Boasting a hilltop location overlooking the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, the Buddhist temple of Wat Phnom is one of Cambodia’s most-visited temples. Originally built in 1373, the sanctuary was reconstructed in 1998 and now provides a place for locals to celebrate Khmer festivals and make sacred offerings.
The official home of Cambodian royals is located in the heart of Phnom Penh, where the gilded rooflines of the Royal Palace preside over manicured grounds. It’s a gem of Khmer architecture and one of the city’s most popular sites. Follow in royal footsteps as you explore the intricate Throne Hall, visit the Silver Pagoda, and more.
Between 1975 and 1979, Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge government killed and/or starved around 1.7 million of their citizens, roughly 20% of the population. Phnom Penh’s Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), a former high school that served as a torture and detention center, documents their atrocities through films, photos, and artifacts.
At the heart of the Royal Enclosure—the remains of the royal palace complex in the city of Angkor Thom—Phimeanakas was the king’s private temple. Carved mainly from rust-colored laterite rock, with sandstone elements, it ascends in three stepped tiers that represent the Hindu sacred mountain, Mt. Meru. It once had a golden spire.
With shaded pavilions and elaborately carved stone pieces, Baphuon is one of the most magical temples in Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set within the grounds of Angkor Thom, a huge 12th-century site that dwarfs even Angkor Wat in size, Baphuon attracts visitors with its reclining Buddha and dilapidated charm.
Purposefully set in Phnom Penh’s bustling city center, the arresting Phnom Penh Independence Monument—Vimean Ekareach in Khmer—rises 60 feet (20 meters) above the cars and scooters zooming below. The lotus-shaped structure celebrates Cambodian independence after 90 years of French rule (1863–1953), and its small-but-scenic grounds offer a gathering place for locals and visitors to relax under a bit of Cambodian history.
A heavily restored 12th-century temple, Banteay Samré feels more like a citadel. The Khmer emperor Suryavarman II built the complex, which includes a hall, two libraries, a temple, a dry moat, and fringing walls. Though Banteay Samré is smaller than many other Angkor-era monuments, it boasts some impressive carvings.
The best known of the “killing fields” where the Khmer Rouge executed over a million innocent Cambodians, the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center sit just outside Phnom Penh. A memorial stupa contains the skulls of around 8,000 victims; bracelets decorate killing sites; and a museum documents the atrocities.
Known for its photogenic gateway (gopura) choked by the roots of a strangling fig tree, Ta Som is one of Angkor’s smaller temples. Jayavarman VII built the complex in the late 12th century, and it’s particularly scenic because it’s still overgrown. The inner sanctuary includes towers with faces like those at the more famous Bayon.
The sounds of prayers and chanting Buddhist monks fills 15th-century Wat Ounalom, a religious complex near Phnom Penh’s Tonle Sap River. It’s considered the center of Cambodian Buddhism, but the temple’s not just for religious pilgrims. Here, visitors can find beautiful images of the Buddha, explore historic architecture, and more.
Perched on the floodplain of Tonle Sap Lake—the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia— Kampong Phluk is a floating community of around 3,000 villagers. Visit to see how the residents live—in stilted homes and depending on fishing as a livelihood.
Also known as the Royal Bath, Srah Srang is an artificial lake in the heart of the Angkor Archaeological Complex. Especially picturesque at sunrise and sunset, the 10th-century reservoir is also a popular lunch spot—the ornately-carved terrace and lush trees provide respite from a busy day of temple-hopping.
Discover a shrine encrusted with precious metals and stones at the Silver Pagoda, a Buddhist landmark on the grounds of the Royal Palace. Also called the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Silver Pagoda houses an image of the Buddha in pure Baccarat crystal that sits on a golden pedestal—it’s a Phnom Penh treasure.
With its distinctive art-deco dome, Phnom Penh Central Market (Phsar Thmey) attracts visitors with hundreds of traditional Khmer stalls, selling everything from antique coins and brightly colored fabrics to traditional crafts and medicinal products. No first-time visit to Phnom Penh is complete without stopping, and shopping, here.
Home to one of the largest collections of Khmer art in the world, the National Museum of Cambodia focuses on the country’s ancient history and distinctive architecture. Galleries are categorized by material—stone, metal, wood, and ceramics—and feature artifacts that date back as far as the Neolithic period.
The absence of carving shows that Ta Keo, a sandstone mountain temple that stands almost 164 feet (50 meters) tall, was never finished. Started by Jayavarman V during the 10th century, the vast structure, with four corner towers around a central turret, would have been one of Angkor’s most impressive. It still offers sweeping views.
Whether you’re looking for antique jewelry, freshly-caught fish, or factory-fresh designer brands, its likely that Phnom Penh Russian Market (Toul Tom Poung Market has a stall selling the goods. So-called because of the Russian tourists that used to frequent it, the market today offers a glimpse into local life in Cambodia’s capital.
Nature meets ancient architecture at Kbal Spean, whose phallic symbols and religious imagery are etched straight into a stone riverbank. The site is in Phnom Kulen National Park, where visitors can spot carvings while hiking a riverside trail. With fewer crowds than the main Angkor Temples, here’s the chance to channel your inner explorer.
Often overlooked by visitors exploring Angkor Archaeological Park, Bakong is a 5-tier temple with its own unique charm. One of the earliest temples in the region, Bakong was built within a strict geometric matrix, a style recognizable in the later Angkor Wat. The temple grounds, home to multiple freestanding satellite temples, provide a welcome break from the crowds of nearby Angkor Wat.
A 10th-century Hindu temple, Prasat Kravan bucks the Angkor trend: It’s built from brick, not stone. The five brick towers may seem unimpressive from the outside, but it’s the carvings within that are the draw. Brick bas-reliefs here include Vishnu riding his sacred bird, Garuda, and Lakshmi, his wife, holding lotus flowers.
Yasovarman I, who would found the first city at Angkor, built this small brick temple in the late ninth century. It’s one of the Roluos Group, a cluster of temples about 12 miles (19 kilometers) from Angkor Wat. With its four crumbling brick towers, Lolei is similar to, but smaller than, the group’s best-known temple, Preah Ko.
Often referred to as the “rice bowl of Asia” for its emerald-green rice paddy fields, the Mekong Delta is surrounded by fertile land. On Vietnam’s mighty Mekong, sleepy floating communities live alongside an abundance of tropical fruits, buffalo wallowing in paddy fields, and mangroves rich with birdlife.
A large, air-conditioned wooden pavilion on the grounds of Siem Reap’s Angkor Village Resort, the Angkor Village Apsara Theatre hosts classical Khmer dance performances with a live orchestra. Shows typically include the graceful apsara (nymph) dance and scenes from the Hindu epic known as the Ramayana, with a Cambodian-themed dinner.
A veritable labyrinth or bazaar, Phnom Penh’s Kandal Market—Psar Kandal in Khmer—is where the locals grab fish, meat, produce, and other consumable goods. Don’t confuse it with the city’s Central Market; this one is about the local foodie experience, and it would be wise for you to visit hungry. Though, yes, you could technically get a haircut here, too.
Opened in 2007, this modern, interactive museum showcases Khmer civilization and the Angkor era. Eight different galleries put the period in context with artifacts gathered from sites including Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Topics covered include religion and belief, the great Khmer kings, the pre-Angkor period, and ancient costume.
Among the oldest temples in Siem Reap, Wat Bo is a compact Buddhist temple best known for its beautifully preserved paintings. Dating to the 19th century, these images depict scenes from the Hindu epic the Ramayana, known in Cambodia as the Reamker.
Set back from the west bank of the Siem Reap River, Wat Preah Prom Rath temple boasts a history that may date back to the 13th century. However, everything to be seen here was built after World War II. Colorful statues and lush gardens in the heart of downtown offer the chance to see how Cambodian Buddhism is practiced today.
Carved apsaras dance across a cluster of temples at the Roluos Group, atmospheric buildings that mark the site of an ancient Khmer population center. Bakong Temple is the centerpiece, between Preah Ko and Lolei. While the Roluos Group is smaller in scale than the landmarks of Angkor Archaeological Park, it’s a fascinating place that’s rarely crowded.
Known by locals as Koh Dach, Cambodia’s Silk Island sits upstream on the Mekong River and provides a tranquil escape from the bustle of Phnom Penh. Step back in time on a visit to this village and see artisans at work, learn about the silk trade, and collect some handmade crafts before heading back to the mainland.
Refurbished in 2018, the 5-acre (2-hectare) War Museum Cambodia is devoted to the weapons of Cambodia’s many conflicts. The collection, which you’re allowed to handle, runs from tanks and fighter planes to small arms and rocket launchers. One room focuses on the landmines that have caused such suffering in Cambodia.
