History · Phnom Penh · Cambodia
8 historic sites to see in Phnom Penh
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Start with Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21). Together the 8 picks below take roughly 10–11 hours across 6 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 10–11 hours
- Areas
- Royal Palace and Street 240, Toul Tom Poung and About 15 km south of the centre
Historic sites in Phnom Penh
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Palace · Royal Palace and Street 240
1.Royal Palace
The King still lives here, so only part of the compound is open, but it is the city's defining sight.
- 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
2.Silver Pagoda
It houses a small crystal Emerald Buddha and a life-size gold Buddha set with thousands of diamonds, and its courtyard walls are painted with a long Reamker mural.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Architecture
Museum · Toul Tom Poung
3.Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)
The classrooms, cells and walls of prisoner portraits are left largely as they were found, and the audio guide, available in many languages, tells survivors' and victims' stories.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Historic site · About 15 km south of the centre
4.Choeung Ek Genocidal Center
A memorial stupa holds thousands of skulls arranged by age and sex, and the self-guided audio tour leads quietly around the orchard and excavated pits.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours plus travel
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
Museum · Royal Palace and Street 240
5.National Museum of Cambodia
A quiet garden courtyard with lotus ponds sits at the centre.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Religious site · Wat Phnom and Central Market
6.Wat Phnom
Today a pagoda and stupa crown the hill, reached by a naga-lined staircase, and locals come to pray for luck in exams and business.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
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Religious site · Riverside (Sisowath Quay)
7.Wat Ounalom
Its stupa is said to hold an eyebrow hair of the Buddha, and the multi-storey compound by the riverside is home to many monks.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
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Religious site · BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1)
8.Wat Langka
It is known for its regular evening meditation sessions, which are open to visitors and led partly in English.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Palace and Street 240 | Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum of Cambodia | 1.5–2 hours with the Silver Pagoda + 45 minutes + 1.5–2 hours |
| Toul Tom Poung | Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) | 2 hours |
| About 15 km south of the centre | Choeung Ek Genocidal Center | 1.5–2 hours plus travel |
| Wat Phnom and Central Market | Wat Phnom | 45 minutes |
| Riverside (Sisowath Quay) | Wat Ounalom | 30–45 minutes |
| BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1) | Wat Langka | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 2 free, 3 low cost, 3 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Royal Palace; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Royal Palace and Street 240): Royal Palace → Silver Pagoda → National Museum of Cambodia, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Toul Tom Poung, About 15 km south of the centre and Wat Phnom and Central Market): Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) → Choeung Ek Genocidal Center → Wat Phnom, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Riverside (Sisowath Quay) and BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1)): Wat Ounalom → Wat Langka, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- September: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 19 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Among the wettest months, with some street flooding after heavy storms; the quietest time for visitors.
- April: highs of 35°C (95°F), about 6 rainy days, quiet crowds. The hottest month; over Khmer New Year many residents go home to the provinces and the city is unusually quiet, with some shops closed.
- May: highs of 35°C (95°F), about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds. Rains arrive, usually as short afternoon storms; still very hot between showers.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Riverside (Sisowath Quay) — Guesthouses, bars and river views along the promenade facing the Tonle Sap
- Royal Palace and Street 240 — Boutique hotels, cafés and design shops in the quiet streets south of the palace
- BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1) — Leafy expat district of restaurants, cafés and small bars south of the Independence Monument
- Toul Tom Poung — Cafés, studios and street food around the Russian Market
- Wat Phnom and Central Market — Northern Daun Penh, with colonial buildings, banks and the Art Deco Central Market
- Tonle Bassac and Koh Pich — High-rise hotels, malls and the Diamond Island development near the Bassac river
More of Phnom Penh
All things to do in Phnom Penh · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Phnom Penh?
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.
+Which of these are free in Phnom Penh?
Wat Ounalom and Wat Langka.