Phnom Penh Travel Guide

Attractions

Royal Palace: was built under the Reign of Norodom in the 1860s and is an interesting mix of buildings built in traditional Khmer Style, with one French style house donated by Napoleon III in 1876. The focal point is the large Throne Hall, which is used as the coronation site for Khmer kings. The Throne Hall can't be missed with its 59-metre tower, based on the Bayon Temple at Angkor and it is the largest gilded cathedral in the country.

Silver Pagoda: this famous site is located directly south of the Royal Palace and you can enter with the same ticket. The floor is covered with silver tiles, a total of 5,000 weighing more than six tonnes. The temple survived the Khmer Rouge, although a significant proportion of its contents were destroyed. It is still an extraordinary sight, with a staircase made from Italian marble; a large golden Buddha decorated with more than 9,000 diamonds and a courtyard with interesting murals detailing Cambodian history. It's a must see for any visit to Phnom Penh.

Wat Phnom: is the most important temple in the city, situated at the top of a small hill. Local legend tells that in the 14th century, a woman named Penh placed sacred Buddhist statues at the top of the hill, and later a temple was built. Phnom in Khmer means 'hill' so the city's name translates as Penh's Hill. The building itself is of typical South East Asian design, with murals detailing the Buddha's life on the inside. It is a popular spot for locals praying for good luck. The park surrounding the temple was once one of the city's most dangerous spots and although today it is considered safe by day, it should be avoided at night.

Wat Ounalom: houses the headquarters of the Cambodian Buddhist faith and although it suffered terribly during the Pol Pot regime, there has been significant restoration work completed. Much of the library and many statues were thrown into the river. The statue of Samdech Huot Tat, a Cambodian Buddhist leader who was killed by Pol Pot, was retrieved from the Mekong after the fall of the Khmer Rouge and is located on the second floor.