For folks visiting Cambodia, it’s difficult not to arrive without at least some stay in Phnom Penh. The noisy and chaotic capital can be overwhelming and hard to love. But there are many important things to do in the city; maybe it’ll grow on you after a few days.
At the very least, 2 days is worth spending if you’ve never been before. But for those who can, there’s more to do with more time. It was indeed a hard place for me to love. But I did find many things to enjoy my time; with some places to escape the chaos and some good food and memories along the way.
Prices below are in US Dollars unless specified. It’s the currency they generally price things in country.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
Location: St 113, Phnom Penh 12304, Cambodia
Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Cost: $5
This is the most important site in Phnom Penh and I recommend any who can visit should go. It’s also a very tough site to see. Tuol Sleng is the infamous S-21 prison and interrogation center where nearly 20,000 victims were imprisoned, tortured, and killed. The site is a former high school, and it’s easy to see those aspects of the building as you tour.
The site traces the history of the regime, the genocide, prisoners, and life at the prison. You can see the former jail cells. It also has vast numbers of photos of the victims of the prison with just such soul-piercing stares.
When I visited, one of the best aspects was survivors at the site selling books you could meet. I bought all the books, as the first-hand accounts are quickly passing. If you don’t go as part of a tour (I recommend a tour guide), you should get the audio guide ($5.00). There’s a lot of much-needed info to understand the site.
Choeung Ek Genocidal Center
Location: Champion Road, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Hours: 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
Cost: $3 ($6 w/ audio guide)
Definitely an important site to see in conjunction with the above site. The Choeung Ek site is one of the many “killing fields” located around Cambodia. Isn’t the largest of these sites but it’s one of the best preserved.
The center of the site is the large stupa containing skulls. It’s a hard place to think about when you peer into the windows here. Around this, you can visit mass grave sites as well as “killing trees” and other artifacts.
The site is important to see along with Tuol Sleng. Tuol Sleng will show you the history, information, and photographs. Here, you’ll see the raw brutality of the regime. It’s a tough site to explore but one that is so important.
Independence Monument
Location: Norodom Blvd, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
The Independence Monument (Vimean Ekareach) is a massive stupa-like structure commemorating Cambodia’s Independence from France. Designed by a Cambodian Architect (Vann Molyvann), the monument uses various Khmer styles in its design. The monument is free and accessible all day, and it’s beautiful to visit especially at dawn, dusk, or in the evening.
The monument is in a traffic circle on a busy street, so do be cautious if you plan to get close. The parks adjacent to the monument are worth strolling through and have a variety of monuments and statues to explore as well.
Royal Palace of Cambodia
Location: Samdach Sothearos Blvd, Phnom Penh
Hours: 8:00 am -11:00 am; 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Cost: $10
The Royal Palace is a stunning palace exemplifying beautiful Khmer Architecture. It’s also the official residence of the King of Cambodia, and you’ll see photos of him and his family in various areas of the palace to get a sense of the history of the royal lineage. The history of this palace began in the 1860s after it moved from Angkor. The establishment here as a capital had much to do with French colonialism when Cambodia became a protectorate of France.
The palace and buildings are beautiful and there are a lot of significant sites to check out. The silver pagoda, throne room, various stupas, and halls are among the most important sites.
Of note to visitors is that many of the buildings are off-limits for entry. It makes the entry price feel steep. The architecture is still worth checking out, and it’s beautiful to wander about. The palace’s high walls make it difficult to view these buildings without paying for entry.
Phnom Penh Night Market
Location: Preah Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Hours: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Night Markets are a favorite of mine across SE Asia. While this market is not among my favorite in the region, it’s one of the better in Phnom Penh. It’s also located centrally which makes it very easy to explore for visitors to the city.
The market has a mix of food and goods. There was even a performer during my visit here as well. Behind the stage was the area with most of the food. It’s a nice spot to pop in for some diverse Cambodian options. It wasn’t the cheapest of spots that I found. But it had a good night market vibe and some places to sit and enjoy the evening.
Russian Market
Location: Corner of St. 163, St 440, Phnom Penh
Hours: 6:00 am – 4:30 pm
Multiple friends recommended the Russian Market to me. If you want to see a bit of the chaos of Phnom Penh and where locals can buy basically anything, then add this to your list.
The market, named for Russian expats who frequented the market, is a view into daily life. The sheer diversity of options, crowds, and chaos is something to behold. You can buy almost anything from food, electronics, clothing, and souvenirs.
The market is more a local market than a tourist market. If you just want to shop for souvenirs, then the Central Market may be a better fit.
The Old Market
Location: Oknha Plong, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Hours: 6:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Old Market is another market in Phnom Penh that is more geared towards local vs. tourist goods. In some ways, I think of it as a “Russian Market” light. If the idea of the Russian Market is overwhelming, you can get a small taste of it here.
I like that this market is more centrally located. So you can easily do this in conjunction with another site, such as Wat Phnom Daun Penh.
National Museum of Cambodia
Location: Preah Ang Eng St, Phnom Penh
Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Cost: $10
The National Museum in Phnom Penh is the largest of its kind in Cambodia. The museum includes a vast collection of historical Khmer Artifacts from early history until the end of the Angkorian era (mid-15th century).
This is an excellent compliment for folks visiting other locations in the country, such as Ankhor Wat. You’ll see temples there, but you’ll see many statues and other artifacts here in the museum. Museums like this and Angkor National Museum give you a good view of some of the artifacts missing from the temples.
Visiting is perfect, along with the nearby Royal Palace. There are often great rotating exhibits through the museum as well.
Silk Island (Koh Dach)
Location: Koh Dach
Silk Island or Koh Dach is a perfect day trip from the city. The island feels a world away from the city, and it has a bit of a provincial feel. The island is named for silk, of which there is much to see on the island. There’s a small community center that gives demonstrations on silk production and products. Throughout the island, you can also find local sellers. The island also has restaurants, hotels, and some nice spots to relax from the city’s hustle.
Prices are all over the place, so be sure to shop around a bit if you are looking for silk products.
Getting to and from the island isn’t as hard as its made to be. You can book an organized tour, of which there are several on Get Your Guide or Klook or you can do it independently. The organized tours were pricier than I expected them to be.
Getting here independently is straightforward. Take a taxi or Uber to the ferry terminal in Phnom Penh. Ferries leave regularly and are 500 KHR each way. On the island, you can rent a bicycle adjacent to the ferry terminal. It’s about $3 to rent one.
I recommend visiting early in the morning. It’s quieter, and the lower heat makes exploring and biking more pleasant.
Wat Phnom Daun Penh
Location: Wat Phnom Street, Phnom Penh
Hours: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Cost: $1
This temple is one of the most significant in the city due to its history. Built on an artificial hill, the Wat is the tallest in the city. Legend goes that Lady Penh (Daun Penh), found four Buddha statues in the nearby Mekong River. The temple was built to commemorate this fortuitous discovery.
The city of Phnom Penh is named for this temple, and it is a popular tourist spot for locals and visitors alike. The temple is a great place to explore, and you can check out the vast collection of Buddha statues, explore the grounds, and even see the large “clock garden.” The temple isn’t the most scenic of the temples I’ve seen in Cambodia, but it’s a worthwhile stop for its history in the city.
Sunset River Cruise
Location: Presh Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh
Hours: Evenings
Cost: Varies
One of my favorite activities in the city. A sunset boat cruise was a relaxing way to experience the city. Most boats leave from the Quay, and you’ll see them lined up along the water here.
There are many boat options, some with food, some with unlimited drinks, fruit, or BBQ. It depends on what you are looking for. You can still take a boat, and often, they’ll have different packages if you don’t want unlimited drinks but still want the cruise.
I recommend bookings ahead of time. Get your Guide, Klook, or Viator. You can also book in person at the Quay. Just be sure to ask what’s included in the price.
Central Market
Location: Street 51, Phnom Penh
Hours: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
For those looking for souvenirs, this is the place to go. The market is a mix of local and tourist goods, and the central point is the covered building with a large dome. The 1930s building is a historic building from the French Colonial Era.
The domed building is where the action is if you are looking for jewelry or souvenirs. There are lots of vendors and they sell basically anything you’d want as a tourist to the city. I bought several gifts, including scarves and shirts for friends/family here.
Wat Ounalom Monastery
Location: Samdach Sothearos Boulevard, Phnom Penh
I enjoyed making a quick stop to see this Monastery. You’ll witness quite a few monks in this area, which I felt was far different from the other temples I saw in Phnom Penh. This 15th century Monastery is also one of the most significant in Cambodia and supposedly an eyebrow hair of the Buddha.
I don’t know if that’s true, but it does make it a popular pilgrimage spot. It’s not that popular with tourists as far as I could tell, however. I was one of the few there during the time. Unfortunately, there was a lot of construction during my visit, and many areas were closed (although I couldn’t factor if they were open to the public regularly).
Mongkol Serey Temple (Golden Temple)
Location: National Highway 6A, Phnom Penh
Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Cost: Free
This is a stunning temple that is painted in all gold. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the gold complemented the incredible architecture of the place. The central pagoda, statues, stupas, and other structures are stunning. The interior has several Buddha statues and intricate paintings that tell the story of Buddha’s life.
While I didn’t book a tuk-tuk tour here, many offer this as a location (along with/ the monkey temple). I don’t recommend the Monkey Temple, which is further south in this part of Phnom Penh. The temple seems like it should be popular, but there were only a few tourists there when I visited.
The temple is outside of the central city area. I think it’s a great spot to stop to or from a trip to Silk Island.
Where to Stay
There are a ton of spots to stay in Phnom Penh. For me, the area along the river just north of the Royal Palace is my favorite area. It’s central to most of the places you’ll want to explore as a tourist.
- Hotel KVL: Superb location, very clean, and excellent service. Pricier, but one of the better options in the area. Located just north of the Royal Palace
- Ohana Phnom Penh Palace: This hotel was comfortable and reasonably priced. Included breakfast was good with a variety of options
- Amanjaya Pancam Suites: Large suite rooms with balconies. Great location and service. Not all rates include breakfast.
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