Where is Angkor Wat located? It’s not just a temple—it’s a 12th-century megastructure the size of a small city.
You’ve seen the photos. Giant stones. Long walls. Faces carved in towers. But here’s what shocks most people: Angkor Wat isn’t in the middle of nowhere. It sits right outside a busy town called Siem Reap, in northwestern Cambodia.
And it’s not just one temple. It’s part of a massive complex covering over 400 square kilometers. People fly across the world just to stand in front of it.
Why?
Because this place was once the heart of the biggest empire in Southeast Asia.
And yes—it’s still standing!
Angkor Wat sits in northwest Cambodia, about 5-6 kilometers (3-4 miles) north of Siem Reap city. This huge temple is part of the bigger Angkor Archaeological Park, which covers 400 square kilometers.
1. The Exact Spot Where Angkor Wat is located
Where is Angkor Wat located exactly? You’ll find this giant temple at these GPS spots: 13°24’26.99″N, 103°51’59.99″E. It stands in Siem Reap Province in the northwest part of Cambodia.
This isn’t some tiny temple lost in thick jungle like many movies show. Angkor Wat is a massive place:
- Area of Angkor Wat itself: 162.6 hectares (402 acres)
- Size of the moat around it: 190 meters (623 feet) wide
- Length of the outer wall: 3.6 kilometers (2.2 miles)
The temple is part of the Angkor Archaeological Park. This park holds over 1,000 temples from the old Khmer Empire.
Angkor Wat sits near the Tonlé Sap basin. This water system helped the Khmer Empire grow strong.
2. Cambodia: The Country That Holds Angkor Wat
We can’t talk about where is Angkor Wat located without looking at the amazing country it calls home.
Cambodia sits in Southeast Asia. Thailand is on its west side, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east. The Gulf of Thailand makes its south border.
Though small in size, Cambodia has a rich past. The Khmer Empire ruled much of Southeast Asia from the 9th to 15th centuries. During this time, they built the great temples at Angkor Archaeological Park.
Cambodia facts:
- Total people: About 17 million
- Main language: Khmer
- Climate: Warm all year with wet and dry times
- Got free from France: 1953
- Hard times: 1970s-1990s (war and Khmer Rouge)
Today, Angkor Wat Cambodia appears on the country’s flag. It’s the only old temple in the world on a national flag. This shows how much it means to Cambodia’s sense of self.
Tourism plays a big part in Cambodia’s growth now. About 2.2 million people visited Angkor Wat in Siem Reap before COVID.
3. Siem Reap: Your Gateway to Angkor Wat
When guests ask “where is Angkor Wat located,” we tell them to head to Siem Reap first.
Siem Reap was once a small town. Now it’s a busy place for tourists. Most people who visit Angkor Wat Cambodia stay here since it’s just 5-6 kilometers (3-4 miles) south of the temple.
From Siem Reap, you can reach the temples by:
- Tuk-tuk: $15-25 for a full day
- Bike: $2-5 per day (20-30 minute ride)
- Car with driver: $25-45 per day
- E-bike or scooter
- Group tours
Siem Reap has grown to serve tourists with:
- Hotels for all budgets
- Food from around the world
- Night markets with local crafts
- Pub Street for evening fun
- Spas for foot rubs after temple walks
- Art places and shops
- Museums about Khmer life
The city still keeps some French-style old buildings and pretty river views. The Siem Reap temple complex is easy to reach from the airport, which has flights from many Asian cities.
4. Angkor Archaeological Park: The Big Picture
When talking about where is Angkor Wat located, we must see the whole park it sits in.
The Angkor Archaeological Park became a UNESCO World Heritage Cambodia site in 1992. It spans about 400 square kilometers (155 square miles) and holds the remains of many Khmer Empire capitals from the 9th to 15th centuries.
Inside this huge park, you’ll find:
- Angkor Wat – The largest religious building in the world
- Angkor Thom – A walled city with the Bayon Temple
- Ta Prohm – The temple with trees growing through ruins
- Bayon – Known for its 216 stone faces
- Preah Khan – A big temple that was also a school
- Banteay Srei – Famous for very fine stone carvings
- Many smaller temples
The park also has an amazing water system with canals, big lakes (barays), and moats. This shows how smart the Khmer builders were.
For the best visit to temples near Angkor Wat, try our Angkor Wat Highlights and Sunrise Guided Tour. You’ll see the main spots with a guide who knows all the stories.
5. Why Angkor Wat Is Located Where It Is
The location of Angkor Wat wasn’t picked by chance. King Suryavarman II had it built in the early 12th century (1113-1150 CE) for smart reasons:
- Water Access: The flat land had good water sources for growing rice to feed the empire.
- Religious Meaning: The spot had special value in Hindu faith, which early Khmer kings followed.
- Good for Rule: The place worked well for controlling the Khmer Empire, which at its peak reached across much of Southeast Asia.
- Easy to Defend: The water systems helped protect the city.
Angkor Wat is different from other Khmer temples because it faces west, not east. Many think this is because it was meant to be a tomb for King Suryavarman II.
The temple first served Hindu gods but later became Buddhist. This change shows in the art and statues at the site.
6. The Layout of Angkor Wat: A Marvel of Design
To truly grasp where is Angkor Wat located, let’s look at its amazing layout.
Angkor Wat is built like a model of the Hindu universe. The moat stands for the ocean around the world. The temple mountain in the center is Mount Meru, home of the gods.
The design has these main parts:
- Outer Wall and Moat: A 3.6 km wall surrounds the temple with a 190-meter wide moat outside it.
- Central Temple: Inside the walls, three layers of temples rise to the center, each higher than the one before.
- Five Towers: At the heart of the temple, five towers stand in a pattern like five dots on dice. The middle tower reaches 65 meters (213 feet) high.
- Long Halls: Halls with walls full of stone carvings join different parts of the temple.
From the air, the layout forms a perfect square. The exact math used in building shows how skilled the Khmer people were.
7. How to Get to Angkor Wat: Your Travel Guide
For guests asking “how to get to Angkor Wat,” here’s what to know:
Get to Siem Reap First
- By Plane: Fly to Siem Reap Airport, which has flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and other Asian cities.
- By Bus: Buses run from Phnom Penh (6-7 hours), Bangkok (8-10 hours), and other towns.
- By Boat: In wet season (June-November), boats go from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap across Tonlé Sap Lake.
From Siem Reap to the Temples
- Tuk-tuk: Most guests choose this fun option ($15-25 for a full day).
- Bike: Rent in town for $2-5 per day (20-30 minute ride).
- Car with Driver: More comfort for $25-45 per day.
- E-bike: A good mix of freedom and less sweat.
- Tour Group: Let us plan it all with our Angkor Wat Sunset Tour.
Every guest must buy an Angkor Wat entrance pass at the ticket center, 4 km from Siem Reap. It’s open from 4:30 AM to 5:30 PM each day.
8. Best Times to Visit Angkor Wat
When thinking about “where is Angkor Wat located,” also think about when to go. The time of year and time of day matter a lot.
Seasons:
- Dry Season (Nov-Apr): Less rain but more people. Dec and Jan are best for weather.
- Hot Season (Mar-May): Very high heat (35-40°C/95-104°F) makes walking hard.
- Rainy Season (Jun-Oct): Fewer crowds and greener views, but chance of heavy rain.
Daily Timing:
- Sunrise (5:00-7:00 AM): A magic time, though busy. Try our Sunset in Angkor Wat tour for a different view.
- Morning (7:00 AM-12:00 PM): Good light for photos before it gets too hot.
- Afternoon (3:00-5:30 PM): Nice after the mid-day heat passes.
- Sunset (5:30-6:30 PM): Very pretty, best from certain spots.
Siem Reap Angkor Wat Entrance Ticket – Step Into Living Stone Art
9. Ticket Costs and Rules
For those asking “where is Angkor Wat located” to plan a trip, here are the costs and rules:
Angkor Pass Options:
- One-day pass: $37 USD
- Three-day pass: $62 USD (use any 3 days in a week)
- Seven-day pass: $72 USD (use any 7 days in a month)
Key Rules:
- Keep your pass with you all the time
- Wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees
- Stay on marked paths
- Don’t climb on parts not meant for climbing
- Don’t touch the stone carvings
- Stay quiet in places where people pray
The money from passes helps fix temples and grow the area. The APSARA group runs the park and makes sure rules are kept.
10. Other Amazing Temples in the Angkor Region
While Angkor Wat is the star, the Angkor temples location has many other great spots. Take time to see these too:
- Bayon Temple: Found in Angkor Thom, known for 216 huge stone faces.
- Ta Prohm: Made famous in Tomb Raider, with giant trees growing through ruins.
- Banteay Srei: Called the “Women’s Citadel,” with some of the best carvings.
- Preah Khan: A large site that was both a temple and school.
- Phnom Bakheng: Great for sunset views over Angkor Wat.
Our Journey Cambodia tours include visits to many of these temples near Angkor Wat. This gives you a full sense of the Angkor Archaeological Park.
11. Tourism at Angkor Wat: Big Numbers
The question “where is Angkor Wat located” gets asked by millions of people each year. Tourism is huge here:
Visitor Stats:
- Before COVID (2019): About 2.2 million foreign guests
- 2021 (during COVID): Less than 200,000 guests
- 2024: About 898,000 foreign guests
- 2025 (Q1): About 400,000 foreign tourists
Where Tourists Come From:
- Top lands: Thailand, Vietnam, China, USA
- Growing markets: India, Middle East
Money Impact:
- Money from ticket sales in 2024: About $42 million USD
- Tourism makes up 7-8% of Cambodia’s total money
- Makes jobs for thousands in Siem Reap area
Tourism has grown fast since the 1990s. The Angkor Wat country of Cambodia aims for 7-7.5 million total foreign guests in 2025.
How can I experience authentic Cambodian culture in Siem Reap in 2025?
12. What Angkor Wat Means to Cambodia and the World
Angkor Wat’s worth goes far beyond just its spot on a map. It means a lot to Cambodia and the world.
For Cambodians, Angkor Wat brings national pride. It sits on the country’s flag – the only old temple on any flag in the world. This shows how key it is to how Cambodians see themselves.
The temple stands for the best work of the Khmer Empire. It marks a time when Cambodia led much of Southeast Asia. Many Cambodians feel it links them to their great past.
From a world view, Angkor Wat shows what people can build. UNESCO calls it one of the best success stories of saving old sites. Its design has shaped art and building styles far beyond Cambodia.
In terms of faith, the temple first served Hindu gods but later became Buddhist. Today, it still has active shrines and monks. This makes it different from many old ruins – it’s still a living holy place.
13. Tips for Your Visit to Angkor Wat
Now that you know where is Angkor Wat located, here are some useful tips:
What to Bring:
- Good walking shoes
- Sun gear (hat, sunscreen, glasses)
- Light clothes that cover shoulders and knees
- Water bottle (you can fill it at some spots)
- Camera
- Small bag for your things
- Cash in small bills (US dollars work well)
Health Tips:
- Drink lots of water – it’s very hot
- Rest in the shade when you need to
- Watch your step on bumpy temple floors
- Be careful of monkeys (don’t feed them)
- Use bug spray in wet months
Getting the Most from Your Visit:
- Get a guide to learn the stories
- Plan your path to save steps
- Start early to miss crowds and heat
- Think about a multi-day pass
- See main temples at sunrise or sunset
Most guests spend 2-3 days at the Angkor temples location. This gives time to see the main spots without rush.
14. Saving Angkor Wat for Future Guests
The question “where is Angkor Wat located” now leads to a well-kept site, but this wasn’t always so.
After being half-forgotten for years, Angkor was found again by Western people in the 1800s. During Cambodia’s war and Khmer Rouge time (1970s), the temples got damaged and robbed.
In 1992, UNESCO made the Angkor Archaeological Park a World Heritage site. This started big work to save it. Lands like Japan, France, China, and India have helped fix different temples.
Today, the APSARA group runs the saving work. They:
- Make weak parts strong
- Control plants growing on temples
- Take care of water systems
- Watch how tourists change things
- Train local experts in fixing temples
New trends focus on the whole area, not just the buildings. This means fixing old water systems and working more with local towns.
15. The Future of Angkor Wat Tourism
Looking ahead at Angkor Wat Cambodia as a place to visit, some new trends are starting.
Tourism keeps growing. Cambodia wants about 7.2-7.5 million total foreign tourists in 2025. Many will visit Angkor. By 2026-2027, Angkor could see numbers back to pre-COVID levels.
The mix of guests is changing. While people from Thailand, Vietnam, and China make up about 65% of foreign guests, new groups are growing. Cambodia is working to get more guests from:
- India (with new direct flights)
- Middle East lands (with halal food and prayer rooms)
- Other parts of Asia and Europe
New tech is changing how people see where Angkor Wat is located. Virtual tours, special apps, and online booking make trip planning easier.
Green thinking is getting more key. Future guests may see:
- Electric buses in the park
- Timed entry tickets to spread out crowds
- More spread-out tourist paths
- Better links between temples and local towns
These changes aim to protect Angkor Wat while still letting people enjoy this amazing place.
Where Angkor Wat Is: More Than Just a Spot on a Map
So, where is Angkor Wat located? It sits in northwest Cambodia, 5-6 kilometers north of Siem Reap city. But its true place is in the heart of Cambodian culture and world heritage.
My own trip to Angkor left me speechless. Watching the sun rise behind those famous towers changed how I see the world. The mix of human art and jungle growth makes something truly special.
If you want to see Angkor Wat:
- Plan at least 2-3 days in Siem Reap
- Think about the weather when picking your travel dates
- Get a guide to learn the stories behind the stone
- Try both sunrise and sunset visits
- Support local shops and places during your stay
Need help planning your perfect Angkor trip? Contact our team who know all the secrets of this magic place.
Helpful Resources
- Official APSARA Authority website – For the latest on park rules and hours
- Cambodia Tourism Board – Info on the whole country
- UNESCO Angkor World Heritage Site – Details on its world importance
