Phnom Penh, the bustling capital of Cambodia, is a city where history, culture, and modernity blend seamlessly. Located at the meeting point of the Mekong, Bassac, and Tonle Sap rivers, this vibrant city offers a mix of ancient landmarks, lively markets, and serene riverside views.
Known as the “City of Four Faces,” Phnom Penh is home to historical treasures like the Royal Palace, poignant sites like the Killing Fields, and bustling hubs like the Central Market.
Whether you’re exploring its rich cultural heritage, enjoying local delicacies, or unwinding by the Mekong, Phnom Penh promises a memorable and enriching travel experience.
Things to do in Phnom Penh
1. The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda:
If you are searching for something historical during your trip to Phnom Penh, consider visiting this spot. The Khmer-style Throne Hall was built in early 1866 as the residence for the King of Cambodia and his family.
The floor of the Silver Pagoda features 5,329 silver tiles, which give it its name. Upon entering the palace, you will be shielded from the noise of the city.
Inside the Royal Palace, you will find a Buddha statue made of 90 kg of gold and decorated with 9,584 diamonds. The walls are painted yellow, symbolizing Buddhism, the main religion in Cambodia.
2. National Museum of Cambodia:
It is the largest archaeological and cultural museum in the country, built with attractive red sandstone. During your visit, you can view bronze and wooden sculptures, ceramic items, ethnographic artefacts, and stone articles.
The museum also houses an 8-armed statue of Lord Vishnu and a gallery displaying sandstone sculptures dating back to the 6th century. Entry is free for children and school students, and the ticket price for adults is minimal.
Photography is not allowed inside the museum. In the centre of the courtyard, you will find statues of Lord Yama and the Leper King.
3. Phnom Penh Central Market:
Central Market, also known as Phsar Thmey, meaning “Newmarket,” is well-shielded and properly ventilated, ensuring a hassle-free experience for visitors without worrying about sunny days or sudden rain.
This market has a yellow-painted central dome. It has 4 wings extending to huge hallways. In this market, you can buy a wide variety of men’s and women’s clothing, jewellery, flowers, shoes, souvenirs, and food items such as seafood, spices, and vegetables.
On the eastern market, you will come across shops selling ornaments, and men’s and women’s clothing on sale. The central market holds stalls of jewellery selling gold and silver collections.
Apart from all these items, you will find a few shops of electronics and second-hand stuff. While roaming in the market if you feel hungry, no need to worry. There are stalls selling creamy coconut pudding.
4. The Killing Fields:
This historical monument is a reminder of Cambodia’s tragic history. This place can be disturbing for younger children and people with a soft heart. It is located 17 km south of Phnom Penh city.
This is one of the many executions and burial spots used by the Khmer Rouge Regime. The people who were brutally slaughtered in the Killing Fields numbering 15,000 were honored with the building of this Buddhist memorial.
It houses 8,000 skulls, creating a chilling atmosphere. The people arrange the skulls by sex and age for display in the Memorial Stupa.
There is also a museum where you can get more information about the incident that happened in the past. Every year on 9 May, a memorial ceremony is organized.
On your visit to killing fields wear appropriate clothing, don’t click disrespectful selfies and photos with skulls and bones. The timings are 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.
5. Wat Ounalom:
This is the perfect place to learn about the spiritual teachings, philosophies, and history of Buddhism. People also know this temple as the Eyebrow Temple.
This temple was built to enshrine the eyebrow hair of Lord Buddha. Wat Onualom has around 44 buildings. Entry into this temple is free.
Behind this temple is the Chetdai, where the Buddha’s eyebrow hair is preserved. This temple opens at 6 am and closes at 6 pm.
6. Independence Monument:
This monument was built in 1958 to mark Cambodia’s victory over the French. It is a 20-meter-tall memorial made of reddish-brown stone. This monument also commemorates the soldiers and people who sacrificed their lives for the welfare of the country.
Try to visit this memorial after sunset, because the fountains and blue, red, and white-coloured floodlights around the memorial enhance its beauty. On the eastern part of the monument is a park where you can relax and savour the cool breeze. This memorial is a few hundred meters away from the Royal Palace.
7. Mekong Island:
Locals refer to Mekong Island as Kon Dach. It is located 15 kilometres from the city centre. On the way to Mekong Island, you can have views of Rice Paddies, vegetable farms, and fruit orchards.
The island covers an area of 10 hectares. On the island, you can observe the traditional handicrafts of Cambodia and the artisans engaged in silk weaving, pottery, woodcarving, and dyeing.
The trip to Mekong Island is incomplete without enjoying the sunset. You can reach here by hiring a tuk-tuk to the Japanese bridge, and from there hop into the ferry that will drop you at the island.Â
8. Phnom Tmao Zoo:
It is the country’s largest zoo and wildlife sanctuary. It is about 45 minutes drive away from the town. This zoo serves the rare and endangered animals rescued from poachers, traffickers, and illegal wildlife traders.
This zoo is the home to over a thousand animals and hundreds of exotic birds and reptiles. It is also the largest sun bear sanctuary in the world, including Asiatic black bears and Malaysian sun bears.
The zoo also allows you to feed the animals with food items such as sugar cane, coconuts, and bananas sold by the vendors. The zoo opens from 8 am to 5 am.
9. Choeung Ek Genocidal Center:
Visiting this place is a way to look back and observe the dark history of Cambodia. This place is a mass grave for 20,000 men, women, and children killed by the Khmer Rouge regime.
During heavy rain, fragments of bones and pieces of clothing still protrude from the ground. A killing tree looms over the orchard, where innocent children are bashed against the tree until their death as a method of execution.
The tour ends at the Buddha Stupa, a memorial erected in memory of the victims. The entry fee is $6 which will include an audio tour available in several languages. This memorial opens daily till 5.30 pm.
Must-try places to eat in Phnom Penh:
1. Vibe Cafe, Phnom Penh:
It is Phom Penh’s first vegan restaurant. It is a three-story, air-conditioned cafe. Here you can enjoy the signature dish Ritual Bowl.
They also serve innovative juices such as activated charcoal, coconut water, ginger, lemon, and cayenne. Ten per cent of what you pay goes to the Good Vibe Foundation. It serves healthy meals to 10,000Â Cambodian schoolchildren
2. Nesat Seafood House, Phnom Penh:
Perfect place for seafood. It serves perfectly cooked seafood at very affordable prices.
3. House of Scott, Phnom Penh:
It is the top choice fusion restaurant in Phnom Penh. Here you can enjoy homemade pork, shrimp sausage, and Kampot pepper beef sashimi.
How to reach Phnom Penh:
1. By Air:
Take a flight to Phnom Phen, from outside the airport you can book a taxi or get a bus that will drop you at your hotel
2. By waterways:
You can get a ferry from Sien Riep and Mekon Delta (Vietnam)
3. By bus:
You can catch a bus from Siem Reap, Battambang, Sisophon, and other nearby cities. The buses will drop you either near the Central Market or near the Night Market.
