Cambodia in 5 minutes

Cambodia is a real insider tip in Southeast Asia. Impressive temples, cultural highlights and delicious street food. You'll find all of this in Cambodia - and in advance in our video. Cambodia in 5 minutes.

How do I get to Cambodia?

There are many bus connections from Thailand or Vietnam to Cambodia. The tourist visa for 30 days is available at the border and currently costs 40 USD. To be honest, it takes a bit getting used to traveling in a couchette bus, but it is also an interesting experience. Alternatively, there are two major international airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. There are no direct flights from Europe, but you can do a stopover in Bangkok.

General information about Cambodia

Tuktuk is the most popular means of transportation in Cambodia, for tourists and locals alike. They are really on every corner. It is best to check the prices in advance or order conveniently via app, for example via Grab.

Cambodia is a Buddhist country, which is why you will discover so many temples. They are called "Wat" in the Khmer language. Wat Phnom temple in the capital Phnom Penh, for example, is well worth a visit. The Royal Palace with its famous silver pagoda is also located here. As the king lives here, you can only visit part of the complex. It is important to cover your shoulders and knees and to behave respectfully.

History of Cambodia

Cambodia has a sad history. During the reign of the Khmer Rouge, more than two million people were killed who did not fit in with the regime’s vision. That was around a quarter of the population at the time. At Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, you can learn more about the dark period between 1975 and 1979. Trigger warning: It is an oppressive feeling to walk through the cells where thousands of people were systematically tortured and murdered. The Choeung Ek memorial is about 10 kilometers from Phnom Penh and is the most famous of the more than 300 Killing Fields in the whole of Cambodia. With an audio guide, you can learn in detail about the atrocities that took place here.

Angkor Wat, the largest temple complex in the world

It's worth getting up early in Siem Reap. That way you can admire sunrise at Angkor Wat, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. If you are there before 6 a.m., you can take photos in peace, undisturbed by the crowds of tourists. We also recommend to buy the ticket for Angkor Park online in advance and go with an experienced guide. The temple complex is incredibly large and, ideally, the guide knows all the important photo spots and can tell you a few interesting facts. Ta Prohm, for example, is the famous temple where the movie "Tomb Raider" with Lara Croft alias Angelina Jolie was filmed. Incidentally, she is an honorary citizen of Cambodia.

On another day trip, you can visit the floating village of Kampong Phluk. Here you can learn more about rural life in the village, where the houses are built on stilts over 5 meters high. These protect them from the floods during the rainy season. We also recommend a street food tour. This allows you to try dishes that you probably wouldn't otherwise eat.