Attractions in Phnom Penh
The bustling pearl of Asia where three rivers meet 🏙️🛶
Showing 21 attractions · Sorted by importance
Bon Om Touk (Water Festival)
📍 Phnom Penh
🎭 EventUsually November (full moon of the Buddhist month of Kadeuk), 3-day duration. Celebrates the end of the rainy season and the unique natural reversal of the Tonle Sap river flow. Attracts an estimated 2 million visitors annually. Key activities include traditional boat racing, illuminated river floats (Bratib), and massive fireworks displays over the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. Family-friendly with carnival-style night markets and concerts along the riverfront.
Central Market (Phsar Thmei)
📍 Phnom Penh
🏛 LandmarkA landmark Art Deco building with a massive yellow dome housing a bustling market with jewelry, electronics, and local snacks.
National Road 6 (Heritage Highway)
📍 Phnom Penh
🚗 Road Trip314km paved highway (approx. 5-6 hours) connecting the capital to Siem Reap. This is the most popular road trip in Cambodia, passing through rural landscapes, the 'spider market' at Skun, the provincial capital of Kampong Thom, and the 12th-century Spean Praptos bridge in Kompong Kdei.
Royal Palace
📍 Phnom Penh
🏛 LandmarkA complex of ornate buildings serving as the royal residence, featuring stunning Khmer architecture and the famous Silver Pagoda.
Sisowath Quay
📍 Phnom Penh
🏔 Scenic ViewA bustling riverside promenade providing panoramic views of the scenic confluence where the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers meet.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
📍 Phnom Penh
🏛 LandmarkA former high school used as the S-21 prison during the Khmer Rouge era, now a powerful memorial and educational site.
Wat Phnom
📍 Phnom Penh
🏘 Town / VillageThe city's historic birthplace, this hill-top Buddhist temple features a massive white stupa and legend-filled shrines.
Independence Monument
📍 Phnom Penh
🏛 LandmarkAn iconic Angkorian-style stupa built to commemorate Cambodia's independence from France in 1953.
Koh Dach Silk Island Cycling Loop
📍 Phnom Penh
🥾 Hiking & Cycling25km easy cycling loop, 3-4 hours, negligible elevation gain. This route traverses the rural islands of Koh Dach and Koh Oknha Tei. It features dirt paths through mango plantations, silk weaving workshops, and traditional wooden stilt houses. Bike rental: Grasshopper Adventures (grasshopperadventures.com) or The Bike Shop (thebikeshopcambodia.com).
Oudong Mountain (Phnom Udong) Hike
📍 Phnom Penh
🥾 Hiking & Cycling2.5km moderate hike, 1.5-2 hours, approximately 100m elevation gain. Located 40km north of the capital, this is the primary hiking destination for the region. The trail consists of a 509-step climb to the summit of the former royal capital, passing ancient stupas and offering panoramic views of the Tonle Sap plains. Bike rental for the journey from the city: The Bike Shop (thebikeshopcambodia.com).
Phnom Penh Safari
📍 Phnom Penh
🐄 FarmA large-scale zoo and animal park featuring live animal shows, walk-through bird aviaries, and interactive animal encounters.
Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre
📍 Phnom Penh
🐄 FarmA sprawling wildlife sanctuary and forest park where visitors can see rescued sun bears, elephants, and tigers in a natural woodland setting.
National Museum of Cambodia
📍 Phnom Penh
🏘 Town / VillageA stunning terracotta building housing the world's finest collection of Khmer art and historical artifacts within a traditional courtyard.
National Road 3 (The Southern Coast Road)
📍 Phnom Penh
🚗 Road Trip148km paved route (approx. 3-4 hours) leading toward Kampot and the Gulf of Thailand. This drive offers scenic views of the Damrei Mountains (Elephant Mountains). It is the primary route for travelers visiting the Bokor Hill Station, pepper plantations, and the coastal salt fields.
Statue of King Father Norodom Sihanouk
📍 Phnom Penh
🏛 LandmarkA significant bronze monument dedicated to the former King of Cambodia, located in a large public park near the Independence Monument.
Arey Ksat Countryside Cycling Route
📍 Phnom Penh
🥾 Hiking & Cycling35km easy to moderate cycling route, 3-5 hours, 25m elevation gain. Starting with a ferry crossing from the Riverside area, this gravel and dirt route explores the 'other side' of the Mekong. It passes through vibrant banana plantations, local pagodas, and rural farming communities on the Lvea Aem peninsula. Bike rental: Grasshopper Adventures (grasshopperadventures.com).
FT Gallery
📍 Phnom Penh
🖼 Art GalleryA dynamic contemporary art space located in an industrial creative hub, featuring large-scale urban murals and rotating exhibitions by modern Cambodian and international artists.
Garden City Water Park
📍 Phnom Penh
🧗 AdventureCambodia's largest water park featuring world-class slides, a massive wave pool, and themed aquatic zones for all ages.
Koh Dach
📍 Phnom Penh
🏔 Scenic ViewA serene river island in the Mekong known for its traditional silk weaving, fruit orchards, and quiet rural landscapes.
The Mekong Discovery Route (National Road 7)
📍 Phnom Penh
🚗 Road Trip250km paved road (approx. 5 hours) following the Mekong River north towards Kratie. The drive is famous for its riverside scenery, the French colonial architecture in the town of Chhlong, and as the gateway to the Irrawaddy dolphin viewing areas at Kampi.
