28 Must-Visit Attractions in Cambodia

Home to world-famous Angkor Wat, this UNESCO heritage site stretches across more than 400 kilometers squared and contains hundreds of temples and structures dating back to the Khmer Empire era. The most popular are Angkor Wat, Bayon and its multiple faces and root-riddled Ta Prohm, which was the location for parts of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, starring Angelina Jolie.

The National Museum is home to the world’s greatest collection of Khmer artifacts and is well worth a visit ahead of a trip to the temples of Angkor Wat. A stroll through the attraction takes in a range of sculptures, ceramics, and other ancient objects dating back to the prehistoric, pre-Angkorian, and post-Angkorian periods, offering an intriguing insight into the country’s rich history.

Unmissable thanks to its glittering golden roofs, the Royal Palace serves as the official royal residence of King Sihamoni, meaning parts of the sprawling palace grounds are closed to the public. However, the Throne Hall and surrounding buildings, as well as neighboring Silver Pagoda, can be visited, and you can take in intricately decorated temples and buildings, among manicured tropical gardens.

Phnom Kulen, or Kulen Mountain in Siem Reap province, offers a great day trip away from Angkor. The sacred site doubles up as a national park and is especially popular with Khmers during religious holidays, when offerings are left at the hilltop temple. The area is also home to two waterfalls for swimming, picnic areas, and Kbal Spean, an archaeological spot where The River of a Thousand Lingas is located.

Cambodia has a rich culture and heritage that is well worth exploring while visiting the country. The most common cultural activity is apsara dancing – Cambodian classical ballet – which has its roots steeped in Angkorian times. Evidence that the dance form existed as early as the 7th century can be seen in carvings at Sambor Prei Kuk temples in Kampong Thom province, where ethereal beings have been immortalised in stone. Cambodia Living Arts has spent more than two decades working to revive traditional Cambodian arts, while steering it into the contemporary sphere. The organisation puts on daily shows at 7pm in its dedicated theatre at Cambodia National Museum. Its traditional dance show features song, music, dance and theatre.

More than 30 species of Cambodian butterflies flutter around Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre in Siem Reap province, making it one of the largest fully enclosed butterfly centers in southeast Asia. Visitors can also learn, and see first-hand, the insects’ journey from egg to caterpillar, pupa, and finally, adult butterfly.

Cambodia Landmine Museum is the result of tireless work from landmine victim Aki Ra, who has contributed towards the huge operations to rid the country of explosives left over from the war. The museum, which is close to the Butterfly Centre, houses a collection of mines, mortars, and other weapons, as well as tells the stories of some of the country’s countless victims.

Standing as the capital’s only hill, this well-manicured park offers welcome respite from the capital’s heat. Wat Phnom pagoda and its intricately-detailed temple sits atop and welcomes visitors, with foreigners paying a $1 fee. Steer clear of the mischievous, and often vicious, monkeys.

Nature lovers will be in their element at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, where animals rescued from the clutches of poachers and illegal traders are nursed back to health by Wildlife Alliance. Animals include elephants, monkeys, tigers, and sun bears. A behind-the-scenes tour is also available.

This collection of 50 pre-Angkorian temples, which sit between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Kampong Thom province, recently received the coveted title of Cambodia’s third UNESCO World Heritage site. The ancient capital of Sambor Prei Kuk pays testament to some of the country’s earliest architecture and, for now, remains away from the crowds.

Dubbed Cambodia’s alternative to Cirque du Soliel, jaw-dropping performances blend theatrics, music, dance, acrobatics, and modern circus art to retell Khmer folktales with a modern take. Daily Phare performances take place in Siem Reap, with two or three shows a week in Battambang, depending on the season.

The 42-mile drive from Kampot town to Bokor’s peak is a bikers’ dream, with it only accessible to motorbikes and cars. It is home to the Popokvil waterfall, a giant Buddhist statue, an abandoned Bokor Hill Station, a giant casino, derelict church, unparalleled views, and a refreshingly cool climate.

The famous Cambodian dish of Kampot pepper and crab was born in this stylish seaside town, and a visit to the Crab Market serves up an authentic taste. Watch women wade into the sea to haul in the crab baskets ahead of being served the freshest dish in the Kingdom. There are several neighboring shacks to enjoy an accompanying beer.

Nestled a short ferry ride from Phnom Penh, this small island sits a million miles away from the capital’s hustle and bustle. Perfect to explore on the back of a bike, Koh Dach, also known as Silk Island, is renowned for its silk weaving, with a center dedicated to ancient techniques open to the public.

This pretty hilltop pagoda and surrounding area offers stunning views across the province’s pristine paddies. The sobering Killing Caves pay tribute to the lives lost there during the Khmer Rouge reign while spending sunset at the base of the site—the bat caves—has a seemingly endless stream of bats spiraling to the sky for a night of hunting.

Rumors have been circulating for the last few years about the famed bamboo train’s demise. However, it was recently confirmed it will be rebuilt to pave way for a train line. This unique trip sees passengers transported seven kilometers on a bamboo train, or norry, which is a wooden frame connected to an engine. Hitting speeds of 15 kilometers per hour, this is a fun way to watch the scenery whizz by.

Cambodia’s lesser known UNESCO site is well worth getting off the beaten track to visit. The stunning temple complex, which sits on the border of Thailand, boasts fewer crowds and a more authentic taste of the Khmer kingdom. Breath-taking views from its summit can be enjoyed.

A trip to this remote eastern province brings with it a wealth of wildlife opportunities. This includes rare Irrawaddy dolphins spotted swimming in stretches of the Mekong River and Cantor’s giant softshell turtles can be seen at the Mekong Turtle Conservation Centre. A taste of local life can be sampled at eco-tourism project Le Tonle.

Phnom Penh comes to life after hours and Bassac Lane is the place to be for drinks, live music, and bites. The almost-hidden alley is packed with a collection of boutique bars, restaurants, and stores, with the energy spilling into the early hours.

Stalls flogging everything from souvenirs, art, clothes, and jewelry to fruit and vegetables, household goods, and bike parts, a morning or afternoon can easily be spent wandering around the rabbit’s warren inside, with bargains waiting to be snagged if the haggling is right.

Cambodia has a pretty cool collection of deserted tropical islands, and the best part is hordes of tourists are yet to discover the majority. Koh Rong is the largest, most developed and popular. The term “developed” is used loosely, so don’t expect an island akin to Thailand’s Phuket. Infrastructure is basic, with electricity and wifi limited. The liveliest part of the jungle-clad island is the stretch of beach at Koh Touch, which is packed with guesthouses and backpacker bars. Southwestern Long Beach boasts kilometres of powder white sand, barely any people and the more exclusive Sok San Beach Resort and super-luxurious The Royal Sands Koh Rong.

Cambodia is home to the Cardamom Mountains, Southeast Asia’s largest remaining rainforest. While the last few decades have seen the jungle pillaged by illegal loggers and poachers, huge efforts are now underway to preserve the endangered and rare wildlife that calls the forest home. For the adventurous traveller who wants to explore this rugged terrain, several treks take place in the Cardamoms. These vary in length, difficulty and location, depending on what you’re after. It bodes well to remember this is the jungle, a real tropical jungle. There are no hospitals nearby, there are scary insects, snakes and spiders, and you will get eaten by mosquitoes so go prepared.

Cambodians love their food and are constantly snacking throughout the day. This means the country’s streets are awash with street food vendors selling a variety of local delicacies for visitors to sample. Breakfast, lunch and dinner times will see pavements fill with plastic tables and chairs, as locals gather to feast on rice dishes, num banh chok or Khmer noodles and curries. If you fancy sampling street food, then a good tip is to buy from a vendor that has crowds of Cambodians feasting at it. Alternatively, several tours run in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh that take guests on a guided tour of the swathe of food available on the streets

The Mekong River is a Southeast Asian icon, slicing through six countries as it makes its way from Tibet to Vietnam. In Cambodia, it enters at the northeastern province of Stung Treng from Laos, passing through Phnom Penh on its way to Vietnam. Trans-country cruises are available that take passengers along the Mekong from Laos to Cambodia and onto Vietnam, or a mix of the countries. These tend to span several days, or a few weeks, depending on the itinerary. Alternatively, a sunset cruise along the Mekong is a must while in Phnom Penh. At dusk, the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers light up with boats of varying sizes hitting the water for an evening of cruising.

Cambodians’ love of beer is apparent during any drive through the country. Towns, villages and cities are smattered with adverts for Angkor, Anchor and Cambodia beer – the top three tipples – and hip beer gardens that come alive at night. An evening in a beer garden sees a pretty uniform set-up: chairs and tables scattered throughout sheltered space, a small stage with live music or entertainment and heaps of beer towers. The friendly and curious nature of locals means it is more than likely that barangs (foreigners) will be invited to a table to join in the celebrations. It’s worth noting that Cambodians love to “cheers” or “chul mouy” – in fact they do it before every sip – so drinking a beer can take a while.

If you can stomach it, then go really local with your food and sample some of the insects Cambodians love to eat. The town of Skuon in Kampong Cham is famous for serving spiders and is dubbed ‘Tarantula Town’. Situated mid-way between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, villagers head into the jungle to catch the spiders before defanging them with their bare hands and selling them onto the vendors. They are deep-fried in chilli and garlic before being served as a roadside snack. If deep-fried tarantulas don’t tickle your fancy, then how about a buffet of grasshoppers, silkworms and crickets – they’re packed full of protein. In Phnom Penh, street vendors selling edible creepy crawlies can be found on Riverside in the evenings, or at Pub Street in Siem Reap.

For a really harrowing look at Cambodia’s recent past, Tuol Sleng – or S-21 – is a former prison camp in Phnom Penh city centre. During the Khmer Rouge reign of 1975 to 1979, it is estimated 17,000 people were sent to Tuol Sleng, and ultimately to their deaths. This was a torture centre and many died at the site. The remainder were rounded up and sent to nearby Choeung Ek to be executed. Today, visitors can walk around S-21 – which ironically was a school prior to the Pol Pot-led regime. Having been pretty much left undisturbed after being discovered by the liberating Vietnamese troops in 1979, blood remains on the walls, torture tools dot the site, and a moving exhibit showing the portraits taken of each prisoner – young and old – as they entered Tuol Sleng takes up several of the rooms. Only seven men are said to have survived S-21.

Cambodia is littered with killing fields, with an estimated two million people perishing under the Khmer Rouge regime. Choeung Ek – or The Killing Fields – is one of the largest sites, sitting about 20km outside of Phnom Penh. As well as being the place where those detained at S-21 were murdered, swathes of other Cambodians were killed here. The remains of 8,985 people – many were bound and blindfolded – were exhumed in 1980 from mass graves. Bone fragments and scraps of clothing litter the site, with more than 8,000 skulls arranged at a memorial stupa to the dead. Visitors are given an audio tour, featuring informative stories from Khmer Rouge survivors and former soldiers.