Best Things to Do in Cambodia (2026 Guide)

Cambodia rewards the traveller who goes beyond Angkor Wat, though Angkor Wat absolutely justifies the trip on its own. The things to do in Cambodia start at the temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park: not just Angkor Wat itself but the Bayon (with its 216 carved stone faces), Ta Prohm (where strangler figs have grown through the stone corridors), and the walled city of Angkor Thom. From Siem Reap, the floating villages on Tonle Sap — Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake — offer a boat journey through communities that rise and fall with the lake’s seasonal flooding. Phnom Penh’s combination of the Silver Pagoda complex, the National Museum’s Khmer sculpture collection, and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (the former S-21 prison) gives the capital a weight and complexity that few Southeast Asian capitals match.Best time to visitNovember through March is the dry season: cooler temperatures (25-30C), blue skies, and the best visiting conditions for both Angkor and the beaches. November’s Bon Om Touk (Water Festival) in Phnom Penh, when the Tonle Sap river reverses its flow, is a spectacular national event. April and May are the hottest months (35-40C); the Khmer New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey) in mid-April is celebrated nationally. June through October is monsoon season: heavy afternoon rains that make Angkor Wat’s moat and reflecting pools at their most dramatic, but mud in rural areas makes travel difficult. The beaches of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem are accessible year-round but best November-April.Getting aroundSiem Reap and Phnom Penh have international airports with frequent connections throughout Southeast Asia. The road between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap takes 5-6 hours by bus (Mekong Express and Giant Ibis are the recommended operators); a boat service on the Tonle Sap also operates in the wet season and offers a scenic alternative. Within Siem Reap, tuk-tuks are the primary transport for Angkor access; negotiate a full-day rate with a driver who will wait at each temple. In Phnom Penh, Grab and local tuk-tuks cover the city efficiently.What to eat and drinkCambodian cuisine is less well-known internationally than Thai or Vietnamese but is equally distinctive. Amok (fish or chicken steamed in coconut milk and kroeung spice paste, served in a banana leaf cup) is the national dish; try it at Mahob restaurant in Siem Reap. Lok lak (stir-fried beef cubes with lime and black pepper dipping sauce) is a Phnom Penh staple. The Pub Street area in Siem Reap has the most restaurant density. For upscale Khmer cuisine in elegant surroundings, Malis in Phnom Penh is the benchmark. Fresh fruit shakes and iced sugarcane juice from street carts are essential in the heat. Angkor beer is the local lager; Cambodian craft beer scene is nascent but growing in Phnom Penh.Neighborhoods to exploreAngkor Archaeological Park — The 400 square kilometre UNESCO complex north of Siem Reap: Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan, and dozens of smaller temples. Three-day passes allow the full exploration.Pub Street and Old Market (Psar Chas), Siem Reap — The tourist hub: restaurants, bars, and the old market with silk scarves, carved wood, and silver jewellery. More commercial than a decade ago but still vibrant.Riverside, Phnom Penh — The promenade along the Tonle Sap river’s western bank: the Royal Palace complex, the National Museum, the FCC (Foreign Correspondents’ Club), and the evening riverfront market.Russian Market (Psar Toul Tom Poung), Phnom Penh — The local market with the best variety: silk, clothing, electronics, and the city’s cheapest and most authentic street food stalls at its perimeter.Koh Rong Island — The largest island off the Sihanoukville coast: white sand beaches, bioluminescent plankton in the water at night, and a growing number of small hotels and beach bars.Battambang — Cambodia’s second city: French colonial architecture, the Bamboo Train, the Phare Ponleu Selpak circus school performances, and the best base for rice paddies and silk weaving village visits.FAQWhat are the best things to do in Cambodia?The best things to do in Cambodia include watching sunrise at Angkor Wat, exploring the Bayon’s carved faces and Ta Prohm’s tree-root corridors, visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, taking a boat tour of the Tonle Sap floating villages, and spending two nights on Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem. The Phare Circus in Siem Reap is one of the best performing arts experiences in Southeast Asia.How many days do I need in Cambodia?Eight to ten days works well: three days in Siem Reap and Angkor, two days in Phnom Penh, and three days on the coast or in Battambang. Angkor alone could absorb five days for serious temple enthusiasts. The Angkor Archaeological Park’s outer temples (Banteay Srei, Beng Mealea) require an additional day beyond the standard circuit.Is Cambodia safe for tourists?Cambodia is generally safe for tourists. Petty theft is the main risk — bag snatching from passing motorbikes in Phnom Penh has been reported. Unexploded ordnance (UXO) remains in rural areas away from marked paths. The Sihanoukville coast has become less pleasant since rapid casino development changed its character after 2016; Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem remain safe and pleasant.What is the best time to visit Cambodia?November through March for dry, cooler weather across the whole country. November’s Water Festival in Phnom Penh is spectacular. April-May is very hot. Monsoon season (June-October) is manageable in Angkor but not ideal for the coast.How do I get around Cambodia?Domestic flights between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh (45 minutes). Bus between the two cities (5-6 hours on Giant Ibis or Mekong Express). Tuk-tuks for Angkor access from Siem Reap. Grab in Phnom Penh. Ferry to the islands from Sihanoukville (2 hours to Koh Rong).Is Cambodia expensive?Cambodia is one of Southeast Asia’s better-value destinations. Angkor three-day pass is $62. A mid-range Siem Reap hotel costs $30-80 per night. A restaurant meal on Pub Street runs $5-12. A tuk-tuk full-day Angkor tour costs $15-25. Phnom Penh is similarly priced. The islands are slightly more expensive due to supply costs.What are hidden gems in Cambodia?Beng Mealea, a 12th-century temple 40km east of Angkor Wat that has been left largely unrestored — jungle growing through the stone corridors without the tourist crowd of Ta Prohm. The Irrawaddy dolphin viewing at Kampi rapids on the Mekong near Kratie is a genuine wildlife experience. Prasat Preah Vihear, a Khmer temple perched on the Dangkrek escarpment above Thailand, is one of the most dramatically situated temples in all of Southeast Asia.