Top Things to Do in Cambodia
40 must-see attractions and experiences
Cambodia is a country whose beauty and trauma are inseparable. The temple complex of Angkor Wat — the largest religious monument ever built — draws millions of visitors annually, but understanding Cambodia requires looking beyond the well-known towers. The Khmer Empire, which at its zenith controlled much of mainland Southeast Asia, left a legacy of architectural brilliance that extends across dozens of temples, waterways, and ceremonial sites. The Khmer Rouge genocide of the 1970s, which killed nearly a quarter of the population, left scars that remain visible in museums, memorials, and the demographics of a remarkably young nation. Modern Cambodia is defined by resilience and rapid change. Phnom Penh has transformed from a shell-shocked capital into a city of riverside promenades, thriving art scenes, and a food culture that ranges from sophisticated Khmer cuisine to the street food stalls that line every market. Siem Reap is the way into Angkor but has developed its own identity as a cultural hub, with the Phare Circus, silk farms, and floating villages adding depth to any temple itinerary. Beyond these two cities, Cambodia offers pristine islands, cardamom-forested mountains, and the vast Tonle Sap lake system — Southeast Asia's largest freshwater body and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Don't Miss These
Our top picks for visitors to Cambodia
Siem Reap Angkor Airport Taxis (from Airport to Hotel)
Day TripsA reliable private airport transfer service between Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) and hotels in Siem Reap, with drivers waiting at the arrival terminal holding a name board. The service eliminates the confusion of navigating Cambodia's newest international airport, which opened in late 2023 and sits 40 kilometers from the city center — significantly farther than the old airport. [VIATOR]
Siem Reap: One-Way Transfer from Hotel to Airport (SAI)
Day TripsA dedicated departure transfer from Siem Reap hotels to the new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, with professional drivers and air-conditioned vehicles. The service picks up from any hotel in the city and delivers to the airport departure terminal. Given the airport's distance, allowing 90 minutes for the transfer is recommended. [VIATOR]
Cambodia Intro
Day TripsA multi-day guided tour covering Cambodia's essential highlights — Phnom Penh's urban energy, Angkor Wat's temple complex, and the white-sand beaches of Koh Rong Sanloem island. The itinerary balances history, culture, and beach relaxation, with group meals at local restaurants and accommodation in well-located hotels. Snorkeling, kayaking, and street food tours are included. [VIATOR]
Siem Reap Floating Village Sunset Jeep Tour / SUV Car Available
Cultural ExperiencesA half-day tour to a floating village on the Tonle Sap Lake, UNESCO's largest freshwater Biosphere Reserve in Southeast Asia. The tour travels by open-top jeep through rice paddies and rural villages before reaching the lake, where a boat tour navigates the floating community. The sunset return through the countryside is the visual highlight. [VIATOR]
2 Days Discover Angkor Wat Complex and Cambodia's Villages Tours
Cultural ExperiencesA two-day tour combining the major Angkor temples (Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm) with visits to rural Cambodian villages and lesser-known remote temples. The itinerary avoids the most crowded hours at popular temples and includes time in communities that most tours skip. Accommodation and meals are included. [VIATOR]
Private 3-Days tour at comfortable areas
Cultural ExperiencesA complete three-day private tour covering Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei, and several lesser-visited temples, with a dedicated guide and air-conditioned vehicle. The three-day format allows unhurried exploration with breaks for lunch at restaurants within the archaeological park. The guide provides deep historical context on the Khmer Empire. [VIATOR]
2-Days in temples and other areas
Cultural ExperiencesA two-day guided exploration of the Angkor Archaeological Park covering Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and additional temples and rural areas. The guide plans the itinerary to minimize crowds and maximize photographic opportunities. Lunch stops at local restaurants within the park provide authentic Khmer cuisine breaks. [VIATOR]
From Siem Reap: Angkor Wat and Floating Village 3-Day Trip
Cultural ExperiencesA three-day trip combining Angkor Wat's sunrise, the major temple circuit, and a visit to Kampong Phluk floating village with traditional Cambodian breakfast. The itinerary balances archaeological exploration with the living culture of the Tonle Sap communities. Hotel pickup and English-speaking guide included. [VIATOR]
Private Angkor Sunrise Guided Tour
Cultural ExperiencesA budget-friendly private tour starting before dawn to catch the sunrise over Angkor Wat, followed by visits to Bayon and Ta Prohm — the three most popular temples in the complex. The guide provides historical commentary throughout, and the early start means you experience the temples before the midday crowds arrive. Air-conditioned vehicle included. [VIATOR]
Angkor Sunrise Vespa Tour / Tuk Tuk or Car
Cultural ExperiencesExperience Angkor Wat's sunrise from the back of a classic Vespa scooter, followed by a morning tour of the temple ruins that weaves through backroads and less-visited sections of the archaeological park. The Vespa adds a sense of adventure and freedom that larger vehicles can't provide. Tuk-tuk and car alternatives are available for those who prefer them. [VIATOR]
Cultural Experiences
Cambodia's cultural experiences center on the Angkor temple complex, accessible through tours ranging from single-day highlights to four-day look ats. The temples span five centuries of Khmer architectural evolution, and a good guide transforms stone carvings into living narrative. Floating village tours add the dimension of contemporary water-based culture.
Siem Reap Countryside Jeep Tour / SUV Car Available
Cultural ExperiencesA half-day tour exploring Siem Reap's rural outskirts by open-top jeep, visiting local communities, craft workshops, and non-touristic villages. The itinerary includes a visit to Itchner (a local community area), silk weaving demonstrations, and interactions with farming families. The jeep format allows access to unpaved roads and off-the-beaten-track locations. [VIATOR]
4-Day Excursion of Angkor, Koh Ker, Beng Mealea, Tonle Sap and Waterfalls
Cultural ExperiencesAn extended four-day itinerary covering the major Angkor temples plus remote sites — the lost city of Koh Ker, the jungle-swallowed Beng Mealea, Tonle Sap floating villages, and Phnom Kulen waterfalls. The longer format allows visits to sites that single-day tours cannot reach, and the guide connects the scattered temples into a coherent narrative of the Khmer Empire's rise and decline. [VIATOR]
Private Temples Guided Tour (Angkor Wat, Ta Prom & Angkor Thom)
Cultural ExperiencesA focused private tour covering the three essential Angkor temples — Angkor Wat (the icon), Ta Prohm (the jungle temple), and Angkor Thom with its Bayon temple faces — with a licensed guide who tailors the itinerary for a peaceful, unhurried experience. The guide knows the optimal visiting order to avoid peak crowds at each temple. [VIATOR]
3-Day Angkor Wat with All Interesting Major Temples, Banteay Srei & Beng Mealea
Cultural ExperiencesA thorough three-day temple itinerary covering the small and grand circuits of Angkor plus day trips to Banteay Srei (the 'jewel of Khmer art') and Beng Mealea (the jungle temple). The guide covers the Victory Gate, Bayon, Baphuon, Royal Enclosure, elephant terraces, and the Leper King terrace in addition to the headline temples. [VIATOR]
Angkor Wat Sunrise Private Experience with Guide from Siem Reap
Cultural ExperiencesA private sunrise experience at Angkor Wat followed by a guided tour of the temple complex, including the bas-relief galleries, the central tower climb, and the surrounding moat and causeway. The guide provides detailed art-historical commentary on the Vishnu dedication, the Churning of the Ocean of Milk bas-relief, and the temple's astronomical alignments. [VIATOR]
Angkor Wat
Cultural ExperiencesThe largest religious monument ever constructed, Angkor Wat was built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and later converted to Buddhism. The temple's five towers represent Mount Meru, the home of the gods, while its moat symbolizes the cosmic ocean. The 800 meters of continuous bas-relief carving in the outer gallery constitute the longest continuous narrative artwork in the world.
Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia ·View on Map
Ta Prohm Temple
Cultural ExperiencesDeliberately left in a state of partial ruin, Ta Prohm is the temple where the jungle fought the stonemasons and won. Massive silk-cotton trees and strangler figs grow through, over, and around the 12th-century Buddhist monastery, their roots prying apart lintels and engulfing doorways. The atmosphere — dappled light, birdsong, the creak of branches against stone — is unmatched at Angkor.
Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia ·View on Map
Entertainment
Phnom Penh's spa culture offers excellent treatments at prices that make daily massages feasible — a practical consideration given the physical demands of Cambodia's temple circuit.
Foot Reflexology Massage
EntertainmentSamatha Spa in Phnom Penh offers professional foot reflexology and body massage treatments in a luxurious setting. The spa blends traditional Cambodian healing techniques with international massage modalities, providing a restorative break from sightseeing. Treatments are performed by trained therapists in private rooms with attention to hygiene and comfort. [VIATOR]
Outdoor Activities
Cycling through Angkor's backroads and biking-and-boating in Phnom Penh offer active, immersive alternatives to vehicle-based touring. The flat terrain and rural scenery make Cambodia good for cycling, and operators provide well-maintained equipment.
Angkor Sunrise Expedition Cycling Through Serene Backroads
Outdoor ActivitiesA small-group cycling tour that begins with the Angkor Wat sunrise and continues through 15-25 kilometers of quiet backroads, village paths, and lesser-visited temple grounds. The route avoids main roads and passes through rice paddies, local communities, and forest sections that motorized tours miss entirely. The pace is easy and suitable for casual cyclists. [VIATOR]
Phnom Penh Bike & Boat Sunset Tour / E-Bike Available
Outdoor ActivitiesA combination cycling and boat tour of Phnom Penh that begins with a ride through the Mekong Island's rural landscape — farmland, silk weaving villages, and riverside paths — before boarding a boat for a sunset cruise on the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. E-bikes are available for those who prefer electric assist. The tour reveals a side of Phnom Penh invisible from the city center. [VIATOR]
Day Trips
Airport transfers between Siem Reap and the new SAI airport are a practical necessity given the 40-km distance, while multi-day tours handle the logistics of a country where independent travel requires flexibility and patience.
Siem Reap City to Siem Reap Angkor Airport by Shuttle Bus
Day TripsA budget shuttle bus service between Siem Reap city hotels and Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, with hotel pickup and airport drop-off. The service runs scheduled departures with professional drivers and English-speaking staff. The shuttle is the most affordable transfer option for the 40-km journey to the new airport. [VIATOR]
Private One-Way Arrival/Departure Transfer (REP airport and Siem Reap town).
Day TripsA private transfer service between Siem Reap Airport and town accommodations, available for both arrivals and departures. The service offers reliable, air-conditioned vehicles with English-speaking drivers and 24-hour availability, including late-night arrivals. Both daytime and nighttime rates are offered. [VIATOR]
Notable Attractions
From the Phare Circus's electrifying performances to lotus silk weaving and ethical elephant encounters in Mondulkiri, Cambodia's notable attractions show a country rebuilding its cultural identity through creativity, craft, and conservation.
Royal Palace of Cambodia
Notable AttractionsThe official residence of the King of Cambodia since 1866, the Royal Palace compound in Phnom Penh contains the Silver Pagoda (whose floor is tiled with 5,000 silver tiles), the Throne Hall, and surrounding gardens. The complex blends traditional Khmer architecture with French colonial influences. Several halls are open to visitors, displaying the coronation regalia and royal collections.
Samdach Sothearos Blvd (3), Phnom Penh, Cambodia ·View on Map
Phare, The Cambodian Circus
Notable AttractionsFounded by graduates of a Battambang art school that uses performing arts for social healing, Phare is a contemporary circus combining acrobatics, theater, music, and dance to tell Cambodian stories — including Khmer Rouge survival narratives. The performers are young Cambodians from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the shows blend traditional Khmer culture with modern circus arts at a professional level. Proceeds fund the associated school and social enterprise.
Ring Road, south of the, Intersection, Sok San Rd, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia ·View on Map
Phnom Kulen Waterfall
Notable AttractionsLocated in Phnom Kulen National Park, this two-tiered waterfall cascades into a natural swimming pool surrounded by tropical forest. The mountain is considered the birthplace of the Khmer Empire — King Jayavarman II declared Cambodian independence here in 802 AD. The riverbed above the falls is carved with thousands of lingas (Hindu fertility symbols), creating a sacred underwater sculpture garden.
ឃុំ ខ្នងភ្នំ, Khnong Phnom commune, H495+F79, Popel, Cambodia ·View on Map
Lotus Silk Farm – Lotus Farm (by Samatoa) - Authentic Lotus Silk Experience
Notable AttractionsThis farm and workshop near Siem Reap produces lotus silk — one of the rarest and most expensive textiles in the world, made by extracting microscopic fibers from lotus stems and hand-spinning them into thread. Visitors observe the entire process from harvesting lotus stalks through spinning, dyeing, and weaving. The resulting fabric is featherweight, breathable, and commands luxury prices.
11 road 63, ភ្នំក្រោម 17250, Cambodia ·View on Map
Popokvil Waterfall
Notable AttractionsA two-tiered waterfall in Bokor National Park near Kampot, Popokvil cascades through dense forest in the Elephant Mountains. The upper falls drop into a pool surrounded by moss-covered rocks, and the lower tier has a broader cascade suitable for swimming. The surrounding forest is home to gibbons, hornbills, and other wildlife. Access is via a well-maintained road through the national park.
M352+GG2, Phumi Pôpôk Vil, Cambodia ·View on Map
Chrok La Eang Waterfall
Notable AttractionsA multi-tiered waterfall in Mondulkiri Province's forested highlands, Chrok La Eang cascades through pristine jungle and is accessible via a forest trail. The remote location means you're likely to have the falls largely to yourself, with natural swimming pools at the base of each tier. The surrounding forest is home to indigenous Bunong communities.
55GC+4GJ, Cambodia ·View on Map
Kompong Khleang Village
Notable AttractionsOne of the largest floating and stilt communities on the Tonle Sap Lake, Kompong Khleang is home to roughly 20,000 people living in houses elevated on stilts that can reach 10 meters during the dry season, when the lake recedes dramatically. The village includes a school, pagoda, and market, all on or above the water. It's less touristic than the more accessible Kompong Phluk.
កំពង់ឃ្លាំង, Cambodia ·View on Map
Mondulkiri Project Elephant Sanctuary
Notable AttractionsAn ethical elephant sanctuary in Mondulkiri Province's Sen Monorom area where rescued elephants live in semi-wild conditions in the forest. Visitors walk with the elephants through their natural habitat, observe feeding and bathing (no riding), and learn about conservation challenges facing Asian elephants in Cambodia. The project directly supports indigenous Bunong communities.
F54Q+7JC, Senmonorom, Cambodia ·View on Map
Museums & Galleries
Cambodia's museum landscape spans the full emotional range — from the harrowing Tuol Sleng genocide museum and Landmine Museum to the transcendent Khmer sculpture at the National Museum and the contemporary art scenes of Phnom Penh and Battambang. Together, they tell the story of destruction and resilience that defines modern Cambodia.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
Museums & GalleriesThis former high school was converted by the Khmer Rouge into Security Prison 21 (S-21), where an estimated 17,000 people were tortured and killed between 1975 and 1979. The museum preserves the prison largely as it was found, with barbed wire, shackles, and the haunting photographic portraits of prisoners taken on arrival. It is a profoundly difficult but essential visit for understanding Cambodia.
Street 113, 3, Phnom Penh, Cambodia ·View on Map
National Museum of Cambodia
Museums & GalleriesHoused in a distinctive red terracotta building designed in traditional Khmer style, the National Museum holds the world's largest collection of Khmer art and sculpture, spanning the pre-Angkorian period through the post-Angkor era. The collection includes the famous reclining Vishnu from the Western Mebon temple and a gallery of bronze and stone statuary that demonstrates the evolution of Khmer artistic style over 1,500 years.
Preah Ang Eng St. (13), Phnom Penh 120211, Cambodia ·View on Map
War Museum
Museums & GalleriesThis open-air museum near Siem Reap displays military hardware from Cambodia's decades of conflict — tanks, artillery, helicopters, MiG fighters, and landmines — along with personal stories from soldiers who served. The museum is run by former soldiers who provide firsthand accounts of the conflicts. Handling deactivated weapons and climbing on vehicles is permitted.
Sra Nge Commune, ក្រុងសៀមរាប, Cambodia ·View on Map
Cambodia Landmine Museum
Museums & GalleriesFounded by Aki Ra, a former child soldier who has personally defused over 50,000 landmines, this museum documents Cambodia's ongoing landmine crisis through displays of defused ordnance, photographs, and the personal story of its founder. The museum also funds a school and relief center for landmine victims. It's a sobering but inspiring testament to one man's mission to undo the damage of war.
67, Phumi Khna, Cambodia ·View on Map
Тheam's Gallery
Museums & GalleriesLocated in a traditional wooden Khmer house in Siem Reap, Theam's Gallery shows the lacquerwork, painting, and sculptural art of Theam, one of Cambodia's most important contemporary artists. His work blends Khmer artistic traditions with modern techniques, and many pieces directly engage with Cambodia's cultural heritage and recovery. The gallery-home setting makes the visit feel personal and intimate.
Veal Village, Phum Kokchack district, 50m on the right of, Street 30, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia ·View on Map
SOSORO - Preah Srey Içanavarman Museum
Museums & GalleriesPhnom Penh's museum of economy and finance, SOSORO uses interactive exhibits and historical artifacts to tell the story of money, trade, and economic life in Cambodia from the Angkor period through French colonialism to the present. The museum is beautifully designed with multilingual displays and a collection of coins, banknotes, and trading objects. The Khmer Rouge-era currency section is affecting.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia ·View on Map
ArtBox
Museums & GalleriesA contemporary art space in Phnom Penh that shows emerging Cambodian artists working across painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media. The gallery rotates exhibitions frequently and often features work that engages with Cambodia's identity, trauma, and transformation. It's part of the growing contemporary art scene that has made Phnom Penh one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic creative cities.
Krous Village Rd, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia ·View on Map
VIMEAN SOKHA MUSEUM
Museums & GalleriesA private museum in Phnom Penh dedicated to preserving Khmer cultural heritage through collections of traditional textiles, ceremonial objects, and artistic works. The museum's curated exhibitions connect contemporary Cambodian identity to its pre-Khmer Rouge cultural traditions, many of which were nearly destroyed during the genocide. The collection is personal and passionately assembled.
Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia ·View on Map
Romcheik 5 Artspace & Café
Museums & GalleriesA combined art gallery, studio, and cafe in Battambang, Romcheik 5 shows work by local and international artists while providing studio space for residents. The cafe serves excellent Cambodian coffee and light meals, and the building itself — a converted shophouse — adds architectural charm. The artspace is central to Battambang's emerging identity as Cambodia's creative capital.
Street 201A, Krong Battambang, Cambodia ·View on Map
Natural Wonders
The Tonle Sap river system — which reverses flow annually, creating Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake — defines Cambodia's geography. The riverside areas in Phnom Penh where the Mekong and Tonle Sap converge provide a front-row seat to this hydrological phenomenon.
Koh Norea Riverside
Natural WondersA developing riverside area in Phnom Penh where the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers converge, Koh Norea offers waterfront walking, local food stalls, and views of the dramatic water junction where two of Southeast Asia's great rivers meet. The area is evolving rapidly and represents Phnom Penh's ongoing relationship with its defining waterways.
GXW5+R9, Phnom Penh, Cambodia ·View on Map
Planning Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
November through March is the dry season with comfortable temperatures and the best conditions for temple visiting. December and January are peak season with higher prices and larger crowds. The rainy season (June-October) brings lush green landscapes, fewer tourists, and dramatic cloud formations over the temples.
Booking Advice
Book Angkor multi-day tours and airport transfers at least a week in advance through Viator. Angkor temple passes are sold on-site (1, 3, or 7 days). The Mondulkiri Elephant Sanctuary requires advance booking due to limited daily visitors. Phare Circus shows sell out — book online.
Save Money
The 3-day Angkor pass offers the best value per day and allows you to pace your temple visits. Street food in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap is excellent and costs $1-3 per meal. Many museums charge under $5 entry. Use tuk-tuks rather than taxis for city transport — negotiate the fare before departing.
Local Etiquette
Cover shoulders and knees at temples and the Royal Palace — this is strictly enforced. Remove shoes before entering pagodas. When sitting in temples, never point your feet toward a Buddha image. Cambodians greet with the 'sampeah' (prayer-like hand gesture) — returning it shows respect. Tipping is not traditional but appreciated in tourist settings — $1-2 for guides and drivers is generous by local standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main temples to visit in Cambodia?
Angkor Wat is the most famous, but the Angkor Archaeological Park includes over 1,000 temples spread across 400 square kilometers. Don't miss Bayon Temple with its giant stone faces, Ta Prohm where tree roots engulf the ruins, and Banteay Srei known for its intricate pink sandstone carvings. A 1-day Angkor pass costs $37, 3-day is $62, and 7-day is $72.
Where are the best beaches in Cambodia?
Sihanoukville has several beaches, though it's heavily developed with Chinese casinos now. For a more relaxed vibe, head to the islands: Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem offer white sand beaches and clear water, accessible by ferry (45 minutes to 2 hours from Sihanoukville). Kep is quieter and known more for seafood than swimming, while Otres Beach south of Sihanoukville remains relatively low-key.
How much do Cambodia tour packages typically cost?
Budget group tours start around $30-50 per day including accommodation and transport, while mid-range private tours run $100-200 per person per day. Multi-day packages like a 5-day Siem Reap and Phnom Penh tour typically range from $400-800 depending on accommodation level and group size. We recommend comparing options from local operators in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, as they're often better value than booking internationally.
Can I visit Vietnam and Cambodia together?
Yes, many travelers combine both countries since they share a border with several crossing points. The most common route is flying into Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), traveling through Vietnam, then crossing by bus to Phnom Penh or taking a boat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh along the Mekong River. You'll need separate visas for each country, though both offer e-visas or visa-on-arrival options.
What are the main tourist attractions in Phnom Penh?
The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda show Cambodia's royal heritage with beautiful Khmer architecture. The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21 prison) and Killing Fields of Choeung Ek are sobering but important sites documenting the Khmer Rouge era. The Central Market and Russian Market are good for shopping, while the riverside promenade along Sisowath Quay is pleasant for evening strolls and has many restaurants.
What's included in an Angkor Wat tour?
Most Angkor Wat tours include hotel pickup, a tuk-tuk or air-conditioned car with driver, and a guide for a half-day or full-day circuit of the temples. Sunrise tours (popular) start around 4:30-5am and typically cover Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm, costing $15-35 for a group tour or $40-80 for a private tour. Temple passes are always purchased separately and not included in tour prices.
Book Your Experiences
Guided tours, tickets, and activities in Cambodia