Officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, this country located in the southern part of the Indochinese Peninsula has been inhabited since prehistoric times and has a rich but sometimes troubled past. It’s a diverse and fascinating country and the splendid landmarks in Cambodia cover a wide swath of tourism interests.
Cambodia is the fusion of tourist hotspot and off-the-beaten-path destination, offered in one easy-to-manage bundle. As it slowly recovers from the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror, Cambodia is becoming a rising tourist destination due to its rich culture, complex history, and natural grandeur.
Cambodia is filled with small towns and tribal villages that offer a glimpse into the traditional way of life. Adventurers and history buffs will jump at the chance to trek into the jungle and explore mysterious and unrivaled ancient Khmer temples.
Cambodia at a Glance
- Capital: Phnom Penh
- Currency: Cambodian riel
- Population: 16.59 million (2021) World Bank
- Official language: Khmer
- Government: Parliamentary system, Constitutional monarchy, Unitary state, One-party state, Elective monarchy
- Visa requirements: A passport and visa are needed to enter. Here’s how to get your Cambodia visa on arrival.
- Religion: Unique Khmer culture and belief system from the syncretism of indigenous animistic beliefs and the Indian religions of Buddhism and Hinduism.
- Tourism: Cambodia is one of the cheapest countries in Southeast Asia.
Brief History
- Cambodia was part of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from the 9th to the 15th centuries.
- It was a protectorate of France from 1863 – 1953.
- And of course, the brutal Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot from 1975 – 1979 killed millions of people.
Here are 10 must-see landmarks in Cambodia.
10 Vimean Ekareach
Vimean Ekareach aka Independence Monument in the center of Phnom Penh is a memorial to the country achieving independence from France in 1953. Designed by Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann designed and built in 1958. The lotus-shaped stupa is even more impressive at night. The monument stands on a roundabout in the intersection of Norodom Boulevard and Sihanouk Boulevard
9 Royal Palace
The golden Khmer-style Royal Palace in Phnom Penh is the official royal residence of King Sihamoni.
Resembling the Royal Palace of Thailand in Bangkok, the Royal Palace is a beautiful example of Khmer and French-inspired architecture. Visitors don’t have access to the palace grounds, but they can visit the Throne Hall, the surrounding buildings, and the Silver Pagoda which is covered in 5,000 silver tiles and contains a life-size gold Buddha that is covered in diamonds.
Arguably the most popular attraction in Phnom Penh, the crowds are usually large but it’s still worthwhile to explore.
8 Phnom Penh
Once known as “the pearl of Asia,” Cambodia’s once ravaged but now resurgent capital sits at the junction of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. It was a hub for both the Khmer Empire and French colonialists.
The chaotic yet charming capital remains a city in a somewhat confusing state of flux, from the shadows of its war-torn past with barrios of tribal huts juxtaposed against golden temples, urban road systems, boutique hotels, and epicurean bistros.
Top attractions include (you can visit by cyclo (a type of rickshaw) or tuk tuk tours):
- Royal Palace
- Silver Pagoda
- Sisowath Quay along the Mekong
- Killing Fields
- Tuol Sleng Prison
- Independence Monument
- Russian Market
- Royal Palace
- Wat Ounalom
- Golden Temple
- Wat Langka
- Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
- National Museum
7 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
Tuol Sleng Prison, better known as S-21, is just one of over 200 secret prisons around Cambodia where the brutal Khmer Rouge imprisoned, tortured, and murdered people from 1975 to 1979. Although there are many similar killing fields in Cambodia, this is the most famous one. It is now a museum to educate people on the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime, complete with graphic pictures and detailed reports.
Only seven men survived the horrors inflicted by ruthless dictator Pol Pot; remarkably, two are still alive today and I had the opportunity to meet both at the end of my guided tour.
According to our guide, the Cambodian government does nothing to care for or support these elderly survivors, so they sell their autobiographical books detailing the terror they experienced and how they survived the prison and torture. It’s impossible not to be so moved by their stories and I recommend that all visitors buy one or both of these books.
6 Spider Village
There’s a place in Cambodia about halfway between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap called “Spider Village.” It’s a curious and quirky place where visitors can try (eat) all manner of creepy crawlies, e.g. BBQ tarantulas, silkworms, partially fertilized duck embryos (balat), whole grilled frogs on a stick, and other equally nausea-inducing vermin.
Which one would you try?
5 Siem Reap
Siem Reap (literally “Siam Defeated”) is undoubtedly Cambodia’s fastest-growing city. While it’s best known as the small charming gateway town to the UNESCO destination of the Angkor Archeological Park, the town has emerged as a world-class destination in its own right.
It is laid-back and a pleasant place to stay while touring the temples offering a large number of boutique hotels, a superb selection of restaurants, cafes, and bars, and of course the famous “Pub Street” – lined with colorful bohemian eateries, souvenir shops, fish pedicures, and more.
Siem Reap is the perfect base for exploring the old town filled with elegant colonial French mansions, museums, and enchanting Chinese shops, the ancient city of Angkor, the Phare Circus (a more primitive Cirque de Soleil styled show), and the floating villages on Tonle Lake.
4 Choeung Ek Killing Fields
On the edge of Phnom Penh, the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center is the most well-known of the killing fields. This “dark tourism” sits is one of the most sobering landmarks in Cambodia and stark reminder of the horrors of Cambodia’s 20th-century past.
This is where members of the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, dug giant holes as mass graves. Truckloads of prisoners arrived at the killing fields under the cover of night, lined up in front of the mass graves, and then murdered in cold blood. Their only crimes were their education level and that they were contributing members of society.
Most devastating to me is the tree where children were picked up by their feet and then swung into the massive trunk, head first, killing them in front of their mothers. It’s hard to have a nice day after seeing that.
You can see bits of clothing, teeth, and bone fragments in the dirt all along the path, particularly after it rains.
The Memorial Stupa is a memorial tower filled with 8,000 skulls of the Cambodian people who were murdered here.
3 Tonle Sap Floating Village
How can you not be fascinated with people who live in floating houses, travel to floating schools, and eat at floating restaurants?
Tonlé Sap is a wetland area comprising the seasonally flooded freshwater lake of Tonlé Sap (the largest freshwater lake in all of Southeast Asia) and the 75-mile-long Tonlé Sap River, both of which are part of the delta of the Mekong River. 170 floating villages are built on stilts and barrels along the shoreline of Tonle Sap Lake.
Apart from being an important waterway, the ecological significance and biodiversity lead to the area being designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1997.
Only accessible by boat, the colorful and charming floating villages are great to explore and are a photographer’s dream for capturing the essence of Cambodian tradition.
2 Angkor Wat
Located in Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, the UNESCO World Heritage Angkor Archeological Park in Cambodia is the largest religious monument in the world covering 402 acres a 900-year history shared by two religions (Hindu & Buddhist). By far the top Cambodian tourist attraction, Angkor was the Khmer Empire’s capital city, which flourished between the 9th and the 15th centuries.
Today, the stunning jungle-clad city is a picturesque scattering of over a thousand ruins, filled with historic treasures, making it one of the most significant archaeological sites in Southeast Asia and the world.
I’ve been to all Seven New Wonders of the World (plus the Pyramids at Giza), and in my opinion, magnificent Angkor Wat could replace at least two on that list. That’s how impressive it is.
We started our exploration at sunrise. The five lotus-like towers of Angkor Wat, comprise over three tiers that rise to a height of 669 feet. It is the world’s largest single religious monument and an awe-inspiring sight. Angkor Wat contains the remains of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century.
The temple was built by Khmer King Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12th century, making it almost 900 years old. Its purpose was as a vast funerary temple within which his remains were to be deposited.
We also visited the iconic Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom with its incredibly intricate carvings, the most richly decorated Khmer temple with countless sculptural decorations in bas-relief.
Most fascinating is the enigmatic collection of 200 massive sculptured stone heads bearing striking resemblance to King Jayavarman VII, staring out in every direction.
1 Ta Prohm
Dubbed “the Tomb Raider temple” because it provided a surreal backdrop for the 2001 movie “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, root-entwined Ta Prohm is arguably the most mystical ruins in Cambodia’s magnificent Angkor Wat complex.
Constructed in 1186, the Ta Prohm Buddhist temple was once home to more than 12,500 people, including 18 high priests and 615 dancers.
After the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 15th century, this temple was abandoned for centuries and nature has run wild over the ancient carved masonry transforming the site into the magical and mystical ruins it is today.
While most people might consider Angkor Wat to be the best landmark in Cambodia, for me, Ta Prohm is the most photogenic with temple ruins overgrown with trees. The centuries-long abandoned and neglected temple is pretty much in the same condition as it was initially found: with the roots of the trees growing through the structures which are crumbling under the weight.
The fact that Ta Prohm’s ancient ruins are not as well-maintained as the other Angkor monuments is a plus for me and many others, and I hope remain in the current condition (although the roots do appear to be swallowing and pulling the structures down).
A smaller but still remarkable jungle temple is Ta Som. Little is known about the history and purpose of Ta Som. Amazingly, we had this temple site almost exclusively to ourselves.
What to Eat in Cambodia
- Amok trey – Cambodia’s national dish, fish curry steamed in banana leaves
- Yaohon (hot pot) – broth of coconut milk and chicken broth with vegetables, meat, and seafood. flavored with barbecue sauce, fish sauce, soybean curd sauce, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, and palm sugar.
- Bai Sach Chrouk – pork and rice
- Mangoes – dessert is scarce but the mangoes are juicy and delicious
- Sach Ko Chomkak – barbecued beef or pork on skewers
- Balat – partially fertilized duck embryos (if you dare)
All photos ©Kary Kern unless otherwise indicated.
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About the Author
Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.
She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the new few months.
Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.
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