20 Best Phnom Penh Attractions

Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and it is worth visiting. There are so many beautiful attractions and places to visit in Phnom Penh that will captivate you in the enchanting beauty of the city and you will find it difficult to leave this beautiful place.

The place offers a lot to learn about the country and many more and is a heritage of the city. It is a house of exquisite historical and cultural items. The building itself is so beautifully constructed that it itself looks no less than a piece of art to be visited.

It is a beautiful island and is serene and hypnotizing. Here you will be able to find many artisans with capabilities like handicrafts, silk-weaving and much more. There are many places that are worth capturing and hence you should never miss your camera while coming to such a beautiful place.

Here are some of the best Phnom Penh Attractions:

01A Guided Tour of Phnom Penh City
- h9 Hours
- lPhnom Penh
- NNNNN27 ratings
- Supplier
  Toni Tran
About the Activity:
- Explore Phnom Penh, a fascinatingly dynamic city with tree-lined boulevards and riverfront promenades which are reminders of the bygone era, that today teems with life.
- Start your tour at Wat Phnom, where a legend states that the city began here when a woman named Penh found four Buddha statues and built the temple to house them.
- Afterwards, witness the splendour of Cambodia's royal heritage by visiting the Royal Palace, still the official residence of the King, the adjacent Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, which contains a comprehensive collection of Khmer art.
- Afternoon onwards, learn about Cambodia's tragic past and the Khmer Rouge regime at the Tuol Sleng Museum.
- Finally, visit one of Phnom Penh's two great markets, the Central Market which is located in a distinctive domed Art Deco building or the sprawling Russian Market.
- The tour starts at 8 AM and ends at 5 PM.
02Luxury Spa Package in Phnom Penh
- h3 Hours
- lPhnom Penh
- NNNNN39 ratings
- Supplier
  Ms Holly Nguyen
About the Activity:
- Feel rejuvenated with a spa package in Cambodia and travel to the next level of nirvana.
- Get picked up from your hotel in a tuk tuk and get dropped at the tour locality.
- Choose for invigorating and pleasure spa for body, face and soul; it is based on oriental rites of beauty and relaxation.
- Dip yourself into a relaxing environment with sweet scents and professional service at a Spa.
- Get a chance to enjoy few of the best delicious scrubs, natural facials, unique body wraps or body massages.
- You will be absolutely recovered and freshen up for your days ahead.
- Conclude your session after 3 hours and head back home feeling refreshed.
03Sunset Rivercruise in Phnom Penh
- h1 Hour
- lPhnom Penh
- NNNNN41 ratings
- Supplier
  Ms Holly Nguyen
About the Activity:
- Relish in this delightful excursion in an hour long cruise in Phnom Penh and get a chance to enjoy the amazing beauty of this region.
- Get picked up from your hotel in the afternoon in a tuk tuk and reach the tour locality.
- Enjoy a warm welcome by the crew on board and start cruising in the Mekong River, the twelfth longest river in the world.
- Marvel at the sight of the amazing view of Diamond Island and then visit an unique fishing village built on the river
- Enjoy drinks from the open bar with many kinds of beverages and set yourself free.
- Get amazed by the breathtaking view of the sunset and return back.
- Conclude this tour after 1 hour 30 minutes and head back home with lots of memories.
04Romantic Dinner Cruise in Phnom Penh
- h3 Hours
- lPhnom Penh
- NNNNN23 ratings
- Supplier
  Ms Holly Nguyen
About the Activity:
- If you are planning to spend some lone time with your special one with a difference, then this dinner cruise would be an exciting choice for you.
- Get picked up from your hotel at around 7:00 PM in a tuk tuk and transfer to the boat port to have your precious time on Mekong River
- Right after getting on board, you will feel at home as our friendly staffs will take care of you very well.
- Cruise down the river and enjoy the amazing sight of the city during the night.
- At night, the light from Royal Palace, modern buildings, floating village, skyline will look so much different and more attractive.
- You have a choice of choosing from the Cambodia or Western food for your dinner.
- Enjoy some relaxing time with your beloved as you have your wonderful dinner.
- Conclude your tour at 10:00 PM and head back home with lots of memories.
05Cultural and Historical Tour in Phnom Pehn
- d1 Day
- lPhnom Penh
- NNNNN27 ratings
- Supplier
  Ms Holly Nguyen
About the Activity:
- Indulge in this exciting cultural tour in Phnom Pehn and get a chance to learn about the culture and history of this region.
- Get picked up from your hotel at 8:30 AM in an air conditioned vehicle and explore some of the best places.
- Visit the Royal Palace (a classic example of royal Khmer architecture), Silver Pagoda (Emerald Buddha)newly erected statue commemorating the late King Father (Sihanouk).
- Admire the architecture of the pagoda at Wat Phnom, the Silver Pagoda and the Independence Monument.
- Enjoy a delicious lunch and then continue sightseeing by taking a sobering walk through Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum .
- Learn about the cultural and the historical facts bleak period of Khmer history which followed the fall of Phnom Penh in April 1975.
- Continue on to Choeung Ek Memorial, one of the infamous Killing Fields, where the Khmer Rouge executed around 17,000.
- Conclude your tour at 5:00 PM in the evening and get dropped back at your hotel.
06Visit Phnom Udong
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If you are a mountain and stupa lover, Phnom Udong, in the Cambodian capital city of Phnom Penh, is the most apt place for you to visit.

Highlights – Phnom indicates mountain in the local Khmer dialect. Prior to establishing Phnom Penh as the capital city of Cambodia, Udong served as its capital for a long time from 1618 to 1866. Today, though the place has lost out to other cities in terms of development and tourism potential, there is still one major attraction here - Mount Udong. Today, there are couple of humps left of this mountain. The most attractive feature is that these humps have various stupas adorning them. Don’t miss out on the Phnom Preah Reach Throap (Hill of the Royal Fortune), Phnom Vihear Leu (small sanctuary), famous stupas of Damrei Sam Poan, Ang Doung and Mak Proum. Lots of Buddha temples, relics, statues, figurines and carvings decorate this peak.

Location – Udong.

Timing – Open all through the year.

Price – A full tour costs about USD12 per person for one day.
07Visit Koh Dach (Silk Island)
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Also known as Silk Island, the 30 sq.km Koh Dach is one of the naturally beautiful and serene islands of Phnom Penh.

Highlights – Silk Island is one of the best places to visit when you want to witness the skills of the local artisans like silk-weaving, handicrafts, pottery-making and other relevant skills. There are five villages here namely Koh Dach, Kbal Kho, Lvea, Neah Village and Chong Koh. Don’t miss to witness the local artisans in action here – planting various crops, weaving silk threads and manufacturing nets. As one goes past the Mekong River in cruises to reach this island, one will witness many moments worthy to be photographed. The island is also contains many architectural marvels from past centuries.

Location – Kandal Province, on the shores of Mekong River.

Timings – Can visit Koh Dach anytime during the year.

Price – Boat rides usually cost USD10 per person and tuk-tuks cost around USD15 to USD20.
08Visit Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center
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As the name suggests, this is a centre that rescues abandoned and endangered animals. This is a must-visit place for any animal lover. It was established during 1995 and has been doing a phenomenal job in animal conservation since then.

Highlights – This is the largest zoo in Cambodia and one of the top tourist attractions. There are close to 1200 animals belonging to over 102 species in this rescue centre. You can find rare species like Siamese crocodiles, tigers & elephants from Asia, Malayan sun bears and more. If you are looking for an interactive wildlife experience, this is the place that you have to be.

Location – at about 25 miles from the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh.

Timings – 8AM to 5PM on all days of the week.

Price – Behind the scenes tour of the zoo costs around USD150 for one day.
09Visit Independence Monument (Vimean Ekareach)
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Image Credit : mattwl
The capital city of Phnom Penh has many wonderful structures built in authentic Khmer style of architecture. Independence Monument or the Vimean Ekareach is one of them.

Image Credits : rwoan

Highlights – As the name indicates, this monument was constructed during 1958 to commemorate the independence of Cambodia from France in 1953. Vann Molyvann, the brain behind some of the biggest cultural heritage structures in Cambodia, constructed this monument as well. One look at the monument and we will be reminded of the famous Angkor Wat Temple. This monument has a lotus-shaped stupa and is the main centre of celebrations during national festivals as the ceremonial light is here. Come here during the evening hours and take excellent pictures with your friends and family.

Location – Junction of Norodom Boulevard and Sihanouk Boulevard, Phnom Penh.

Timings – Open all through the day.

Price – Entry is free of cost.
10Visit Phsar Toul Tum Poung (Russian Market)
If there is one place in Battambang where you can find authentic Russian souvenirs at affordable prices, Phsar Toul Tum Poung is the place for you.

Highlights – The market is decorated by colourful lanterns, intricately carved statues, scarves, bags, printed T shirts and DVDS of various languages. During the 1980s, this place was dominated by Russian expats, whose influence can be felt at this market even today. The locals commonly address this place as Russian Market. Be prepared to bask in the sun and dirt as this market is quite crowded at all times of the day. The air circulation is quite limited here; however the goods sold here more than make up for the ambience of this place. Don’t forget to taste the local, delicious coffee from the cafes here.

Location – Chamkar Mon District, Phnom Penh.

Timings – Open all through the day.

Price – Entry into this market is free of cost.
11Visit Riverfront
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Riverfront Park is one of the most important tourist attractions in Phnom Penh. It is a paradise for tourists as it is lined up with pubs, shopping complexes, salons, restaurants and many more.

Highlights – Since this park leads into the Royal Palace, the Riverfront Park is always full with tourists of different countries. Come here during the early morning hours so that you get to witness the golden rays of the sunrise. The Royal Palace looks magical at the background. From here, you can also view the point of intersection of the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake. Hotels lined along this path will provide cycles on rent, which you can use for taking a stroll along the park.

Location – Phnom Penh.

Timings – Can be visited during any time of the day; however early morning sunrise and evening sunset hours are the best times to come here.

Price – No entrance fee to visit this place.
12Ounalom Monastery
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Buddhism is one of the prominent religions in Cambodia. This explains the large number of Buddhist monasteries found here. The capital city of Phnom Penh has five original monasteries that were built in the 14th century. Ounalom Monastery is one of them.

Highlights – Established during 1422 by the final ruler in the Khmer kingdom, King Ponyea Yat, Today, Ounalom Monastery serves as the residence of the chief Buddist monk. There are totally 44 buildings in this monastery which includes monasteries, schools, libraries, stupa and residential complexes. During the notorious Khmer Rouge rule, this monastery was damaged severely, but today, much of it has been restored. A Pali inscription and stupa housing an eyebrow of Lord Buddha are the major highlights of this place.

Location – At about 250m from the Royala Palace.

Timings – Open from 6AM to 6PM on all days of the week.

Price – Entry to this monastery is free of cost.
13Boeung Keng Kang 1
Every area has a distinct speciality in the world. Boeung Keng Kang I in one of the biggest cities of Cambodia, is no exception to this rule. This is one of the upmarket areas in this city.

Highlights – BKK1 is often known as the areas of foreigners, as there are lots of consulates, NGOs, UN embassies, travel offices, upmarket cafes, restaurants, cafes, spa salons and stylish residential apartments in this area. When you are here, don’t miss to visit the Independence Monument, which is towards the south east of this place. Due to its excellent buildings with breath-taking architecture, Boekung Keng Kang 1 is usually considered the most charismatic location in Battambang. Visit the local market as well specialising in clothes, second-hand household goods and lip-smacking local delicacies.

Location – Battambang.

Timings – Can be visited during anytime of the year.

Price – Entry is free of cost to this place.
14Visit Phnom Tamao Zoo
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If you are an animal lover, you cannot help but wonder at the services offered by Phnom Tamao Zoo in the Cambodian capital city of Phnom Penh.

Highlights – This is more of a wildlife rescue centre, giving ultimate protection to almost endangered species of animals, birds and reptiles. It started off at a very humble level and today there are close to a whopping 1200 animals of about 102 species set up over 6000 acres. Most of the animals found here are endangered species like Asiatic elephants, tigers, Malayan sun bears, Siamese crocodiles Pileated gibbons and many more. Established during 1995, this zoo is probably one of the fewest places in the world where you will spot these rare species that are almost extinct.

Location – Takeo, Phnom Penh.

Timings – 8AM to 5PM on all the days of the week.

Price – USD150 for a day of Behind the Scenes tour of the zoo.
15Visit Sisowath Quay
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Image Credit : Rose Ferrer
If you are taking up a city tour of the Cambodian capital city of Phnom Penh, Sisowath Quay plays a very important role. This is a riverside promenade and one of the most beautiful places in Cambodia.

Highlights – Running along for 3km, the promenade of Sisowath Quay is lined up with beautiful shops, hotels, restaurants, tourist-friendly locations, bars and cafes. Don’t miss to experience the traditional tuk-tuk drive from the Royal Palace to get to this place, as you will get to see the entire beauty of the pathway, through this route. Some of the top attractions that you just cannot afford to miss on this promenade are the Royal Palace, National Museum, various art galleries, Ounalom Monastery, Elephant Bar, Floating Restaurants and many more.

Location – Cham Karmom district.

Timings – Can be visited anytime during the day; however sunset and sunrise hours are considered to be ideal.

Price – No entry fee applicable for this riverside promenade.
16Visit Phnom Penh Local Markets
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Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia is a shopper’s paradise. You will be able to find anything from a pin to plane in these local markets. The variety of local and international goods that you get here is absolutely mind-boggling.

Highlights - First and foremost, know what you can shop for from these local markets – Handmade scarves, lanterns, silk garments, intricately carved statues, second-hand electronics and DVDs are some good choices to pick up from here. The important markets that need to be covered in Phnom Penh are Central Market or Phsar Thmei (known for its electronics, household goods, jewellery, clothes and fresh food), Russian Market or Phsar Toul Tompong (known for its excellent souvenirs, sculptures, paintings, silk scarves and other goods at affordable prices), Orussei Market or Phsar Orussei (known for its household goods) and Night Market or Phsar Rea Try (known for its food and snacks and open from 6pm to 12am).

Location – All over Phnom Penh.

Timings – Depends on individual markets.

Price – Entry is free of cost
17Piccola Italia Da Luigi
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Piccola Italia Da Luigi is a restaurant which serves Italian cuisine.

Highlights - They are known for their pizzas as they are Italian based restaurants. The place is well maintained even though it is quite small. The cleanliness and hygiene that they maintain are two factors that differentiate them from other restaurants. The customer service is also very friendly when compared to other restaurants. They have a very special pizza crust, that they make themselves. The atmosphere is also quite decent because of the cleanliness they maintain.

Location -Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Price for two – USD18. Speciality dishes - They serve the best pizzas, breads, burgers and antipasti. The must try is the tiramisu which is almost recommended by anyone who tries it. The pizzas are so good but are served at an affordable price.

Timings - morning hours - 11 30 AM to 2 PM; afternoon hours - 5 30 PM to 10 PM.
18Quitapenas
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Quitapenas is a popular restaurant which serves the best Spanish cuisine in Phnom Penh in Cambodia.

Highlights – This restaurant offers a really wide variety of dishes of Spanish origin. The dishes are so delicious and it gives the best experience of Spanish cuisine to its customers. The customer service is quite decent providing a warm welcome to its customers and giving them a satisfied meal. The place is best known for its sunday brunch.

Location - Phnom Penh. Price for two – Around USD10. Speciality dishes - There are many other dishes which are the main attractions of this restaurant like the dishes of sea bass, paella, octopus and duck. They also serve one of the best cheese balls in the locality making it distinct from other restaurants.

Timings - 6PM to 12AM during week days and 11AM to 2.30PM & 6PM to 12AM on weekends.
19The Lost Room
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The Lost Room provides one of the best experiences in dining in the Cambodian capital city of Phnom Penh.

Highlights – The food is too delicious here that your gastronomic trip to Cambodia is considered incomplete if you don’t visit The Lost Room. The name might seem a bit creepy but the ambience here is heavenly and is a complete irony to the room. This restaurant provides a decent customer service. One has to book for a place to dine here, well in advance. They provide wide variety of dishes which are so delicious that one might regret of not having enough space in their stomach to taste all the foods.

Location - Abdul Carime, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Price for two – USD8 to USD22

Speciality dishes - Their main dishes are crab cakes, sea bass, falafel, chorizo, and duck.

Timings - monday to saturday 5 PM to 10PM, Sunday – closed.
20Cocina Cartel
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Cocina Cartel is a popular Mexican Restaurant that Cambodia boasts of.

Highlights – This place offers a scintillating variety of Mexican dishes. Combined with the great customer service and highly hospitable nature of the chefs and staff members of this place, guests coming here are treated to a magical experience. It is this hospitality and warmth that the restaurant exudes, which makes it one of the talking points in Phnom Penh. Cuban and Latin cuisine is also served at the restaurant here. This restaurant has the best combination of everything - best chefs, best staffs, best food and best service.

Location - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Price for two – USD10 to USD15.

Speciality dishes – Home- made tortillas, op-shelf tequilas, slow cooked meats and freshly made salsas. They also serve fresh Guac with corn chips and enchiladas.

Timings - All days 11 30 AM to 3 PM, 5 PM to 10 PM.
21Visit Royal Palace
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This is one of the top tourist attractions in Phnom Penh. This gives you a glimpse of the lifestyle of the royal people.

Highlights – The Royal Palace still serves as the residences of Cambodian rulers. The construction of this palace was started during 1866, when Phnom Penh became the new capital of Cambodia, replacing Oudong. You cannot help but wonder at the similarity in the architecture style found in the Royal Palace found in Thailand. You should remember to dress appropriately as you witness this majestic Khmer architectural marvel to pay respects to the royalty staying here. The exact part in which the royal people stay, is still closed to the public, though.

Location – Phnom Penh.

Timings- Royal Palace is open from 7.30AM to 11AM and from 2PM to 5PM.

Price – Entry fee of USD3 per person; additional fee of USD2 for taking pictures.
22Visit Killing Fields
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Some tourist spots in the world bring back painful memories of the past. Killing Fields of Choeung Ek in Phnom Penh, is one of them.

Highlights – This is one of the areas which represents the genocide of Cambodia that happened during the notorious rule of the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979. This was the area which is a mass graveyard where close to 1.5 lakh people were brutally tortured and murdered as a result of the Khmer Rouge policies, diseases and other natural calamities. Close to 20000 burial sites were identified in this name and one of the journalists who escaped the trauma of this rule, gave this place, the name of “Killing Fields”.

Location – Phnom Penh.

Timings – Open all through the year for local and international tourists.

Price – USD6 per person for international tourists and no charge for local tourists.
23Visit Silver Pagoda
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When you cover the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, you cannot miss the Silver Pagoda, as this structure is located right next to the royal residence.

Highlights –The glimmering 5 tons of silver used on the floors of this structure has given this 19th century temple, the name of Silver Pagoda. Right on top of the pedestal, you can find a massive Buddha statue made of Baccarat crystal. Next to this, the golden Buddha blows you mind away with one look. Studded with a whopping 2086 diamonds, this Buddha weighs 90kg and is truly one of the star attractions in Phnom Penh. You can also find small sized bronze Buddha statues, silver statues of Buddha statues and many figurines of Lord Buddha all over this temple. The locals address Silver Pagoda as Wat Prea Keo.

Location – Within the Royal Palace complex, Phnom Penh.

Timings – 7.30AM to 11AM and 2PM to 5PM.

Price – USD3 towards entry and extra charges of USD2 towards pictures.
24Visit National Museum of Cambodia
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When you visit Cambodia with intent to learn more about its history and archaeology, you should definitely visit one of the top tourist hot spots in the country – National Museum of Cambodia.

Highlights – This was established during the 1920 and it is the largest museum in Cambodia housing exquisite cultural and historic items representing the authentic Khmer culture. There are close to 14000 items here including bronze and ceramic items, damaged statues from many centuries ago of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, wooden and pottery items belong to pre-Angkorian era and many other impressive items. The museum is set up in an attractive terracotta building including an awesome courtyard garden, which attracts many.

Location – Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh.

Timings – 8AM to 5PM on all days of the week.

Price – Entry fee of USD5 for foreigners and around USD0.1 for local tourists.
25Tuol Sleng Museum
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Image Credit : Clay Gilliland
Cambodia is the land of heritage, culture, temples, beaches and games. There are quite a casinos on the beaches and seaside gambling spots that you can enjoy in the little Sihanoukville coast in Cambodia.

Highlights – Almost all the casinos in Sihanoukville are open 24hours a day unlike other casinos that operate only during the evening and night hours. Most of the hotels apart from offering luxury accommodation also have luxurious casinos that have games like Baccarat, Roulette, Blackjack and the like. Free drinks, snacks and cigarettes are provided when you take up gaming packages at any of these casinos. Owing to the large number of tourists coming here, casinos at Sihanoukville employ people who are adept at speaking many languages.

Location – About 4.5km from South Cambodia.

Timings – Open all through the day.

Price – Casino games are available from USD4 per game if you are looking only for gaming and not staying at these hotels.