. Therefore, you want to avoid visiting in the middle of the day. My recommendation is to either go early, 8a -11a, and/or in the late afternoon, from 4p – 6p. Trust me, you’ll feel much more comfortable during your visit and you’ll also get much better light for taking photos. Visiting hours for most of the temples are 5a – 6p every day.

Are You Ready to Visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia?

If you’re planning a trip to Cambodia, I hope you find these 5 tips for visiting Angkor Wat helpful.

Also, remember that there is so much more to see in the area beyond Angkor Wat. That’s why I highly recommend planning to spend at least 2-3 days in Siem Reap, so you can explore beyond Angkor Wat, the crown jewel of the region.

Happy travels!