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Top Phnom Penh Attractions
- Riding a tuk tuk through the city and taking in the sites
- Enjoying a visit to Wat Phnom, the spot from which Phnom Penh was born and became the capital city of Cambodia, according to legend
- Strolling along the Mekong River and catching the sunset
- Paying respects at the Killing Fields, site of the horrific genocide committed under the Pol Pot regime
- Wandering through the expansive Central Market with its dizzying array of merchandise
Phnom Penh Tours & Travel Guide
Phnom Penh Attractions & Landmarks Guide
The Cambodian capital is located on the banks of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong River. Founded in 1434, it’s French colonial buildings scattered along grand boulevards, once gave it the name “Pearl of Asia.” It's a vibrant city, where modernity meets the ancient world in architecture, food, and culture.
Phnom Penh is the classic introductory focal point for travelers to Cambodia. The country’s capital, and largest city, it is the heartbeat for tourism and often the first stop on a tour to Cambodia.
Founded in the 1400’s, one will immediately notice the French influence in architecture, city layout, and cuisine, seamlessly combined with the more traditional influences.
The legend of the city’s founding says that a woman named Penh found 4 sacred Buddah’s in a tree bordering the city of Angkor, which at the time was the capital and royal home. These sacred objects needed a special home, and a shrine was erected upon a small hill in the area that would become Phnom Penh.
Today this shrine still sits in the northern part of the city and is known as Wat Penh. Visitors can go to see the original impetus for moving the royal capital from Angkor which now has immortal ruins status to the current, vibrant center of Phnom Penh.
Phnom Penh remained the capital until major upheaval hit the city in 1505. It wasn’t until the mid 1800s that it was restored to its former glory. The French influence began in the 1870s, shortly after which Phnom Penh became known as “The Pearl of Asia” for its culture, and mix of modernity and ancient influence.
Cambodia shares a border with Vietnam and suffered much collateral damage during the war, which helped contribute to the rise of one of history’s most ruthless leaders. Under the Pol Pot regime, Cambodia experience unthinkable horrors until he was finally ousted with help from the Vietnamese.
Today this time remains in recent memory for many Cambodians. Despite the atrocities committed, they are a friendly and warm people. Eager to welcome tourists and eager to share their stories. Phnom Penh is the perfect place to start your Cambodia tour.
Top Things to Do in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh offers many fun, exciting, and historical activities. To explore the legendary capital, allow at least a few days. You can easily rent bikes for exploring, or take a tuk-tuk (remember to haggle! oftentimes a price you're quoted from one driver will be different from a driver two steps away). The sites in Phnom Penh range from opulent gold and marble encrusted temples to the horrific site of mass genocide at the Killing Fields.
Central Market
The enormous Central Market is a must see for visitors touring Phnom Penh. Merchants selling everything from jewelry to food to clothing to housewares fill the space, which consists of a large dome with 4 main hallways branching off, each filled to the brim with anything you could want. Haggling prices is perfectly acceptable here, even though everything is already fairly cheap to begin with.
Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is a beautiful and decorative building, with a wonderful outdoor area as well - perfect for picnics. The palace is still an official residence, and not all of it is open for tours. The nearby Silver Pagoda is available for walk throughs, and gives an idea of the richness afforded the royalty who have lived in this home. Be sure to dress appropriately and respectfully, with knees and shoulders covered.
Silver Pagoda
One of Cambodia’s most beautiful attractions, the Silver Pagoda is part of the Royal Palace and rich in materials and details. It was built in 1892 and then meticulously restored in 1962. The building uses marble, silver, and gold throughout, and the walls are decorated with murals that were originally painted in the early 1900s.
National Museum in Phnom Penh
For a thorough look at Cambodia’s fascinating history, this is a great stop for history buffs. Cambodia has gone through some horrific chapters, which this museum covers. It also delves into the ancient history of the country, housing the nation’s largest collection of ancient artifacts.
This is a highly recommended experience for travelers to Cambodia, whether at the start or end of your journey, as it provides great context and many stories about Cambodia’s past and present.
Wat Phnom
The temple from the legend of Phnom Penh’s creation. Situated near the water, in the north eastern part of the city, Wat Phnom is often visited by people asking for good luck. If their wish comes true, many return to the temple with an offering. Guarded at the entrance with many animal statues, this is a great place to bring your camera.
Stroll along the Mekong River
The eastern part of Phnom Penh is situated along the Mekong River, which is a popular river cruise destination. The promenade features many cafes, restaurants, bars, and shops, and is a great place to spend an afternoon. You can also take a sunset cruise along the river, which provides a lovely view of the city from the water.
Tuol Sleng Prison Museum
This museum chronicles the genocide committed under the Pol Pot Regime. It is situated in an old high school that was turned into the infamous S-21 Prison, and housed Vietnam War refugees as well as native Cambodians.
It is estimated that a total of 17,000 people were imprisoned here between 1975 and 1979. They were subjected to extreme and horrible conditions, both physically and mentally (prisoners were forced to give up the names of family members and friends.
The Killing Fields
Cambodia experienced one of the darkest times in human history during the horrendous reign of the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot.
Northeastern Cambodia was taken over for use as a base by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Cambodia saw an enormous number of refugees flooding over the border, attempting to flee the war, seeking safety in Phnom Penh.
Geography was not a friend to those wishing to escape the crossfire between different allied groups in the north and south of Cambodia. As their numbers grew, the strain of war made these civilians enemies of each other as well.
Pol Pot rose to power among a completely ravaged society, and his ascent was swift and ruthless. Deeply suspicious and hating of intellectuals and elite, he envisioned a return to a purely agrarian economy, which in the sixties was immeasurably impractical for as large a population that Cambodia had.
His decisions caused widespread famine and poverty. Large groups were rounded up and put to work in horrific conditions; some were killed right away; mass graves from mass executions are still viewable when you visit the site of the Killing Fields.
Though it’s a difficult place to visit and face the atrocities humans are capable of inflicting on one another, the experience is often included on Phnom Penh and Cambodia tours. However, many companies recognize the uncomfortable nature of this activity, and will usually offer alternatives if you do not wish to attend.
Phnom Penh Reviews & Ratings
We had a good time overall during our trip.
We had a good time overall during our trip. The only negative is the Tai Chi instructor did not show up at the Halong Bay cruise. Thank you for taking care of us and...
All days went so fast and the trip was superb.
All days went so fast and the trip was superb. We don't know how to require more. Day tour, transportation, accommodation, constant support, etc. were great. There i...
We could not have asked for better service from Realistic Asia
We miss your country already! We had a wonderful time! We could not have asked for better service from Realistic Asia. We felt we were treated like royalty through...
We will give you a great review on anywhere so that people can know your great work.
We are very happy we chose Realistic Asia to arrange our trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. We made the very best choice of travel agencies! Thank you very much Min...
Everything went so well.
Everything went so well. But we questioned that Paradise Cave was magnificent but whether this tour was worth the time it took to get there for the amount of time sp...
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