Temples in Phnom Penh
- 01
Silver Pagoda
The temple inside the Royal Palace compound, named for its floor of silver tiles and home to a small crystal Emerald Buddha and a gold Maitreya statue.
- Time needed
- About 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, November to February
- Tickets
- Entry is usually included with the Royal Palace ticket, but check on the day. Cover shoulders and knees; photography rules inside change, so follow posted signs.
- 02
Wat Ounalom
The head temple of Cambodian Buddhism's Mahanikaya order, founded in 1443 on the riverfront near the Royal Palace.
- Time needed
- About 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning
- Tickets
- Entry is usually free, but donations are welcome. Dress rules apply (covered shoulders and knees), and women should avoid touching monks.
- 03
Wat Phnom
The small temple on an artificial hill that gave the city its name, linked to the legend of Lady Penh, with a shrine to her at its edge.
- Time needed
- About 45 minutes
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon
- Tickets
- A Wikivoyage listing gave a foreigner entry fee of about US$1 and hours from about 7 am to 6:30 pm; confirm locally. Dress modestly, and remove shoes before entering the temple hall.
Landmarks in Phnom Penh
- 04
Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre
A former orchard south of the city where the Khmer Rouge killed and buried thousands, now a memorial with a Buddhist stupa and walking paths.
- Time needed
- About 1.5 to 2 hours, plus travel
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning, November to February
- Tickets
- Entry and audio guide arrangements change. We could not verify the current hours or ticket price, so confirm them locally. Dress modestly and keep your voice low.
- 05
Independence Monument
A 37-metre lotus-shaped monument from 1962 at the heart of Norodom Boulevard, built to mark Cambodia's independence from France.
- Time needed
- About 30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late afternoon or evening
- Tickets
- Free to see from outside. Parts of the area may be closed for national events. Keep valuables close in the evening crowds.
Museums in Phnom Penh
- 06
National Museum of Cambodia
The country's main museum of Khmer art, in a red pavilion building from 1920 with a garden courtyard and sculpture from Angkor and earlier periods.
- Time needed
- About 1.5 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or afternoon, any season
- Tickets
- A Wikivoyage listing gave a ticket price of about US$10 and hours from 8 am to 5 pm, but check locally. Photography rules inside the galleries differ from the courtyard.
- 07
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
A former school used by the Khmer Rouge as Security Prison 21, now a museum of the genocide with preserved cell blocks and victims' photographs.
- Time needed
- About 1.5 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning, when it is cooler and quieter
- Tickets
- A source we opened gave the hours as 8 am to 5 pm, with a weekday survivor testimony in the afternoon, and a Wikivoyage listing gave entry of about US$5 plus a fee for an audio guide. Check locally. Dress modestly and expect strict conduct rules.
Palaces in Phnom Penh
- 08
Royal Palace
The official residence of the King of Cambodia, begun in 1866, with a cross-shaped Throne Hall, gilded roofs and gardens beside the river.
- Time needed
- About 1.5 to 2 hours, plus the Silver Pagoda
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning session, November to February
- Tickets
- A Wikivoyage listing gave morning and afternoon sessions with a midday closure and a ticket price of about US$10, but hours and fees change, so confirm locally. Dress rules are strict, and parts of the complex close for royal events.
Neighbourhoods in Phnom Penh
- 09
Sisowath Quay Riverfront
A roughly 3 km riverfront strip along the Tonle Sap, lined with cafes, restaurants and hotels, with the Royal Palace at its heart.
- Time needed
- About 1 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late afternoon and evening
- Tickets
- Free to walk. Confirm that cafes and restaurants accept cards or dollars before you order. Be firm with touts and keep valuables out of sight.
