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If you are planning a trip to Angkor Wat with kids in 2025, this is the perfect article for you. In this article, we are going to tell you everything you need to know to plan that trip to Angkor Wat with kids.
Family travel is both epic and challenging; careful preparation and research are essential if you want a smooth and enjoyable trip for yourself and your whole family. This is especially true if you are visiting an attraction as impressive and intense as Angkor Wat.
All of the advice and tips that we share in this article are from our own first hand experience. In this article we have shared unique tips and advice that you wont find anywhere else online.
A visit to Angkor Wat may be stunning, but it is also surprisingly complicated, and there are a lot of things that you need to know before you go. The aim of this guide is to tell you things that are particularly important if you are planning to bring kids to Angkor Wat.
For a more in-depth and detailed article, we also recommend that you check out our full guide to Angkor Wat.
BOOK A HOTEL – The BEST family friendly hotels in Siem Reap
FIND OUT MORE – Complete Guide to Siem Reap with Kids
GET INSPIRED – The best things to do in Siem Reap with kids
Is it worth visiting Angkor Wat with kids?
In our opinion, it is definitely worth visiting Angkor Wat with kids. It is a long and tiring day, especially if you are planning to get your kids up at sunrise. However, a visit to Angkor Wat may well be one of the most memorable things that you do with your kids. It is an amazing way to learn about the rich and deep culture and history of this region. You can also share some amazing moments as a family, whether it’s taking in the sunset together or running around the temples pretending to be explorers.
The main disadvantage of taking a family trip to Angkor Wat is the cost, especially if you’re traveling with a large family and your kids are over 12 years old. The Angkor Wat tickets are relatively expensive compared to other attractions in Cambodia. It costs $37 for a day ticket. Furthermore, there are no ways to get discounted tickets or special deals. This is a fixed ticket price, and they do not accept any tickets from third parties.
If your kids are over 12 years old, you will need to pay the full price for an adult (no discounts or reductions even if they are under 18). So, a trip to Angkor Wat for a large family with older kids can add up very quickly. If you are planning to visit Cambodia, we recommend including a visit to Angkor Wat in your budget. If you are paying all of this money to come to Cambodia, we highly recommend that you see one of the most prestigious and important attractions.
How do you get tickets for Angkor Wat?
You can buy your tickets online or at the ticket office (which opens at 5 am so you can visit for sunrise). A one-day pass costs $37, and a three-day pass costs $62. A one-week pass costs $72. The ticket offices accept card payments. Children under 12 years old do not require a ticket, but you do need to bring a passport to prove their age. Children over 12 years old need a full adult ticket.
Once you have purchased your ticket, it is very important that you hold on to your ticket and keep it safe throughout the day. We do not recommend leaving tickets with kids who are liable to lose things. If possible, keep all of your tickets together in a safe place. If a family member loses a ticket at any point in the day, you will need to pay the full price to replace it, and technically, you can be fined if you are found without a valid ticket.
TOP TIP: If you go to the ticket office after 4:45 p.m., you can buy your ticket for the following day, so you do not need to queue up in the morning. You can also use this ticket to explore Angkor Wat on the day before your visit (i.e., as soon as you have purchased the ticket). This means that you can catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat the day before you actually visit the temple. This is a great tip for families because it means you can spread out your visit and have a more restful day.
How do you get around Angkor Wat with your family?
Don’t miss the Full Guide to Getting Around in Siem Reap
If you are visiting Angkor Wat with your family, we recommend using a tuk-tuk to travel around. This is a fun, affordable, and convenient way to explore the Angkor Wat temple complex. Some of the better drivers may also help you navigate to some hidden gems, and they may be able to tell you some interesting facts and history about Angkor Wat.
How to arrange a tuk tuk
In order to arrange a tuk-tuk, you will need to speak to some of the drivers in Siem Reap. Drivers are normally very enthusiastic to take visitors around Angkor Wat because this enables them to earn a good wage for the day. You can find plenty of drivers waiting around Siem Reap town centre (especially around the pub street area). Try to arrange your trip at least a day in advance.
Negotiating a fair price
The pricing system is flexible; however, there are fair and reasonable local prices. The price depends on exactly what you want to see and do, so it is important to make sure you explain all of the details before you agree on a price. This includes pickup time, which temples you wish to visit, and how long you plan to spend at Angkor Wat (e.g. do you hope to see the sunrise). For a short day, expect to pay around $10 – $12. If you are planning a medium-length day with sunrise or sunset, expect to pay around $15. For a long day, expect to pay around $20. Learn more – Don’t miss our full guide to bartering in Asia.
In Cambodia, you pay a price for the whole tuk-tuk (not for each passenger). However, we do recommend that you let your driver know how many are in your family and check they are happy with the agreed price for your whole family. This removes any ambiguity. Remember, if you are happy with your driver, you can also leave a tip at the end of the day. This is not expected in the culture, but it is a nice way to show gratitude.
Once you have found a driver, it is important to confirm your pickup time and location. We also recommend that you take your driver’s phone number in case there are any problems.
Learn more about taking a tuk tuk in Cambodia.
Why not take a tour?
If you prefer to take a tour you can book a very affordable Angkor Wat tour on Klook which includes hotel pick up, drop off, transportation around Angkor Wat and an English Speaking guide.
How long should you spend at Angkor Wat with kids?
If you are planning to visit Angkor Wat with kids, then in most cases, we recommend getting a one-day pass. A three-day pass is more expensive, and this will add up quickly for a family. Furthermore, it is possible to see all of the best and main temples in a single day. In our opinion, most families will not benefit very much from spending more than a day at Angkor Wat.
If you have a one-day ticket for Angkor Wat, you may wish to get up and see the sunrise. But be aware, this is a very early start and it is likely to be very tiring, especially if you are traveling with young kids. In order to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat, you will need to set off from Siem Reap by around 4:30 a.m. in order to arrive at the main Angkor Wat before the sun comes up. Watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat is very beautiful and impressive, but it is also a very popular activity, and the area is likely to be very crowded. This could potentially be stressful if you are visiting with young kids, so it is important to make the decision carefully.
What are the opening times at Angkor Wat?
Angkor Wat is open 7 days a week and every day of the year. The ticket office opens at 5 am so that you can buy a ticket and see the sunrise. Even if you arrive early, it is likely to be quite busy, and you will often need to queue, so if you’re planning to see the sunrise, we recommend arriving before 5 am.
- Ticket Office: 5 am – 5.30 pm (you can buy tickets for the following day after 4.45 pm)
- Angkor Wat and Srassrang Temple: 5.00 am – 5.30 pm
- Bangheng Temple and Prerup Temple: 5.00 am – 7.00 pm
- All other temples: 7.30 am – 5.30 pm
Remember you can purchase tickets for the following day after 4.45 pm. This means that you don’t need to queue up in the morning for your ticket. Also, we found that they accepted this ticket on the same evening to see the sunset at Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat with kids – One Day Itinerary
If you only have one day to visit Angkor Wat, then we recommend visiting these temples in the following order (assuming you don’t visit for sunrise):
9 am – 10.30am Angkor Wat Temple
10.30 am – 12 pm Bayon (Temple with faces, don’t miss the stunning gate & the Elephant Terraces)
12.00 pm – 2.00 pm Ta Prohm Temple (Tomb Raider Temple)
2.00 pm – 3 pm Preah Khan (atmospheric ruined temple)
3 pm – 4 pm Neak Poan (lake temple)
5 pm – 6.30pm Bakheng Temple for Sunset (it can be busy and you may be too tired by this stage)
Some of the temples your driver may wish to pick you up at a different location to your drop-off location. They will generally tell you where they will pick you up, so it is important to pay attention to their instructions. It is also very helpful to have your driver’s phone number in case you are unable to find them.
TOP TIP: Another thing to consider is taking a trip back to Siem Reap for a couple of hours over lunchtime. This is the hottest part of the day, and you can take advantage of an air-conditioned restaurant or return to your room for a rest. You can also find much better and cheaper food in Siem Reap. Taking a few hours to rest in Siem Reap may cost a little extra with your driver, but it will also be a lot more restful for your family, and they are likely to enjoy the day a lot more if they have a break midway through.
Can you buy food and drinks at Angkor Wat?
Yes, you can buy food and drinks at Angkor Wat. Many places around the Angkor Wat temple complex sell drinks, including bottles of water and soft drinks. Buying drinks in Angkor Wat is more expensive than buying them in town; expect to pay around $1 – $2 for a bottle of water in Angkor Wat. You can also buy snacks and ice creams from some of the shops in Angkor Wat.
There are also several cafes and restaurants in the temple complex. These are also expensive and not very impressive. You may struggle to find kid-friendly food in Angkor Wat, so remember to bring plenty of supplies. Alternatively, we recommend taking a few hours back in Siem Reap town to rest and get some lunch. There is a lot more kid-friendly food in Siem Reap.
Angkor Wat with kids – What to bring
Food and breakfast
If you are planning to visit Angkor Wat with kids, it is important to be well-packed and well-prepared for the day. We recommend packing the day before, and if you’re planning to get an early start, it is also important to consider breakfast (no one wants to visit the 8th wonder of the world with grouchy kids!). If your hotel or guest house offers a free breakfast, speak to them about providing you a pack-up in the morning. Alternatively, you could visit one of the convenience stores or supermarkets situated in Siem Reap and buy some packed breakfast to take with you.
Packing list for Angkor Wat with kids
Here is a packing list of things you may wish to bring with you when you visit Angkor Wat with kids:
- Sun hats and sunglasses
- SPF 50 sun cream
- An umbrella for shade or protection from the rain
- A scarf to cover your shoulders if you wish to enter the temples
- Consider light, comfortable, and loose-fitting clothing
- Wear appropriate footwear for walking across rough terrain; you will also do a lot of walking throughout the day
- If you are planning to use your phone for photography, remember to make sure it is fully charged up the night before
- Bring plenty of money for tickets, food, and water (they do accept card payments for tickets)
- Passports if your kids are under 12 years old
- Snacks and plenty of drinking water
- If you’re traveling with young kids, you may also want to bring activities to engage your kids; for example, you could bring a sketchbook and coloring pencils or wax crayons so that they can take rubbings of the rock carvings
- Baby wipes – we recommend bringing baby wipes even if you are not traveling with a baby; Angkor Wat can be dirty. Your kids may even appreciate a cooling baby wipe after a few hours.
We also recommend that you consider your clothing for photography. In general, bright, vibrant block colors work well in photography at Angkor Wat due to all of the grey and brown stone.
What are the biggest challenges of visiting Angkor Wat with kids?
Although a visit to Angkor Wat is likely to be one of your top family travel experiences, it is also a very challenging and tiring day. It is important to pace yourself and listen to your kids; try to gauge their energy level and take rest when you need it.
The intense heat can be very challenging for kids, so it is important to consider sun protection, especially if you are visiting Angkor Wat on a clear sunny day. Sun hats and an umbrella for shade can be very helpful.
Another challenge of visiting Angkor Wat is the lack of family-friendly facilities. You will not find baby changing rooms in Angkor Wat. Although there are toilets located at all of the main temples, the toilets may still be too far apart if you are traveling with young kids. If you see a toilet, we recommend taking regular stops so that you don’t get caught out. The lack of baby changing rooms is a challenge throughout Cambodia. Learn more about Travel in Cambodia with a baby
If you are planning to visit three or more temples, you will invariably end up doing a lot of walking throughout the day; this can be very tiring for kids. Remember to pace yourself and remember that you don’t have to see everything.
Angkor Wat can also get quite crowded and intense; don’t expect to have these temples to yourself. The crowds can be quite overwhelming for children, especially if they have sensory issues.
It is important to make sure that you and your kids remain hydrated. Ultimately, getting ripped off for a few bottles of water is not as bad as one of your family going down with heat exhaustion.
Is Angkor Wat suitable for prams?
You could bring a pram along to Angkor Wat; however, we do not recommend this, especially if you are planning to explore the temples more deeply. Many of the temples have smooth paths around the outside, so you could appreciate these temples from a distance. However, if you actually want to explore the temples more thoroughly, you will find plenty of rough surfaces and steep, uneven staircases which are not suitable for prams.
What’s more, traveling around in a tuk tuk with a pram is likely to be awkward and clunky! Although you could technically fit a pram in a tuk tuk – this may not be a very enjoyable way to travel around Angkor Wat.
If you are planning to visit Angkor Wat with a baby, we recommend using a sling or a baby carrier. It is also important to be aware that there are no baby changing rooms in the Angkor Wat temple complex. Therefore we also recommend bringing a baby changing matt and being prepared to do baby changes out and about.
Summary – Angkor Wat with kids
Overall a trip to Angkor Wat with your family may be expensive but in our view it is well worth the cost (remember you have paid to get your family all this way!). A trip to Angkor Wat has the potential to be very tiring with kids – and if you misjudge it lots of things could go wrong. We have share plenty of practical tips and advice to help you plan your trip to Angkor Wat. We genuinely hope this guide removes any anxiety and helps you plan the family trip of a lifetime to one of the most unique and fascinating attractions in Southeast Asia.
