Some of the attractions on this list of the best things to do in Cambodia are ranked among the most moving sights in the world, on the bucket lists of almost every traveller. From the amazing Angkor Wat and its well-known offshoots to the spooky Killing Fields of Phnom Penh, this part of the world is a fascinating and rewarding place to visit. We can all learn lessons from Cambodia's chequered past.
From war to peace - perfect peace - at tranquil and secluded Bamboo Island or the beautiful beaches of Koh Rong. If you prefer countryside to coastline, you might like to visit Cambodia’s ‘rice bowl’ – Battambang. Alternative, try your luck at the casinos in Sihanoukville or enjoy the charming Apsara Dance; the choice of things to do in Cambodia is extremely varied.
Angkor Wat
Siem Reap
The ruins of the ancient city of Angkor are found a short distance to the north of Siem Reap, and is the largest pre-industrial city in the world at 400 sq km. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the driving motivation for many a visit to Cambodia. The beautiful ruins were once the heart of the ancient Khmer Empire and, even after 1,000 years, it remains a breathtaking site, fully deserving of its worldwide reputation. Read More...
- Tour Available: Angkor Temples Private Small-Group Tour
The Bayon
Siem Reap
The Bayon is at the centre of Angkor Thom (literally 'Great City'), which forms the heart of the Angkor complex as it is today. This inner city is surrounded by a moat, and approached at the four cardinal points via huge stone gates and causeways flanked by statues of gods and giants. Read More...
- Tour Available: Private Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm & Angkor Wat Tour
Ta Prohm
Siem Reap
If Angkor Wat and the city of Angkor Thom are best known for grandeur and majesty, then the temple and monastery of Ta Promh takes the prize for sheer dramatic effect. Unlike most other monuments, Ta Promh has been left the way it was originally found - overgrown and smothered by tree roots. Read More...
- Tour Available: Half-Day Angkor Thom City & Ta Prohm Temple Tour
Tonlé Sap Lake
Siem Reap
The Tonlé Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. During the monsoon season, between June and October, it creates a massive and extremely diverse natural environment, including flooded forests and wetlands, which creates a home for a dizzying array of wildlife. There is also some remarkable human life around the lake, in the form of several floating villages. Read More...
- Tour Available: Tonlé Sap Lake Tour with Sunset Dinner Cruise
Apsaras Dance Performance
Siem Reap and Phnom Penh
Apsara Dance draws its inspiration from the mythological court of the gods and from its celestial dancers, the Apsaras. The dance took on its own unique form adding movements and meaning, during the reigns of Jayavarman II and Jayavarman VII as well as in the Angkor era. Read More...
- Tour Available: Apsara Dancing Experience
Tuol Sleng Museum & Choeng Ek Memorial
Phnom Penh
Commonly known as The Killing Fields, this reminder of Cambodia's tragic recent past is far from the most cheerful place to visit. This cornerstone of “dark tourism” does a very good job of putting human faces to the mindboggling statistics of the Khmer Rogue and its 1.7 million victims. The museum and memorial can be extremely instructive in terms of coming to grips with what actually happened during those terrible years, which is what makes it visiting them one of the more popular things to do in Cambodia. Read More...
- Tour Available: Tuol Sleng & National Museum Half-Day Tour
Phnom Penh Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda
Phnom Penh
Built in 1866, the site contains various buildings of interest, including the Khmer-style Throne Hall, now used for special ceremonial occasions. South of the Throne Hall are the Royal Treasury and the Villa of Napoleon III, built in Egypt in 1866, for the opening of the Suez Canal, and was later presented to the Cambodian king as a gift. Read More...
- Tour Available: Phnom Penh Full-Day Guided Trip
Koh Rong
Sihanoukville
Koh Rong is an up-and-coming destination in the global travel market. Its 23 amazing white-sand beaches and azure seas are only just being discovered and enjoyed, making it still very much an unspoilt paradise. Situated just off the Cambodian coast, near Sihanoukville, there are five tiny islands in the area, though three are uninhabited. Of the other two, Koh Rong is gradually becoming a bit of a party island, popular with backpackers, while Koh Rong Sanloem has a quieter and more easy-going atmosphere. Read More...
Battambang & Surroundings
Battambang
Battambang is somewhat of an ode to French colonialism. The city lies in the heart of the Northwest and until the war years it was the leading rice-producing province of the country. It offers not only one of the best preserved examples of the French Colonial era, but also the small-town feel you expect to encounter in Cambodia as a rule. Read More...
- Tour Available: 3-Day Private Phnom Penh to Battambang & Siem Reap Trip
Sihanoukville Casinos
Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville is not exactly southeast Asia's answer to Las Vegas but it does offer a few venues for those who enjoy to throw the dice and play footsie with Lady Luck. Presently there are four hotels offer gamblers their favourite games: blackjack, roulette, baccarat, gaming machines, and poker. Read More...
