Phnom Penh

The capital most visitors rush through, and shouldn't

Phnom Penh sits where the Mekong, the Bassac and the Tonlé Sap meet, and it is the most visited place in Cambodia: the Ministry of Tourism counted 1,885,756 foreign visitors here in 2025, against 955,131 for Siem Reap Angkor and 415,459 for Preah Sihanouk province. The city takes its name from Wat Phnom, the hilltop temple tied to the legend of a woman called Penh, and it has been the seat of the Royal Palace since King Norodom began building it in 1866.

For many travellers it is the stop between the temples of Siem Reap and the coast. That undersells it. In one compact area you can see a working royal palace, the country's national collection of Khmer art, a riverside promenade and a covered market from 1937, and two memorial sites that document the Khmer Rouge years. The Cambodia country guide covers the rest of the country.

Five areas that matter

Most sights sit within a few kilometres of the river. Decide first whether you want to walk to the palace and museum, or be near the restaurants and nightlife a short ride away.

Riverside & Royal Palace Sisowath Quay · Sights on foot · Hotels

Sisowath Quay is a riverfront strip of about 3 km along the Tonlé Sap, lined with hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes. The Royal Palace is a short walk away and the National Museum sits just north of it. It is the most convenient base for a first visit and also the area where the UK FCDO and Canada flag petty theft, so keep phones and bags away from the road.

Wat Phnom & Central Market Old centre · Markets · Raffles

In the north of the old centre, Wat Phnom crowns a tree-covered hill, and the yellow Art Deco Central Market, opened in 1937, stands with four wings radiating from a central dome. Raffles Hotel Le Royal is also in this part of the city, in Sangkat Wat Phnom.

Independence Monument & Norodom Boulevard Landmark · Open roads

The lotus-shaped Independence Monument, designed by Vann Molyvann and opened in 1962, stands at the crossing of Norodom and Sihanouk boulevards. It is a landmark to see from the road or on a walk between areas rather than a destination for an afternoon.

Boeung Keng Kang (BKK) Tuol Sleng · Restaurants · Take care after dark

Boeung Keng Kang is the district around Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (Street 113, BKK III) and has many of the city's restaurants and cafes. Canada notes that theft targeting foreigners is common here and along the riverfronts, and advises avoiding walking alone after dark.

Tuol Tom Poung Russian Market · Shopping

The Russian Market (Tuol Tom Poung) is known for paintings and antiques. Tourismcambodia.com warns that prices can start very high, so bargain.

From a 1929 colonial hotel to a backpacker dorm

These four picks cover the range, checked against the hotels' own sites and listings. Room rates change by season, so we list none: check the hotel's own booking page.

Raffles Hotel Le Royal was built in 1929 and reopened as a Raffles hotel in 1997, at 92 Rukhak Vithei Daun Penh in Sangkat Wat Phnom. Its Elephant Bar offers signature cocktails, 200 gin labels and afternoon tea. For a modern high-rise stay, Rosewood Phnom Penh sits in the Vattanac Capital Tower at 66 Monivong Boulevard and has eight restaurants and bars, including the CUTS steakhouse, Sora and the Whisky Library.

Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra on Sothearos Boulevard has 201 rooms and suites, two pools, a spa, the Phokeethra Sports Club with tennis and squash courts, and four restaurants (La Coupole, Hachi, Fu Lu Zu and Do Forni). On a budget, Mad Monkey Phnom Penh lists mixed and female-only dorms, each with an ensuite bathroom, plus private doubles, triples and twins.

Fish amok, noodle soup and social-enterprise kitchens

Khmer cooking is the reason to eat out in Phnom Penh. Start with fish amok, then try the training restaurants that fund programmes for young people.

Fish amok The national dish · Order it once

Amok is a steamed Khmer fish curry with a mousse-like texture, made with a spice paste called kroeung, coconut cream and egg, and steamed in a banana-leaf container. It is considered one of Cambodia's national dishes and is served with steamed rice.

Romdeng and Friends the Restaurant Street 174 · Street 13 · Training restaurants

Romdeng (Street 174) and Friends the Restaurant (Street 13) are vocational training restaurants run by Mith Samlanh, the Friends-International programme in Phnom Penh, with trainees who are former street children. Romdeng's menu goes from Khmer curries and pork belly with Kampot pepper to insect dishes such as fried tarantula, for the curious.

Malis Street 41 · Khmer classics

Malis, on Street 41, markets itself as "living Cambodian cuisine" and serves dishes such as samlor Khmer, kuy teav noodle soup and Kep crab with Kampot pepper. Its menu and hours change, so check before you go.

Palaces, markets and two memorials

Prices below are the foreigner fees listed on the site or by guides at the time of checking. Palace opening hours vary and the palace can close for ceremonies, so confirm on the day.

Royal compound

Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda

The Throne Hall and the Silver Pagoda, whose floor is covered in more than 5,000 silver tiles, share one compound.

• US$10 listed
• Shoulders and knees covered

Khmer art

National Museum

One of the world's largest collections of Khmer cultural material, in a terracotta building just north of the Royal Palace.

• US$10 adults
• 8:00 to 17:00

Hilltop temple

Wat Phnom

The temple on a tree-covered hill that gave the city its name, tied to the legend of Lady Penh.

• US$1 listed
• 7:00 to 18:30

Art Deco market

Central Market

A yellow Art Deco hall opened in 1937, with four arched wings leading off a central dome.

• Jewellery to food
• Pricier than Orussey

The Royal Palace and the National Museum

King Norodom began the Royal Palace in 1866 and it was largely rebuilt under King Sisowath. Visitors can see the Silver Pagoda compound, the central compound with the Throne Hall and the Chan Chhaya Pavilion; the king's residence, about half the grounds, is closed. Guides list a US$10 ticket that covers the palace and the Silver Pagoda, no photography inside the Silver Pagoda, and a midday closure. The National Museum is open daily from 8:00 to 17:00 with last tickets at 16:30; the entry is US$10 for foreigners aged 18 and over and US$5 for ages 10 to 17, and photography inside is prohibited.

Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek

The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum on Street 113 is the memorial site of S-21, the Khmer Rouge interrogation and detention centre. It is open daily from 8:00 to 17:00 including public holidays. Foreigner admission is US$5 for adults, US$3 for ages 10 to 17 and free under 10, an audio guide costs US$5, and payment is in cash. Dress modestly with arms and legs covered; mobile phones are not allowed in the exhibition buildings. Choeung Ek, about 17 km south of the centre, is where people from S-21 were executed. Wikivoyage lists US$6 including an audio tour and opening hours of 7:30 to 17:30.

Markets and landmarks

The Central Market sells gold and silver jewellery, clothing, flowers, food and fabrics, and Wikivoyage calls it pricier and more touristy than Orussey Market. Wat Phnom is listed at US$1 for foreigners. The Independence Monument, 37 metres high, is the focus of national celebrations; independence from France is marked on 9 November.

One, two or three days

Two days cover the main sights. Keep the memorial sites together on one day so the rest of the trip stays lighter.

A new airport and plenty of tuk-tuks

Techo International Airport (KTI) opened on 9 September 2025 and replaced the old Phnom Penh International Airport as the main hub. It is about 20 km from the centre. The Airport Express Bus, run by Phnom Penh City Bus, operates daily from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm between the airport and Kouch Kanong Circle Bus Station along Monivong Boulevard, with stops at Canadia Garden, the Royal University of Law and Economics, Bred Bank and AEON Mall Mean Chey. Wikivoyage lists the fare as 1,500 riel and a tuk-tuk from the airport as about US$8.

In the city, Wikivoyage lists tuk-tuks at US$2 to US$3 per trip (agree the fare first), PassApp as a metered app usually cheaper than a tuk-tuk, Grab as also available, and the city bus at 1,500 riel per ride in daytime. The riel is the national currency but US dollars are widely used. The UK FCDO warns of fake or torn dollar notes given as change, so check them.

Listed prices, no guesswork

We give no daily budget here because we found no source for one. Instead, these are the prices we could check, grouped by what you spend on. Fees are for foreign adults.

Petty theft, not violence

Canada asks travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Cambodia, mainly because of petty crime. The UK FCDO says most theft is bag snatching, often by thieves riding past on motorbikes, and names the riverfront and Boeung Keng Kang as hotspots in Phnom Penh. Carry your bag on the side away from the road and do not use a phone beside the road.

Both governments also warn about the Thailand border: the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of it and Canada says to avoid all travel within 50 km. Land crossings between Cambodia and Thailand are suspended, and landmines remain in the border area. Phnom Penh itself is not in that zone. Other points to know: fake or torn dollar notes given as change, unmarked mined areas in rural Cambodia, and dengue, which Canada flags as a risk; protect yourself from mosquito bites all day. Wikivoyage lists the tourist police at 012 942 4840 and notes that real monks do not beg from tourists. Read the Cambodia scam guide before you land.

Out of the city

Phnom Penh is a hub for the rest of Cambodia, and Wikivoyage lists coach routes to the north-east and across the border into Vietnam. These are the nearest places worth a visit.

Oudong About 35 km northwest · Former capital

Oudong lies about 35 km northwest of Phnom Penh on National Road 5. It was the royal residence and Cambodia's capital for almost 250 years until King Norodom moved the court to Phnom Penh in 1866. At the foot of Phnom Oudong, a royal necropolis of sovereigns from several centuries spreads across the hilltop, with stupas and Prasat Nokor Vimean Sour.

Choeung Ek About 17 km south · Memorial

The Choeung Ek memorial is about 17 km south of the centre, 40 to 60 minutes by taxi, motorbike or tuk-tuk. Wikivoyage lists a tuk-tuk at about US$7 one way and a tour bus at US$16 that also stops at Tuol Sleng.

Kampot Coast · Pepper · French colonial centre

Kampot is known for high-quality pepper exported worldwide and, unlike most Cambodian provincial capitals, has a centre of 19th-century French colonial architecture. The Cambodia guide covers the coast.