The following list highlights some of the best places to visiting in Cambodia. So if you are in Cambodia, I recommend visiting the following:
- West Baray, Angkor, Cambodia
- Kirirom National Park, Kampong Speu, Cambodia
- Phnom Santuk, Kampong Thom, Cambodia
- Phnom Penh Royal Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Angkor Wat, Siem Riep, Cambodia
- Neak Pean, Siem Riep, Cambodia
- Phnom Bakheng, Siem Riep, Cambodia
- Phnom Kulen National Park, Siem Riep, Cambodia
- Ta Keo, Siem Riep, Cambodia
- Independence Beach, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
- Lazy Beach, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
1. West Baray, Angkor
Visitors can rent a boat to reach the central island where the West Mebon Temple once stood. Today only traces of it remain. However, the island is a great place to picnic or take a stroll when the water level is low. Visitors can also take a refreshing swim. For historians, archaeologists and anthropologists, West Baray is, of course, a must-see.
2. Kirirom National Park, Kampong Speu
It sits on a mountain and is full of streams, waterfalls and forests. A wonderful place for travellers to connect with nature and stay in a beautiful resort. It is famous for its great variety of endemic species and, most importantly, it is one of the few places where Asian elephants live in the wild. Its main attraction is trekking to the top of the highest mountain, Phnom Dat Tivit or Mountain at the End of the World.
3. Phnom Santuk, Kampong Thom
It is a cultural site on a hill in the province of Kampong Thom, Cambodia. Located in the town of Koh Kor, it is the most sacred mountain in the state. The top is accessed through a stone path lined with many statues. At the top is a white-walled temple that houses many shrines and deities, including several reclining Buddhas that are over 33 feet long.
4. Phnom Penh Royal Palace, Phnom Penh
The Royal Palace complex is composed of several buildings. One of them is the residence of the royal family. Not every place can be entered. On the outside it is really beautiful. It consists of gardens, palaces and pagodas with golden roofs dotted with sharp spires. The Royal Palace of Phnom Penh is a must-see during your stay in the capital of Cambodia.
5. Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh
It is located inside the Pehn mountain, which is the one that gives its name to the city. Here also stands out a curious clock made in the grass. A beautiful sight. The entrance costs 1 dollar and is worth it if you have enough time. The interior of the temple is quite curious with a nice Buddha and many paintings on the walls. When you enter you can see a central altar where there is a bronze statue of a seated Buddha surrounded by other statues, as well as candles, flowers and other objects with which the practitioners of this religion idolise him.
6. Angkor Wat, Siem Riep
It is the most visited temple in Cambodia, the best preserved and the most spectacular. Its name means “City of the Temple”, and it was created as a physical manifestation of human interaction with the realm of the gods. To visit Angkor Wat it is necessary to buy the full entrance to the complex. Do not forget that this is an active temple and, as such, deserves respect. Remember to keep your elbows and knees covered. Watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat is the perfect culmination to this visit.
7. Neak Pean, Siem Riep
Preah Neak Pean is a small Buddhist temple built at the end of the 12th century. In the centre there is a central island in the middle of the main basin, where you can see the two intertwined Nagas (snakes) that give the temple its name. Around it there are four other pools forming a square square, with the central island exactly in the middle. The temple is fairly well preserved, but only one of the five main statues remains. The Preah Neak Pean Shrine and its surroundings are spectacular.
8. Phnom Bakheng, Siem Riep
Phnom Bakheng is a mountain temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and one of the oldest temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park. Perched on a hill 60 metres above sea level, Phnom Bakheng is a popular tourist destination for its spectacular sunset views over Angkor Wat. To avoid crowds, arrive a few hours early to ensure a good seat.
9. Phnom Kulen National Park, Siem Riep
Less famous for its natural wealth, it is mainly known for its cultural wealth. Considered one of the most sacred places in Cambodia because of its proximity to Angkor Wat, it is believed to have been the cradle of Khmer civilization. The main attractions to visit are Wat Preah An Thom with the famous reclining Buddha, the Kulen waterfall and the incredible 1000 Linga (Angkorian style and period carvings carved in the river niches, whose important (Because sex is still not fully understood, and there are are several theories and remains a mystery).
10. Ta Keo, Siem Riep
This is a Hindu temple built in the late 10th century. Beyond the temple walls you are greeted by a view that may be frightening to some but thrilling to others: 22 metres A steep staircase reaches to the sky. The top of the temple is about 35 metres high and is where the sacred tower is located. The view of the temple from this point is breathtaking and if you look to the horizon you can discover other temples that are appearing among the vegetation.
11. Independence Beach, Sihanoukville
Independence beach, almost one kilometre long, is divided into three parts. One of the parts belongs to the hotel of the same name Independence Hotel and is a private territory. It has a hotel restaurant and some local food stalls. It is not too big but more than enough to spend a few days in the sun.
12. Lazy Beach, Sihanoukville
It is very close to the beach of the Saracens, is 700 m long, houses a complex with wooden bungalows to not have that feeling of overwhelm with more tourists. In its restaurant you will be able to enjoy fresh fish and cocktails to enjoy with the cover sunsets; it is definitely the place where travellers go to rest and disconnect from everything.
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