Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital and largest city, stands where the Tonle Sap River meets the Mekong, and its riverfront of palms, pagodas and the golden spires of the Royal Palace is one of the most beautiful in Southeast Asia. Once called the “Pearl of Asia” for its French colonial boulevards and art deco markets, the city was emptied by the Khmer Rouge in 1975 and has since been reborn as a fast-growing, energetic capital of more than two million people, where monks in saffron robes walk past glass towers and rooftop bars. A visit combines splendor and sorrow: the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda and the National Museum’s Angkorian sculpture on one hand, and on the other the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek killing fields, which UNESCO inscribed in 2025 as part of the Cambodian Memorial Sites. Add markets, riverside cafΓ©s, excellent Khmer food and sunset boat trips, and Phnom Penh deserves at least two days. The best months are November to February, when it is dry and less hot. Since September 2025, flights have used the new Techo International Airport, south of the city.
Right now in Phnom Penh
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Top tours in Phnom Penh
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Phnom Penh at a glance
- Best for: the Royal Palace and pagodas, Khmer history and its memorials, markets, food, river views and nightlife.
- How long: 2β3 days for the main sights; add a day for Koh Dach, Udong or Phnom Tamao.
- Best time: November to February, when it is dry and cooler; March to May is very hot, and September and October are the wettest months.
- Getting there: Techo International Airport (KTI) is about 20 km (12 miles) south of the center; buses link the city with Siem Reap, the coast and Ho Chi Minh City.
- Getting around: tuk-tuks, PassApp and Grab, and walking along the riverfront.
- Good to know: dress modestly for the Royal Palace and temples, covering shoulders and knees.
- Before you go: the e-visa, the e-Arrival card, money and general safety are in our Cambodia travel guide.
Phnom Penh’s areas and where to stay
Phnom Penh spreads west from the rivers. Most sights are in the compact old center along the riverfront, and most hotels lie within a short tuk-tuk ride.
The riverside (Sisowath Quay)
The promenade along the Tonle Sap, from the Royal Palace north toward the Night Market, is lined with restaurants, bars, guesthouses and hotels with river views. It is the most popular area for first-time visitors, close to the palace, the National Museum and Wat Phnom.
Daun Penh and the Central Market
The old French quarter around Wat Phnom, the colonial post office and the domed Central Market has boutique hotels in colonial buildings, cafΓ©s and street food, and some of the city’s most interesting architecture.
BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang)
South of the Independence Monument, this leafy district of villas, embassies and apartment blocks is full of restaurants, cafΓ©s, bars and mid-range and boutique hotels with pools; it is quieter at night than the riverside.
Tuol Tom Poung and the Russian Market
Around the Russian Market, a short ride southwest, a lively neighborhood of cafΓ©s, galleries and small hotels attracts long-stay visitors and expatriates.
Koh Pich and Chroy Changvar
On the islands and peninsulas across the rivers, new developments such as Koh Pich (Diamond Island) and Chroy Changvar hold large modern hotels, convention centers and riverside promenades.
Where to stay in Phnom Penh
- Riverside: guesthouses and hotels close to the palace and nightlife.
- Daun Penh: boutique hotels in colonial buildings.
- BKK1: pool hotels and serviced apartments near good restaurants.
- Tuol Tom Poung: small hotels in a local neighborhood near the Russian Market.
Rooms are cheapest in the wet season; book ahead around the Water Festival in November.
Top things to see in Phnom Penh
The Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda
Built from the 1860s, after King Norodom moved the capital to Phnom Penh, the Royal Palace is a complex of yellow-and-white pavilions with tiered, golden roofs set in tropical gardens; the king lives in part of it, and only some buildings, including the Throne Hall, are open to visitors. Next door, within the same enclosure, the Silver Pagoda (Wat Preah Keo Morakot) takes its name from its floor of more than 5,000 silver tiles and houses an emerald Buddha and a life-size gold Buddha studded with diamonds. Shoulders and knees must be covered; clothing can be rented at the entrance. The palace generally opens in the morning and afternoon, closing over lunch, and may close for royal ceremonies.
The National Museum of Cambodia
In a red sandstone building of 1920 in traditional Khmer style, next to the palace, the National Museum holds the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculpture, from pre-Angkorian Hindu gods to the serene statue of Jayavarman VII, around a courtyard garden with lotus ponds. Visit before or after Angkor.
The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)
A former high school that the Khmer Rouge turned into Security Prison 21, where an estimated 15,000 or more people were imprisoned, tortured and sent to their deaths between 1975 and 1979, Tuol Sleng is now a museum preserving the cells, the regime’s photographs of prisoners and their stories. It is harrowing but essential to understanding modern Cambodia; an audio guide in many languages tells survivors’ stories. In 2025, UNESCO inscribed it, together with Choeung Ek and the M-13 prison site in Kampong Chhnang province, as the Cambodian Memorial Sites. Visitors are asked to be quiet and respectful; children may find it distressing.
Choeung Ek
About 15 km (9 miles) south of the center, Choeung Ek is the best known of the killing fields, where prisoners from S-21 were executed and buried in mass graves; a memorial stupa holds thousands of skulls arranged by age and sex. An excellent audio guide leads a quiet walk around the site. Most visitors combine it with Tuol Sleng by tuk-tuk in half a day.
Wat Phnom and the Independence Monument
Wat Phnom, on a small wooded hill, marks the legendary founding place of the city, where a woman named Penh is said to have found Buddha images in a tree washed down the river in the 14th century; the temple charges a small entry fee for foreigners. The lotus-shaped Independence Monument, built in 1958, celebrates freedom from France, and the neighboring statue of King Norodom Sihanouk faces a park that fills with families in the evening.
More classic sights
- Central Market (Phsar Thmei): an art deco market under a great yellow dome, opened in 1937, with gold, jewelry, clothes and food.
- Russian Market (Phsar Tuol Tom Poung): a hot, crowded covered market of silk, crafts, clothes and food stalls.
- Wat Ounalom: the seat of Cambodian Buddhism, on the riverfront near the National Museum.
- Sisowath Quay: the riverside promenade, busy at sunset with exercise groups, food vendors and strollers.
- Sunset cruises: boats leave from the riverside for an hour on the Tonle Sap and Mekong at dusk.
Other things to do in Phnom Penh
Food and drink
Phnom Penh is the best place in Cambodia to eat. Start the day with num banh chok, rice noodles with fish curry, or kuy teav pork noodle soup at a market; at lunch try fish amok or lok lak; and in the evening join locals at a Khmer barbecue or hot-pot restaurant. Markets sell tropical fruit, sticky rice in bamboo and fried insects for the curious. Several social-enterprise restaurants train former street youth and serve creative Khmer dishes, and the city has a thriving scene of cafΓ©s, rooftop bars and international restaurants. Cambodian craft beer and local brands are cheap.
Shopping
Look for silk scarves and krama (checked cotton scarves), silverware, pepper from Kampot and crafts at the Russian Market and Central Market, and buy from fair-trade shops and social enterprises supporting artisans and landmine survivors.
Festivals
The Water Festival (Bon Om Touk), at the November full moon, brings dragon-boat races and huge crowds to the riverfront; Khmer New Year in mid-April empties the city as people return to their villages; and Pchum Ben in September or October fills the pagodas with offerings. See our city sightseeing guide.
Day trips from Phnom Penh
- Koh Dach (Silk Island): weaving villages on an island in the Mekong, about 1 hour by tuk-tuk and ferry, or by boat from the riverside.
- Udong: the royal capital from 1618 to 1866, with stupas on a hilltop, about 1 hour north.
- Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center: rescued sun bears, tigers, elephants and gibbons, about 1 hour south.
- Tonle Bati and Ta Prohm of Bati: a 12th-century temple and a lakeside picnic spot, about 1 hour south.
- Kampot and Kep: riverside town and seaside crab market, about 3 hours south; better with a night or two. See our Kampot guide.
Nearby destinations
- Kampot136 km
- Can Tho170 km
- Phu Quoc182 km
- Sihanoukville187 km
- Ho Chi Minh City213 km
- Siem Reap (Angkor)230 km
- Ko Chang286 km
Getting there and getting around
By air
Techo International Airport (KTI) replaced the old Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) as the capital’s gateway on September 9, 2025, and Cambodia’s embassies note that travelers should now give KTI as their entry point on visa applications and bookings. The airport, about 20 km (12 miles) south of the center, has flights to Siem Reap and Sihanoukville and direct international flights across Asia and to the Gulf; see our Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong guides. Taxis, airport buses and ride-hailing apps take about 45β60 minutes to the center, depending on traffic. Before you fly, complete the free e-Arrival card at arrival.gov.kh.
By bus, train and boat
Buses and minivans leave from company offices around the city for Siem Reap (about 5β6 hours), Battambang, Kampot (about 3 hours), Sihanoukville (about 3 hours via the expressway) and Ho Chi Minh City (about 6β7 hours via the BavetβMoc Bai border). Royal Railway runs slow trains to Kampot and Sihanoukville, mainly on weekends. Fast boats run down the Mekong to Chau Doc in Vietnam via the Kaam SamnorβVinh Xuong border.
Around the city
Tuk-tuks (remorks) are everywhere; use PassApp or Grab for fixed prices, or agree on the fare first. Walking is pleasant along the riverfront, though sidewalks elsewhere are often blocked by parked motorbikes. City buses run on a few main routes. Traffic is heavy at rush hours.
When to go and how long to stay
Phnom Penh is hot year-round. November to February is the most pleasant period, dry and sunny with highs around 30β32 Β°C (86β90 Β°F). March to May is the hot season, peaking at about 35 Β°C (95 Β°F) in April. The wet season, from May to October, brings heavy afternoon storms, and September and October are the wettest months, when streets can flood briefly after downpours. The table uses long-term averages for the Pochentong station from Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, as published by the World Meteorological Organization’s World Weather Information Service, covering 1982 to 2024 rather than the standard 1991β2020 period: average daily highs and lows and total rain.
| Month | Average high / low | Rain | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 Β°C (88 Β°F) / 22 Β°C (71 Β°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | Dry, sunny and pleasant |
| February | 33 Β°C (91 Β°F) / 22 Β°C (72 Β°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | Dry and warming |
| March | 34 Β°C (94 Β°F) / 24 Β°C (76 Β°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | Hot; occasional storms |
| April | 35 Β°C (95 Β°F) / 25 Β°C (78 Β°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | The hottest month; Khmer New Year |
| May | 34 Β°C (94 Β°F) / 25 Β°C (78 Β°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | Hot; rains begin |
| June | 33 Β°C (92 Β°F) / 25 Β°C (78 Β°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | Afternoon storms |
| July | 32 Β°C (90 Β°F) / 25 Β°C (76 Β°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | Wet season |
| August | 32 Β°C (90 Β°F) / 25 Β°C (77 Β°F) | 153 mm (6.0 in) | Frequent storms |
| September | 32 Β°C (89 Β°F) / 24 Β°C (75 Β°F) | 253 mm (10.0 in) | The wettest month; local flooding |
| October | 31 Β°C (87 Β°F) / 24 Β°C (75 Β°F) | 242 mm (9.5 in) | Very wet; rivers high |
| November | 30 Β°C (87 Β°F) / 23 Β°C (73 Β°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | Drying; Water Festival |
| December | 30 Β°C (86 Β°F) / 21 Β°C (71 Β°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | Cool season; dry |
Phnom Penh receives about 1,320 mm (52 in) of rain a year, most of it from May to October.
Two days in Phnom Penh
Day one, the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda when they open, the National Museum, lunch nearby, Wat Phnom and the Central Market, and a sunset cruise or drinks on the riverside. Day two, Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek in the morning, a quiet lunch, the Russian Market in the afternoon and a Khmer dinner in BKK1.
Three days
Add Koh Dach or Udong, Phnom Tamao, a cooking class or a day exploring cafΓ©s and galleries.
What a trip to Phnom Penh costs
Prices are approximate, for October 2026, converted at about 4,050 riel to the US dollar. Many prices are quoted in dollars.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, foreign visitor | about 40,000 KHR (about US$10) |
| National Museum, foreign visitor | about 40,000 KHR (about US$10) |
| Tuol Sleng with audio guide | 20,000β40,000 KHR (about US$5β10) |
| Choeung Ek with audio guide | about 24,000 KHR (about US$6) |
| Tuk-tuk across the center | 8,000β16,000 KHR (about US$2β4) |
| Ride-hailing car from Techo airport | 60,000β100,000 KHR (about US$15β25) |
| Noodle soup at a market | 8,000β14,000 KHR (about US$2β3.50) |
| Dinner in a mid-range restaurant | 40,000β80,000 KHR (about US$10β20) per person |
| Mid-range hotel double, per night | 120,000β300,000 KHR (about US$30β75) |
Practical tips for Phnom Penh
- Cover up: shoulders and knees for the Royal Palace, pagodas and memorial sites.
- Go early: visit the palace when it opens to avoid the heat and tour groups.
- Use ride-hailing apps: PassApp and Grab avoid haggling and show the price in advance.
- Plan the airport transfer: Techo airport is outside the city; allow up to an hour or more at rush hour.
- Carry small notes: dollars and riel for tuk-tuks, markets and tips.
- Be respectful at memorials: speak quietly and follow photography rules at Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek.
Safety
Phnom Penh is generally safe, but bag and phone snatching by thieves on motorbikes is common, including from tuk-tuk passengers; keep bags on your lap away from the street, don’t hold your phone out by the roadside, and avoid walking alone late at night in quiet areas. Traffic is chaotic: cross with care, wear a helmet on motorbikes and avoid motorbike taxis if possible. Heavy rain in September and October can flood streets quickly. Be wary of strangers who quickly befriend you and invite you to their home or to play cards, and of job offers that seem too good to be true, which have been used to traffic people into scam compounds. Methanol-contaminated spirits have caused deaths in Cambodia; drink sealed, branded bottles and never leave drinks unattended. Drug offenses are punished severely. In an emergency, call 117 for police and 119 for an ambulance.
What to pack for Phnom Penh
Light, breathable clothes, including long trousers or a skirt and a shirt with sleeves for the palace and memorials, comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, a small cross-body bag with a zip, and a rain jacket or umbrella from May to October. Cambodia uses 230 V, with sockets for flat (type A) and round (type C) two-pin plugs. See our rain jackets and travel adapters guides.
Phnom Penh travel FAQ
Which airport serves Phnom Penh?
Techo International Airport (KTI), about 20 km (12 miles) south of the city, which replaced the old Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) on September 9, 2025.
How long does it take from Techo airport to the city?
About 45β60 minutes by taxi, ride-hailing car or airport bus, longer at rush hour.
Is Phnom Penh worth visiting?
Yes. The Royal Palace, the National Museum, the riverside and the memorials at Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek are essential to understanding Cambodia.
How many days do I need in Phnom Penh?
Two days for the main sights; three with day trips to Koh Dach, Udong or Phnom Tamao.
Can I visit Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek on the same day?
Yes. Most visitors combine them by tuk-tuk in a half day; allow at least 1.5 hours at each.
What is the dress code for the Royal Palace?
Shoulders and knees must be covered; clothing can be rented at the entrance.
What is the best time to visit Phnom Penh?
November to February, when it is dry and cooler. September and October are the wettest months.
How do I get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap?
By bus or minivan in about 5β6 hours, or by domestic flight in under an hour.
Is Phnom Penh safe?
Generally yes, but bag snatching by thieves on motorbikes is common; keep valuables secure, especially in tuk-tuks and at night.
Can I use Grab in Phnom Penh?
Yes. Grab and the local app PassApp both offer tuk-tuks and cars at prices shown in advance.
Sources and last review
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Techo International Airport and the PNH-to-KTI switch: the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Berlin (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation); the e-Arrival card: Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration; exchange rate: the National Bank of Cambodia; climate averages (1982β2024): Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology via the World Meteorological Organization’s World Weather Information Service. Bag snatching, scams, methanol and drug penalties are from the UK government’s factual safety pages. History, building dates, the S-21 victim estimate, the UNESCO inscription, entry prices, the airport distance and transfer times, bus times and typical prices are general references or estimates, flagged for checking. Prices and hours change, so check the official sites before you go. For entry rules, money and general safety, see our Cambodia travel guide.
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