You probably have seen numerous photos and videos of the magnificent Angkor Wat. I had it on my list of the most coveted places to visit. It always fascinated me with its mysterious atmosphere and grandeur. We planned a 4-day itinerary of the Angkor Archaeological Park. I have to say, it definitely didn’t disappoint and unlike many people, who get temple fatigue after a couple of days, I wouldn’t mind spending even more time there.
Below is the essential information and tips to make your visit to Angkor easier and enjoyable.
- General Facts about Angkor
- Best Time to Visit Angkor
- How Long do you Need for Visiting Angkor?
- Where to Stay in Siem Reap
- Angkor Ticket Options
- Buying Angkor Tickets at the Ticket Office
- Buying Angkor Tickets Online
- What to Wear at Angkor
- Transport to Get Around Angkor
- Angkor Touring Options
- Angkor Itinerary Planning
- Tips for Visiting Angkor with a Tour/Driver
- Angkor Opening Hours
- Where to Eat Near Angkor Wat
- Restaurants to Try in Siem Reap after Visiting Angkor
- Best Coffee in Siem Reap after Visiting Angkor
- Other Essential Tips for Visiting Angkor
General Facts about Angkor
Many people call the site Angkor Wat after its most famous temple, but actually it isn’t one temple, it’s a huge city expanding on 400 sq. km. and full of over a thousand Buddhist and Hindu temples still standing. The city of Angkor was the capital of Khmer empire and flourished from 9th to 15th centuries before its decline by the hands of Ayutthaya kingdom and subsequent invasions.
Currently, Angkor Wat is a national symbol. It is even depicted on the national flag of the country.
Thousands of tourists visit this UNESCO world heritage site every day. So you will always be among the crowds, whenever you visit. You might be lucky and visit at the time, when some temples aren’t that overcrowded, but most popular ones are always full. However, most tourists don’t visit lesser known temples, so you may find some quiet spots.
Best Time to Visit Angkor
While Cambodia has hot climate all year round, the main thing you need to consider is the rainy/dry seasons.
May to November is the rainy season, which means there may be showers at any time throughout the day. This also brings higher humidity and more mosquitoes. Hence this period is low season with fewer crowds.
Dry season – particularly the winter months – is the most popular period. It may still rain but unlikely. We visited in December and got no rain whatsoever. It was consistently hot and sunny with less humidity than in rainy season.
Mosquitoes are an issue in any period, but rainy season brings more of them. Either way, you need to bring your mosquito repellent.
As for the best times of day to avoid crowds – that’s quite difficult to do. My main suggestion is visit one of the most popular temples during lunch time. We visited Ta Prohm and 1pm and it was so much quieter. In just an hour it started heaving with tourist groups. Besides second half of the day is slightly quieter compared to early morning at Angkor Wat or Bayon temples.
How Long do you Need for Visiting Angkor?
Of course, it all depends on your interests and pace.
Most tourists actually visit for a day, just go around the major temples – Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm and leave thinking they saw everything. To be honest, I don’t think that is a great way to see this amazing and huge place, for which you travelled maybe even thousands of kilometers. In one day you will hardly see anything. Also, a couple of famous temples don’t really give an idea of what others look like. Many temples are so different from each other, with some unique features, quiet places, awesome carvings, etc. etc.
I do suggest to allocate at least 3 days to Angkor, unless you don’t like visiting temples and historical sites and get bored of them easily. Here is my step-by-step 3-day itinerary for your visit.
However, if you have limited time and want to cram as much as possible in a day, here is the best 1-day itinerary.
I personally was really fascinated by this place. We had 4 days and we did visit the major things on my list. During those 4 days we were out most of the day from early morning.
If you like to spread out your visit and do it slowly, then you can even spend a week or more here.
You can also combine visiting Angkor with other activities in and around Siem Reap, like going to Tonle Sap lake, or visiting the temples and museums at Siem Reap itself.
Where to Stay in Siem Reap
To visit Angkor, you will have to stay nearby, as it’s a huge archaeological site without accommodation options. Most people stay in Siem Reap, which seems to be fully catered to tourists visiting Angkor.
Siem Reap is quite small, particularly the central areas. The airport is very close, some 15 minutes’ drive from the city center. I suggest to stay close to the main areas, where the restaurants, coffee shops and markets are concentrated, as it will make your evenings much easier. I chose a hotel farther from the center, which meant that every evening we had to catch a tuk tuk to take us to the hotel and we paid 3 USD each time.
You have a number of options, from hostels to airbnbs and hotels. Keep in mind that mosquitoes and gecko lizards are very common here. When we arrived to the hotel, the room was full of mosquitoes, which wasn’t a pleasant thing, as we had to spray the room, then get out and wait. Choose a hotel, which takes better care of these issues, so that you don’t have to after a long flight or a long day out.
Hotel The Luxury has a great location and you might find good discounts.
Memoire d’Angkor Boutique Hotel is also a great budget option.
Angkor Ticket Options
You have 3 options for Angkor tickets, based on the time you have here:
- The 1-day pass costs 37 USD. This ticket can be used within 5-day period from purchase.
- The 3-day pass costs 62 USD. You don’t have to use it on consecutive days, just 3 days in 10-day period.
- The 7-day pass costs 72 USD. It doesn’t have to be used on consecutive day and should be used in one month period.
Prices are current as of 2026.
You can either buy the tickets at the ticket office or online.
Buying Angkor Tickets at the Ticket Office
If you are buying at the ticket office, you will need to get them before heading to Angkor, as the ticket office is not located near the temple complex. It’s in Siem Reap, at this location. US dollars and cash are the preferred payment method, but you have an option of paying by card. You will get change only in Cambodian Riel.
The ticket office is open from 5am to 5.30pm, so if you want to save time, buying your ticket on the day of your visit is not the most efficient way. Usually, there are queues in the mornings and it may shorten your precious time at Angkor. You can buy your ticket the previous day or even a couple of days in advance.
To get a ticket bring your passport along. They will take a photo of you at the ticket office and prepare the tickets for you.
Keep in mind, they won’t sell you a ticket, unless you are dressed appropriately.
Buying Angkor Tickets Online
Alternatively, you can buy your tickets online. This is the official Angkor ticket office website. There are a couple of authorized third party vendors as well, but they charge extra fees.
For getting tickets online, you will need to have a digital photo at hand, which you need to upload. It should be good resolution, in order for the platform to recognize your face.
The advantage of the online ticket is that you don’t need to go anywhere to pick the physical tickets up. You will receive online tickets and can download and print yourself.
Whichever option you choose for buying tickets, you need to keep these tickets on you at all times, as you will be asked to show them, while entering each temple. The officers will stamp the ticket in the morning the first time you are entering a temple and it will show that it is used for the day. We bought a 7-day pass and used them over 4 days, so we got 4 stamps for each day.
If you lose your ticket, you won’t get any refund and will need to buy a new one to get admission.
People suggest that if you buy at 5pm before the day you want to start using the pass (whether 1, 3 or 7-day), you can get a bonus sunset visit. I am not sure about this, as we didn’t try.
What to Wear at Angkor
The rules at Angkor on clothes you are supposed to wear, are quite strict.
Transport to Get Around Angkor
Angkor is very spread out and walking around is simply impossible. You do need some sort of transportation.
If aren’t afraid of heat, you can choose the bicycles. However, that would make your visit much slower and tiring, as you have to walk a lot inside the temple grounds anyway. Certainly this is the cheapest option, as the bicycles can be hired for 5 USD or even lower.
If you are a confident driver, you can hire a motorcycle as well. I am not sure about the prices for this though.
Most people hire either tuk tuks or cars for visiting the many temples. Tuk tuks are the most common option and you will be seeing them on the streets far frequently. If you have a lot of time, you can just negotiate with a tuk tuk driver on the street.
Air conditioned cars are a relatively more expensive option, but they may be more comfortable, than tuk tuks because of air conditioning. Cars are far rarer in the city. We hardly ever saw them, there are mostly motorcycles and tuk tuks around.
If you want a peace of mind and are short on time, you can book your driver and, if you wish, a tour guide in advance. This option will allow you to read the reviews in advance and be sure that you have everything planned and don’t need to look for drivers in the city. On the other hand, booking in advance always means a small surcharge compared to negotiating with the driver on the spot.
Angkor Touring Options
To explore Angkor Archaeological Park can either hire only a driver or consider a guided tour. You don’t need a guide, unless you prefer to get explanations at each temple. We chose to only hire a tuk tuk driver.
1-Day Tour Options
Multiple-Day Tour Options
If none of the provided options appeal to you, you can book a driver for the first day and talk to them to arrange the subsequent days.
We chose to simply speak with our tuk tuk driver that the hotel sent to pick us up from the airport. We did like him, so we arranged to go with him. On the first day he drove us, but on the second day he sent someone, who didn’t speak a word of English. That was challenging, so for the third day, we spoke to our Grab driver and hired him instead.
Angkor Itinerary Planning
One thing I didn’t know was that the drivers have their own itineraries for visiting the city.
- The so called small circle starting at Angkor Wat and ending with the Temple of Leper King.
- The big circle – I already forgot which one they had first on the list for this.
- Some combination of Banteay Srei and Roluos group.
If you are booking a private tour, you will be able to change this sequence. For this, you should negotiate in advance, and may end up paying 5 USD more per day.
Of course, you can go with their schedule and sequence of temples, which most people do. But exactly because most people do it, you will be at the temples, when they are the most crowded.
My itineraries below are arranged as optimally as possible to allow you to avoid crowds.
Here is the best 1-day itinerary of the Angkor Archaeological Park.
Here is the best 3-day Angkor itinerary.
Tips for Visiting Angkor with a Tour/Driver
Most tuk tuk drivers will have water bottles kept cold with ice, which was a savior for us on several occasions.
They normally will pick you up from your hotel in the morning at an arranged time and bring you to each temple on your itinerary. They wait for you at the entrance of each temple. At the end of the day, they will drop you off at your hotel or wherever you tell them in Siem Reap.
Each time you leave the tuk tuk driver, he will tell you, where he will be waiting for you. If he doesn’t, do ask, as they may stand a bit farther from the entrance, or it may be preferable for you to find them at the other gate.
Also, make sure to get the photo of the tuk tuk number and get the phone number from your driver. You may have difficulty finding them after you get out of the temples. I recommend having a good mobile data plan in order to be able to contact your driver.
If you are unable to contact your driver, you can ask any of the tuk tuk drivers around to help you. They will contact your driver, as they are used to helping each other out. We had to do this on a couple of occasions, when we couldn’t find our driver.
Angkor Opening Hours
Most temples open at 7.30am and work till 5.30pm. There are a couple, which open earlier for sunrise. As far as we found out, these are Angkor Wat and Srah Srang. Not sure about others. There are also a few, which open for sunset – Pre Rup, Phnom Bakheng and Angkor Wat. I couldn’t find any official information online and had to ask on the spot.
Where to Eat Near Angkor Wat
In general, food in Cambodia is quite cheap, even compared to its neighbours – for instance, Thailand. However, the food places in Angkor area are more expensive. Most people ask their tuk tuk drivers to take them to a lunch place and they end up at expensive places, where the drivers get a free meal, when they bring tourists. So if you definitely want to eat in this area, do your research. Another option would be to bring food with you. We did take nuts and other snacks with us after a big breakfast. We would then get back to Siem Reap and eat dinner by 5-6pm.
Restaurants to Try in Siem Reap after Visiting Angkor
Keep in mind that most Siem Reap restaurants cater to tourists, so don’t be disappointed with that. Here is the list of relatively cheaper and good places:
Try Me Restaurant – First of all, I will start with our favourite. We loved everything about it – the vibe, the prices, the very tasty food and a welcoming service. We tried a few dishes, mainly the ones with rice. Do go here, it won’t disappoint you.
My Little Cafe Madam Moch Khmer Restaurant
Monsoon Asia Fusion bistro – This restaurant is more on the expensive side. The food was good, but pricier than other places on this list.
Best Coffee in Siem Reap after Visiting Angkor
Below I am listing the best, but not extremely cheap cafes to go for coffee in Siem Reap. Most of these cafes also offer food, so do check them out, even when you are hungry.
Brown Coffee – a big and modern café with air conditioning, which may be a breathe of air after a long day at Angkor. The coffee and cakes are very tasty, although the prices are not that low. I do suggest the opera cake.
Footprint cafe – this one is on the other side of the river. It’s a very cute café with an amazing concept of helping local communities. It has a great atmosphere with a lot of books. The service is also wonderful.
Brother Bong café – another cafe on the other side of the river. It has nice vibes and good coffee.
Gelato Lab – on the Pub Street for nice ice-cream 🙂
The Little Red Fox Espresso Cafe
Other Essential Tips for Visiting Angkor
- Bring sunscreen and sunglasses with you.
- Toilets are quite an issue around the area, they are only at certain spots, sometimes not too close from temples. So if you pass by one, use it, as you won’t know, when you find another one.
- Carry your toilet paper and hand sanitizer with you.
- If you hire a tuk tuk, they will usually have water bottles kept cold with the ice they buy in the morning. However, if you are doing cycling or walking a lot, then you should bring water with. It’s very hot and you will be dehydrated.
- Have some snacks for the times, when you won’t easily find the food places.
Have you visited Angkor recently? Do you have more tips? I would be happy to hear about your experiences.
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