Top 20 Attractions in Cambodia

The Kingdom of Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia. The country has a mild climate, which depends on the monsoons, the average annual temperature is 25°C. The rainy season lasts from September to mid-October. A trip to Cambodia will be of interest to lovers of picturesque nature, exotic beaches and ancient temples.

The local population is mainly Khmer. This is a friendly people who are happy to meet tourists. Due to civil wars, Cambodia has recently become a tourist country, so the locals have a positive attitude towards foreigners. The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Penh. Here the tourist can visit many historical sights: Wat Phnom Monastery, Silver Pagoda, Royal Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, as well as museums.

Beach lovers should go to Sihanoukville. Here you can find a beach for every taste, from rugged beaches with cafes and souvenirs to quiet deserted wild sands. Outdoor enthusiasts will not get bored in Cambodia. The resort offers extreme sports on air, land and water. You will be able to fly on a paraglider, dive into the depths of the sea with scuba gear and feel the speed on the motorcycle tracks. Local cuisine combines both familiar products and exotic ones. The main products are fish, meat, rice and vegetables. There are many soups on the menu. From exotic products there are frogs, snakes and spiders.

What to see in Cambodia?

The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a brief description.

angkor wat

This temple complex, built in the 12th century, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The architecture represents the Khmer Empire, and Angkor Wat is the national pride of the Khmer people. The temple was built in honor of the god Vishnu. This place is interesting because the complex is surrounded on all sides by a moat filled with water and you can get into the temple only from two sides. The area of ​​the temple is 2.5 km². This is the largest temple in the world, so tourists should visit this place.

Ta Prom

One of the temples included in the Angkor complex. Here majestic buildings and the forces of nature that have enveloped this place are intertwined. The towers and terraces of Ta Prohm pierced the vines and changed the original appearance of the temple. The temple was built in 1186 in honor of the mother of Emperor Jayavarman VII, on its territory there were 39 towers, 260 statues of Hindu gods, as well as dwellings for servants. For tourists, this place is interesting because it was here that scenes from the movie "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" were filmed.

angkor thom

It was built at the end of the 12th - beginning of the 13th century and not all buildings have survived to this day. The main attraction is Bayon, which is a temple mountain with faces carved on it. Also in the city you can admire the Royal Palace, the Terrace of the Elephants with various figures carved into the walls, the Bapuon Temple and many other temples.

Phnom Penh city

The capital of Cambodia is the city of Phnom Penh, which has now become the largest metropolis. It is here that luxury five-star hotels and large shopping centers are located. At the central market, you can buy gifts and souvenirs, shoes and quality silk products, as well as almost everything that is produced in Cambodia. Of the attractions in Phnom Penh are Wat Phnom Monastery, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda.

Preah Vihear

This temple complex is located on the border with Thailand, and for a long time it was the subject of disputes between the two countries, until it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008. The temple began to be built in 893 in honor of the god Shiva. On the territory there is a 78-meter staircase leading to the beginning of the main complex, and the entire temple is located on four tiers as the hill rises. Majestic palaces and stone statues can be observed on the territory of the temple.

Silver Pagoda

The name of this place is due to the fact that the floors there are lined with solid silver ingots. It was built in 1892 under King Norodom. In the center of the pagoda is an emerald Buddha, opposite which are many other Buddhas. Attention is drawn to the 90-kilogram Buddha, decorated with shiny crystals, which was cast in 1907 by order of Norodoma. The atmosphere of wealth and grandeur reigns in this place.

Temple Wat Phnom

The temple is located in Phnom Penh and is sacred for the locals, many come here to pray, and you can also meet "fortune tellers" there. The name translates as "Temple-Mountain", it is located on a hill 27 meters high. A feature of this place is the presence of animals: a tourist can feed the monkeys that amuse guests everywhere, as well as watch exotic birds and even ride an elephant.

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

This terrifying place tells of a sad page in the history of Cambodia. From 1975 to 1979, the Khmer Rouge regime operated, the goal of which was the equalization of all citizens. The museum, which is located in the S-21 prison building where the Khmer were executed, contains photographs of those painful tortures. During the regime, about 17 thousand Cambodians who did not belong to the worker-peasant class were destroyed.

Killing Fields (Choeng Ek)

This place clearly contrasts with all the beauties of Cambodia and its visit causes completely different emotions for tourists. The killing fields are the burial place of the victims of the genocide regime and together with the Tuol Sleng Museum, they form a single complex. There are mass graves in the fields, and bones and skulls of innocent victims can still be found there. Tourists are amazed by the memorial stupa, consisting of 8 thousand skulls.

Royal Palace of Cambodia

In Phnom Penh, a tourist will easily notice this palace, as it is the only tall building in the historical area. It was built in 1866 for the royal family, which is still located in the palace, so not all rooms are available to tourists, but this mystery attracts many people to this place. Nevertheless, there is something to admire here: historical frescoes, the Throne Hall, where the 59-meter tower is located, the Silver Pagoda, the Royal Treasury and many more luxurious royal valuables.

National Museum of Cambodia

The founder of the museum is the historian Georges Groslier, who collected unique collections of materials from the period from pre-Angkor times to the 15th century. The museum contains the oldest sculptures of the 5th-8th centuries, the statue of the eight-armed Vishnu of the 6th century and the statue of Shiva of the 9th-11th centuries are still preserved. It is worth paying attention to the collection of ceramic and bronze items presented in chronological order from the 4th to the 14th centuries. The highlight of this museum is a 19th century casket in the form of a bird with a human head for storing betel leaves. After seeing the beauties, the tourist can relax in the inner garden of the museum.

National Museum of Angkor

This new museum, opened in 2007, presents the history of the Khmer Empire in an interesting way. The use of the latest museum technologies will surprise both adults and young visitors. The museum building is divided into 8 galleries, each of which shows a certain period of Khmer life. You can feel the history by looking at the exhibits, as well as by watching the film that is shown at the very beginning of the visit. It is surprising that some things will even be allowed to touch, which is unusual for all museums.

Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument

This monument is located in Hong Se Park, next to the Mekong River. It was built in 1979 by order of the Vietnamese communists and symbolizes the moment of the liberation of Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge and the establishment of friendly relations between Cambodia and Vietnam. Near the monument, you can comfortably relax and admire the fountains.

Monument of Independence

This monument symbolizes the most important fact in the history of Cambodia - the liberation of the country from French colonization. The author of the monument is the Cambodian architect Vann Molivann, who was inspired by the image of the Main Tower of Angkor. The Independence Monument was opened in Phnom Penh in 1962, later an exact copy was recreated in Siem Reap. The height of the tower is 20 meters. On holidays, it is decorated with colored ribbons symbolizing the Cambodian flag.

Embankment Sisowat

The most pleasant place for walking in the resorts are the embankments. On the Sisowat promenade of the Tonle Sap River, you can enjoy the fresh air, as well as visit various bars and restaurants located in historical buildings of the 19th century. Tourists will be especially lucky if they get here during the New Year in April or the Water Festival in November, because it is here that the main celebrations in the city take place. This wonderful place is located a kilometer from Wat Phnom.

Kirirom National Park

The park is located in Kampong Phu, 112 km from Phnom Penh. This is the first state national park in the country, with an area of ​​more than 350,000 hectares. Coniferous forests are located on these expanses of hilly terrain, where relict pines and the remains of ancient vegetation grow. The diversity of flora and fauna amazes the visitors of this place, they can enjoy hiking, horse riding and water trips along the rivers.

Lake Tonle Sap

Tonle Sap is both a lake and a river at the same time. At a certain point, the river becomes so wide that the standing water in it forms a lake. This is the main natural attraction of Cambodia and the largest lake in the country. It is here that you have the opportunity to observe the life of local residents, whose houseboats are located right on the water. Twice a year the river changes direction and if you get to the river during this period, you can successfully fish, as the fish will be on the surface.

Sihanoukville

Beach lovers should head to Sihanoukville, the most popular resort in Cambodia. It is here that various hotels, including five-star ones, are located on the banks. The resort continues to develop today, various bars and restaurants appear with almost any cuisine in the world, you can also find Russian cuisine. There is also Koh Poah beach, owned by Russian investors. Fans of wild beaches should go to the nearby uninhabited islands.

Kbal Chhai Waterfalls

This waterfall is located in Sihanoukville. Its height is 25 meters, but the strength of the waterfall depends on the season: from August to October, the waterfall turns into a powerful stream, charging with strength. Locals also come here to relax. The Khmers consider this place sacred, so you can find shrines with figurines of gods on the waterfall.

Phnom Kulen Waterfall

Phnom Kulen National Park is famous for its tropical landscapes and picturesque waterfalls. Usually everyone is shown two waterfalls, but the locals claim that there are actually three of them: the first is very small, only three meters high, the second 18 meter can be reached along a mountain path leading down, and the third 70-80 meter lurks in the impenetrable jungle .