8 Best Sights in Cambodia

This modern, interactive museum, which opened in 2008, gracefully guides you through the rise and fall of the Angkorian empires, covering the religions, kings, and geopolitics that drove the Khmer to create the monumental cities whose ruins are highly visible in modern-day Cambodia. With more than 1,300 artifacts on glossy display, complemented by multimedia installations, this museum experience helps demystify much of the material culture that visitors encounter at the archaeological parks and sites. The atmosphere is set in the impressive gallery of a thousand Buddhas, which plunges you into the serene spirituality that still dominates the region. Seven consequent galleries, set up chronologically, highlight the Funan and Chenia pre-Angkorian epochs, followed by the golden age of the Angkorian period led by the likes of King Soryavarman II, who built Angkor Wat. The final two galleries showcase stone inscriptions documenting some of the workings of the empires, and statues of Apsara, shedding light on the cult and fashions of these celestial dancers. The audio tour is excellent and well worth the extra cost.

The temples of Angkor, hailed as "the eighth wonder of the world" by some, constitute the world's great ancient sites and Southeast Asia's most impressive archaeological treasure. The massive structures, surrounded by tropical forest, are comparable to Central America's Mayan ruins—and far exceed them in size. Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious structure—so large that it's hard to describe its breadth to someone who hasn't seen it. And that's just one temple in a complex of hundreds. In all, there are some 300 monuments reflecting Hindu and Buddhist influence scattered throughout the jungle, but only the largest have been excavated and only a few of those reconstructed. Most of these lie within a few miles of each other and can be seen in one day, though two or three days will allow you to better appreciate them.

Most people visit the temples of Bayon and Baphuon, which face east, in the morning—the earlier you arrive, the better the light and the smaller the crowd—and west-facing Angkor Wat in the late afternoon, though this most famous of the temples can also be a stunning sight at sunrise. The woodland-surrounded Ta Prohm can be visited any time, though it is best photographed when cloudy, whereas the distant Banteay Srei is prettiest in the late-afternoon light. With so many temples to see, the choice is yours.

The entrance to the complex is 4 km (2½ miles) north of Siem Reap; you’ll need to arrange transportation to get here and around. Most independent travelers hire a car and driver ($35 to $50 per day), moto (motorcycle) driver ($12 to $18), or tuk-tuk ($20 to $35, seats up to four). Renting bicycles ($3 to $5) or electric bikes ($5 to $8) is also an option if you’re up for the exertion in the heat. Tourists may not drive motorized vehicles in the park. If you hire a driver, he’ll stick with you for the whole day. Going with a guide is strongly recommended.

The Angkor complex is open from 5:30 am to 6 pm. You’ll receive a ticket with your photo on it, which you’ll need at each site and to access the restrooms. If you buy your ticket at 5 pm, you'll be admitted for the remaining open hour, in time to see the sunset from Phnom Bakeng to catch the last rays setting Angkor Wat aglow. Your ticket will also count for the following day.

Consider swinging back to Siem Reap for lunch or to your hotel for an afternoon rest so you don't get templed out. Make sure to drink plenty of water.

The Sihanoukville coast is flanked by several islands, many of them untouristed and lightly populated by Khmer fishermen, and some are accessible by boat. Koh Rong Samloem, Koh Tas, Koh Ta Kiev, and Koh Russei are popular day-trip destinations for snorkeling and picnicking, but local guides can arrange overnight stays in rustic bungalows if you'd like to linger for a few days. Koh Rong Samloem is about 2½ hours by boat from the mainland (or 40 minutes in a speedboat), and there are some quiet and isolated beaches with a few basic bungalow options. The amenities vary depending where you go.

The jungle interior of the island is home to some of the deadliest snakes in Cambodia. They are more afraid of you, of course, but be aware.

Kampot's world-renowned aromatic pepper is sold all around the country and was once the go-to spice for upmarket kitchens in Paris, but there's nothing quite like visiting where it's grown, sampling it right off the plant, and paying its producers in person for a certified 100% organic product. La Plantation is one of the most respectable producers, where you can buy white, red, or black pepper after a free tour of the pepper plantation itself. You can also explore its numerous heritage buildings, which were rescued and restored from the surrounding villages (the main one, where you can have lunch, was once a hall for monks). They also offer fun water buffalo--led cart rides, which take you into the waters of the nearby Secret Lake, a beautiful stretch of water that hides a dark past; it was built by forced labor during the Khmer Rouge years.

As most pepper plantations are in the countryside along dusty, rocky roads, it's best to arrange a taxi ride—tuk-tuks across this kind of terrain can be exhausting.

The famous Phare circus in Siem Reap actually originated in Battambang, and for more than 15 years, the Phare Ponleu Selpak center has offered quality arts training to locals. Their daily shows ($14) combine dance, theater, live music, and circus performances with Cambodian narratives. Shows start at 7 pm, and there are also guided visits of the campus ($5) from Monday to Friday until 3:30 pm.

Located between Chong Khneas and the city of Battambang, Prek Toal is mainland Southeast Asia's most important waterbird nesting site. It's a spectacular scene if you can visit at the start of the dry season (November and December), when water remains high and thousands of rare birds begin to nest. To support their education and eco activities, tours can be booked through the Osmose conservation organization. Day tours and overnight stays at the Prek Toal Research Station can also be arranged.

A walled complex that covers several blocks near the river, the official residence of current King Sihamoni and former residence of the late King Sihanouk and Queen Monineath Sihanouk (who also still lives here), is a 1913 reconstruction of the timber palace built in 1866 by the former King Norodom. The residential areas of the palace located to the west are strictly off limits to the public, but within the pagoda-style compound are several structures worth visiting, including Wat Preah Keo Morokat, aka the Silver Pagoda; the Throne Hall, with a tiered roof topped by a 200-foot-tall tower; and a pavilion donated by the Emperor Napoléon III and shipped here from France. 

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, built from 1892 to 1902 and renovated in 1962, is one of Phnom Penh's greatest attractions. It's referred to as the Silver Pagoda because of the 5,329 silver tiles—more than 5 tons of pure silver—that make up the floor in the main vihear (temple hall). At the back of the vihear is the venerated Preah Keo Morokat (Emerald Buddha)—some say it's carved from jade, whereas others maintain that it's Baccarat crystal. In front of the altar is a 200-pound solid-gold Buddha studded with 2,086 diamonds. Displayed in a glass case are the golden offerings donated by Queen Kossomak Nearyreath in 1969; gifts received by the royal family over the years are stored in other glass cases. The gallery walls surrounding the temple compound are covered with murals depicting scenes from the Indian epic, the Ramayana. Pride of place outside is given to a bronze statue of King Norodom on horseback, completed in Paris in 1875 and brought here in 1892. 

Within the Royal Palace grounds is Phnom Penh's greatest attraction: the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, built 1892 to 1902 and renovated in 1962. The temple is often referred to as the Silver Pagoda because of the 5,329 silver tiles—more than 5 tons of pure silver—that make up the floor in the main vihear (temple hall). At the back of the vihear is the venerated Preah Keo Morokat (Emerald Buddha)—some say it's carved from jade, whereas others maintain that it's Baccarat crystal. In front of the altar is a 200-pound solid-gold Buddha studded with 2,086 diamonds. Displayed in a glass case are the golden offerings donated by Queen Kossomak Nearyreath (King Norodom Sihamoni's grandmother) in 1969; gifts received by the royal family over the years are stored in other glass cases. The gallery walls surrounding the temple compound, which serves as the royal graveyard, are covered with murals depicting scenes from the Indian epic, the Ramayana. Pride of place is given to a bronze statue of King Norodom on horseback, completed in Paris in 1875 and brought here in 1892. There's a nearby shrine dedicated to the sacred bull Nandi.