Phnom Penh

Capital of Cambodia

The biggest city in Cambodia, also its wealthiest, Phnom Penh is the cultural, commercial and political centre of the country and is home to more than one million of Cambodia's population of over 14 million.

Covering an area of 345sqk Phnom Penh is located in the south-central region of Cambodia, at the confluence of the Tonle Sap, Mekong and Bassac rivers.

The city offers extensive cultural and historical attractions, including temples, museums, the Royal Palace and also has accommodation from simple guesthouses to five-star hotels. Phnom Penh also features good dining facilities as well as a vibrant and varied nightlife.

Where to Stay in Phnom Penh - Phnom Penh Hotels

Phnom Penh hotels and resorts at the best rates, from Five Stars resorts such as Intercontinental Phnom Penh or Raffles Hotel Le Royal, to budget accommodation like Townview Hotel or Cara Hotel, you are sure to find the accommodation you are looking for.

Phnom Penh Tours & Excursions

Discover Phnom Penh with our selection of tours and excursions. With half and full-day trips and longer tours around Phnom Penh, you are sure to get to know Cambodia's Capital.

What to See in Phnom Penh

Built in 1866, the Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda contains various buildings of interest, including the Khmer-style Throne Hall, now used for special ceremonial occasions. South of the Throne Hall are the Royal Treasury and the Villa of Napoleon III, built in Egypt in 1866, for the opening of the Suez Canal, and was later presented to the Cambodian king as a gift...

What to Do in Phnom Penh

As a capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh has a lot to offer the tourist. Here are some ideas of how much fun one can have in the capital...

Dining in Phnom Penh

In Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, there are countless good restaurants to satisfy all tastes and budgets. Many of them have unique designs and fascinating decor.

The variety is enormous; it would be no exaggeration to say that you can find almost all the cuisines of the world in Phnom Penh – French, Mexican, Italian, German, Greek, English, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Thai. And that’s just a sampling.

Phnom Penh Nightlife

Early evening in Phnom Penh you can visit establishments like the Australian-owned Rubies Bar, frequented by young and well-heeled expats or the FCC on Sisowath Quay which has great views and good, if somewhat over-priced, food. The California 2 Café and Guesthouse is where expats and travelers meet and exchange information. These are generally quieter establishments.

Phnom Penh Shopping

You'll find Cambodian silk for sale in Phnom Penh at the Russian Market (a Cold War era goods depot) and silk shops and boutiques across town, many specializing in silk creations such as tailored Asian and Euro-Asian fashions, accessories and soft furnishings.

History

Phnom Penh's history begins with the Lady Penh who discovered five Buddha images concealed in a tree, had a pagoda named Wat Phnom Don Penh built on the same spot. The city was founded nearly a century later, taking its name from the pagoda, that became the capital in 1866.

Following its recent traumatic history, parks, gardens and elegant villas are now being restored, tree-lined boulevards still reflect the elegance of the city's French colonial past, and camera-clicking tourists sit in pedicabs ("cyclos") which weave their way leisurely through the increasing numbers of cars and motorcycles. This pleasant scene, coupled with the current bustle of optimistic commerce, belies the chilling fact that the city stood abandoned and empty from 1975-1979 during the forced evacuation by the detested Khmer Rouge.