Where to visit in Phnom Penh? — 8+ top, must see & best places to visit in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is both the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Cambodia. This city is located at the confluence of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers and is also the cradle of Buddhist beliefs. Therefore, this place clearly shows the most typical culture of Cambodia in particular and Indochina countries in general. So, where to go in Phnom Penh and where to visit in Phnom Penh? Let’s check out our suggested 9+ best places to visit in Phnom Penh, must visit places in Phnom Penh, top places to visit in Phnom Penh, best places to see in Phnom Penh, must see places in Phnom Penh as follows!

You don’t need to look far for a tourist destination that has a combination of a modern European-like setting and an Asian-style antiquity, but come to the Phnom Penh tourist destinations we recommend below.

Royal Palace of Cambodia (#best places to visit in phnom penh)

Address: Samdach Sothearos Blvd (3), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Hours: 9 AM–5 PM

One of the best places to visit in Phnom Penh that you must definitely visit is the Royal Palace of Cambodia. This is where the king of Cambodia lives and works. This special work consists of 2 areas, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the second is the palace – the living and working place of the king.

Currently, the royal palace has become a tourist attraction in Phnom Penh that is extremely attractive to tourists because of its splendid beauty. In particular, typically the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, also known as the Silver Pagoda, is lined with thousands of silver tiles and the Buddha statue is studded with more than 2,000 precious diamonds and stones.

Wat Phnom (#must see places in phnom penh)

Address: Road 102, Norodom Boulevard, in the center of Phnom Penh.
Hours: 7 AM–6 PM

Wat Phnom is also known as the famous and sacred Madame Penh Pagoda. In particular, the temple is also the place to keep the body of King Boliwat and the remains of King Ponhea Yat. Therefore, this place has become a special place for people.

Moreover, at this Phnom Penh tourist destination, you can see the whole landscape of the city. And an important thing is that when you come to Madame Penh pagoda, you can pray for the good things of your loved ones.

Wat Ounalom Temple (#top places to visit in phnom penh)

Address: Samdach Sothearos Boulevard, Phnom Penh
Hours: 6am-6pm

In the system of the most famous and important Buddhist works in Cambodia, Wat Ounalom temple must be mentioned. The temple is both a Buddhist headquarters in Cambodia and a tourist attraction in Phnom Penh that attracts a large number of tourists thanks to its beauty from its unique architectural style. So, don’t forget to add this place to your visit list right away.

National Museum of Cambodia (#where to visit in phnom penh)

Address: Preah Ang Eng St. (13), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Hours: 8–11:30 AM, 1:30–5 PM

Like any country, the national museum is the place that clearly shows the history of that country. So, if you want to know more about this neighboring brother, then go to the National Museum of Cambodia.

This is considered an extremely valuable and interesting Phnom Penh tourist place to visit when it comes to preserving Khmer archaeological artifacts from the pre-Angkorian period to the glorious Angkor Wat period. You will be able to see firsthand artifacts dating from the 4th to 13th centuries.

Independence Monument (#best places to visit in phnom penh)

Address: HW4H+H74, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Hours: Open 24 hours

A proof of the friendly relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia is the monument located at the intersection of the two largest roads in Phnom Penh, Sihanouk and Norodom. As a Vietnamese visiting the neighboring country, you should definitely not miss this Phnom Penh check-in spot.

Western Street Sisowath Quay

As mentioned, Phnom Penh is a city with traditional Asian beauty combined with Western modernity. Therefore, you can go to the West Sisowath Quay neighborhood near the Palace and Royal Square to explore.

The most interesting thing is that in the evening, this Phnom Penh tourist place will turn into an extremely bustling and vibrant night market with countless stalls for you to experience. Or if you have time, you can come here to check-in with the sunset.

Toul Tom Poung Market (Russian Market)

Address: St. 163 Corner of St. 440, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Phnom Penh, 12310, Cambodia
Hours: 6 AM–4:30 PM

Just hearing the name, you can guess that this is a market with many Russian traders and tourists, right? Shopaholics will surely fall in love with this Phnom Penh tourist destination because a multitude of items, fashion, cosmetics, handicrafts,… are all concentrated here. In particular, you must also try the coffee at “The best iced coffee in Phnom Penh”.

Phnom Penh Central Market (#where to visit in phnom penh)

Central Market is the next Phnom Penh tourist place to visit for those who want to find some souvenirs for their trip or enjoy the food here. This is the largest market not only in Phnom Penh but also in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The market is designed in the style of a dome with 4 wide aisles, creating an extremely epic space. This can be considered a shopping center because all the items appear here for you to choose from.

Some tips before you go

Getting to Phnom Penh from Vietnam

From Vietnam you can buy air tickets to Phnom Penh operated directly by airlines Cambodia Angkor Air, Vietnam Airlines… Airfare is only from $79-$99 and flight time is about 1 hour.

For more savings, you can choose to take a high-quality bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh. The travel time is only about 6 hours and the ticket price is from $9 – $25. The bus operators you can choose are Sapaco, Mekong Express Limousine Bus, Kumho Samco Buslines,…

Find an overnight hotel in Phnom Penh

In order not to have a headache when finding a hotel in Phnom Penh, you can go to Agoda or Booking and then choose for yourself the most comfortable rooms. But remember to book the hotel early to avoid the situation of running out of rooms or running out of promotions.

Below are some best cheap, budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

The Plantation Urban Resort and Spa: A 4-star hotel with room rates from $63/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

G Mekong Hotel: A 4-star hotel with room rates from $33/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Pavilion: A 4-star hotel with room rates from $58/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Blue Lime: A 3-star hotel with room rates from $37/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Patio Hotel & Urban Resort: A 4-star hotel with room rates from $37/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Aquarius Hotel & Urban Resort – Phnom Penh: A 4-star hotel with room rates from $35/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

White Mansion: A 4-star hotel with room rates from $73/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Tea House: A 4-star hotel with room rates from $35/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

One Up – Banana Hotel: A 3-star hotel with room rates from $17/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

YK Art House: A 3-star hotel with room rates from $19/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

You can find more, check rates, reviews & availability for Phnom Penh hotels on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

The best time to visit Cambodia

The weather in Cambodia is somewhat similar to Vietnam, so there are two distinct seasons, the rainy season and the dry season. And the most suitable time to go to Phnom Penh tourist attractions is usually when it is dry and cool from November to May.

Or if you have heard of famous festivals in Cambodia and want to try, you can refer to the following schedules:

• April 13 – 15: Chol Chnam Thmay Festival – Traditional New Year
• April 13 – 15 of the solar calendar every year: Bom Chaul Chnam Water Festival
• November 24 – 26 of the solar calendar every year: Boating festival

If you want to be more sure, check out the self-sufficient Phnom Penh Travel Guide: The fullest guide for first-timers.

Specialties not to be missed in Phnom Penh

As a neighboring country, I don’t know if Cambodia’s culinary taste is similar to Vietnamese specialties? To answer this question, try the following specialties right away:

• Dishes from insects
• Khmer Red Curry
• Nom Banh Chok
• Num Plae Ai Cambodia
• Cha Houy Teuk
• Num Sang Khya L’peou
• Steamed scallops with lemongrass Nage Chamboy
• Amok fish

To easily enjoy the specialties of Phnom Penh, please note the following list of places to eat:

• Khmer Surin Restaurant: 9 Street 57, Boeung Keng Kang 1 Commune, Chamkar Mon District, Phnom Penh
• Phsar Reatrey Night Market: 1st Street (Preah Sisowath Quay) in Wat Phnom Commune, Daun Penh
• Khmer Food Village Restaurant: Next to Hun Sen Park, opposite Nagaworld Hotel
• Sesame Noodle Bar: 9 St 460, Phnom Penh
• Psar Kab Koh Restaurant: 9th street opposite Kab Koh market, Phnom Penh

With the location close to the side of the Vietnam, if you do not visit the tourist attractions in Phnom Penh, it will be a pity. And whether near or far, you can rest assured because we will always accompany you on every journey, so as long as you want to go, you can confidently go ahead and make it happen.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Phnom Penh you can refer to

• Shared Bus Transfers from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh, Kampot, or Kep by Giant Ibis
• Phnom Penh Airport Transfers (PNH) for Phnom Penh
• Shared Bus Transfers between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville by Giant Ibis
• Private City Transfers between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh
• Shared Bus Transfers from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh by Mekong Express Bus Limousine
• Shared Bus Transfer between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh by Giant Ibis
• Private Phnom Penh International Airport Transfers (PNH) for Phnom Penh
• Phnom Penh City Day Tour
• Phnom Penh Half Day City Trip with Shared Van
• Phnom Penh Half Day Cycling Tour
• Hidden Phnom Penh City Tour
• Phnom Penh Heritage Tour
• Phnom Penh Past and Present Half Day Tour
• Phnom Penh Heritage Tour
• Phnom Penh Historical Tour
• Phnom Penh Killing Fields & S21 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Tour
• Classic Phnom Penh Tour

Are you finding more top things to do in Phnom Penh: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Phnom Penh shopping — Top 8 best shops, markets & shopping malls in Phnom Penh you must visit. And Siem Reap travel blog — The fullest Siem Reap travel guide for a budget trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia.