Phnom Penh is the capital and the largest city of the country, located at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap. It is a great chaotic city with a rather sketchy infrastructure, but modernization is underway. The main attraction in Phnom Penh is its old French colonial district which has earned Phnom Penh the nickname of "Paris of the East".

Top things to do in Phnom Penh

1. The Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda

Official residence of the King of Cambodia, it is the main tourist attraction of Phnom Penh. Built in the second half of the 19th century, it was designed by Khmer and French architects and consists of nine buildings with glazed tile roofs, decorated balconies, columns and carved frontispieces, scattered in a 16 hectares park. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the most famous buildings are Napoleon III pavilions, Phochani and Chanchhaya, the throne room and the Silver Pagoda, which is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable monuments of the country.
The Silver Pagoda owes its name to its floor made of more than 5,000 silver plates, each weighing 1.5 kg. Most are covered by carpets to protect them. Originally built in 1892, during the reign of King Norodom and probably inspired by Wat Phra Kaeo of Bangkok, the pagoda was rebuilt in 1962. Although more than half of its treasures were stolen, destroyed or lost during the Khmer Rouge period, what remains testifies to the richness of the Khmer civilization.

2. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

High school first turned into a prison by the Khmer Rouge between 1976 and 1979, then into a genocide museum in 1979, Tuol Sleng is today one of the flagship sites of Cambodian heritage, visited by tens of thousands of foreign tourists and Cambodians each year. 

3. Cemetery Choeung Ek

Located 17 km southwest of the city, Choeung Ek is a memorial to the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime. This place allows you to discover, in a peaceful atmosphere, several remains that still bear witness to this sad and horrifying story. For thrill seekers, this site is a destination straight out of a dramatic film.

4. The National Museum

The National Museum of Phnom Penh exhibits major works of art from ancient Cambodia. Its visit is as essential as that of the prestigious sites of Angkor. Some 170 of the most beautiful and representative works in the collection are made accessible by a clear labelling and an introduction to Khmer statuary.

5. The Central Market

This is one of the emblems of Phnom Penh you should not miss. Built in the 1930s designed by the French architect Jean Desbois, this huge yellow building does not go unnoticed. Here you will find all you will ever need: jewelry, clothes, electronic products, dried fish and an overview of the Khmer daily life.

6. Oudong Temples

Located 45 km north of the capital, the Oudong temples are perched at the top of a small hill. 300 steps will take you to another world, the world of monks, far far away from modern life. Although only a few vestiges remain today, Oudong is still frequented by the Khmer who come to pay tribute to their ancient kings by praying before their stupas.
 

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