Things to do in Cambodia
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Top 10 attractions in Cambodia
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is located in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Built in the early 12th century as the state temple and mausoleum for Khmer King Suryavarman II, it took over 30 years to complete. While earlier Angkor kings primarily worshipped Shiva, this temple was dedicated to Vishnu. Later, it gradually transformed into a Buddhist monastery and remains one of the few Angkor monuments where religious functions continue today, with monks still visiting. The entire complex is modeled after Mount Meru from Hindu mythology, featuring a wide moat and outer walls enclosing three elevated concentric galleries, with five central towers arranged in a quincunx pattern—the silhouette depicted on Cambodia's national flag. Unlike most temples in Angkor, Angkor Wat faces west, creating its iconic sunrise scene: at dawn, standing by the pond in front of the west gate, visitors watch the sun rise behind the five towers, their reflections mirrored on the water. The outer gallery walls are adorned with extensive bas-reliefs, including the awe-inspiring Churning of the Ocean of Milk depicting gods and asuras pulling a giant serpent. Scattered across the walls are over a thousand apsara carvings, each with unique hairstyles, attire, and dance poses worth examining closely. Enter through the west gate via the causeway and follow the central axis inward—this layered progression offers deeper immersion than a hurried visit. Arrive early to secure a prime sunrise photography spot by the pond. Note that temple steps are steep, some with narrow risers, so wear comfortable, slip-resistant shoes. As a religious site, visitors must cover shoulders and knees and avoid climbing or leaning on carvings. △ Experience the true stories and mysterious legends of Angkor Wat, with every spot being a great photo opportunity. △ Today, Angkor Wat remains mysterious and magnificent, attracting thousands of travelers from around the world.Cambodia · Siem Reap
Angkor Archaeological Park
Angkor Archaeological Park is a vast complex of structures left by the Khmer Empire, scattered across the jungles and fields north of Siem Reap. It covers a vast area, encompassing dozens of temple ruins and ancient city remains. The core of the park consists of two main parts: Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Angkor Wat is the best-preserved structure in the entire site, originally a Hindu temple that later incorporated Buddhist beliefs. Five towers rise above layers of galleries, the inner walls of which are covered in bas-reliefs depicting scenes from Hindu epics and the history of the Khmer dynasty, featuring extensive narratives and numerous figures. The silhouette of this building is also used as the design on the flag of Cambodia. Angkor Thom is the site of the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. The stone bridges outside the city gates are lined with statues of devas and asuras churning the Ocean of Milk. Bayon Temple at the center of the city is famous for its dozens of towers with four-faced Buddhas, each face carved with a serene, smiling expression, known as the "Smile of Khmer." Ta Prohm is renowned for its unique view of giant tree roots intertwined with stone structures.Cambodia · Siem Reap
Royal Palace of Cambodia
The Royal Palace of Phnom Penh, also known as Preah Barom Reachea Vaeng Chaktomuk, is named after the intersection of the Mekong River, the Tonle Sap River and the Bassac River. This is the palace of the King of Cambodia. It is composed of a group of golden roofs and yellow walls. It consists of many large and small palaces such as Chaya Hall, Golden Temple and Silver Temple. It is exquisitely shaped and magnificent, full of traditional Khmer architecture and religious tone. On the cloister of the building is a magnificent relief mural depicting Angkor Wat, depicting the achievements and religious stories of the dynasties. Local residents and monks alike enjoy keeping cool on the spacious lawn in front of the palace, it's extremely lively.Cambodia · Phnom Penh
Koh Rong
Koh Rong Island is located in the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest of Sihanoukville. It takes about 2 hours to arrive by boat from Sihanoukville. Choose to live on the island for a week, lie in a hammock by the sea, chat with the locals with gestures without a word, and try a life of isolation. There are also many European and American reality shows that have been filmed here, making it an ideal vacation choice. Koh Rong Island is rich in landforms, with mountains, hills and forests, which also contain seasonal waterfalls and streams. Since it has not yet been fully developed, it has become a paradise for marine life. It is a good choice for diving and snorkeling. At night, you can also see glittering plankton. In addition, there are more than 20 beaches along the coast of Koh Rong Island. SokSanBeach is a beach on the island. The coastline is long, the sand is fine, and the sea water is clear.Cambodia · Sihanoukville
Angkor Thom
Tongwangcheng, also known as Great Angkor and Angkor Thom, was the last capital of the Khmer Empire. It was destroyed by war and rebuilt several times. It was the "heart" of Angkor's monuments. At its peak, it had a population of millions. Today, the moat bridge, the city gate, and the remains of the Bayon Temple, Bapuang Temple, and the Palace in the Sky are the main attractions of the tour. The entire Tongwang City is square, with a perimeter of 14 kilometers and a moat with a width of 100 meters. There are 5 city gates in the whole city, above which there are four-sided Buddha statues facing the four directions, and there is a bridge across the moat outside each gate. The south gate and the north gate are the gates for people to pass through, the east gate is used for funerals, and the west gate is for criminals. These four gates all lead to the Bayon Temple in the center of the city. The East Gate was once the filming location of the movie "Tomb Raider", and there is a "Victory Gate" on the north side of the East Gate that leads directly to the palace, which is dedicated to the king and the triumphant army. Tour guide The general way to visit Tongwang City is from the south gate. There are 27 stone statues on both sides of the moat bridge outside the gate. The stone statues are about 2.5 meters high and sit in a kneeling shape, holding the snake king "Wasuki" in his arms. This is the legend The Indian myth of "churning the sea of milk". From the south gate to the north to the center of Tongwang City, you can see the Bayon Temple, which is a magnificent and important building in the city. The top of its pagoda is the "Khmer Smile", and the reliefs on the walls of the cloister are also It is worth watching carefully, and it is recommended to spend more time visiting here. To the northwest of the Bayon Temple is the Ba Puang Temple. This common three-story platform building in Angkor used to be the center of the old royal city. The bottom floor was carved with various animal statues, but the top has collapsed. To the north of Bapuang Temple is the Palace in the Sky. Although it is called a palace, it is actually a temple in the palace. A golden pagoda was built on the top platform, but it is no longer visible. The real palace is about 200 meters northeast of the palace in the sky. Because it is a wooden structure, it no longer exists, and only the entrance remains. Not far from the original location of the palace, there are symmetrical war elephant steps and leprosy king steps. If you enter Tongwangcheng from the Victory Gate, you can see it if you walk straight ahead. The War Elephant Step is the king's reviewing stand, and it is also the place where the celebration ceremony and the elephant fighting meeting are held. The surviving giant elephant stone sculpture is its major feature. The Leprosy Steps were the site of the royal crematorium at that time, named after a genderless statue of the "Leprosy King" at the top of the platform. In addition to these well-known ruins, there are other buildings such as the Zodiac Pagoda in Tongwang City. If you have time, you may wish to visit them one by one. It takes a long time to visit Tongwangcheng in one visit. You can bring your own food to eat in the city, and then please take away the garbage. Of course, you can also enter and exit Tongwangcheng multiple times, and each time you see some scenic spots, it will be more calm.Cambodia · Siem Reap
Phnom Penh Night Market
This night market is located by the Tonle Sap River. It is mainly engaged in daily necessities and tourist souvenirs. There are many local people. It is a good place to spend time at night. The night market was rebuilt from a street garden. The original grass was changed to a cement tile floor, with an area of about 4,000 to 5,000 square meters, surrounded by iron pipe railings. There are two openings along the street, one goes in and the other goes out, and the entry and exit are fairly orderly. There are multiple rows of colored commercial sheds of uniform specifications, and there are a wide variety of commodities. There are clothing, shoes and hats, flowers, food, hand accessories, cosmetics, daily necessities, as well as a large number of stone carvings, bamboo and wood products, and Buddha statues with Khmer characteristics. Probably more popular with locals than foreigners. Foreign tourists come here to shop and remember to bargain hard, because the price is always raised.Cambodia · Phnom Penh
Tonlé Sap
Tonlé Sap, also known as Phnom Penh Lake, is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. It is connected to the water by water.Phnom Penh Lake. The Tonle Sap River connects to the Mekong River, which flows through Phnom Penh. Several floating villages dot the lake, nicknamed "Vietnamese Floating Villages" because of the large number of Vietnamese refugees who inhabited it. You can take a boat tour on the lake to visit these floating villages and see houses, churches, schools and other buildings on the water. In the evening, you can also appreciate the sunset over the lake, which is different from that at Angkor Wat. Tonlé Saphas a very distinct seasonality. The dry season runs from December to April, when the average water depth is one meter. The lake's surface area is several times smaller than during the rainy season, but the climate is milder during this period, making it suitable for sightseeing. It takes about a half-hour drive from downtown Siem Reap to Tonlé Sap. Upon reaching the lakeside pier, you'll see numerous tour boats soliciting business. Due to the different locations of the floating villages on the lake, boat tour fees vary, generally around US$15-20. It's worth discussing your trip with the boatman in advance to determine which floating village you'd like to visit and the price. Alternatively, specialized boat companies, such as Tara Boat, offer half-day tours, sunset cruises, and even tours of multiple floating villages.Cambodia · Sot Nikum
Pub Street
Siem Reap's Pub Street is located next to the bustling old downtown. This street has dozens of different bars, pubs and clubs, many of which are popular with tourists. The bars here are quite unlike traditional pubs and clubs, in that many of them also serve full meals. During daylight hours you can enjoy authentic Southeast Asian cuisine at the restaurants which line the street and, once night falls, you can relax with a drink at the bar while you experience Siem Reap's unique nightlife. Furthermore, many of the bars and restaurants on Pub Street also sell English-language books, postcards, souvenirs and handicrafts.Cambodia · Siem Reap
Prasat Beng Mealea
Prasat Beng Mealea is located approx. 40 km east of Angkor Wat and approx. 10 km northeast of Banteay Srei Temple. It is completely lost in the wilderness, where you can see what Angkor Wat looked like sleeping in the jungle before its discovery. Although Prasat Beng Mealea is now almost entirely in ruins and enveloped by the jungle, making it impossible to see in its entirety, its uniqueness still makes it worth a special visit.Cambodia · Svay Leu
Bayon Temple
Bayon Temple is the center and the essence of Tongwang City (that is, Greater Angkor). It was built at the end of the 12th century as a temple built by King Jayavarman VII for himself. Not only can you find the famous "Khmer Smile" here, you can also admire the rich and vivid reliefs on the cloisters. Many people choose to watch the sunrise at the Bayon Temple in the morning, so there are often crowds in the morning. In fact, the Bayon Temple in the evening is also worth visiting, not only to appreciate its relatively quiet side, but also to watch the sunset here. The entire Bayon Temple building is divided into three floors, the lower two floors are square, and the walls of the cloister are engraved with reliefs; the top floor is circular, with large and small pagodas erected. Originally there were 49, but now there are only 37 left. The larger stupa in the middle is about 40 meters high, and the others are surrounded by stars like the moon. The over 100-meter-wide corridor originally had a wooden roof, but now only broken walls and huge stone pillars can be seen. On the walls of the existing cloister, you can see very rich reliefs. The inner layer is mainly about myths and religious stories, such as stirring the sea of milk and the image of God Vishnu. The outer layer is based on real life, ranging from ancient war accounts to ordinary People's life, the scenery of Tonle Sap Lake, etc. These vivid reliefs seem to be telling a distant story, and they are precious historical relics that must be seen. The top of the pagoda is engraved with a huge four-faced Buddha. The four sides of the Buddha statue represent compassion, compassion, joy, and equanimity, and they all have a peaceful smile. If you look closely, you will find that these smiles have subtle differences, and the slightly upturned corners of the mouth can't tell whether they mean tolerance or ridicule, as if there is a secret that the world will never understand. And this is the "Khmer Smile" that makes Angkor Wat famous in the world.Cambodia · Siem Reap
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Free things to do in Cambodia
Koh Rong
Cambodia · SihanoukvillePhnom Penh Night Market
Cambodia · Phnom PenhPub Street
Cambodia · Siem Reap
Tonle Sap River
Cambodia · Phnom Penh
Independence Monument
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Cambodia · Sihanoukville
Pre Rup Temple
Cambodia · Siem Reap
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What travelers say about Cambodia
_TT***905 October 2026
4.0
Worth visiting at least once. The scale of Angkor Wat is impressive, and seeing the temples up close feels very different from just seeing photos online. Go early if you can, especially for sunrise, and be prepared for quite a bit of walking. The heat can also be intense, so bring water and wear comfortable shoes.
Angkor Wat
徐徐霞客Rr5 August 2022
5.0
Angkor Archaeological Park is a very nice place. If you love history, you will definitely be interested in it. In addition to some historical buildings, there are also some religious buildings that are very novel, and the vegetation here is also very ancient.
Angkor Archaeological Park
Nemo6669992 September 2026
5.0
Royal Palace of Cambodia (Phnom Penh) is one of the city’s most iconic attractions, praised for its stunning Khmer architecture, golden spires, and the famous Silver Pagoda. Visitors generally find it beautiful and culturally rich, though reviews note it can be crowded and parts of the complex are off-limits.
Royal Palace of Cambodia
lkm6171 September 2026
5.0
Business Hours:Address:Tips:Reasons to Recommend:Reasons to Recommend:koh rong village23 and you
Koh Rong
Lsh7898 September 2026
5.0
Business Hours:Address:Tips:Reasons to Recommend:Reasons to Recommend:Angkor Thom siem reap province
Angkor Thom
Jen79721 August 2026
5.0
Phnom Penh night market Business Hours:Address:Tips:Reasons to Recommend:Reasons to Recommend:best
Phnom Penh Night Market
bongchroungh8 June 2026
5.0
Pub Street is a vibrant and lively area with plenty of restaurants, bars, and entertainment. The atmosphere is fun and welcoming, making it a great place to spend an evening in Siem Reap. While busy and tourist-focused, it offers a good variety of food, drinks and nightlife option
Pub Street
Nara Travel Notes31 May 2026
5.0
Beng Mealea is one of the most atmospheric jungle temples near Siem Reap. It feels wilder than the main Angkor temples, with collapsed galleries, stone blocks, trees, wooden walkways and a real lost-temple mood.Comfortable shoes are important because of uneven stones and steps. I would go in the morning or closer to soft light, bring water and take time to walk slowly through the ruins. A great half-day trip if you want a more adventurous temple experience outside the busiest Angkor circuit.
Prasat Beng Mealea
E38***0523 July 2026
5.0
The smiling faces of Bayon Temple are its most captivating feature, with over 200 massive stone countenances carved into 54 towers. Scholars believe these serene, enigmatic smiles represent Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, or the powerful King Jayavarman VII himself. As you walk through the upper terrace, these giant faces look down on you from every angle, creating a surreal and deeply spiritual atmosphere. The daytime sun casts beautiful shadows across the stone features, bringing their calm expressions to life. It is an unforgettable sight that forms the creative heart of the entire temple experience.
Bayon Temple