What to see in Cambodia: 10 must-sees
Discover what to see in Cambodia: 10 must-see destinations, from Angkor Wat to Angkor Thom (Bayon). Predominantly UNESCO heritage and monument; each entry includes the best time to visit and the link to its official source.
UNESCO Heritage(4)
Climb the largest pyramid on Earth — 162 hectares where 2,000 bas-reliefs narrate Hindu epics in yellow sandstone. Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century as a temple dedicated to Vishnu, and is today the largest religious monument on the planet. The five 65-meter towers, the 1,000-meter-long library gallery and the 2,000 bas-reliefs of the Churning of the Sea of Milk show the mastery of the Khmer builders who worked for 37 years. Buddhist monks keep the color tradition alive, and local woodcarvers still carve figures that tell the story of the Ramayana.
Pause before the 216 smiling faces of the Bayon, carved 800 years ago at the heart of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire. Jayavarman VII raised this walled city in the 13th century; today you walk among its 54 towers crowned with visages of Avalokitesvara, whose optical effect changes with the sunlight. Round off your visit at the Terrace of the Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King and the Royal Palace, all within the UNESCO World Heritage enclosure in Siem Reap.
Walk through the temple where jungle and stone battle for dominion, creating a landscape straight out of an adventure film. Ta Prohm, built in 1186 as a Buddhist monastery, was abandoned in the 15th century, and the rainforest has taken over its walls, producing a spectacle of ficus roots that embrace the stones. APSARA's archaeologists selectively preserve the trees to keep the 'beautiful ruin' effect alive.
Walk the grounds of Banteay Srei, some 25 kilometers from Siem Reap, and take in the most finely detailed carvings at Angkor, cut into pink sandstone that looks like hand-worked wood from afar. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, this 10th-century temple welcomes about 300,000 visitors a year. Follow its gopuras and miniature libraries, where every lintel narrates Ramayana scenes with a precision that restorers still study today.
Monument(2)
Explore the palace where 402,000 square meters of courtyards, temples and the Silver Pagoda create a monument to royal power that has withstood 200 years of history. Built in 1866, the Royal Palace is the residence of the King of Cambodia and houses the Silver Pagoda with its floor of 5,344 silver tiles and the emerald Buddha statue. Take in the monument that recounts centuries of history and culture. Walk its structures, admire the architectural details and uncover the story hidden in its stones.
Visit the prison where the Khmer Rouge tortured and killed 14,000 people — a reminder of the horrors of the genocide orchestrated by Pol Pot. Museum, history and the lesson of tolerance. Take in the monument that recounts centuries of history and culture. Walk its structures, admire the architectural details and uncover the story hidden in its stones.
Beach(2)
Follow the coast of Sihanoukville to its beach of white sand, where you can bathe in crystal-clear water, surf when the swell picks up or snorkel close to the shore. The seafront promenade connects with restaurants serving fish fresh off the port's boats. The fine sand and the greenery that runs almost down to the tide line give respite from the midday heat, and at sunset the sky over the Gulf of Thailand changes color as locals fish from the shore.
Discover Koh Rong, the island off Sihanoukville where the Gulf of Thailand washes fine-sand shores and transparent water. Snorkel over reefs near the coast, walk trails that cross the interior jungle and end the day on near-empty beaches, far from the mainland's noise. At night, bioluminescent plankton lights up the water as you move. Boats from Sihanoukville take about 45 minutes and dock at simple piers surrounded by wooden bungalows.
Natural(1)
Boat into Tonle Sap, the largest lake in Southeast Asia, and roam its 16,000 km2 of waters that change with the seasons. From Siem Reap you reach the floating villages in under an hour, where houses, schools and markets stand on stilts. During the crossing you will see herons, pelicans and fishermen casting nets at dawn. In the rainy season the lake multiplies in size, and the flooded forest becomes a navigable labyrinth among the trees.
Museum(1)
Peek into the National Museum of Cambodia, in Phnom Penh, where 5,000 pieces of Khmer art span 1,500 years of the country's history. Admire sandstone sculptures, bronzes and ceramics displayed under the terracotta roof of a building inspired by traditional Khmer architecture. Walk its galleries around the inner courtyard, pick out figures of Vishnu and the Buddha in the collections and end your visit with the view of the city around the museum, a few steps from the Royal Palace.
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