--- title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Sihanoukville, Cambodia | Wimup" description: "The ten best things to do in Sihanoukville, Cambodia: ferries to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem, Otres Beach, the Ream mangroves and the hilltop pagodas, ranked and mapped." url: https://wimup.com/city/sihanoukville type: City guide updated: 2026-10-23 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Top 10 Things To Do in Sihanoukville Sihanoukville, Cambodia · Asia · By Wimup Editorial, 11 min read Sihanoukville is Cambodia's deep-water port, built from 1955 on a peninsula in the Gulf of Thailand. A casino and construction boom has remade the town, so most visitors treat it as a base: for the beaches south of the centre, the Ream mangroves and the ferries out to Koh Rong. ## Quick answer Give Sihanoukville three days and spend at least one night offshore. Take the morning ferry to Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem and stay over for the glowing plankton after dark. Back on the mainland, take a beach day at Otres, a boat through the mangroves of Ream National Park, and the climb to Wat Leu for the view over the bay. Come between December and March, when the sea is calm. ## Quick facts - **Best months:** Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar - **Ideal length:** 3 days, with a night on an island - **Budget per day:** $40–90 - **Language:** Khmer, with English in the beach areas - **Getting around:** Tuk-tuks and ride apps on land, ferries to the islands - **Tourism board:** [↗ Website](https://tourism.gov.kh/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## The 10 best things to do in Sihanoukville ### 1. Take the ferry to Koh Rong Island · Koh Touch pier, Koh Rong Cambodia's second-largest island has about 43 km of beach on a 61 km coastline, and fast ferries reach it in under an hour. Koh Touch is the busy landing; Long Set and Sok San are quieter. - **Time:** A night or more - **Cost:** Ferry ticket - **Best at:** December to March - **Tip:** There is no tuk-tuk on the island; arrange parking if you drive Links: [Ministry of Tourism](https://tourism.gov.kh/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 2. Stay over on Koh Rong Samloem Island · Saracen Bay, Koh Rong Samloem The quieter sister island. Saracen Bay holds most of the rooms, M'Pai Bay is the fishing village turned backpacker base, and Lazy Beach on the west coast is a 25-minute jungle walk from Saracen. - **Time:** A night or more - **Cost:** Ferry ticket - **Best at:** Dry season - **Tip:** There is no ATM on the island, so bring cash Links: [Ministry of Tourism](https://tourism.gov.kh/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 3. Spend a beach day at Otres Beach · Otres Beach, Sihanoukville The long white-sand beach south of town is the mainland's best, split into Otres 1 to the north and Otres 2 beyond. Development has reached the south end, so check what is open before you settle. - **Time:** Half a day - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Late afternoon - **Tip:** Otres 1 is closer to town and has more places to eat Links: [Ministry of Tourism](https://tourism.gov.kh/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 4. Boat through the Ream mangroves Nature · Ream National Park, Preah Sihanouk Protected since 1993, the park about 18 km from town takes in mangroves, the Prek Toek Sap estuary, reefs and two islands. The river trip toward the sea is the most popular tour and the best chance of seeing wildlife. - **Time:** Half a day - **Cost:** Boat trip fee - **Best at:** Early morning - **Tip:** Start at the park rangers' office, and go with a ranger or guide Links: [Ministry of Tourism](https://tourism.gov.kh/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 5. Climb to Wat Leu Landmark · Wat Leu, Sihanoukville The Upper Pagoda sits on the hill above town, about 6 km from the centre, with the widest view in Sihanoukville over the city, the bay and the islands. The park around it makes the climb worthwhile. - **Time:** About 1 hour - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Late afternoon - **Tip:** Dress for a working temple: shoulders and knees covered ### 6. Visit Wat Krom above the sea Landmark · Wat Krom, Sihanoukville The Lower Pagoda is also on a hill, about 3 km from the centre, with a reclining Buddha and a shrine to Lok Yeay Mao, a local deity. It is calmer than Wat Leu. - **Time:** About 45 minutes - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Leave a small offering at the Yeay Mao shrine, as Cambodians do ### 7. Swim off Independence Beach Beach · Independence Beach, Sihanoukville A white-sand beach northwest of the centre, below the Independence Hotel, which opened in 1963 with interiors designed by Sihanouk himself. It faces west, so it takes the sunset. - **Time:** 2 to 3 hours - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Sunset - **Tip:** Combine it with Sokha Beach, the next bay along ### 8. Picnic at Kbal Chhay waterfall Nature · Kbal Chhay, Preah Sihanouk A tiered waterfall with a 14-metre drop about 16 km from the centre, and one of the town's main sources of fresh water. Families come to picnic beside it. - **Time:** Half a day - **Cost:** Ask at the gate - **Best at:** Rainy season - **Tip:** In the dry season the flow drops to a trickle, so go after the rains ### 9. Shop for breakfast at Phsar Leu Food · Phsar Leu, Sihanoukville The town's central market sells produce, seafood, meat and spices, with clothes and handicrafts in the back aisles. Come early and eat from the stalls: rice noodle soup, grilled meat and coconut sweets. - **Time:** About 1 hour - **Cost:** Free to browse - **Best at:** Early morning - **Tip:** It runs from about 7 am to 6 pm; the produce is best before nine ### 10. Watch the sunset from Victory Beach Beach · Victory Beach, Sihanoukville The small beach below Victory Hill faces west over the port and the islands. Port works have closed part of the sand, but the sunset from the hill above it is still the best free show in town. - **Time:** About 1 hour - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Sunset - **Tip:** Walk up to the Independence Monument on Ekareach Street afterwards ## Best beaches in Sihanoukville Five beaches on the peninsula, from the long sand at Otres to the town bays. 1. **Otres 1** (Best mainland beach · Otres): The northern half of Otres: soft sand, clear water and the most beach restaurants. 2. **Otres 2** (Quiet · Otres): The quieter southern stretch, now mostly given over to new development. 3. **Sokha Beach** (Resort beach · Sokha): About 1.5 km of sand, and much of it belongs to the Sokha Beach Resort. 4. **Ochheuteal and Serendipity** (Lively · Ochheuteal): The busiest beach, with bars and water sports, and Serendipity at its northern end. 5. **Independence Beach** (Sunset · Northwest): West-facing sand below the 1963 Independence Hotel, best at sunset. ## Best islands in Sihanoukville Two islands for a night or a week, and two smaller ones for a day. 1. **Koh Rong** (Stay a night · Gulf of Thailand): The big island: 78 km² and about 43 km of beaches, with fast ferries from town. 2. **Koh Rong Samloem** (Stay a night · Gulf of Thailand): Quieter, with Saracen Bay, M'Pai Bay and Lazy Beach. 3. **Koh Ta Kiev** (Day trip · Ream coast): A jungle island off the Ream coast, reached by boat from the mainland. 4. **Koh Russey** (Resort island · Off Ochheuteal): Bamboo Island, about 4.5 km offshore, a former navy outpost now run as a resort island. ## Best on the water in Sihanoukville Three ways to get into the water, all of them from the islands. 1. **Glowing plankton at night** (Night tour · Koh Rong): Bioluminescent plankton lights the water on moonless nights; watch from a boat or the shore. 2. **Snorkel the Lazy Beach reefs** (Snorkelling · Koh Rong Samloem): Two reefs off Lazy Beach, the left one calmest in the morning and the right in the afternoon. 3. **Dive or snorkel from M'Pai Bay** (Diving · Koh Rong Samloem): The island's best snorkelling and diving, off the fishing village at its northern tip. ## Best pagodas & landmarks in Sihanoukville Two hilltop pagodas and the two monuments the town navigates by. 1. **Wat Leu** (Viewpoint · Hilltop): The Upper Pagoda on the hill above town, with the best view of the bay. 2. **Wat Krom** (Pagoda · Hilltop): The Lower Pagoda, with a reclining Buddha and the Yeay Mao shrine. 3. **Independence Monument** (Monument · Ekareach Street): A lotus-shaped Khmer stupa on Ekareach Street, between downtown and Victory Hill. 4. **Golden Lions roundabout** (Landmark · Ochheuteal): Two gilded lions at the junction that points the way to the southern beaches. ## Best nature & outdoors in Sihanoukville Mangroves, a waterfall and a beach inside the national park. 1. **Ream National Park** (Boat trip · Ream): Mangroves, an estuary, reefs and islands about 18 km from town, best by boat. 2. **Kbal Chhay waterfall** (Rainy season · Kbal Chhay): A 14-metre tiered fall about 16 km out, at its best after the rains. 3. **Ream Beach** (Quiet · Ream): Quiet sand inside the national park, far from the town beaches. ## Best neighborhoods in Sihanoukville Four areas, each with its own beach and its own crowd. 1. **Downtown** (Local · Centre): The market town in the middle of the peninsula, with Phsar Leu and the bus offices. 2. **Ochheuteal and Serendipity** (Nightlife · South): The main beach strip, with hotels, bars and the pier for island boats. 3. **Victory Hill** (Budget · West): The hill above Victory Beach and the port, with budget guesthouses. 4. **Otres** (Beach · South): The southern beach, quieter but cut off by construction on its access road. ## Best day trips in Sihanoukville The pepper coast to the east, by road or by train. 1. **Kampot** (By train · Kampot): A riverside town about two hours east by train, and the base for Bokor. 2. **Bokor National Park** (Mountain · Kampot): A mountain plateau about 40 km from Kampot, with the old French hill station. 3. **Kep crab market** (Seafood · Kep): Crab with Kampot pepper, cooked on the waterfront where the boats land. 4. **La Plantation** (Pepper farm · Kampot): A Kampot pepper farm about 20 km from Kampot, with free guided walks and tastings. ## Festivals & annual events in Sihanoukville (2026) - **Khmer New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey)** (14 – 16 Apr): The biggest holiday of the year, when families from Phnom Penh fill the beaches. - **Visak Bochea** (1 May): The Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, marked with candlelit processions at the pagodas. - **Royal Ploughing Ceremony** (5 May): The ritual that opens the planting season, a national holiday staged in the capital. - **Pchum Ben** (10 – 12 Oct): The festival of the ancestors, with dawn offerings at Wat Leu, Wat Krom and every pagoda. - **Coronation Day** (29 Oct): The anniversary of King Norodom Sihamoni's coronation in 2004, a public holiday. - **Independence Day** (9 Nov): Independence from France in 1953, marked at the Independence Monument. - **Water Festival (Bon Om Touk)** (23 – 25 Nov): Cambodia's largest festival, centred on the boat races in Phnom Penh. - **Sea Festival** (December): The coastal tourism festival, held each year in one of the four coastal provinces in turn. ## Must-try dishes in Sihanoukville, Cambodia - **Kampot pepper crab**: Crab stir-fried with Kampot pepper, the signature dish of this coast. - **Fish amok**: Fish steamed with coconut cream and kroeung paste in a banana-leaf cup. - **Lok lak**: Seared cubed beef with a lime, salt and pepper dipping sauce. - **Kuy teav**: Clear pork-broth rice noodles, the standard Cambodian breakfast. - **Nom banh chok**: Rice noodles under a green fish curry, with banana flower and herbs. - **Bai sach chrouk**: Grilled pork over broken rice with pickles, eaten early. - **Num pang**: The Cambodian baguette, filled with pâté, pork and pickled vegetables. - **Kralan**: Sticky rice, beans and coconut roasted in a bamboo tube. ## Sihanoukville transport & airports - **Sihanouk International Airport** (KOS): The airport is about 20 to 25 km east of town, with flights to Siem Reap, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. There is no public bus; take a taxi, a tuk-tuk or a ride app. - **Expressway and coaches from Phnom Penh** (Road): The expressway, open since October 2022, cut the drive from the capital to about two hours. Giant Ibis and other operators run coaches and minivans. [Giant Ibis](https://www.giantibis.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Royal Railway** (Rail): The southern line runs from Phnom Penh through Kampot to Sihanoukville, about two hours from Kampot. Services are few, so check the timetable. [Royal Railway](https://royalrailway.com.kh/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Ferries to the islands** (Ferry): Fast ferries reach Koh Rong in about 45 minutes to an hour and a half. Timetables change by season, and rough seas cancel boats in the monsoon. ## Sihanoukville at a glance - **Country:** Cambodia - **Region:** Preah Sihanouk province, on a peninsula in the Gulf of Thailand - **Population:** About 310,000 in Preah Sihanouk province (2019 census); city estimates run from 67,000 to 90,000 - **Founded:** Port construction began in 1955; the deep-water port opened in 1960 - **Earlier name:** Kampong Som, the coastal settlement the port was built on - **Language:** Khmer, with English in the beach areas - **Currency:** Riel (KHR). US dollars are used for almost everything, and small change comes back in riel - **Time zone:** ICT (UTC+7), with no daylight saving - **Calling code:** +855, area code 34 - **Airports:** Sihanouk International (KOS), about 20 to 25 km east of town - **Power:** 230V, 50Hz, with type A, C and G sockets all in use - **Emergency:** 117 police, 118 fire, 119 ambulance ## Interesting facts - Work on the port began in 1955, after Vietnam restricted Cambodia's access to its ports. - The city is named for King Norodom Sihanouk; the settlement before it was called Kampong Som. - Koh Rong is Cambodia's second-largest island, and 43 km of its 61 km coastline is beach. - Ream National Park, protected since 1993, includes mangroves, reefs and two islands, Koh Thmei and Koh Seh. - Cambodia stopped issuing online gambling licences in August 2019, and half the town's casinos closed. ## Sihanoukville travel FAQ ### How many days do you need in Sihanoukville? Three. One for Otres, Wat Leu and the town, one for the Ream mangroves, and at least one night on Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem. Add a day to stay longer on an island or to take the train to Kampot. ### How do you get from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville? By road. The expressway opened in October 2022 and the drive takes about two hours. Coaches and minivans run all day, the Royal Railway runs a few trains via Kampot, and there are domestic flights to Sihanouk International Airport. ### How do you get to Koh Rong from Sihanoukville? By fast ferry, in about 45 minutes to an hour and a half depending on the boat and the landing. Several operators sail daily, and timetables change by season, so check on the day. Rough seas cancel boats in the monsoon. ### When is the best time to visit Sihanoukville? December to March, when the sea is calm and the island ferries run reliably. March to May is the hottest stretch, and from May to October the rains come and boats can be cancelled. Khmer New Year in mid-April fills the beaches. ### Is Sihanoukville worth visiting? As a base, yes. The town itself was remade by a Chinese casino and construction boom that stalled after the 2019 online gambling ban, and it shows. The reasons to come are around it: Otres, the Ream mangroves and the islands. ## Nearby guides - [Phnom Penh](https://wimup.com/city/phnom-penh.md): Cambodia · 10 picks - [Can Tho](https://wimup.com/city/can-tho.md): Vietnam · 10 picks - [Siem Reap](https://wimup.com/city/siem-reap.md): Cambodia · 10 picks - [All of Asia →](https://wimup.com/asia): 99 cities Part of the [Cambodia guide](https://wimup.com/country/cambodia.md) · [Asia](https://wimup.com/asia.md) ## Sources - [Sihanoukville tourism board](https://tourism.gov.kh/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Expressway and coaches from Phnom Penh: Giant Ibis](https://www.giantibis.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Royal Railway: Royal Railway](https://royalrailway.com.kh/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.