Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Cambodia

A photograph of Cambodia
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

Cambodia spans about 181,035 km² of low-lying plain, and water sets its shape: the Mekong meets the Tonlé Sap, the largest lake in Southeast Asia, near the middle of the country. Around 17 million people live here, most of them Khmer. Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city and Siem Reap the second, which matters, because Siem Reap is the town Angkor Wat is reached from — the most famous of the works the Khmer Empire began after Jayavarman II took the throne in 802. The coastline is short and faces the Gulf of Thailand.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Khmer
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+855
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Cambodian riel (KHR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
117 police · 118 fire · 119 ambulance
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A, C and G · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Angkor National Museum Angkor National Museum
    02 1 hr 30 min

    Angkor National Museum

    Angkor National Museum is a museum in Siem Reap dedicated to the history, art, and culture of the Khmer Empire and the Angkor period.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Siem Reap
  2. Cambodian Landmine Museum Cambodian Landmine Museum
    03 1 hr 30 min

    Cambodian Landmine Museum

    The Cambodia Landmine Museum is a memorial and educational facility near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Founded by Aki Ra, a former child soldier who later became a deminer, the museum documents the legacy of landmines in Cambodia.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Siem Reap
  3. Prasat Prei Prasat Prei
    04 2 hours

    Prasat Prei

    Prasat Prei is a small Angkor-period temple ruin located within the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. The temple forms part of the broader UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 1992.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • Siem Reap
  4. Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum
    05 1 hr 30 min

    Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum

    Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum is a cultural institution in Siem Reap, Cambodia, dedicated to preserving and presenting artefacts connected to the Angkor World Heritage site.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Siem Reap
  5. War Museum Cambodia War Museum Cambodia
    06 1 hr 30 min

    War Museum Cambodia

    War Museum Cambodia is a military history museum located in Siem Reap province. The institution collects and displays weaponry, vehicles, and equipment from Cambodia's prolonged periods of conflict, including the Khmer Rouge era and subsequent civil war.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Siem Reap
  6. ArtBox
    08 1 hr 30 min

    ArtBox

    • High
    • Museum
    • Siem Reap
  7. Aviary
    22 1 hr 30 min

    Aviary

    • Notable
    • Family attraction
    • Siem Reap
  8. Otter Lagoon I
    24 1 hr 30 min

    Otter Lagoon I

    • Notable
    • Family attraction
    • Siem Reap
  9. Turtle Pond
    27 1 hr 30 min

    Turtle Pond

    • Notable
    • Family attraction
    • Siem Reap
  10. Angkor Eye
    29 2 hours

    Angkor Eye

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Siem Reap
  11. Angkor Wonder
    30 2 hours

    Angkor Wonder

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Siem Reap
  12. Cambo Beach
    36 2 hours

    Cambo Beach

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  13. Grandir Grandir
    38 2 hours

    Grandir

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  14. Happy Bar
    39 2 hours

    Happy Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  15. Infusion bar
    40 2 hours

    Infusion bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  16. Moringa
    42 2 hours

    Moringa

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  17. The Corner
    45 2 hours

    The Corner

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  18. Angkor What
    52 2 hours

    Angkor What

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  19. Asana
    55 2 hours

    Asana

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  20. Banana Leaf
    57 2 hours

    Banana Leaf

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  21. Beatnik
    58 2 hours

    Beatnik

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  22. Beer Battle
    60 2 hours

    Beer Battle

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  23. Beergarden
    61 2 hours

    Beergarden

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  24. Bora Home
    62 2 hours

    Bora Home

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  25. Charlie's
    64 2 hours

    Charlie's

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  26. Cheers
    65 2 hours

    Cheers

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  27. Dialogue
    67 2 hours

    Dialogue

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  28. Drynk
    68 2 hours

    Drynk

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  29. Elephant Bar
    69 2 hours

    Elephant Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  30. Factory
    71 2 hours

    Factory

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  31. Family café
    72 2 hours

    Family café

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  32. Hammock Bar
    74 2 hours

    Hammock Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  33. H&DB
    75 2 hours

    H&DB

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  34. hub club
    77 2 hours

    hub club

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  35. Island Bar
    78 2 hours

    Island Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  36. Island Bar
    79 2 hours

    Island Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  37. Last Call
    83 2 hours

    Last Call

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  38. Laundry
    84 2 hours

    Laundry

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  39. Laundry
    85 2 hours

    Laundry

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  40. Linga Bar
    86 2 hours

    Linga Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  41. Long's Bar
    88 2 hours

    Long's Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  42. Lotus Bar
    89 2 hours

    Lotus Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  43. Lub D
    90 2 hours

    Lub D

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  44. Marleys
    92 2 hours

    Marleys

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  45. Menaka Bar
    93 2 hours

    Menaka Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  46. MIA Bar
    94 2 hours

    MIA Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  47. Mickeys Bar
    95 2 hours

    Mickeys Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  48. Miss Wong
    96 2 hours

    Miss Wong

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  49. Pomme
    98 2 hours

    Pomme

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap
  50. pub street
    99 2 hours

    pub street

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Siem Reap

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Cambodia be?

Seven to ten days can combine three full Angkor days from Siem Reap with two or three days in Phnom Penh. Battambang or the southern coast needs extra nights; Angkor is a landscape of sites, not one stop to squeeze between intercity transfers.

What entry documents are needed for Cambodia?

Cambodia’s official eVisa service states which passports and border points can use electronic permission. Check the intended crossing before applying, since acceptance at an airport does not prove acceptance at every land border, and match the dates to the actual itinerary.

What is the best way to travel around Cambodia?

Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are the principal air gateways for a first visit. Coaches and private transfers carry most intercity trips, rail serves limited routes, and some waterways are seasonal; arrange Angkor transport locally with a licensed driver or tour.

When is a practical time to visit Cambodia?

The drier months from November to March are practical for temple days, though midday heat still matters. Wet-season travel brings greener landscapes and possible road or boat changes, so confirm regional access rather than treating rain as a simple nationwide closure.

What money and payment basics apply in Cambodia?

Cambodian riel is the official currency, while some visitor transactions may also be quoted in US dollars. Check which currency a price uses and the condition of any notes offered in change; keep riel for small purchases instead of assuming every vendor accepts foreign cash.

What practical safety details should I save for Cambodia?

Cambodia records 117 for police, 118 for fire and 119 for ambulance, with Type A, C and G sockets at 230 V. Tap-water status is Not recorded; request local guidance, and carry the address of the accommodation for transport or emergency communication.