Must-see attractions in Phnom Penh

  • Photographs of inmates at Security Prison 21, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.

    Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

    Phnom Penh

    In 1975 Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pol Pot’s security forces and turned into a prison known as Security Prison 21 (S-21); it soon became…

  • The National Museum of Cambodia (Sala Rachana) in Phnom Penh is Cambodia's largest museum of cultural history and is the country's leading historical and archaeological museum.

    National Museum of Cambodia

    Phnom Penh

    The National Museum of Cambodia is home to the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculpture: a millennium’s worth and more of masterful Khmer design…

  • Silver pagoda at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

    Silver Pagoda

    Phnom Penh

    Within the Royal Palace compound is this extravagant temple, also known as Wat Preah Keo or Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The Silver Pagoda is so named…

  • Throne Hall building at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

    Royal Palace

    Phnom Penh

    With its classic Khmer roofs and ornate gilding, the Royal Palace once dominated the skyline of Phnom Penh. It's a striking structure near the riverfront,…

  • Skull Pagoda at The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

    Killing Fields of Choeung Ek

    Phnom Penh

    Between 1975 and 1978, about 20,000 men, women, children and infants who had been detained and tortured at S-21 prison were transported to the…

  • Psar Thmei market in the city of Phnom Penh of Cambodia.

    Psar Thmei

    Phnom Penh

    A landmark building in the capital, the art deco Psar Thmei (literally 'New Market') is often called the Central Market, a reference to its location and…

  • Kbach Arts

    Phnom Penh

    Cambodia finally got a sizable contemporary arts space in 2019, when Kbach moved into three galleries covering 400 sq metres of Factory Phnom Penh. The…

  • Factory Phnom Penh

    Phnom Penh

    This 3.4-hectare Levi's garment factory, 2km south of town, was completely transformed in 2018 into a graffiti-covered hub for entrepreneurs, artists and…

  • The Ramayana Mural paintings at the silver Pagoda of the Royal Palace in the city of Phnom Penh of Cambodia.

    Ramayana Mural

    Phnom Penh

    The Silver Pagoda complex is enclosed by walls plastered with an extensive and, in parts, spectacular mural depicting the classic Indian epic of the…

  • Throne Hall building at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

    Throne Hall

    Phnom Penh

    The main attraction in the palace compound is the Throne Hall. Topped by a 59m-high tower inspired by the Bayon at Angkor, it was inaugurated in 1919 by…

  • Buddha statue at Wat Phnom,Phnom Penh

    Wat Phnom

    Phnom Penh

    Set on top of a 27m-high tree-covered knoll, Wat Phnom is on the only ‘hill’ in town. According to legend, the first pagoda on this site was erected in…

  • Monks inside the grounds of Wat Ounalom.

    Wat Ounalom

    Phnom Penh

    This wat is the headquarters of Cambodian Buddhism. It was founded in 1443 and comprises 44 structures. The wat received a battering during the Pol Pot…

  • The old French Embassy, Phnom Penh

    French Embassy

    Phnom Penh

    Located at the northern end of Monivong Blvd, the French embassy played a significant role in the dramas that unfolded after the fall of Phnom Penh on 17…

  • Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Olympic Stadium, popular sports on Sunday. The fastest changing capital city in south east Asia, in it's way of life more then in architectural features. Trendy shops, boutique hotels, colonial restaurants make a new image of the Khmer city. But many shadows and contrasts are left behind, and you can easily see them on the sidewalks.

    Olympic Stadium

    Phnom Penh

    Despite the lofty name, this multipurpose sports complex has never hosted an Olympic Games. Nevertheless, it's a striking example of 1960s 'New Khmer'…

  • Independence Monument, Phnom Penh

    Independence Monument

    Phnom Penh

    Modelled on the central tower of Angkor Wat, Independence Monument was built in 1958 to commemorate the country’s independence from France in 1953. It…

  • Wat Moha Montrei

    Phnom Penh

    Wat Moha Montrei was named in honour of one of King Monivong’s ministers, Chakrue Ponn, who initiated the founding of the pagoda (moha montrei means ‘the…

  • Futures Factory

    Phnom Penh

    Helmed by the ever-popular Friends restaurant, this new community space aims to become the cultural heart of central Phnom Penh with a regular lineup of…

  • National Library

    Phnom Penh

    The National Library is in a graceful old building constructed in 1924, near Wat Phnom. During its rule, the Khmer Rouge turned the building into a stable…

  • Napoleon III Pavilion

    Phnom Penh

    Check out this curious iron pavilion, located south of the Throne Hall. Given to King Norodom by Napoleon III of France in 1876, it was hardly designed…

  • Shrine of Princess Kantha Bopha

    Phnom Penh

    This shrine is dedicated to Kantha Bopha, one of former King Father Sihanouk’s daughters, who died of leukemia when she was just four years old. There are…

  • National Assembly

    Phnom Penh

    Home to Cambodia's national parliament, this elaborate building is finished with traditional Khmer motifs. The access road is sometimes closed off to the…

  • Norodom Sihanouk Statue

    Phnom Penh

    This impressive statue shows the legendary former king/prime minister/statesman King Father Norodom Sihanouk, who died a national hero in 2012.

  • Chan Chaya Pavilion

    Phnom Penh

    Performances of classical Cambodian dance were once staged in this pavilion, which is sometimes lit up at night to commemorate festivals or anniversaries.

  • Shrine of King Norodom Suramarit

    Phnom Penh

    This is the shrine of King Norodom Suramarit, the father of King Sihanouk who reigned from 1955 to 1960 following his son's abdication from the throne.

  • Wat Botum

    Phnom Penh

    This Buddhist temple with saffron-coloured robes flapping in the wind is particularly photogenic. It's located opposite Wat Botum Park.

  • Shrine of King Ang Duong

    Phnom Penh

    This striking grey stupa is dedicated to King Ang Duong (r 1845–59) and is guarded by lions and guardian spirits.

  • Phnom Mondap

    Phnom Penh

    This artificial hill has a structure containing a bronze footprint of the Buddha from Sri Lanka.

  • Shrine of King Norodom

    Phnom Penh

    This shrine includes a striking bronze sculpture of the former king on horseback.

  • Royal Treasury

    Phnom Penh

    This small building holds a small exhibition of royal costumes and regalia.

  • Wat Langka

    Phnom Penh

    A colourful Buddhist temple in the heart of the city (near Independence Monument) that was established as a sanctuary for holy writings.

  • Mondapa

    Phnom Penh

    This building once housed richly decorated sacred texts written on palm leaves (now moved to the safety of air-conditioned storage).

  • Banquet Hall

    Phnom Penh

    This building was traditionally used for royal dining; today it is used for ceremonial apsara (nymph) dances and training.

  • Building with Elephant Dock

    Phnom Penh

    This small structure was used by the king and other royal family members to mount and dismount the royal elephants for ceremonies.

  • Bell Tower

    Phnom Penh

    The bell of this tower is rung to order the gates of the Royal Palace compound to be opened or closed.

  • King's Residence

    Phnom Penh

    The official residence of King Sihamoni and his family is not open to the general public.

  • North Gate

    Phnom Penh

    North gate of the Royal Palace compound.

  • East Gate

    Phnom Penh

    East gate of the Royal Palace compound.