KH
Phnom Penh
Cambodia’s busy capital at the meeting of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers
Cambodia’s busy capital at the meeting of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers
The royal residence, with its golden-roofed throne hall and the Silver Pagoda, named for its floor of silver tiles. The neighbouring National Museum has the finest collection of Khmer sculpture.
Cover shoulders and knees.
Photo: PsamatheM, CC BY-SA 4.0
A former school that the Khmer Rouge used as the S-21 prison is now the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The Choeung Ek memorial, about 15km south, marks one of the “killing fields”. Audio guides are available at both.
A sobering visit; allow time afterwards.
Photo: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0
Phsar Thmey, a yellow Art Deco market hall from 1937 with a huge central dome, sells jewellery, clothes, food and souvenirs. The Russian Market (Tuol Tom Poung) is another popular market.
Photo: PsamatheM, CC BY-SA 4.0
A lotus-shaped tower built in 1958 to mark independence from France, at the head of a long park with a statue of King Norodom Sihanouk.
Photo: PsamatheM, CC BY-SA 4.0
Try bai sach chrouk (pork and rice) for breakfast, kuy teav noodle soup, fish amok and Kampot pepper crab.
The riverside, Bassac Lane and BKK1 have many restaurants and bars, and markets have cheap food stalls.
Techo International Airport (KTI), which opened in September 2025 south of the city, replaced the old airport; allow around an hour to the centre by taxi or ride-hailing. Tuk-tuks booked by app are the easiest way around town.
Most visitors need a visa. You can apply online for an e-visa (US$30 for a tourist visa since January 2025) or get a visa on arrival at international airports. Citizens of ASEAN countries are exempt. Check current rules, including any online arrival form, before you travel.
Phnom Penh is cheap by regional standards. Cambodia’s currency is the riel, but US dollars are used everywhere for prices above a few dollars, and ATMs dispense dollars. Small change is often given in riel.
History, palaces and markets.
Visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum, then walk the riverside and take a sunset boat trip.
Visit Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek in the morning, then the Central and Russian markets.
Keep phones and bags away from the roadside; snatching from passing motorbikes happens.
Use ride-hailing apps such as Grab or PassApp for fair prices.
Dress modestly at the palace and pagodas.
Plan sightseeing for mornings and late afternoons.
Quick answers for planning time in Phnom Penh.
Most visitors do. You can get an e-visa online or a visa on arrival at international airports; ASEAN citizens are exempt.
Techo International Airport (KTI), south of the city, which replaced the old Phnom Penh airport in September 2025.
A former school used as the S-21 prison by the Khmer Rouge, now a genocide museum.
By bus (about six hours) or a short domestic flight.
At the time of writing, land border crossings with Thailand are suspended after border clashes, so fly between the two countries and check the latest advice.
Khmer is the national language; English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Cambodia travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.