City: Phnom Penh
Top Things to do in Phnom Penh
10 Things to do in Phnom Penh That You Shouldn't Miss
Budget-minded travelers will appreciate Phnom Penh's reasonably priced hotel rooms (several top-rated hotels on TripAdvisor offer rooms around $40/night). Explore the city's temples, palaces, and the remnants of its French colonial history. Just outside the city, the The Killing Fields (Choeung Ek) are a reminder of Cambodia's tragic past-- a somber contrast to the booming city of today.
Restaurants in Phnom Penh
1. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12,733 reviews
The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is the memorial site of the S-21 interrogation and detention center of the Khmer Rouge regime. Located in the heart of Phnom Penh, it preserves a tragic period in history with the aim to encourage visitors to be messengers of peace. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is the memorial site of “Security Office 21” (S-21) of Democratic Kampuchea (also known as the Khmer Rouge regime) and located in what was then the abandoned city of Phnom Penh, whose citizens had been evacuated on 17 April 1975. S-21 served as the central hub of a vast prison system throughout the country and was used throughout the period as a secret facility for the detention, interrogation, torture and extermination of those deemed “political enemies” of the regime. Due to a policy of guilt-by-association, at times whole families were detained at the center. Only 12 former inmates survived the opening of S-21 when Phnom Penh was liberated. Four of them were children.
Reviewed By PHABfamily - London, United Kingdom
Right in the Centre of town is this must see site & goes hand in hand with a visit to the Killing Fields, The Genocide Centre The audio tour is a must for this to work, it is well paced & very informative. The stories are grim & the exhibits eerie but that is the reality of what happened not so long ago. It is thought provoking a makes you appreciate so much of what we take for granted. Just to be imprisoned, brutally tortured & killed for being a teacher, Doctor, wearing glasses or having soft hands is madness but it was the reality here between 1975-1979.
2. Mekong River
3. Choeung Ek Genocidal Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12,572 reviews
These were the execution grounds for the Khmer Rouge.
Reviewed By G3923TTandrews - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
If you’re new to Cambodian culture and history, a visit to the Cheoung Ek Genocidal Center AMS Killing fields is well worth a visit to for the educational aspect on the harrowing history of the Khmer Rouge. Only 30 minutes or so outside of the city center (easy to reach via tuk-tuk) and 1-2 hours is sufficient time to experience. Warning for families, may not be suitable for young children due to the nature of the experience (I.e the memorial Stupa at the beginning/end of the tour houses skulls and bones from the victims from the era) although again worth taking the family if history has anything to teach us for a better future!
4. Daughters of Cambodia Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,023 reviews
Daughters of Cambodia is a social enterprise empowering victims of trafficking to leave the sex industry through alternative employment. At the Daughters Visitor Centre, visitors can gain insight into the endemic of trafficking that is ravaging Cambodia while learning more about what Daughters is doing to stop it. Moreover, visitors can actually participate in our work by frequenting one of the three social enterprise businesses housed at the Visitor Centre — our fair-trade shop, cafe or women's spa — all of which provide former victims of trafficking with the vital income and skills to build thriving lives for themselves outside the horrors of the sex industry. To see the cafe's menu or a list of the spa's services, find the Daughters of Cambodia Visitor Centre on Facebook.If you have a large party, please call ahead of time to allow us to better accommodate you.
Reviewed By 4tuataras - Auckland Central, New Zealand
Our family of 4 (2 adults, 2x 15 year olds) stopped here for lunch today, and some shopping for home! Food was delicious- and the mango/pineapple, lime and mint smoothies , and spiced chai lassi went down a treat!! Some great purchases for home including t-shirts, Xmas tree ornaments and earrings for the girls were made. Had a chat with one of the managers- about what the service provides. Well worth a visit!!
5. Bassac Lane
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 152 reviews
Situated in leafy Tonle Bassac, the once sleepy residential lane has been developed into a wonderfully exciting drinking, dining and retail phenomenon attracting expats, local Khmer and tourists alike every day of the week. No trip to Phnom Penh is complete without at least one visit to the boutiques and one night enjoying the bars and restaurants of Bassac Lane. Seibur - aperitif room Cicada - classic cocktail bar The Library - daiquiri bar Meat & Drink - bar • grill • conservatory Trove - gifts & homewares Harry's - antique shop & martini bar Hangar 44 - custom motorbike showroom & bar Paperdoll - clothing & accessories Dollshouse - hair salon Masamune - eatery D.Wilkins - leather goods maker Enter Bassac Lane from street 308 which comes off Norodom Boulevard (Malis restaurant is on the corner). There is a paid parking site opposite Seibur where you can park your car, bicycle or motorbike, remember to get a ticket.
Reviewed By H7067BLkatherinef - Greater London, United Kingdom
This area is small and is packed with bars and restaurants. The street should be pedestrianised as the mopeds fly through. A great selection of bars and restaurants
6. Royal Palace
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 8,111 reviews
Still the dwelling place of the king, this palace contains the Silver Pagoda, whose floor is made up of 5329 silver tiles, each weighing 1.125 kilograms.
Reviewed By Lfrancisc0 - Hawalli, Kuwait
During our visit one of the tour guide explain us the story of Cambodia’s Royal Palace which is adjacent to Silver Pagoda offer intriguing insight into Cambodia’s past and present. ... Home to Cambodia’s official royal residence, the grounds of Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda are awash with regal structures, intimate temples, collections and many more.
7. National Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 4,291 reviews
This beautiful sandstone museum was opened in 1920 and showcases many fine examples of Angkor Wat statuary.
Reviewed By amywanderingstar - Cambridge, United States
The museum contains several thousands of Khmer sculptures and relics, which has on display only a small fraction at any given time. The main sculpture exhibits are divided by chronological periods (e.g., Angkor period, post Angkor), while the front section near the entrance, and the sculptures in the courtyard, are more organized by themes (e.g., deities) or provenances. The audio guide is critical to have, as there is little explanation listed next to the physical displays. The commentaries in the audio guide are really well done, with detailed descriptions of the artwork's origin and meaning. There are over 200 audio clips in the guide. While I spent only about 2.5 hours here, I can imagine that it can easily take a half day to fully explore the full guide. This museum seems to cater to a very specific kind of audience. Much of the permanent exhibition contains sculptures of Hindu/Buddhist deities and remnants of Cambodian temple architecture. If you like mythologies and archaeology, you would enjoy the museum greatly. If you are fairly new to Hinduism or Buddhism, you may find the information overwhelming. If you prefer colors or a diverse mix of art media, you may feel bored as well. Interestingly, there was a monk visiting while I was there. He would chant a prayer for several minutes in front of an artifact, and then bless (or be blessed?) the artifact. This ritual went on and off for an hour. I wasn't sure what was happening, but found the activity to enhance the religious atmosphere of the museum. Definitely stop by the museum if you love art history associated with Hindu/Buddhist themes. Alternatively, if you just wish to see the museum building (which is visually stunning in itself), come in and observe the building after hours -- when you can catch a Khmer traditional dance show (produced by Living Arts of Cambodia) on the grounds of museum as well.
8. Central Market
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 6,189 reviews
Housed in a 1937 Art Deco building, this market is a city landmark.
Reviewed By BendigoAngel
close to our Mito Hotel, we bargained with some of the local stall holders and got some great pineapple with chilli sugar and coconut water.
9. Wat Phnom
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2,903 reviews
A standard Southeast Asian temple.
Reviewed By tevinchew - Singapore, Singapore
Apart from the usual 'must-go' such as CE, S21 and Royal Palace, this is something for a less hectic schedule. Ticket is only 1USD for foreigners and there is a small park to spend a few hrs at. Some sights around the park include a huge clock (reminiscent of the one in Singapore Raffles Place in the 1960s) and a statue of King Monivong (similar to the one found in national museum). At the top of the hill, there is a small temple and beside, a shrine dedicated to Lady Penh (which Phnom Penh is named after; Phnom Penh means Penh Hill so technically this might be the birthplace of PP). It could get really hot during the afternoon, but if you need to cool down, the exchange square shopping centre is just around the corner.
