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Travel Guide

Cambodia

The first thing I noticed arriving in Siem Reap was the smell — charcoal, jasmine garlands, and diesel, all at once. Cambodia suits the traveler who wants history that actually weighs something, food that costs almost nothing, and coastline that isn’t yet overrun. November to February is the sweet spot: dry, cooler, and manageable heat at the temples. Budget travelers and first-timers do well here. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s rarely boring.

Best Places to Visit

Every corner of Cambodia pulls in a different direction. These are the places worth building your trip around.

Cambodia

Top Destinations to Explore

Phnom Penh Siem Reap

Best Photography Places in Cambodia

The best frames in Cambodia — from iconic skylines to the spots most travellers walk straight past.

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Cambodia 10 Most Instagrammable Places in Siem Reap: Best Photo Spots

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Travel Plan for Cambodia

A practical route through Cambodia — paced for real travellers, not highlight reels.

Country Information

Weather In Cambodia

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Cambodia is tropical year-round, with a dry season from November to April and a rainy season from May to October that brings afternoon downpours but also far greener landscapes and thinner crowds.

Jan - Feb Best conditions for Angkor temples
24-28°C
Mar - Apr Hot and dry — go early, rest midday
30-35°C
May - Jun Rains begin, countryside turns green
28-32°C
Jul - Aug Lower costs, fewer tourists at temples
27-31°C
Sep - Oct Peak greenery, quietest at major sites
26-30°C
Nov - Dec Best overall time to visit
23-27°C

Cambodia Currency

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The official currency is the Cambodian Riel (KHR), but US dollars are used for almost everything — prices, menus, and hotel bills are quoted in USD. Cards are accepted at hotels and larger restaurants, but cash is king at markets, street food stalls, and smaller guesthouses. Withdraw USD from ATMs in cities; don’t bother converting to riel before you arrive.

Cambodia Transport

Between cities, buses and minivans are the standard option and cover the main routes between Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville at low cost. Within cities, tuk-tuks are the default — open-air, cheap, and easy to flag down anywhere, though Grab also works well in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for fixed-price rides. One honest note: distances between major destinations are longer than the map suggests, so factor in 5–6 hours for overland legs.

Safety in Cambodia

Cambodia is generally safe for independent travelers and I didn’t feel threatened once in two weeks. Watch your bag in crowded markets, be selective about which tuk-tuk drivers you hire for day trips, and in rural areas stay strictly to marked paths — landmines from the civil war era remain a real hazard off well-traveled routes.

Cambodia Cuisine

Cambodian food is rice-based, light on heat, and heavy on fresh herbs and fermented fish paste called prahok, which gives many dishes their deep savory base. Two things worth knowing by name: fish amok, a coconut curry steamed in banana leaves with a texture closer to custard than stew, and lok lak, wok-fried beef served with a lime and pepper dipping sauce that you’ll want on everything.

Halal Food in Cambodia

Halal options are most reliable in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, where small Muslim Cham communities have established halal Cambodian restaurants alongside Indian and Middle Eastern spots. Seafood and vegetarian dishes are broadly available and easy to default to when you can’t verify sourcing.

Cambodia

Before you travel Cambodia

Find Flights to Vietnam via Goflights
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Book Tour via GetYourGuide
Find Deals via Hotelworld
Find a Rental Car via Sunny Cars
Book a Boat/Train via 12Go
Get a Visa via iVisa
Get Travel Insurance via GetInsu

Questions About Cambodia

November to February is the best time to visit Cambodia. The dry season brings cooler temperatures, lower humidity, and clear skies — ideal conditions for the temples at Angkor and for getting around without the afternoon downpours that characterize the wet season from May to October.
Cambodia is safe for most independent travelers. Petty theft happens in busy markets and around major tourist sites, so keep your bag in front of you in crowds — but the bigger genuine hazard is unexploded ordnance in rural and forested areas away from main roads, particularly in the northwest near the Thai border.
Most nationalities need a visa to enter Cambodia, and the simplest option is the e-visa, which you apply for online before you travel and costs USD 36. Visas on arrival are also available at major airports and land border crossings if you prefer to sort it on the day.
Bring US dollars — almost all transactions happen in USD, and you'll receive Cambodian Riel as small change. ATMs in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap dispense USD directly, so there's no need to exchange currency before you arrive.
Phnom Penh is worth two full days for the National Museum and the sobering Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Killing Fields memorial. Battambang is a quieter colonial-era town with good food and a slower pace that many travelers skip and then regret.
Shoulders and knees must be covered at Angkor Wat and most other temple complexes. Lightweight linen or cotton trousers and a loose long-sleeved shirt work well in the heat — pack them in your day bag even if you're not planning a temple visit, because dress codes catch people off guard.
Sihanoukville itself has changed significantly over the past decade and is now heavily developed with a different character than the backpacker town it once was. For beaches, the islands — Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem in particular — are a better choice and still relatively quiet compared to Thailand's equivalent options.
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