The Best Places to Visit in Cambodia
Cambodia is a southeast Asian country next to Thailand and Vietnam which is relatively small, yet contains some of the most iconic religious sites in the world. Of course, the main one I’m talking about is Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. The rest of the country still has a lot to offer, especially the south. There you can find some of Cambodia’s beautiful beaches and islands, after you explore the cities and ancient history nestled amongst the fields. 17 million people call Cambodia home, and aside from Siem Reap it feels a lot less touristy, and much more local compared to it’s neighbors.
Capital: Phnom Penh
Currency: Cambodian Riel
Language: Khmer
When to visit: November to May
1) Siem Reap
Siem Reap is an old city with around 200,000 plus some decent tourist areas, however people come for one thing, which is Angkor Wat. It sits slightly north of the main city area, so it’s extremely easy to access and explore. Siem Reap’s hotel and hostel industry thrive thanks to Angkor Wat, and you’ll definitely see a lot of fellow travelers around.
Things to do:
Take a guided tour, hire a tuk tuk or take a taxi and make your way to Angkor Archaeological Park, where the world famous Angkor Wat stands proud. It is so much bigger then you think, it’s not just a place you see and leave so plan a lot of time exploring the temple. It’s only just one of many temples in the park too. As you venture further in, you’ll see Bayon Temple, Preah Khan Temple, Pre Rup Temple, Ta Prohm Temple and so many more ancient sites. It should take up a whole day in the area. Back in Siem Reap, you can visit the main nightlife street just known as Pub Street, where everyone gathers to enjoy the music and cheap drinks. Next to Pub Street is the Night Market too, where you can find people selling all kinds of stuff from souvenirs to clothes. There also two temples actually in the city, Wat Bo, and Wat Preah Prom Rath, so check out those if you need something to do as well. Overall, the main draw is Angkor Wat (and the nightlife).
How to get there:
Fly to Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI) if outside Cambodia, direct flights are mainly from Asia.
Otherwise bus from Phnom Penh, or overnight from Bangkok.
2) Koh Rong
Koh Rong is one of Cambodia’s bigger islands of the south coast, and it’s covered in jungle whilst extraordinary white sand beaches line the outsides, making it the top spot for island hoppers in Cambodia. The main village is Koh Touch on the southeast side, and it’s where the bulk of the backpackers and tourists end up staying.
Things to do:
Since you’ll get dropped off in Koh Touch, you can head to Koh Touch Beach which has a bunch of bars behind the strip of sand, making it a pretty popular spot on the island. However, a short 3o minute walk away is Long Set Beach, which is like double the size and way more beautiful. It’s cleaner, quieter, and more serene. You could even just book your accomodation at one of the spots behind the beach instead of Koh Touch. There is a beach even longer then Long Set Beach on the west side, called Royal Beach. Unfortunately, it’s privatized unless your staying in one of the resorts. Mainly just enjoy the vibe on the rest of the island, walk through the jungle areas and hang out at any of the bars.
How to get there:
Take a bus to Sihanoukville from Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, then take a speedboat or ferry to Koh Rong.
3) Koh Rong Sanloem
Koh Rong Sanloem is the smaller, peaceful counterpart to Koh Rong. It’s a short boat trip away, yet has half the tourists. The beaches are beautiful here as well, and compared to some of the beaches on Koh Rong there is little to no development. It basically just has some of the nicest spots to swim and relax in Cambodia.
Things to do:
Saracen Bay is the longest beach on the island, and it has a couple bars and guesthouses to go with it. It’s a massive wide crescent with white sand and some tranquil water, so definitely one of the top spots. On the west coast is Lazy Beach, which is the most remote on the island as it’s literally just surrounded by trees and mountains. Sometimes on Koh Rong Sanloen, you can even see the bioluminescent plankton, most of the time around Saracen Bay, so that is definitely something to look out for. On the north of the island is M'Pai Bay, which is less of a single beach and more a little fishing settlement (although there is still sandy beaches). Those are the main spots, of course there is more beaches like Clearwater Bay or Buck Beach, so feel free to check them all off.
How to get there:
Take a boat from either Sihanoukville or Koh Rong to the island.
4) Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and the biggest city in the country, with around 2.3 million people in the metro area. It’s the busiest and most intense city in the country, with a few historic sites, some newly constructed big buildings and quite a bit of loud traffic. It’s a good connection between Siem Reap and the south, with a decent bit to see around the city. It’s just real Cambodia.
Things to do:
When you are here, you should go to the Royal Palace of Cambodia, which is the king’s official residence and a large complex with some other traditional sites inside like Khemrintra Pavilion and the Silver Pagoda. This is definitely the top spot in Phnom Penh, plus the National Museum of Cambodia is right next door too. On the darker side of things, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a former high school turned Khmer Rouge prison and torture center. Inside is rooms with photos of victims, torture tools, and cells. It is an important place in the city. You can just walk along the Mekong River and explore, the area around Street 240 has nicer restaurants and shops. Back to the more grim suggestions, 15km south of the city is Choeung Ek Killing Fields, which was used for 2 years by the Khmer Rouge to commit the Cambodian Genocide. All these places are important to understand Cambodia’s traumatizing past and hardship.
How to get there:
Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) has direct flights from around Asia all the time.
You can also bus from all the main cities in Cambodia direct to Phnom Penh.
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