Phnom Penh
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Tips
10 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Khmer royal residence with golden spires and manicured gardens
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Closed around midday
- No photos inside some buildings
📷 Photos
- 2
Temple with a floor of silver tiles and the Emerald Buddha
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Included with palace ticket
- Photos not allowed inside
📷 Photos
- 3
Largest collection of Khmer art and sculpture
3 tips
- Photos not allowed in galleries
- Courtyard is peaceful
- Allow 1.5 hours
📷 Photos
- 4
Former prison S-21 documenting the Khmer Rouge regime
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Audio guide recommended
- Emotionally heavy visit
📷 Photos
- 5
Memorial site and museum south of the city
3 tips
- Audio guide included
- Allow 2 hours
- Combine with Tuol Sleng
📷 Photos
- 6
Art deco domed market selling jewellery, clothes and souvenirs
- Tip: Go early
- Tip: Watch your bag
1 tip
- Bargain politely
📷 Photos
- 7
Hilltop temple that gave the city its name
- Tip: Go early
- Tip: Dress code
1 tip
- Small entry fee
📷 Photos
- 8
Lotus-shaped monument celebrating independence from France
- Tip: Sunset
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Lit up at night
- Busy roundabout
- Nice at sunset
📷 Photos
- 9
Crowded market for antiques, clothes and street food
3 tips
- Hot and tight inside
- Bring small bills
- Bargain firmly
📷 Photos
- 10
Riverside promenade of cafes and bars at the river confluence
- Tip: Sunset
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Lively in the evening
- Good for sunset
- Keep bags secure
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Phnom Penh tips
Transportation
- Book tuk-tuks by app: Grab and PassApp show prices up front for tuk-tuks and rickshaws, saving you from haggling with drivers on the street.
- Try the city bus: Phnom Penh's air-conditioned city buses run along major roads at very low fares and are a calm option outside rush hour.
- Avoid peak traffic: roads clog badly in the morning and late afternoon, so plan trips to Choeung Ek or the airport outside those hours.
Security
- Hold your phone tight: bag and phone snatching from passing motorbikes is common; keep bags on the side away from the road, including in tuk-tuks.
- Use official money changers: count cash carefully and stick to banks or reputable changers near Central Market to avoid short-changing.
- Be careful at night: take an app ride rather than walking long distances after dark, especially along quiet streets away from the riverside.
Saving
- Pay in dollars and riel: US dollars are used for most prices, but small change comes back in riel; carry small notes in both to avoid losing out.
- Eat at street stalls: try bai sach chrouk, pork and rice for breakfast, or num banh chok noodles at local stalls for a fraction of restaurant prices.
- Bargain at Russian Market: Psar Tuol Tom Poung is packed with clothes, crafts and souvenirs; start low, smile and be ready to walk away.
Weather/Clothing
- Dress for constant heat: it is hot all year, so wear breathable cotton or linen, drink plenty of water and seek shade in the middle of the day.
- Prepare for the wet season: from about May to October expect sudden heavy downpours and flooded streets; pack a poncho and quick-dry sandals.
- Brace for April: the hottest stretch comes just before the rains; plan indoor museums or a pool break in the afternoons.
Cultural
- Cover up at the Royal Palace: shoulders and knees must be covered at the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda; carry a scarf or light trousers with you.
- Visit history sites quietly: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek killing fields are places of mourning, so speak softly and dress modestly.
- Greet with a sampeah: press palms together and bow slightly to greet or thank people; remove shoes before entering homes and temples.
Local Hacks
- Stroll Sisowath Quay at sunset: the riverside promenade fills with families, exercise groups and food carts as the heat eases in the evening.
- Take a sunset river cruise: boats along the Tonle Sap and Mekong offer cool breezes and skyline views; agree the price before you board.
- Get an e-visa early: apply for Cambodia's official e-visa online before you travel and use only the government site to avoid copycat agencies.
1-day itineraries in Phnom Penh
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.