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Cambodia✨ 10 best things to do in Cambodia

Things to do in Cambodia

1. Watch sunrise at Angkor WatSee the famous five towers emerge in silhouette as the sky turns pink over the lotus ponds.
2. Meet the Bayon's facesWander among more than two hundred serene stone faces gazing from the towers of the Bayon.
3. Explore Ta ProhmClamber through a temple swallowed by giant fig and silk-cotton tree roots.
4. Cruise the Tonle SapTake a boat to stilted and floating villages on Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake.
5. Ride the Battambang bamboo trainRattle along on a bamboo platform past rice fields in Cambodia's laid-back second city region.
6. Learn recent history in Phnom PenhVisit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek memorial for a moving insight into the 1970s.
7. Spot Irrawaddy dolphinsGlide by boat on the Mekong near Kratie to see rare freshwater dolphins surface.
8. Island-hop Koh RongSwim in clear water and see glowing plankton at night on Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.
9. Eat crab in KepFeast on fresh crab cooked with Kampot green pepper at the seaside crab market.
10. Take a Khmer cooking classLearn to make fish amok, the fragrant coconut curry steamed in banana leaves.

Cambodia🗺️ Where to visit in Cambodia

Where to go in Cambodia

• 📍
  Siem Reap & AngkorNorthwest · templesBase yourself in lively Siem Reap to explore the vast Angkor Archaeological Park over several days.
• 
  Phnom PenhCapital · riversideA buzzing riverfront city with the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, French colonial streets and great food.
• 
  BattambangWest · countrysideCharming colonial architecture, an arts scene, hilltop temples and bat caves amid rice fields.
• 📍
  Kampot & KepSouth coast · riversideSleepy river town and seaside resort known for pepper farms, Bokor Mountain and fresh crab.
• 📍
  Koh Rong & Koh Rong SamloemGulf of Thailand · islandsWhite-sand islands for beach-hut stays, snorkelling and starlit evenings.
• 📍
  KratieMekong · river lifeA quiet river town for dolphin-watching and cycling on Koh Trong island.
• 📍
  MondulkiriEastern highlands · natureRolling hills, waterfalls and ethical elephant projects among Bunong communities.
• 📍
  Koh KerNorthern plains · ruinsA remote former capital with a striking seven-tiered pyramid temple and far fewer visitors than Angkor.

Cambodia🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Cambodia

Best time to visit Cambodia

Cambodia is hot all year with a dry season from November to April and a monsoon from May to October. The southern coast and eastern highlands catch the most rain, while the hilly northeast is cooler.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Phnom Penh (approximate averages).

Cambodia🎉 Festivals & events in Cambodia

• April
  Khmer New YearA three-day celebration with temple visits, water throwing, traditional games and family gatherings.
• October/November
  Bon Om Touk (Water Festival)Dragon-boat races on the river in Phnom Penh mark the reversal of the Tonle Sap's flow.
• September/October
  Pchum BenA 15-day Buddhist festival when families bring food offerings to pagodas to honour their ancestors.
• April/May
  Visak BocheaBuddhists celebrate the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha with candlelit processions.

Cambodia🧭 Cambodia itinerary ideas

How many days in Cambodia?

Cambodia🎒 Backpacking Cambodia – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $25–40 a day

• Pub Street area in Siem Reap and the riverside in Phnom Penh have plenty of cheap hostels and guesthouses.
• Use ride-hailing apps for tuk-tuks in cities to get fair fares without haggling.
• Rent a bicycle to explore the closer Angkor temples – cheap, quiet and great fun on the flat roads.
• Night buses and minibuses connect all main towns cheaply; book through your guesthouse or online.
• Eat at markets and street stalls for rice and noodle dishes, num banh chok and fresh fruit shakes for very little money.

Cambodia🛡️ Safety & money in Cambodia

Emergency: 117 police · 118 fire · 119 ambulance

Cambodia🛬 Getting to Cambodia

International flights arrive at Phnom Penh and at Siem Reap's newer Angkor airport, both well connected to regional hubs. Land borders link Cambodia with Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, but check the latest status, as crossings can close at short notice.

✈️ Cheap flights to Cambodia: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Cambodia💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Cambodia

• Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world and appears on Cambodia's national flag.
• Every rainy season the Tonle Sap river reverses direction, swelling the lake to several times its dry-season size.
• Rare Irrawaddy dolphins live in a stretch of the Mekong River in northeast Cambodia.
• Specially trained rats have helped clear landmines in Cambodia by sniffing out explosives.
• Kampot pepper has protected geographical indication status, like Champagne or Parma ham.

Cambodia❓ Cambodia travel FAQ

Cambodia travel questions