Millions of visitors go to Cambodia every year to see the biggest and most beautiful temple in the world – Angkor Wat. Although it is a beautiful sight and we will be talking about it in this post, it’s a shame that this is usually the only place visitors know about. This amazing country can offer a lot more to explore. Let’s explore the best places to visit in Cambodia together and I hope you will stay in Cambodia a bit longer and see more than Angkor Wat.
The Kingdom of Cambodia, home to more than 16 million people, is one of the poorest countries in its region. It is associated with the ruling of the Khmer Rouge, who committed genocide that resulted in the death of more than 2 million of its inhabitants. Although this happened almost 40 years ago, the country is still trying to overcome its sad past.
Despite this, Cambodia is a very popular destination in South-East Asia, mostly because it has something for everyone. You can spend your trip in wild nature, lying on the beach or enjoying sightseeing. These are our best places to visit in Cambodia and if you are not sure what to pack to Cambodia, trust us you don’t need much – check this great Southeast Asia packing list.
Angkor Wat – The largest temple complex in the world
Angkor Wat is one of the most breathtaking sights worldwide. The first temple was originally built as a Hindu shrine and rebuilt into the Buddhist temple during the 12th century. The whole complex is a part of World heritage, and it is so important for the country itself that you can even find it on the state flag. Just a little warning, you won’t be the only visitor in the temple. In fact, there will be at least a few hundreds anxious tourists, and most likely, the place will be very crowded. Check out our tips what you should know before going to Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat is the symbol of all of Cambodia
Don’t forget to find out as many information as possible before your trip. It is always wise to plan your vacation ahead, and if you’re struggling, choose from our list of the best temples in Angkor Wat. We recommend that you rent a motorcycle or a bicycle so you can move faster. You can also pay for a guided tour, we recomend GetYourGuide where you can book tour online.
The official language in Cambodia is Khmer, but you can also use French or English. Cambodia was a French colony for almost 100 years, and they left a significant mark. Not only can you speak French, but you can also enjoy fresh baguettes and other French pastry. It is a bit strange to eat a baguette in Asia, but it is a part of the country‘s history.
Phnom Penh – things to do in the capital of Cambodia
What to do in Phnom Penh? Brace yourself because you’re about to experience life in a city full of people riding motorcycles and bicycles in its tiny, dusty streets. As anywhere else in South Asia, the traffic is a bit crazy. Phnom Penh doesn’t have any skyscrapers or other tall buildings, but it does have the Royal Palace, National Museum, and the second best sight in Cambodia – Security Prison S-21 Tuol Sleng along with the Killing fields.
The Royal Palace
This palace from 1813 is home to the Cambodian Royal Family. The king doesn’t have any real power in the country, the prime minister does. The Royal Palace is also famous for its treasures, such as a giant face of Buddha and Silver Pagoda (the most visited sight of the whole complex). The floor in the Pagoda is made of silver tiles (rumour has it that there are more than 5000 tiles, and each one of them weighs more than 1 kilogram). The other favourite thing to see in Phnom Penh Royal Palace is a life-size golden Buddha ornamented with more than 95,000 diamonds. It is often called the Emerald Buddha. The palace is open every day, and the tour will take approximately three hours.
Majestic Royal Palace in the capital of Phnom Penh
The National Museum
The museum guards well-known artifacts from the golden age of Cambodian history – The Angkor era. The whole building looks almost like the Cambodian State symbol, already mentioned Angkor Wat. Although it might feel like you have already seen it before, don’t forget to stop by anyway. The entrance fee is cheap and it is only steps away from the Royal Palace.
Security Prison S-21 Tuol Sleng and the Killing fields
If you find yourself wondering about other places to visit in Phnom Penh, this is the one you simply can’t miss. Only seven people survived the cruel stay in the Security Prison S-21. The repressive policy of the Khmer Rouge regime led to the genocide of the Cambodian population. The prison building today serves as a memorial to this terrible genocide. You will see the torture machines, chains that were used for holding down the prisoners – mostly intellectuals, opponents of the regime or simply educated people with their families. For more information click to the official website of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
Former S-21 Prison Tuol Sleng remembers very bad times of Khmer Rouge
The last room shows a map of Cambodia made from the bones of tortured Cambodian children. Part of the prison is called The Killing Field, situated 15 km from the city centre (the best way to get there is to use a Tuk-Tuk). As the name itself reveals, the Killing fields were used for mass executions and also as mass graves for tortured prisoners.
The Giant monument in honor of the victims of genocide Khmer Rouge- The Killing Fields
Jungle experience in Virachey National Park
The Virachey National Park is located in a deep and isolated jungle in northeast Cambodia. Most of its three thousand kilometre area is waiting to be explored. The park is a very popular destination because it has everything you want from wild nature – mountains, lakes, waterfalls and wild animals. It may sound like a dream come true but the truth is, the park is closely coming to its end because of illegal logging and damage to rare trees and plants. Cambodia logged 29% of its original forests within 5 years, and the kingdom doesn’t have the finances to motivate the park administrator to guard the park properly.
We recommend you hire a guide from the local touristic office and stay in the park, at least for three days. It is truly a unique experience. The local guide will prepare meals in the middle of the jungle, you will sleep under the sky, hunt tarantulas, and the whole stay will end in a small poor village, where you can see the life of locals.
If you like to hiking, you will love Virachery National Park
Kep – the city of salt and crabs
One of the most well-known cities in Cambodia is Kep. We are certain that you will read about Kep in every article about the best places to visit in Cambodia. You can’t leave the country without walking on the salt and pepper field and eat crabs. Local fishermen catch thousands of them – fresh from the sea, and Kep’s restaurants serve them in hundreds of ways. When you are full of crabs and spent a lot of money on fresh salt and pepper, go for a trip to the close-by mountains or explore caves near the city.
View of salt plains
Kratié – the home of rare river dolphins
The Khmer Rouge regime has decimated not only Cambodian residents but also Cambodian animals. Local rivers used to be full of river dolphins, but these days, they are very rare. The best chance to see river dolphins is in Kratié, a small city by the Mekong River. You can rent a small boat or walk to a popular view on the hills. If you spot a dolphin, you can come back down and enjoy the city itself with its colourful houses, nice locals and good restaurants serving Cambodian cuisine
Freshwater dolphins are very unique in the world
Sihanoukville – beautiful beach resort
Sihanoukville is definitely one of the must-see places in Cambodia. The only navy harbour in the whole kingdom and also a popular beach resort. Visitors say that the sand beaches in Sihanoukville are just as beautiful as in nearby Thailand, but there are significantly fewer people enjoying them in Sihanoukville. If you find yourself sick of swimming and doing nothing at the beach, visit some of the nearby villages, go to a market or check out some rice fields. Just a bit further down is a forest reserve Raem.
Typical fishing village in Sihanoukville
Beautiful island Koh Rong with crystal clear sea
Koh Rong was a modest and lonely island until 2016 but then the protection period (used for holding down the island’s development) ended and the developing boom started. Nowadays it is a home of luxurious resorts inviting you to enjoy some relaxation and privacy along with a bit of partying and adventure. From the hotels, you can easily reach the jungle or waterfalls. There are some things you can’t buy for money, but in Koh Rong, you can buy almost anything. Boat trip, diving, yoga at the beach – you name it. If you want to enjoy the authentic atmosphere, leave the resort and visit some of the small villages on the island and taste one of the best traditional dishes.
Koh Rong Island is a paradise on Earth
And now you know what to do in Cambodia, here is short etiquette lesson.
- When you visit a Buddhist temple, cover your elbows and knees and take your shoes and hat off.
- Women can’t touch monks, not even by accident.
- If you are not swimming, don’t wear a swimsuit.
If you are still not sure if you want to visit Cambodia, here are 15 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Cambodia.
Do you know other great places to visit in Cambodia that we haven’t mentioned? Let us know in the comments. We have no doubt that there are a lot of interesting places to see and things to do in Cambodia.
Liked this post? PIN IT FOR LATER!!
Really Thanks a lot for this informative Post with images. Cambodia is a nice place and I have no any idea about these places but after reading this post and see images I feel wow it’s the amazing place. And really I will go there in these places with my family
Thank you Kimi Soni for this nice comment. I am happy to show more places the Cambodia can offer to the all travellers.
I thought there was more to Cambodia that Angor Wat. Great list, I would love to visit Cambodia. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard
Thank you, yeaahh..all Cabodia is very interesting, and there is more places to see and visit than Angkor Wat.
Seems like the perfect itinerary! Cambodia is on my bucketlist for ages. Hope to make it over there in the near future. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Hi Wendy, yep I hold thumbs you will go there soon.
I haven’t made it to this part of Asia, but I would love to go! Thanks for sharing these tips, for visiting Cambodia. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Hi Kimberly, thank you for nice comment, I hope one day you will go!
HUNTING TARANTULAS?! I’d rather spend time with those river dolphins. lol. Sleeping in the jungle under the stars sounds like quite an adventure though. The sky on that first picture is absolutely stunning.
Hi Sara, yeaah, we were huntig tarantulas, but unfortunatelly we didnt see any of them. I think everyobdy can find something interesting in the travelling around the Cambodia.
Cambodia has been on my list for a very long time, because of Angkor Wat. Didn’t not much more, but now I do 🙂 #theweeklypostcard
Thank you for the comment, I wanted to visit Cmabodia because the Angkor Wat, but then I find out the country offers much more !
That river dolphin looks like a cute old man! I visited Siem Reap and Phnom Penh a year or two ago and loved it. Some of the country’s history, and therefore its ‘dark tourism’ sites are quite upsetting, but it’s important that we remember what happened. Some beautiful temples too. I highly recommend people visit Cambodia! #TheWeeklyPostcard
Hi Keri, thank you for the nice comment, I am happy, you have visited the Cambodia and you like it as I do.The history of the country is very dramatic.
I can’t tell you how many people we’ve talked to who went to Cambodia and really only saw Angkor Wat, or who don’t know what else to see in the country! Great post – definitely recommended reading that we’ll be sharing with, well, everybody! Thanks for sharing it with us on #TheWeeklyPostcard!
Hi Rob and Ann, thank you for nice post, I am happy you wrote this, that Cambodia is not just Angkor Wat, but it has too much to offer. I would like to inspire people to visit something more than just the biggest temple, even it is magnificent.
Currently in Cambodia (Feb 2019) and I find a lot of this information completely out of date and misleading. Sihanoukville is no longer any kind of paradise. It’s a party shithole which is now overrun with 74 Chinese newbuild Casinos. Koh Rong is going the same way, although I hear there are still a few places on the island that remain quiet and natural, but this cannot be said of the main port and beaches. We were in Angkor Wat ten days ago and it is completely, utterly, overwhelmingly overrun with Chinese tourists. This is not xenophobic, it’s observational fact, they literally swarm the place, bus after bus after bus, thousands of them all on a mission to get their checklist selfie. It’s practically impossible to see the monuments. And you should be very careful before advising people to get motorbikes and tour the place themselves. We were pulled over by Siem Reap police for no reason. We were both wearing helmets and the motorbike was in good mechanical order. Also, we had our lights turned off (it’s illegal to put your lights on during the day on a motorbike). We were told by the police we needed a Cambodian driving license to rent and ride scooters. I googled this and since 2016 this turns out to be true, even though everyone will rent you a scooter and not inform you of this, regardless. The police then wait at checkpoints to shake you down, threaten to take you to the station to pay $100 fine or… you can tip them $15 there and then and go on your way, apparently exempt from any further extortion that day. A cursory google search revealed a story of an American tourist who parted with $500 over the same scam, so we counted ourselves lucky. Whilst the law about the driving license is true nationwide, in sleepy Kep no one seems to molest you about it, but I hear the shakedowns are pretty rampant also in Sinhoukville. Dolphins in Kratie and Jungle Tours, all sound pretty idyllic, they can be but they come at significant expense; a trip to see the dolphins for example typically $300pp, hardly suited for people backpacking, or budgeting for long term travel. What you will find is that access to most of the major beauty and natural resources of South East Asia now come at a premium price, with plenty of tourists prepared to splash their cash for just two weeks abroad, tick off their list of “must-dos” (which they read from blog posts like this), polluting the place and driving prices up everywhere.
Dear Julian, thank you very much for your honest comment, we appreciate the opinion of every traveller. Of course, I know that the information we have provided here is at least two years old. It is important for every traveller to remember that any info can be changed at any time so I hope that everybody search for fresh information. Moreover for every person travelling is a very individual thing. Someone could be unpleasant encounters with cops very exciting experience and others should take it so badly, that it ruin their holiday. We try to take every country as it is with all advantages and disadvantages – as there is always some of both. It is sad, that tourism ruins the culture in the country, but it is not only in Cambodia. There are more and more countries where you can find the same thing. The most exciting places or monuments are always overwhelmed by tourists – it is everywhere. It’s up to you – how you will treat this situation and what memories you keep. So we decided to take a positive way because the situation wouldn’t be better… So this is our way how we travel. I will keep Cambodia in my mind as a beautiful country which has own problems but also own beauty. 🙂