Siem Reap, Cambodia

The province of Siem Reap is located in northwest Cambodia. It is the most important tourist destination of the country because it is the nearest city to the world-famous Angkor temples (the Angkor temple complex is north of the city). The city's name literally translates to "Siamese defeated," referring to the Khmer Empire's triumph against the Thai kingdom's army in the 17th century.

Siem Reap is one of those places where everyone may find something to their liking. You will never be bored in this constantly changing metropolis. For what is essentially a small – and new – city on the shore of the Tonle Sap lake, the diversity of cuisine, accommodation, shopping, modes of transportation, and daily activities is pretty astounding.

Nation: Cambodia
No. Tourists: more than 3 million annually
Best time to visit: December and January