Cambodia’s riverside capital is a compelling mix of old and new, where gilded palaces and French colonial villas meet bustling boulevards, artistic revival and deep-rooted history.
Known in the 1960s as the Pearl of Asia, Phnom Penh shimmers once again with its striking museums, sublime riverside setting and happening nightlife.
With its classic Khmer roofs and ornate gilding, the Royal Palace dominates the skyline. It’s home to the Silver Pagoda, whose floor is covered with 5,000 tiles of gleaming silver.
To understand the nation’s rich history and culture, visit the National Museum, home to the world’s finest collection of Khmer art and sculpture.
Don’t miss exploring the Sisowath Quay area, lined with French restaurants and local eateries, and the departure point for rivers cruises on the Tonlé Sap and Mekong.
The city’s spirit of revival can only really be appreciated when seen in the context of the atrocities suffered under Pol Pot’s regime, laid bare at the Killing Fields and Genocide Museum.
Phnom Penh is a city that surprises. Sitting at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers, Cambodia’s vibrant capital blends cultural richness with an unhurried charm. Parisian-style cafes line wide, leafy boulevards, while gilded stupas and saffron-robed monks signal the enduring presence of Khmer tradition. The Royal Palace and famous Silver Pagoda dazzle with regal majesty, while the National Museum houses one of South-East Asia’s finest collections of Angkorian art and sculpture.
Visits to the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum offer sobering insight into Cambodia’s recent past under Pol Pot’s regime. Although sombre, such sites are essential to understanding the capital’s fierce spirit of revival and recovery, a spirit beautifully embodied in Plae Pakaa, a series of spellbinding performances curated by Cambodian Living Arts, celebrating the country’s artistic resurgence.
Since 1929, Raffles Hotel Le Royal has embodied Phnom Penh’s colonial elegance, offering timeless luxury, a slick Art Deco lobby and an especially alluring garden and outdoor pool. It remains the landmark address of Cambodia's capital.