Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat, which means 'temple of the city', is an ancient Cambodian complex of temples and ruins. This popular tourist attraction is located in Angkor, just 5.5 Kilometers north of the capital city Siem Reap in Cambodia.

Sunrise at Angkor Wat draws large crowds to the same handful of reflecting-pool viewpoints every morning during peak season -- arriving early, or choosing one of the park's many other temples for sunrise instead, spreads that pressure and often makes for a calmer visit.

Angkor Wat remains an active Buddhist site, not only a monument -- modest dress (shoulders and knees covered) is expected, and visitors should stay off carvings and restricted structural areas that centuries of foot traffic have already worn down.

Entrance fees from the Angkor Pass fund the park's ongoing conservation directly, and hiring a licensed local guide, widely available at the ticket checkpoints, puts more of a visit's spending straight into the local economy.

Angkor Wat is open daily from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Ticket offices open at 5:00 AM specifically so early risers can be inside in time for the temple's famous sunrise over its reflecting pools.

Most visitors buy a multi-day Angkor Pass (1-day, 3-day, or 7-day options) covering Angkor Wat and the rest of the Angkor Archaeological Park, rather than a single-temple ticket -- worth planning for given how much else is within the same park.

For a sunset instead of a sunrise, nearby viewpoints such as Phnom Bakheng stay open until 7:00 PM and are a popular alternative for watching the sun set over the wider park.