Top 10 Things to Do in Cambodia

#10. Shop at the Night Market

As soon as you arrive in Cambodia, you will notice that the heat and humidity can be quite overwhelming. You might think that it makes it very difficult to see or do anything. However, don’t worry, the locals have adapted to this type of climate by actually being less active during the day and more active at night. When visiting any of the big cities in Cambodia, such as Siem Reap, one of the best things to do is visit the local night market.

Here you can walk around and eat some of the best local street foods (that are also really cheap), check out many little souvenir shops, get a drink, and even sing a bit of karaoke! When visiting Cambodia, make sure to visit one of the most popular night markets in the whole country, Siem Reap’s Angkor Night Market.^[1]skyscanner – Top 15 attractions and things to do in Siem Reap

#9. The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh

When in Phnom Penh, one of the must visit sites is the Royal Palace situation along the riverfront. This is the official residence of King Sihamoni.^[2]make my trip – Top 10 Thing to Do in Cambodia The beautiful and elaborate architecture (especially the roofs) are a testament to the Khmer civilization.

When visiting, make sure that you dress appropriately in order to show respect. This means that you need to keep your knees and arms covered.

#8. The Killing Fields

While it may be grim, one of the best and most important things to do in Cambodia is to visit one of the many killing fields that dot the whole country. One of the most famous ones is around 9 miles outside Phnom Penh. Here you can see hundreds and thousands of skulls of people killed during the Khmer Rouge regime.^[3]HuffPost – The 15 Most Memorable Attractions In Cambodia Probably one of the best ways to visit one of these sites is through tour companies. They will be able to better explain the history behind the Khmer Rouge regime and how their horrible actions still affect Cambodia today.

#7. Cruise the Mekong and spot river dolphins

#6. Hang out with Mondulkiri’s elephants

When visiting Cambodia, you might be tempted to ride an elephant. However, think twice about that. Instead, consider visiting the northeastern province of Mondulkiri and the Elephant Valley Project.^[5]Culture Trip – The 11 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Cambodia Here you get to see the elephants up close and learn about the negative effects that tourism has on elephants. This elephant sanctuary is both a permanent and temporary home for the neglected and over worked elephants that were part of the the tourism industry in the country. Instead of having to work, the elephants can enjoy their days in peace playing in the water, mud, and jungle.

#5. Battambang

If you want to get away from the tourist Cambodia, one of the best things to do in Cambodia is visit the city of Battambang. In fact, this city is one of the best preserved examples of a colonial era city in Cambodia.^[6]Lonely Planet – Battambang Despite it not being a big tourist destination, there is still a lot of fun things to do there. For example just outside the town is beautiful Cambodian countryside and ancient temples. While the temples might not be as big and famous as Angkor Wat, they are a lot less crowded! In addition, for the bird watching lovers out there, the world class Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary is close by.

#4. Phnom Penh

One of the best places and things to do in Cambodia is visit the capitol Phnom Penh. The city is both a mix of chaos and charm that makes for a truly Cambodian experience. One of the highlights of the city is the riverfront that winds its way through the city. In fact, many people consider it the best riverfront in the whole country.

In addition, there are plenty of bars, restaurants, and hotels for those visiting. If are looking for things to do in Phnom Penh, consider visiting the National Museum. Here you can get a glimpse at both the great and terrible history of Cambodia and find out why it was once called the “Pearl of Asia”.^[7]Escape – LONELY PLANET’S 10 THINGS YOU MUST DO AND SEE IN CAMBODIA

#3. Ta Prohm

If you like movies and video games, you probably are a little bit familiar with Cambodia through Tomb Raider. In fact, they temples in the movies are based and were filmed at real locations in Cambodia that you can actually visit! The Ta Prohm temple or more famously known as the “Tomb Raider Temple”, is one of the best things to do in Cambodia.^[8]Lonely Planet – Ta Prohm Just like Laura Croft, when visiting these temples, you will feel like an explorer in the jungle looking for lost temples. In fact, in many cases, it looks like the jungle has swallowed the temple structures.