Phnom penh is the capital of Cambodia. It’s a busy city but perhaps often overshadowed by Angkor Wat. However, Phnom Penh has its own temples and histories for tourists to discover. It also makes a great stop over point if travelling from Ho Chi Minh City to Angkor Wat. You don’t need to spend a lot of time in Phnom Penh to see the best attractions. I would recommend just a day or two. Here are some of the best things to do in Phnom Penh if you just have one day to spend in the city.
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1. Wat Ounalom monastery and Royal Palace
Start your day with a visit to Wat Ounalom monastery. The monastery has been there for over 500 years and is still in use. You’ll find golden buddhas and ornate supas.
A short walk along the same street will bring you to the Royal Palace of Cambodia. This is the official residence of the King of Cambodia but much of the palace and grounds are open to the public to explore. Your arms and legs must be covered to enter, if not you will have to buy some clothes there to cover up.Â
Inside you’ll find the Throne Hall, Silver Pagoda and a large model of Angkor Wat.
2. Wat Botom ParkÂ
If you are happy to explore a new city on foot, I’d suggest walking to the next museum via Wat Botom Park. It isn’t a very green park, most of it is concrete but there a few grassy patches, small gardens and a fountain. The main attraction to this route is the monuments you’ll see along the way including the statue of former king, Norodom Sihanouk and the Independence Monument.
The walk from the Grand Palace to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum via Wat Botom Park takes around 50 minutes. If you prefer not to walk, you will likely be able to pick up a tuktuk from outside the Palace.
3. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
The Tuol Sleng Museum educates visitors on the recent history of the Khmer Rouge regime which devastated Cambodia in the 1970s. The site of the museum was originally a high school which was occupied by the regime and transformed into a detention centre with prison cells set up in the former classrooms. During the four years of operation, the prison was used to interrogate and torture people. Of the 20,000 people that were brought in, only 12 are thought to have survived. It’s a harrowing part of Cambodia’s history, if you aren’t very familiar with the story (as I wasn’t before visiting), it’s definitely worth learning more about it whilst you’re in the country.
4. The Killing Fields
The Killing fields are also part of the Khmer Rouge history. Across Cambodia over 1 million people were executed and buried in mass graves known as the killing fields. The most well known is Choeung Ek. There you will find a memorial to the victims in a former orchard. You can collect an audio guide to explore the field and learn more about the atrocities of the regime.
Choeung Ek is a little further out of the city so you will need to get a taxi or tuktuk there. It is approximately a 20 minute drive. If you would rather take the hassel out of finding transport, you can book a guided tour which includes both the Killing Fields, the Genocide Museum and travel in between.
5. Wat Phnom Daun Penh
After your visit to the Killing fields, head back into the city to grab some dinner. For sunset, visit the Phnom Daun Penh. This is a tall buddhist temple set up a hill. Its a lovely place to watch the sunset and you might also catch sight of some hornbill birds.
6. Phnom Penh Night Market
In the evening, visit the Phnom Penh night market and stroll along the river. At the market you’ll find a mixture of traditional street food, clothing and crafts.
Have more time in Phnom Penh?
If you have more than a day in the city, here are some more activities to do and places to visit:
- Visit the National Museum of Cambodia – an art museum with khmer art and artifacts
- Visit Mongkol Serey Temple – a huge golden temple with ornately painted ceilings
- Explore the Central Market (Psar Thmei) – an expansive market of jewelerry, clothing and fresh food in a large domed building
- Take a river cruise
- Join a Khmer cooking class
Where to next?
