Angkor Wat is the main draw. Built in the 12th century. Five towers. Moat. UNESCO-listed. Sunrise here is famous—photographers crowd the reflection pools.
But Angkor is more than one temple. Over 90 temples spread across 400 square kilometers. Angkor Thom holds the Bayon with its carved faces. Ta Prohm has tree roots splitting stones—nature reclaiming architecture.
Banteay Srei, 25km from Siem Reap, showcases intricate pink sandstone carvings. Smaller. Less crowded. Worth the trip.
Tickets cost $37 for one day, $62 for three days. Buy them at Angkor Enterprise. Most temples open 5am-6pm.
Siem Reap town serves as the base. Pub Street offers restaurants and bars. The night market sells silk scarves, carvings, and knockoff everything.
Phnom Penh sits where three rivers meet—the Mekong, Bassac, and Tonle Sap. The Royal Palace dominates the riverfront. Built in the 1860s. Golden spires. Khmer architecture.
The Silver Pagoda sits within the palace grounds. Floor covered with 5,000 silver tiles. An Emerald Buddha on a golden pedestal. A life-size gold Buddha weighing 90kg, studded with 9,584 diamonds.
The National Museum houses Khmer art and sculpture. Terracotta building. Traditional design. Entry $10.
Cambodia's recent history is dark. Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 prison) documents the Khmer Rouge atrocities. 17,000 people tortured here between 1975-1978. Choeung Ek Killing Fields, 17km outside the city, is where they were executed. Both sites are sobering. Essential for understanding modern Cambodia.
The Central Market and Russian Market offer textiles, antiques, and street food. Sharpen your bargaining skills. Prices start high.
Koh Rong sits 45 minutes by ferry from Sihanoukville. 28 beaches. Crystal water. Underdeveloped compared to Thailand's islands.
Koh Touch Beach is the main tourist area. Budget guesthouses, bars, beach parties. Sok San Beach on the west side stretches 7km—nearly empty white sand.
Long Set Beach requires a 30-minute walk from Koh Touch. Quieter. Peaceful. A handful of resorts.
Koh Rong Samloem, the sister island, is even quieter. Saracen Bay is the main beach. Laid-back. Good for families. Visit Visit Koh Rong for ferry schedules and accommodation.
Bioluminescent plankton lights up the water at night. Best seen away from town lights. Take a boat tour or walk to less-developed beaches. The sea sparkles like stars with every movement.
Fish amok is Cambodia's national dish. Steamed fish curry with coconut milk and kroeung spice paste. Served in banana leaves. Mousse-like texture. Rich, aromatic. Order it with rice.
Cambodian food balances sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. Prahok (fermented fish paste) underpins many dishes. Strong smell. Essential ingredient.
Street food is everywhere. Nom banh chok (Khmer noodles) for breakfast. Bai sach chrouk (pork and rice) from roadside stalls. Prices range from $1-3.
Tonle Sap Lake, near Siem Reap, is Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake. Floating villages house 1.2 million people. Kompong Phluk and Kompong Khleang are less touristy than Chong Kneas. The lake provides over half of Cambodia's fish.
Cambodians are warm despite a brutal recent past. Khmer Rouge killed an estimated 1.7 million people between 1975-1979. The country rebuilt. Tourism now drives the economy. Visit Tourism Cambodia for travel planning.