Cambodia’s vibrant culture, fascinating history and beautiful islands make it an ideal place to travel. One of the most authentic and unspoiled destinations in Southeast Asia, Cambodia attracts adventurous travellers with remarkable ancient temples, unique cultural experiences, and picturesque rural landscapes. Even the historical horrors of the Khmer Rouge draw tourists, with attractions like the notorious Killing Fields serving as harrowing reminders of Cambodia’s most turbulent and tragic chapter.

Nestled along the tropical waters of the Gulf of Thailand, sharing boarders with Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, Cambodia has a lot to offer intrepid visitors. Travelling by tuk-tuk along the chaotic streets of French-flavoured Phnom Penh is a must. Cambodia also promises idyllic beaches, usually less crowded than those of its neighbouring countries. However, by far the most popular attraction in the country is the ancient temple complex of Angkor, a magnificent ‘Lost City’ which is undoubtedly one of the most magical tourist attractions in the world and a bucket-list destination for many. Although Cambodia is still most popular with backpackers and budget travellers, luxury accommodation and amenities are on the rise, catering to the increasingly diverse crowds wanting to explore this beautiful country.

So, if you’re in search of a destination that fuses adventure, adrenaline, history, culture and tropical relaxation in one, this might just be the perfect spot.

Places to visit in Cambodia

1. Angkor

The home of the famous Angkor Wat is unquestionably one of Cambodia’s must-see places. Unfortunately, thanks to the legendary pagodas and vine-dressed stupas that are tagged by UNESCO, it’s also one of the busiest spots in the country. Still, it’s definitely worth braving the crowds and hopping out of Siem Reap for a spell to see this world wonder. Encompassed by wetland rice paddies and dense jungles, it emerges from the canopy in a medley of historic Khmer towers and enchanting erstwhile Hindu shrines. Today, it’s the chants of Buddhist monks and gasping travelers that dominate, as they weave between the intricate base reliefs and the great sandstone sculptures of mythic beasts.

2. Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville is Cambodia’s answer to the backpacker beach towns of Thailand just across the gulf.
A ramshackle place of tin-roofed hostels and bamboo beer bars spilling onto the sands, it oozes a laid-back vibe that’s a welcome break from the country’s other urban centers.
The beaches are the place to be both day and night, with the establishments of Ochheuteal offering loungers and water sports aplenty.
For something a little quieter, you could also make a beeline around the headlands to less-trodden Otres Beach or pay the entry fee for secluded Sokha Beach nearby.

3. Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is a city in flux: a place where barrios of haphazard shack homes mingle with gilded temples of gold leaf and straight-laced highways of the 21st century.

That means it’s also a fine spot to get to grips with the nature of Cambodia as a whole; a country neatly balanced between the old and the new. The piece de resistance is surely the opulent Royal Palace complex, which shimmers with the spires of the Silver Pagoda at its center.

For a taste of local life, be sure to hit the buzzing Sisowath Quay, which runs along the Mekong in a medley of markets and picnic spots. And – of course – there are the so-called Killing Fields just on the edge of town: sobering and stark reminders of the horrors of Cambodia’s 20th-century past.

4. Kratie

Defined by the meanders of the Mekong River as it gushes towards the delta and the South China Sea in the south-east, this laid-back spot is slowly but surely raising it to become one of Cambodia’s bona fide backpacker hubs. It’s easy to see why the shoestring travelers love it too – think cheap timber longhouses and earthy guesthouses, really old ruins at Sambor and traditional craft markets on the water. But that’s not all, because Kratie has also become famed as one of the top places to see the Cambodian river dolphin. Excursions to stalk these majestic mammals in the Mekong leave from the docks every day.

5. Siem Reap

It’s true that most people flock to Siem Reap to hop across to the UNESCO wonder of Ankgor Wat. However, thanks largely to the influx of folk coming in recent decades, this one has developed into a fine place to visit in its own right. You can delve into an old town of elegant French mansions and enchanting Chinese shops, all of which are punctuated by the heady fray of Psah Chas market (perfect for sizzling noodle soups!) and countless backpacker bars (look for appropriately-named Pub Street). There are also some really great museums in Siem Reap, like the sobering Cambodia Landmine Museum and the (equally sobering) War Museum Cambodia.

6. Koh Ker

Koh Ker is the smaller, lesser-known brother of Angkor Wat. Located deep in the jungles of northern Cambodia, the spot reigned as the capital of the mighty Khmer Empire for a measly 20 years. However, those two decades of glory still show, with elaborate stupas protruding from the canopies and the 1,000-year-old rises of the stepped Prasat Thom temples soaring more than 30 meters above the ground. You’ll also be able to see an elaborate array of fortifications dating from the 10th century, and crumbling ruins of shrines now almost entirely claimed by the roots of giant teak trees. In short: this one’s a fine alternative to bustling Angkor.

7. Koh Rong

This eight-shaped island that sits out where the waters of the Thai Gulf meet the South China Sea is a picture of tropical perfection. It boasts a whopping 23 individual stretches of sand, all of which are far quieter and untouched than their compadres across the straits in Sihanoukville. Rustic, salt-sprayed bungalows line the coast sporadically, and there are plenty of opportunities for trekking through the forests, or hitting the coral-coloured sea for a bout of snorkelling. Koh Rong is also famed for its bioluminescent waters, which glimmer under the dark skies at night – you’ll spot them if you aren’t too busy guzzling beers in nearby Koh Tuch Village!

8. Banlung

The provincial capital of Ratanakiri is hardly on the tourist radar at all – at least for the moment, that is. Slowly but surely, more and more adventure seekers and outdoorsy types are waxing down the walking boots and heading to this remote corner of the country, where macaques meet slinking snakes between the jungle canopies.

The town itself might be a dusty, hectic affair, but there are plenty of tour organizers there who can put together trips out to the beautiful Yeak Laom Volcanic Lake, the colossal cataract of Cha Ong, or the sweeping rubber plantations that surround the province.

9. Kampot

Kampot might seem tantalizingly close to the coast for it not to be about beaches, but this river town on the delta waters of the Praek Tuek Chhu offers something totally different than just sand, sea and sun. Start with a trip to the pepper farms that blanket the local flatlands – they are not only the primary economic driver here, but also responsible for the unique peppercorns of Kampot.

The town is also home to a series of earthy fishing villages, where seafood fries come doused in chili and lemongrass. And then there’s the array of dilapidating colonial builds in the center, along with the rusting shells of old locomotives in the Kampot railway station.

10. Mondulkiri

Asian elephants stalk the fields and bush lands of far-flung Mondulkiri Province; water buffalo and timber longhouses ring the wetlands, as peaks of forest-clad rock rise to meet the border with Vietnam. This eastern jewel is a far cry from the sun-scorched lands and steamy tropical climes that dominate the rest of the country and is slowly becoming famed for its second-to-none elephant conservation project. Cultural encounters with the earthy Bunong tribes people are also possible, and ecotourism of that sort is now the main driver here.

11. Battambang

Statue-dotted Battambang is perhaps something of an unusual favourite on the backpacking circuit around Cambodia. Why? Well, there’s not really all that much to see in the town itself, and the temples hardly live up to the majesty of Siem Reap. Still, folk continue to flock to this second city, and we’re hardly complaining.

Lively traveler bars line the streets and there are some great hotels to choose from, all of which hide between the occasional Buddhist temple and the throbbing Central Market.

Around Battambang is where you’ll find the Wat Baydamram (filled with fruit bats) and the eerie Wat Samraong Knong, which was once used as a Khmer Rouge prison!

12. Koh Thonsay

Rabbit Island (as it’s known in English) is one of the jewels of Kep Province, set just out in the waters of the Thai Gulf from the southern coast of the country.

Fringed with softly sloping yellow sands and rows of swaying coconut palms, it’s got all the tropical beauties you’d expect from a tropical island. However, Koh Thonsay also comes with far fewer crowds than its compadres across the waters in the Land of Smiles, and the prices are cheaper too! The best thing to do is strap on the walking boots and hike the coastal trails.

Sooner or later you’ll discover a secluded cove of shimmering shore waters, totally empty save for the occasional bobbing fishing skiff.