Is Phnom Penh Worth Visiting? Absolutely!

Lying on the banks of three important rivers, Tonlé Sap, Mekong and Bassac, Phnom Penh is the southernmost capital of the ‘Mekong 4’ countries. The city that has suffered the loss of more than 90% of its population in the seventies is still recovering, and is one of the fastest growing in the region.

Since its relatively recent history was everything but nice, we were asking us this question: is Phnom Penh worth visiting? It turns out the people of this pleasant city are one of the nicest, and warmest in the whole region.

Its relaxed atmosphere, with a great choice of hotels, bars and restaurants make it a great destination for a holiday escape from the fuss of its neighboring counterparts. That’s why Phnom Penh should be on any itinerary around Cambodia.

What is Phnom Penh Like

The urbanism of Phnom Penh is the most complete in the whole region. The orthogonal urban grid is combined with several circle roads that go around the city center starting from the Riverfront.

Most of the city lies on one side of the Tonlé Sap river, while the rest lies on a peninsula between the rivers (T. S. and Mekong), a small artificial island on the south, and on the other side of the river Bassac. The center point of the city and the beginning of several axial roads is the Central Market, which lies a few minutes away from the defunct Train Station.

The City center is marked by Freedom Park to the north, Monivong Boulevard on the west, Sihanouk Boulevard on the south and the riverfront on the east. The other popular area is south of the Sihanouk Boulevard, where numerous guesthouses, cafes and restaurants are located.

What to See in Phnom Penh

The Royal Palace

There are few important landmarks, most of them conveniently located in the city center. North of Sihanouk Boulevard, near the riverfront, the beautiful Royal Palace, is the main highlight. There are two pagodas inside the palace’s compound.

The first time we visited Cambodia 23 years ago it was in terrible shape. Every time we came back, we saw some improvements. Following a complete refurbishment, it looks stunning today! The Palace was built in 1866.

The palace has 4 sections. The Silver Pagoda is in the southern section. The Throne Hall is in the center. Khemarin Palace is to the west, and to the east you will see other structures, including a pagoda. Take your time and enjoy!

You should visit the Royal Palace even if you only have 2 days in Phnom Penh.

National Museum

Just north of the Royal Palace, the National Museum houses an impressive collection of sculptures from different periods of Cambodian history. It’s the largest and most important museum in the entire country. There are over 14000 objects inside!

The building was completed in 1920. As you will notice, it resembles the architecture of Cambodian temples. The museum came into oblivion in the 70s. It took several decades to recover its former glory. It looks stunning today!

You can’t take pictures inside the compound. Don’t forget to check the gardens. There’s a giant sculpture of Ganesha. Search for the Buddhist and Hindu sculptures inside. Our favorite is a big stone Garuda sculpture from the 10^th Century.

Wat Ounalom

Further north don’t miss the Wat Ounalom, with the one eyebrow Buddha behind the main temple. The temple is the nicest and most important in the city. It’s also one of the 5 original temples in Phnom Penh.

The religious order was established there in the 15^th Century. It used to have an impressive library and a Buddhist institute. Today, you have 44 structures to discover. There is no entrance fee and it opens till 6 PM.

Remember that Wat Ounalom is a temple where locals come to pray. Wear appropriate clothes and be respectful. You can have a bite and something to drink at Le Moon Rooftop Bar across the temple. The views from there over the temple are priceless!

Wat Phnom

A little bit north from the center Wat Phnom is a historically important temple lying on the only hill in the city. Phnom is hill in Cambodian. That’s why the city is called Phnom Penh. It’s our favorite temple in the city.

It’s also one of the oldest. Legend has it that Lady Penh found 4 Buddha statues inside a tree floating on the river. She built a small temple for them in 1372. The last Khmer King built a bigger hill and temple in 1432.

Today, the hill is full of lovely trees and plants. Enter through the eastern gate. You will see traditional lion and snake sculptures. There’s a giant bronze Buddha inside the main temple. Don’t forget to check the temple dedicated to Lady Penh.

Independence Monument

On the other side of the center, in the middle of Sihanouk Boulevard on the intersection with Norodom Boulevard lies the grand Independence Monument, built as a resemblance of the central tower of Angkor Wat to commemorate the independence from France.

Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann designed the structure inspired by the temples found in Angkor. The 120 feet (37 meter) monument resembles a lotus. Though it was completed in 1958, it was inaugurated in 1960. Today, it’s also a cenotaph for Cambodians that died for their country.

Visit at night to see it bathed in red and blue lights. You will see people from all over the country taking pictures. You can’t enter the monument. The Norodom Sihanouk Memorial from 2013 is behind. The king’s statue is beneath an 88 feet (27 meters) stupa.

Sites about the Cambodian Genocide

Those who want to learn a little bit about Cambodian history should visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, southwest from the center, and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, outside of the city. The stories told there are quite disturbing, just like the history of Cambodia.

The Museum is inside a former high school turned into a prison by the Khmer in the 70s. It’s half an hour’s walk west from the Independence Monument. The Killing Fields used to be an orchard turned into a mass grave. It’s half an hour’s drive from the city’s center.

To be honest, we’ve only been once to both places. It was a shocking but necessary experience. What we humans can do to each other is extremely sad. That said, we believe every tourist should visit at least one time.

Phnom Penh has Great Hotels

Most Phnom Penh’s hotels are within the central area. Another very popular area is just south of Sihanouk Boulevard, for those who prefer a quiet surrounding.

In the central area there are several options: between Norodom Boulevard and the Riverfront for most expensive ones, and between Norodom and Monivong boulevards for a more budget friendly option. The latter being near the party zone, around the Golden Sorya Mall.

Phnom Penh hosts several historic hotels that tell the story of this beautiful country. The Pavilion Hotel from the 1920s used to be the residence of Queen Kossamak. The Raffles Hotel Le Royal, the city’s grandest hotel, is from the same decade.

Moving Around is An Adventure

Although Phnom Penh is a big city of some 2 million people, its traffic cannot be compared to that of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh or Bangkok. In general, people tend to be more careful than in Vietnam, where the chaos is unbelievable.

There are several good options for moving around the city. Walking is one of them, since most of the important tourist spots are centrally located.

The other good option is hiring a tuc tuc driver, that can take you anywhere around the city for around 3 USD. Taxis are more expensive, and not so popular inside the city.

Is Phnom Penh Worth Visiting?

Phnom Penh is a relaxed nice city on the banks of the mighty Mekong that has just started to flourish. It does not possess some incredible Buddhist architecture like Bangkok or the charming neighborhoods of old Hanoi, but is a pleasant place for a holiday with a great choice of restaurants and nightlife.

Shopping opportunities are growing every year, and the massage offer is excellent. Just like in Vientiane, the highlights of Phnom Penh are its inhabitants, friendly, smiling, warm and open.

And let us not forget Phnom Penh’s cool modern architecture. So if you are looking for a place to enjoy and relax, Phnom Penh is definitely worth visiting!   

Phnom Penh Travel Guide

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