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Phnom Penh

Cambodia travel guide

What to see in Phnom Penh

The capital on the Mekong: the Royal Palace, markets and the places of memory.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 8 must-see places
  • Best time: from November to January
  • Stay in Daun Penh
  • Typical food: Kuy teav
Photo: Looppty · CC BY-SA 4.0

Phnom Penh highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Royal Palace of Phnom Penh

    The official residence of the King of Cambodia.

  2. Silver Pagoda

    A floor covered in silver tiles.

  3. National Museum of Cambodia

    The largest collection of Khmer art.

  4. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

    The Khmer Rouge’s former S-21 prison.

  5. Choeung Ek

    The killing fields, with a memorial stupa.

  6. Wat Phnom

    A temple on the hill where the city was founded.

  7. Independence Monument

    A red tower in Angkorian style.

  8. Central Market (Phsar Thmey)

    A yellow Art Deco dome from 1937.

Where to stay in Phnom Penh

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Daun Penh · Boeung Keng Kang 1 · Tonlé Bassac

Day trips from Phnom Penh

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Phnom Penh

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Phnom Penh are from November to January. If you can, avoid April (intense heat).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar with warnings
  4. Apr with strong warnings
  5. May with warnings
  6. Jun with warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct with warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • February

    Lunar New Year (approximate dates)

    Millions of people travel at this time: trains and flights are full and expensive, and many shops and restaurants close for several days.

    What to do: Book transport weeks in advance and expect closures for the first three days.

  • from March to May

    Intense heat

    From March to May temperatures reach 35–40 °C with high humidity; April is the toughest month.

    What to do: Visit temples at sunrise, rest at midday and drink plenty of water.

  • from June to October

    Rainy season

    It’s usually heavy afternoon downpours, not whole days of rain. Everything is greener and there are fewer tourists.

    What to do: Plan outdoor visits for the morning and save the afternoon for museums, covered markets or a massage.

Book ahead

Tickets that sell out or have long queues, and closing days.

  • Opening hours National Museum of Cambodia

    Open every day.

Typical food of Phnom Penh

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Phnom Penh from your kitchen).

Kuy teav
Photo: Pwordissony · Public domain

Kuy teav

Rice noodle soup with pork broth, Phnom Penh’s breakfast. It’s served with meat, fried garlic, bean sprouts, herbs and lime, and everyone seasons their own.

  • Serves 4
  • 2 h 30 min

Ingredients

  • 1 kg pork bones
  • 300 g pork loin
  • 1 onion and 1 piece of daikon radish
  • 2 tablespoons of fish sauce and 1 of sugar
  • 400 g thin rice noodles
  • 200 g prawns (optional)
  • Fried garlic, bean sprouts, spring onion, coriander, lime and chilli

How to make it at home

  1. Blanch the bones, rinse them and simmer with the onion and daikon in 3 litres of water for 2 hours.
  2. Cook the pork loin in the broth for the last 30 minutes and slice it thinly.
  3. Season the broth with the fish sauce and sugar.
  4. Blanch the noodles and prawns.
  5. Serve the noodles with the meat and prawns, pour over the boiling broth and add the toppings.

The trick: Garlic fried in oil on top is essential.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: a market stall. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Cambodia guide.

Frequently asked questions about Phnom Penh

What to see in Phnom Penh?

Royal Palace of Phnom Penh, Silver Pagoda, National Museum of Cambodia, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Choeung Ek and Wat Phnom.

What to see in Phnom Penh in 3 days?

Don’t miss Royal Palace of Phnom Penh, Silver Pagoda, National Museum of Cambodia, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Choeung Ek and Wat Phnom. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Phnom Penh?

The handiest areas to stay are Daun Penh, Boeung Keng Kang 1 and Tonlé Bassac.

What’s the best time to travel to Phnom Penh?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Phnom Penh are from November to January. If you can, avoid April (intense heat).

What day trips can you take from Phnom Penh?

Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek.

What is the typical food of Phnom Penh?

Kuy teav. Rice noodle soup with pork broth, Phnom Penh’s breakfast. It’s served with meat, fried garlic, bean sprouts, herbs and lime, and everyone seasons their own.

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Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.