Cambodia’s capital city is raw, wild, and untamed. I fell in love with it during my first visit and have loved it ever since.
Founded in 1434,
Phnom Penh has a tumultuous past. The city ballooned during the Vietnam War, filling with refugees fleeing the conflict.
It was cut off by the Khmer Rouge for over one year before they invaded in 1975, killing and torturing thousands of civilians in the process (upwards of 3 million people were killed by the regime during their reign of terror).
By 1979, the Khmer Rouge was finally driven out of the city and it’s been healing and growing ever since.
- Admire the Royal Palace
- Visit The National Museum
- See Choeung Ek and Toul Sleng
- Visit Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue
- Marvel at The Silver Pagoda
1. Admire the Royal Palace
This is the residence of King Sihamoni, and it’s the focal point of the city.
Visitors can only visit the throne hall and a few other buildings around it, but you’ll find information about the history of the royal family, some interesting temples, and a picturesque courtyard.
The best way to see it is via a guided tour so you can learn more about the history and culture from an expert local guide.
Most tours include pick-up and drop off as well as a visit to the National Museum.
2. Visit The National Museum
The National Museum houses thousands of artifacts and works of art.
There are more than 5,000 pieces on display with the vast majority from the Angkor period (9th-15th-centuries).
The building itself, with its chambers linked by a central courtyard, is also an architectural masterpiece.
Admission is $10 USD. Guided tours are available if you want to get beneath the surface and learn more.
3. See Choeung Ek and Toul Sleng
These are the killing fields of the Khmer Rouge. Choeung Ek is a series of exhumed mass graves while Toul Sleng is the former high school that the Khmer Rouge converted into a torture center.
Admission to Choeung Ek is $6 USD and the museum is $8 USD.
It is about 45 minutes outside the city so the best way to visit it is via a guided tour.
It will be sobering, but it’s the most important things to see and do in the city.
4. Visit Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue
This is the biggest wildlife rescue center in Cambodia, where over 100 endangered species are rescued, rehabilitated, and (ideally) released.
A full-day visit costs $150 USD which includes transport, lunch, and tour guides.
You can also visit independently for $55 USD if you hire your own driver.
5. Marvel at The Silver Pagoda
The Silver Pagoda is a stunning temple complex that receives its name from the 5,329 silver tiles covering the temple floor.
Within the grounds are five stupas, with the two largest containing the ashes of King Norodom and King Udung (the two most famous kings of modern Cambodia).