Travel guide · Cambodia
Phnom Penh travel guide
Royal Palace, riverside promenades and Cambodia's modern history
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Looppty, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Cambodia's capital sits where the Tonle Sap river meets the Mekong and the Bassac, and its riverside Sisowath Quay faces the gold roofs of the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. The National Museum holds the country's finest Angkorian sculpture, while Tuol Sleng and the Choeung Ek memorial explain the Khmer Rouge years. Between these sights the city is a place of markets, noodle stalls, French-era buildings and rooftop bars, and most of what visitors want lies within a few kilometres of the river. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are November–February.
Key facts
- Country
- Cambodia
- Best time to visit
- November–February
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- KTI
- Mid-range daily budget
- $60–$130 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Tuol Sleng and Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
Why visit Phnom Penh
- The Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum sit side by side near the river, a single morning's walk.
- Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek are essential, moving places for understanding Cambodia's recent past.
- Markets such as the Art Deco Central Market and the Russian Market are among the liveliest places to shop and eat in Southeast Asia.
- Sunset boat trips on the Tonle Sap and Mekong cost little and show the city's skyline and riverbank life.
- Restaurants range from market noodle stalls to Khmer fine dining and training restaurants run by social enterprises.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 15 things to do.
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Palace · Royal Palace and Street 240
Royal Palace
Built from 1866 when King Norodom moved the capital to Phnom Penh, the palace compound faces the river with tiered golden roofs, the Throne Hall used for coronations and manicured gardens.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours with the Silver Pagoda
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Royal Palace and Street 240
Silver Pagoda
Inside the palace compound, the Silver Pagoda (Wat Preah Keo Morokot) takes its name from a floor of more than 5,000 silver tiles.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Architecture
Museum · Toul Tom Poung
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)
A former high school turned by the Khmer Rouge into Security Prison 21, where thousands of people were imprisoned, tortured and photographed before being killed.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Historic site · About 15 km south of the centre
Choeung Ek Genocidal Center
The best known of the Khmer Rouge 'killing fields', where prisoners from S-21 were executed and buried in mass graves.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours plus travel
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
Museum · Royal Palace and Street 240
National Museum of Cambodia
The terracotta-red museum built in the 1910s–1920s holds the world's leading collection of Khmer sculpture, from pre-Angkorian figures such as the eight-armed Vishnu of Phnom Da to the serene seated statue of Jayavarman VII and a huge bronze reclining Vishnu from the West Mebon.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Religious site · Wat Phnom and Central Market
Wat Phnom
The small wooded hill that gave the city its name: legend says a woman called Penh found Buddha statues in the river in 1372 and built a shrine on this mound.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
Where to stay
Riverside (Sisowath Quay) is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and budget
Riverside (Sisowath Quay)
Guesthouses, bars and river views along the promenade facing the Tonle Sap
$$$ · Best for couples, shopping, first-timers and quiet stays
Royal Palace and Street 240
Boutique hotels, cafés and design shops in the quiet streets south of the palace
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, couples and solo travellers
BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1)
Leafy expat district of restaurants, cafés and small bars south of the Independence Monument
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers, shopping and solo travellers
Toul Tom Poung
Cafés, studios and street food around the Russian Market
What to eat
- Phnom Penh noodle soup — Rice noodles in a clear pork-bone broth topped with minced pork, sliced meats, shrimp or offal, crispy garlic and herbs, with lime and chilli on the side.
- Khmer rice noodles with fish curry — Fermented fresh rice noodles under a fragrant fish broth flavoured with lemongrass and turmeric, topped with shredded banana blossom, cucumber and mint.
- Grilled pork and broken rice — Garlic and coconut-marinated pork grilled slowly over charcoal, served on broken rice with pickled cucumber and daikon and a cup of broth.
- Stir-fried short noodles — Short, chunky rice-flour noodles stir-fried with bean sprouts, Chinese chives, beef or pork and a fried egg, with sweet chilli sauce.
- Cambodian baguette sandwich — A crusty baguette filled with pâté, cold cuts or grilled meat, pickled green papaya and carrot, cucumber and chilli sauce, a legacy of French colonial rule.
- Fish amok — Freshwater fish cooked in coconut milk with kroeung spice paste and noni leaves, steamed in a banana-leaf bowl until it has the texture of a light mousse.
When to go
The best time to visit Phnom Penh is November to February, when it is dry and the humidity is lowest. March to May is very hot, with April the peak and the city quiet over Khmer New Year. The May–October wet season brings afternoon storms and occasional street flooding but low hotel prices and few visitors.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cool dry season | November–February | Sunny, dry and relatively comfortable, with the Water Festival in November; the main tourist season. |
| Hot season | March–May | Temperatures around 35°C and heavy humidity; Khmer New Year in mid-April empties the city as people go home to the provinces. |
| Wet season | June–August | Short, heavy afternoon storms, green surroundings and low hotel rates; mornings are usually fine for sightseeing. |
| Late rains | September–October | The wettest weeks with occasional flooding, rivers at their highest and the Pchum Ben festival. |
Getting there and around
Techo International Airport (KTI), which took over from the old Phnom Penh International Airport in 2025, lies roughly 20–30 km south of the centre. Allow about 45 minutes to an hour or more depending on traffic by taxi or ride-hailing car, and check the airport's own information for shuttle buses.
The main sights lie within about 5 km of the riverside, but heat, broken pavements and traffic make most visitors use tuk-tuks and ride-hailing apps rather than walk long distances. Choeung Ek and day trips need a tuk-tuk or car hired for a half or full day.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Royal Palace, National Museum, Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek and the markets. A third day allows a sunset cruise, a trip to Koh Dach or Oudong, and time in the cafés of Toul Tom Poung.
Practical information
- Currency
- KHR
- Language
- Khmer
- Plugs
- Type A, C and G sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; bottled and filtered water is widely available, and ice is generally factory-made.
- Emergency number
- 117 police, 118 fire, 119 ambulance
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in local eateries but is appreciated in restaurants catering to visitors, where a dollar or two or rounding up is normal.
Snatching of bags and phones by passengers on motorbikes is the most common problem, so keep valuables on the side away from traffic, including in tuk-tuks. Traffic is chaotic; cross slowly and steadily. Heat and dehydration are the other main risks.
Flights to Phnom Penh
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Phnom Penh?
Two days covers the Royal Palace, National Museum, Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek and the markets. A third day allows a sunset cruise, a trip to Koh Dach or Oudong, and time in the cafés of Toul Tom Poung. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Phnom Penh?
The best time to visit Phnom Penh is November to February, when it is dry and the humidity is lowest. March to May is very hot, with April the peak and the city quiet over Khmer New Year. The May–October wet season brings afternoon storms and occasional street flooding but low hotel prices and few visitors.
+What is Phnom Penh known for?
Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Tuol Sleng, Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, Riverside promenade, Central Market and Russian Market. The Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum sit side by side near the river, a single morning's walk.
+Is Phnom Penh expensive?
Phnom Penh is very affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $60–$130 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Phnom Penh?
No. Ride-hailing apps and tuk-tuks are cheap and everywhere; driving in Phnom Penh traffic is not recommended, and drivers can be hired for day trips.