One of the main reasons to visit Sihanoukville is the beaches. They are not as crowded as many of those in Thailand, although they can be busy on weekends and holidays. Among the main beaches:

Victory Beach, (south of the commercial port). Plenty of budget accommodation nearby on Weather Station Hill. This beach is close to the seaport.

Independence Beach. Also known as '7-chann beach' after the seven-storey Independence Hotel .

Sokha Beach. owned by Sokha Beach Resort, it is private but you can access it by paying a couple dollars.

Serendipity Beach. Guesthouses and bar/restaurants right on the beach, open until the early hours. This beach seems to be the most popular and typically has the greatest number of people on the beach.

Otres Beach. Very popular. The beach bars have a rich bar manu, sun beds, and a food menu. Most of them also feature bungalows or simple rooms.

Koh Kong Island. Reachable by boat, this is considered one of the best beaches in SE Asia. There are no accommodations on Koh Kong Island as it is military run and therefore illegal to spend the night, however day trips are offered various operators in Koh Kong.

There are many islands off the Cambodian coast that have lots of coral and fish. All the dive boats in Cambodia leave from the Sihanoukville port area. The main scuba diving area is at Koh Rong Samloem Island located 14 miles offshore, as well as at Koh Tang Island 35 miles from Sihanoukville. Overnight trips are necessary in order to reach Koh Tang.

The Cardamom mountains are filled with lush tropical vegetation ideal for jungle trekking. Waterfalls are common (depending on the season). The biggest waterfall in the area is Kbal Chhay waterfall is located in Khan Prey Nup, about 16 kilometers north of the downtown Sihanoukville. The waterfall is 14 meters high.