Everything you need to know about Angkor Wat, Cambodia's most iconic temple

09.01.2025 - 21:55 / lonelyplanet.com

Jan 9, 2025 • 9 min read

In the 12th century, the ancient Khmer kings of Cambodia packed the equivalent of all of Europe’s great cathedrals into an area the size of Los Angeles, making the fabled Temples of Angkor a veritable Disneyworld for history enthusiasts. 

These majestic temples in northwest Cambodia are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, topping the history hit list for many travelers to Southeast Asia. The ultimate statement of Khmer architectural ingenuity, Angkor Wat is the largest religious building in the world and a perfect blend of religious symbolism and symmetry.

The temple is the heart and soul of Cambodia and a source of fierce national pride – amongst other things, this is the only building featured on a national flag. Almost every inch of this immense complex is covered with intricate carvings and motifs and there's a huge amount to see, so it pays to do a little homework on this most iconic of temples before planning your bucket list adventure to Angkor.

To point you in the right direction, here's Lonely Planet's ultimate guide to Angkor Wat.

Before you book your ticket to Cambodia, give some thought to the practicalities of visiting this ancient temple complex. The weather, the tourist season and the logistics of exploring such a vast site are all things to consider.

It is possible to visit Angkor Wat at any time of year, but the peak season runs from November to February, when the weather is drier and cooler, although it’s still plenty hot enough for most visitors. The best time of day to visit the site is at sunrise when it’s cooler, though you can still expect the temple to be crowded.

To explore when the temple is quieter, come at lunchtime when most of the tour groups are in town. Sunset is another popular time to visit, when the temple appears to glow softly in the warm light of the late-afternoon sun. Be aware that Angkor Wat closes soon after at 6pm, and the site is not currently open at night.

If you're ready for an early start, Angkor Wat opens at 5am for visitors who want to see the sunrise from this iconic spot. Note however that the upper level, known as the Bakan Sanctuary, is only open from 7:30am.

Allow at least three hours to explore the vast complex that is Angkor Wat, or set aside half a day if you want to see every nook and cranny. Many visitors arrive early for sunrise and then stick around to explore while temperatures are cooler, between the hours of 6am and 9am.

Don’t forget that Angkor is much more than its namesake wat (temple). More than 70 spectacular temples lie scattered around Angkor Wat, such as the Bayon, with its vast carved faces of the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara, and the "Tomb Raider temple" of Ta Prohm.

Tickets to the Angkor complex –