Best places to visit in Cambodia

Cambodia's Essential Wonders

Cambodia’s landscape is defined by the architectural legacy of the Khmer Empire and the sobering history of the 20th century. This collection spans the massive stone galleries of Angkor Wat and the jungle-reclaimed ruins of Ta Prohm to the intricate pink sandstone carvings of Banteay Srei. In Phnom Penh, the Royal Palace and National Museum showcase classical Khmer art, while the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek provide essential context on the country’s resilience. The list also includes the ecological significance of Tonle Sap Lake and the carved riverbeds of Kbal Spean.

Cambodia's Essential Wonders — Map

Sygic Traveller / All rights reserved

A

Angkor Wat

This iconic temple complex is an absolute must-see. Being the largest religious monument in the world, it is a wonderful showcase of…

Sygic Traveller / All rights reserved

B

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm is a place of peace and quiet contemplation, which contrasts with the reason why it’s so popular.

Bjørn Christian Tørrissen / GFDL

C

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or simply Tuol Sleng is a museum chronicling the Cambodian genocide.

Engsamnang / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Royal Palace

The Royal Palace of Cambodia is a complex of buildings which serves as the royal residence of the King of Cambodia.

Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC BY 2.0

E

National Museum of Cambodia

The National Museum of Cambodia is Cambodia's largest museum of cultural history and is the country's leading historical and archaeological…

Clay Gilliland / CC BY-SA 2.0

F

Preah Khan

Although left mainly unrestored, this temple is still very charming. Some of the vegetation had to be removed in order to make the temple…

Sygic Traveller / All rights reserved

G

Angkor Thom

Formerly the capital city of the Khmer empire, Angkor Thom is now a quite popular attraction in Siem Reap.

Anandajoti / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Banteay Srei Temple

Banteay Srei is a 10th century CE Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and Parvati.

Gary Jones / CC-BY-SA-3.0

I

Choeung Ek Genocidal Center

Choeung Ek is a former orchard, in Dangkao, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, that was used as a Killing Field between 1975 and 1979 by the Khmer Rouge…

//flickr.com/people/prerit/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

J

Kbal Spean

Kbal Spean is an Angkorian-era archaeological site on the southwest slopes of the Kulen Hills to the northeast of Angkor in Banteay Srei…

McKay Savage / CC BY 2.0

K

Wat Phnom Pagoda

Wat Phnom is a Buddhist temple in Doun Penh, Phnom Penh. It is a pagoda, that symbolizes the name of Phnom Penh, and a historical site that…

Deror_avi / CC BY-SA 3.0

L

Tonle Sap Lake

Tonlé Sap is a lake in the northwest of Cambodia. It belongs to the Mekong River system.

plusgood / CC BY 2.0

M

Silver Pagoda

The Silver Pagoda is located on the south side of the Royal Palace in Chey Chumneas, Phnom Penh.

Y Giridhar Appaji Nag / CC BY 2.5

N

Banteay Samré Temple

Although it's located a little away from all of the Angkor Wat temples, this well-restored temple does not deserve to be missed.

Hzh / CC BY-SA 4.0

O

Wat Thmei

One of Siem Reap's modern temples. Serves as a memorial to the atrocities of the tragic Cambodian civil war.

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