Things to do in Phnom Penh
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Friends
The delightful Friends restaurant is run by the Mith Samlanh Friends NGO. Staffed by street youths training for the hospitality industry, it offers healthy international dishes and delicious fruit cocktails.
reviewed
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Tuol Sleng Museum
S-21 has been turned into the Tuol Sleng Museum, which serves as a testament to the crimes of the Khmer Rouge. Entry is on the western side of St 113.
reviewed
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Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
Rising above the 129 mass graves in the Killing Fields is a blinding white stupa (religious monument, often containing Buddha relics) that serves as a memorial to the approximately 17,000 men, women and children who were executed here by the Khmer Rouge between mid-1975 and December 1978.
Encased inside the stupa are almost 9000 human skulls found during excavations here in 1980. Many of these skulls still bear witness to the fact that they were bludgeoned to death for the sake of saving precious bullets.
reviewed
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Equinox Bar
Acoustic jam sessions are held every Thursday and Saturday night in this animated bar. Happy hour 17:00 to 20:00.
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Wat Phnom
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 1373 to house four statues of Buddha deposited here by the waters of the Mekong River and discovered by Madame Penh. The main entrance to Wat Phnom is via the grand eastern staircase, which is guarded by lions and naga (mythical serpent) balustrades.
reviewed
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Royal Palace
With its classic Khmer roofs and ornate gilding, the Royal Palace dominates the diminutive skyline of Phnom Penh. It is a striking structure near the riverfront, bearing a remarkable likeness to its counterpart in Bangkok. Hidden away behind protective walls and beneath shadows of soaring ceremonial buildings, it’s an oasis of calm with lush gardens and leafy havens.
reviewed
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Psar Tuol Tom Pong
Haggling at this market requires peering over mounds and mounds of clothing and quality kramas (chequered silk scarf worn around the necks, shoulders and waists of nearly every Khmer). It is often referred to as the Russian Market, as back in the 1980s it was the Russians' retail outlet of choice. It is the best place for souvenir T-shirts, CDs, DVDs and miniature carvings.
reviewed
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Van’s Restaurant
Located in one of the grandest buildings in the city, the former Banque Indochine, you can still see the old vault doors as you make your way to the refined dining room upstairs. Dishes are beautifully presented with a decorative flourish, and menu highlights include sea perch carpaccio, tender veal and Grand Marnier soufflé. Cheaper set lunches available.
reviewed
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Khmer Surin
Popular with tour groups thanks to the atmospheric ambience with floor cushions, flowering plants and antique furnishings, this restaurant serves reliable Cambodian and Thai food. Set over three levels, it is still possible to find a quiet corner.
reviewed
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Gasolina
This stylish garden bar specialises in the sensual sounds of South America and even offers salsa lessons (Tuesday and Thursday nights). Rum punches, cheap beers and a tasty bar menu round things off. Check out the weekend brunches.
reviewed
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Boat Noodle Restaurant
This old wooden house, in a leafy garden brimming with water features, offers some of the best-value Thai and Cambodian food in town. With tasty noodle soups for breakfast and special set lunches each day, it’s worth a visit.
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Betelnut Jeep Tours
Betelnut Jeep Tours based at the Lazy Gecko Café offers day trips here from Tuesday to Saturday, including entry, a guided tour and a chance to meet some of the residents.
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Bayon Market
Recently relocated to a bigger premises, Bayon Market has a good range of products, including some nice surprises that don’t turn up elsewhere in the city.
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Jars of Clay
Scones in Cambodia? Yes, and they aren't half-bad. Just one of the baker's delights to be found in this café near the Russian Market.
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Magic Sponge
The healthy dose of double shots aside, this little bar is a friendly spot for exchanging travel tales and perhaps a game or two of cards.
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Seeing Hands Massage
Massages from trained blind masseurs. Helps you to ease those aches and pains, helps them stay self-sufficient.
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Champei Spa
Khmer, Swedish and other massages, plus beauty care and hairdresser.
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Lazy Gecko Café
This little eatery serves international dishes. Throwing some weighty support behind the JCA (Jeannine's Children Association) Orphanage, it hosts a quiz and raffle night on Thursdays and loads guests and donated goods onto an orphanage-bound minibus on Saturdays, where they can enjoy dinner and a performance by the children.
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Romdeng
Also under the Mith Samlanh Friends NGO umbrella, the elegant Romdeng specialises in traditional food from the provinces and offers a staggering choice of traditional Khmer fare.
reviewed
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Explore Phnom Penh
2 days (ex Arrive Phnom Penh)
by Intrepid
Explore Phnom Penh by land and water, Shop at the fascinating Russian Market, Try tasty Khmer treats, Step into Cambodia's history at the Genocide Museum, Visit…Not LP reviewed
from USD$220 -
Phnom Tamao
Spread out as it is, Phnom Tamao feels like a zoo crossed with a safari park. The way things are developing, it is set to become one of the region's best-run animal sanctuaries in the coming years.
Popular enclosures include huge areas for the large tiger population, and there are elephants that sometimes take part in activities such as painting. There is also a walk-through area with macaques and deer and a huge menagerie, including some rare birds from around Cambodia.
The centre is home to the world's largest captive collections of pileated gibbons and Malayan sun bears, as well as other rarities such as Siamese crocodiles and greater adjutant storks. Wherever possible …
reviewed
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Silver Pagoda
Within the Royal Palace compound is the extravagant Silver Pagoda, the floor of which is covered with five tons of gleaming silver. You can sneak a peek at some of the 5000 tiles near the entrance - most are covered to protect them. Rivalling the floor, an extraordinary Baccarat-crystal Buddha sits atop an impressive gilded pedestal. Adding to the lavish mix is a life-sized solid-gold Buddha, which weighs 90kg and is adorned with 2086 diamonds, the largest weighing in at 25 carats.
The staircase leading to the Silver Pagoda is made of Italian marble. Inside, the Emerald Buddha, said to be made of Baccarat crystal, sits on a gilt pedestal high atop the dais. In front of th…
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Chet Dey Mak Proum
At the northwestern extremity of the ridge stand four large stupas. The first is the cement Chet Dey Mak Proum, the final resting place of King Monivong (r 1927-41). Decorated with garudas (mythical half-man, half-bird creatures), floral designs and elephants, it has four faces on top.
The middle stupa, Tray Troeng, is decorated with coloured tiles; it was built in 1891 by King Norodom to house the ashes of his father, King Ang Duong (r 1845-59). But some say King Ang Duong was in fact buried next to the Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh. The third stupa, Damrei Sam Poan, was built by King Chey Chethar II (r 1618-26) for the ashes of his predecessor, King Soriyopor. The fourth …
reviewed
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French Embassy
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 April 1975. About 800 foreigners and 600 Cambodians took refuge in the embassy. Within 48 hours, the Khmer Rouge informed the French vice-consul that the new government did not recognise diplomatic privileges and that if all the Cambodians in the compound were not handed over, the lives of the foreigners inside would also be forfeited. Cambodian women married to foreigners could stay; Cambodian men married to foreign women could not. Foreigners wept as servants, colleagues, friends, lovers and husbands were escorted out …
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