Cambodia is divided into 24 provinces and the capital, Phnom Penh. Each has its own landscape, history and pace. This page lists all 25 in one place, grouped by region, with a line on what each is known for and how long travellers usually stay, so you can see at a glance where a province fits into your trip.
First time in Cambodia? Most visitors start with Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, then add one or two regions. Our where to go in Cambodia guide and trip finder help you choose. You can also see every province on the places map.
Phnom Penh and surrounds
The capital and the provinces around it, most of them easy day trips or short stays.
| Province | Khmer | Known for | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phnom Penh | ភ្នំពេញ | Cambodia’s riverside capital brings together royal heritage, Khmer art, markets, food, memorial sites and fast-changing urban life. | 2–3 days |
| Takeo | តាកែវ | Pre-Angkorian hill temples, a wet-season journey by canal and wide rice-field views south of Phnom Penh. | 1–2 nights, or day trips from Phnom Penh |
| Kandal | កណ្ដាល | A silk-weaving island on the Mekong, riverside life all around Phnom Penh and easy day trips from the capital. | Day trips from Phnom Penh |
| Kampong Speu | កំពង់ស្ពឺ | Pine-covered Kirirom, Phnom Aural (Cambodia’s highest peak), the royal stupas of Oudong and the province famous for palm sugar. | 1–2 nights |
Northwest
Angkor, Battambang and the temples and hill towns of the Thai borderlands.
| Province | Khmer | Known for | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siem Reap | ក្រុងសៀមរាប | A welcoming base for Angkor, Siem Reap also brings together riverside life, Cambodian food, creative workshops, markets, countryside and journeys toward Tonlé Sap and Phnom Kulen. | 3–5 days |
| Battambang | បាត់ដំបង | A calm riverside city with historic architecture, a nationally important arts scene and easy access to rice fields, villages, temples and Phnom Sampov. | 2–3 days |
| Preah Vihear | ព្រះវិហារ | Cliff-top Preah Vihear Temple and forested Koh Ker reward travellers who give northern Cambodia enough time. | 2–3 nights |
| Pursat | ពោធិ៍សាត់ | An old riverside pagoda, a floating village on the Tonle Sap and the edge of the Cardamom Mountains. | 1–2 nights |
| Banteay Meanchey | បន្ទាយមានជ័យ | Remote Banteay Chhmar, one of Jayavarman VII’s great temples, in Cambodia’s north-western borderlands. | 1–2 nights |
| Pailin | ប៉ៃលិន | A hill pagoda built by Shan migrants, a gem-mining past and cool forested hills on the edge of the Cardamoms. | 1 night |
| Oddar Meanchey | ឧត្តរមានជ័យ | The Dangrek escarpment, community forests and Anlong Veng, where the final chapter of the Khmer Rouge ended. | 1 night |
Central Cambodia
Crafts, forest temples and quieter stops on the roads between the big cities.
| Province | Khmer | Known for | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kampong Thom | កំពង់ធំ | Forest temples, Stung Sen river life and an unhurried stop between Cambodia’s best-known cities. | 1–2 nights |
| Kampong Chhnang | កំពង់ឆ្នាំង | Hand-built clay pots, river communities and an easy break on the road north-west of Phnom Penh. | 1 night or a day stop |
Mekong corridor
River towns, rice plains and dolphins along the Mekong east of Phnom Penh.
| Province | Khmer | Known for | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kratie | ក្រចេះ | Mekong river life, Koh Trong and responsible encounters with endangered Irrawaddy dolphins. | 2–3 nights |
| Kampong Cham | កំពង់ចាម | Mekong river life, living temples and a welcoming pause on the route through eastern Cambodia. | 1–2 nights |
| Tbong Khmum | ត្បូងឃ្មុំ | Rubber country, Cham communities and prehistoric circular earthworks near Memot. | A stop or 1 night |
| Prey Veng | ព្រៃវែង | Rice plains between the Mekong and the Vietnamese border, and Cambodia’s longest bridge at Neak Loeung. | A stop or 1 night |
| Svay Rieng | ស្វាយរៀង | A quiet river town, rice-field landscapes and the birthplace of the coconut dance, on the road to Vietnam. | A stop or 1 night |
Northeast
Highlands, forest and the wildest stretches of the Mekong.
| Province | Khmer | Known for | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mondulkiri | មណ្ឌលគិរី | Forested highlands, waterfalls, Bunong communities and responsible wildlife experiences in Cambodia’s east. | 3–5 nights |
| Ratanakiri | រតនគិរី | Red-earth roads, Yeak Laom, waterfalls and carefully planned journeys into Cambodia’s northeast. | 3–5 nights |
| Stung Treng | ស្ទឹងត្រែង | Where three rivers meet the Mekong: flooded forest, river islands and the waterfall near the Lao border. | 1–2 nights |
Southern coast
Pepper country, islands, mangroves and the Gulf of Thailand.
| Province | Khmer | Known for | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kampot | កំពត | A welcoming riverside base for Bokor, pepper farms, limestone countryside and Cambodia’s southern coast. | 3–5 nights |
| Kep | កែប | A compact coastal retreat for seafood, sea views, national-park walks and weather-dependent trips to nearby islands. | 1–2 nights |
| Preah Sihanouk | ព្រះសីហនុ | Sihanoukville, Ream National Park and the gateway to Koh Rong and Cambodia’s southern islands. | 2–4 nights, including the islands |
| Koh Kong | កោះកុង | Mangrove forests, rivers running out of the Cardamom Mountains and community-run eco-tourism on Cambodia’s wild south-west coast. | 2–3 nights |
How to choose
Short trip
One week
Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, plus a day trip into Kandal or Takeo. See our 7–10 day itinerary.
More time
Two weeks
Add Battambang, the south coast or the Mekong towns of Kratie and Kampong Cham. See two weeks in Cambodia.
Off the usual route
Quiet provinces
Pursat, Takeo, Stung Treng or Banteay Chhmar in Banteay Meanchey reward travellers who like rural life and few crowds.
Provinces of Cambodia FAQ
How many provinces does Cambodia have?
Cambodia has 25 first-level divisions: 24 provinces plus the capital, Phnom Penh, which is an autonomous municipality with provincial-level status.
What is the largest province in Cambodia?
Mondulkiri, in the east, is the largest by area at about 14,288 km².
What is the smallest province in Cambodia?
Kep, on the south coast near Kampot, is the smallest at about 336 km². It is also the least populated province.
Which province has the most people?
Phnom Penh, with roughly 2.28 million residents at the 2024 figures, even though it is one of the smallest areas.
Which provinces should first-time visitors see?
Most first trips combine Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, then add one region such as Battambang, the south coast or the Mekong towns. See the “How to choose” section above.
Sources: the number of provinces from Provinces of Cambodia (Wikipedia). Regions are this guide’s own travel groupings, not official administrative divisions. Area, population and ranking figures from the same article (2024 data). Last checked 4 October 2026.