Best Travel Guide Phnom Penh | ArrivalGuides.com

Phnom PenhGuide was updated: 2024-05-06

Situated at the crossroads of three great rivers – the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac – Phnom Penh is the heart of a country steeped in tradition, overflowing with rice paddies, jungles, and rural communities. Once a sleepy backwater, Phnom Penh, now, buzzes with commercial activity as the country develops after years of isolation. Old French colonial mansions stand alongside newly emerging designs, which make the city’s mixed architecture and communities fascinating to explore.

Do & See

Spend a day walking through the historical streets surrounding the Royal Palace, ride a tuk-tuk hopping from market to market, and end your day gazing at the shimmering lights reflecting off the Tonle Bassac. The city’s life never ceases as the old and the new live alongside each other.

Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

Immerse yourself in beautifully manicured gardens, delightful royal abodes, and the serene calm of this classic Khmer palace. The throne, used for coronation and important ceremonies, sits in a finely decorated room. At its side stands a small delightful ornate maisonette offered by Napoleon III to King Norodom. Walk across to the Silver Pagoda and observe the golden Buddha, encrusted with 9,584 diamonds, the largest one weighing 25 carats. Please remember to dress a bit formally when visiting the Silver Pagoda—wear long trousers or a long skirt.

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Wat Phnom

Wat Phnom is said to be the first pagoda in town, dating back to 1373. It is located on a small hill and locals come here to pray for good luck. When visiting Wat Phnom, be aware that due to the site’s popularity, there will be a number of beggars, street urchins and other vendors trying to gain your attention. Some may try to sell birds in cages and you pay to set the bird free as locals claim the birds are trained to return to their cage afterwards.

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The Killing Fields & Choeung Ek Memorial

This field reminds its visitors of a time of brutal executions and torture. More than 17,000 people were killed here during the Khmer Rouge regime, and today, there are mass graves and a memorial stupa (a Buddhist reliquary) with thousands of human bones. An audio tour tells the heart-braking history.

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National Museum of Cambodia

This red-stoned traditional royal Khmer building from the 1920s offers a glimpse of the Khmer Empire’s rich heritage. With artefacts dating back to pre-Angkorian times, the museum’s pieces are some of the only remaining historical items that survived the Khmer Rouge.

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Phnom Chisor Temple

About one hour's drive from the city, you can visit the ruins of the Phnom Chisor Temple, a temple from the Angkorian era. From the hill where it is located, you will have great views over the countryside, but keep in mind that it can be very hot to climb all the way up during midday.

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Independence Monument

This tall building is a symbol of Cambodia's freedom from France, gained in 1953. This Angkorian-style tower is mostly used as a landmark now, but the parks surrounding it are popular for picnics.

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Population:	2.281 million (2023)
Currency:	Cambodian Riel (KHR): 1 KHR = 10 kak = 100 sen
Emergency Numbers:	Ambulance: +855 023 724 891 (or 119 if you have a Cambodian phone number). Police: +855 023 366 841 - +855 023 720 235 (or 117 if you have a Cambodian phone number). Fire: +855 023 723 555 (or 118 if you have a Cambodian phone number).
Newspapers:	The Cambodia Daily: www.cambodiadaily.com The Phnom Penh Post (bi-monthly): https://phnompenhpost.com
Opening Hours:	Most shops are open Monday to Sunday from 8am–7pm. Markets open from 6am–5pm. Stores and markets are only closed on public holidays.