Phnom Penh sights - what to see
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It should be frankly said that Phnom Penh is far from the center of tourist attractions and entertainment. A rare tourist goes here purposefully to get acquainted with the few local attractions. Most often, tourists do not stay here for long on their way to other resorts and attractions in Cambodia. Nevertheless, there are sights in Phnom Penh that you will not see anywhere else. In addition to the ancient temples, The Royal Palace and ancient buildings here you can touch the recent history of Cambodia: only here you can visit the Genocide Museum in the former prison building, where countless victims of the Pol Pot regime and the Khmer Rouge disappeared, visit death fields, where the remains of numerous victims were buried. But even the seemingly most ordinary sights for Asia, such as temples, pagodas and palaces, are not the same here as in the rest of Asia: we can say that they are more exotic and wild. The latter, of course, in the good sense of the word, i.e. more natural and not trampled by tourists. Below is an overview of the sights of Phnom Penh that we consider necessary to visit, the opening hours, the entrance fee and how to get to the attraction are indicated.
The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek

This "landmark" is one of the business cards of the city, and is simply a must-visit for all guests of Phnom Penh. The landmark is taken in quotation marks, because the hand does not rise to call this place an ordinary landmark. This is a museum of mourning and memory of the dead buried at the site of the former Chinese cemetery, which the Khmer Rouge dealt with during their four-year reign of terror. Basically, the prisoners of Tuol Sleng prison were hidden in the ground here. A museum was built here in memory of the victims of the genocide and in memory of the horrors that occurred.
The museum is located on the territory of the cemetery and the fields where the remains of the victims were found in 1979. The exposition in the museum is not too diverse and mainly consists of the remains of the victims, the remains of their clothes, murder and torture instruments, so do not expect too much from visiting. In the Buddhist stupa, erected in the middle of the museum territory, there are more than 8000 human skulls of victims. In a small building there are photos and stories of some of the victims and the murder weapon. You can also watch a short documentary about the Khmer Rouge there. There are also several souvenir shops on the territory of the museum.
🕐 Working hours: from 8:00 to 17:00.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: $5.
🚶 How to get there: The killing fields are located 17 kilometers from the city center, and you can get there by taxi or tuk-tuk. The cost of a round trip by tuk-tuk will cost about $ 8-15 (per trip, not per person), depending on your ability to bargain. See the position of the killing fields on the map of Phnom Penh
Genocide Museum (Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or S-21 Prison)

The Genocide Museum is definitely worth a visit, and it's better to do it before visiting the "Killing Fields". The museum is located in the building of the Tuol Sleng prison, also called S-21. Before the prison, there was a school in the building, but with the arrival of the Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh in 1975, the school was liquidated and a prison for "enemies of the people" was made in the building. The conditions of detention here were terrible, the prisoners were subjected to incredible torture and as a result confessed to everything they could. In the end, those who confessed were taken to the "Killing Fields" and killed there. More than 14,000 people became victims of the prison, only 8 people came out of its walls alive.
In the prison, in addition to its very furnishings, you will see a lot of photographs and illustrations telling about the victims and the atrocities that took place here.
🕐 Working hours: The official opening hours of the museum are from 8:00 to 11:30 and from 14:30 to 17:30 , but in practice the museum can be opened specially for you at any time of the day.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: entrance fee - $ 2, for the use of video, camera - $ 5.
🚶 How to get there: Address of the Genocide Museum: 113 Street, Boeng Keng Kang 3, Chamkar Morn. See the position of the Genocide Museum on the map
The Royal Palace (The Royal Palace)

One of the most important places in Phnom Penh and, undoubtedly, one of the must-see. The complex of the royal palace was erected in 1866, and rebuilt in 1913, and is still the current residence of the King of Cambodia. The complex houses the Throne Room, Elephant Pavilion, Chan-Chai Pavilion, Napoleon III Villa, Silver Pagoda, Royal Gardens and much more. Here, as well as in the royal palace of Bangkokthere is a "Temple of the Emerald Buddha" with a statue carved from a single piece of emerald.
It is best to visit the royal palace in the morning, when it is not too hot yet. Keep in mind that when approaching the royal palace, tuk-tuk drivers will offer you their services, convincing you that the royal palace is not working. Most often it's a trick, so don't believe them until you check it yourself. You can visit the palace only appropriately dressed: no shorts, short skirts and T-shirts. If you come to the palace in an inappropriate way, you will be offered to rent a sarong or a large T-shirt for a nominal fee. In some buildings, including the "Silver Pagoda", photography is prohibited.
🕐 Working hours: from 7:30 to 11:00 and from 14:30 to 17:00.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: $ 6.
🚶 How to get there: See the position of the Royal Palace on the map
The National Museum of Cambodia (The National Museum of Cambodia)

The National Museum contains the world's largest centuries-old collection of Khmer art. It is the largest museum in Cambodia. It houses a historical and ethnographic collection, samples of traditional Khmer crafts, and art objects. Among them there are many sculptures, bronze products, ceramics. It also houses numerous relics discovered during the excavations of the Angkor temple complex. There are more than 14,000 items in the museum's collection.
Photographing and videotaping inside the museum is prohibited, you can do it only on the street in the beautiful courtyard of the museum.
🕐 Working hours: from 8:00 to 17:00.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: $ 3. For the use of a video camera $ 3, for the use of a camera – $ 1.
🚶 How to get there: See the position of the national Museum on the map
Wat Phnom Temple (Wat Phnom, also Temple of the Mountains or Mountain Pagoda)
The temple is located in the middle of a small park on top of a hill. This is the tallest religious building in the city, and the name of the temple translates as "Temple on the hill". The temple is not a grandiose structure and impressive architecture, but its historical significance is very great. According to legend, it was from this hill that the history of the city began, when a nun named Stump caught four Buddha statues floating along the Mekong River and built this very hill for them. The pagoda on the hill was built in 1373.
Not only the temple is interesting, but also the park around it. It is very popular among locals, and monkeys live here, who will certainly steal things left unattended from you. So be vigilant (see how to behave with monkeys, precautions). And here you can take a short ride on an elephant.
🕐 Working hours: from 8:00 to 18:00.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: entrance to the temple is $1. Elephant ride – $15.
🚶 How to get there: See location of Wat Phnom on the map
Temple of the Blooming Lotus (Wat Botum Vathey, also Temple of the Lotus Blossoms)

This is a very old temple (built in 1442) and very significant for the people of Cambodia. During construction, the temple was named Wat Tayawng, and received its current name in 1860 from the original site of the temple, located on a small island in the middle of the lotus lake from where it was moved during reconstruction. The temple has a very original and interesting architecture. The ashes of members of the royal family, politicians and famous people of the city are buried in stupas in the temple. Opposite the temple is the Wat Botum Park, in which several interesting sculptures are installed, including the monument of friendship of the peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia.
🕐 Working hours: from 7:00 to 18:00.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: no information.
🚶 How to get there: See the position of the lotus Blossom Temple on the map
Waterfront (Sisowath Quay or Riverside)
The embankment is a very attractive and most popular place among tourists for evening and daytime walks too. There is an embankment in the city center on the banks of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. The wide sidewalk along the rivers stretches for about one kilometer starting from the Royal Palace and is decorated with palm trees and green lawns, equipped with benches. Across the street from the waterfront is the most popular tourist area – Riverside, where many cafes, restaurants, hotels are concentrated. When looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh, it makes sense to choose it closer to the waterfront.
Previously, this place was considered one of the safest, but in recent years there have been cases of violent attacks on tourists and pickpocketing.
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free of charge.
🚶 How to get there: See the position of the embankment on the map of Phnom Penh
Independence Monument

The Independence Monument was erected in the 50s to commemorate the liberation from French rule in November 1953. The monument is located on a circular platform in the center of the automobile ring, and resembles a lotus flower in shape. The monument cannot be called grandiose from the point of view of architecture, but if time permits, take a walk to it at night, when it is very beautifully illuminated. See our 360 panoramic photo° "Independence Monument".
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free of charge.
🚶 How to get there: See the position of the "Independence Monument" on the map of Phnom Penh
The Cambodian-Vietnamese Friendship Monument

This monument was built in the late 70s as a sign of friendship between peoples after Vietnamese troops helped to overcome the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot. Architecturally, the monument is nothing special and you should definitely strive to see it, if your time in Phnom Penh is limited, it may not be worth it.
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free of charge.
🚶 How to get there: The Monument of Friendship between Cambodia and Vietnam is a short walk from the "Royal Palace". See the position of the monument on the map
Main Market (Central Market, also Psar Thmei)

The market is famous not only for the fact that you can buy everything there, but also for its unusual architecture. You can safely attribute the market to the architectural sights of Phnom Penh and visit it, at least not for the purpose of shopping, but to see and photograph. If you want to buy something, then this is a great place to buy serious jewelry, souvenirs, electronics, clothes at low prices. The market is simply huge and has a complex layout, it is very easy to get confused in its many rows. Prices for tourists are usually called higher than the real ones and you need to bargain.
🕐 Working hours: Almost all Phnom Penh markets open at sunrise and stop working at sunset. From 11:30 to 14:00, many stalls in the market close for lunch.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free of charge.
🚶 How to get there: See the position of the main market on the map of Phnom Penh.
Russian market (Russian market, also Psar Toul Tom Poung)
This market got its name in the 80s of the twentieth century because of the large number of Russian buyers: in the 80s many Russians lived and worked in Phnom Penh and rushed to this market for scarce goods at home. Now you can buy anything a tourist wants here, and if you decide to go shopping in Phnom Penh, you need to start with this market. Some tourists call this place "Shopping paradise on earth!!!", which means "A shopping paradise on earth".
It is better to go here not for an hour, but for several hours or even half a day. Bargaining is required.
🕐 Working hours: Almost all Phnom Penh markets open at sunrise and stop working at sunset. From 11:30 to 14:00, many stalls in the market close for lunch
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free of charge.
🚶 How to get there: See the position of the Russian market on the map of Phnom Penh
Temple "Ounalom" (Wat Ounalom)

It is the main Buddhist temple in Phnom Penh. The temple was built in 1443 in order to preserve the hair from the eyebrows of the Buddha, which is still kept there. It is also the residence of the patriarch of one of the Buddhist movements Mahanikaj (Mahanikai). Many monks of this temple were killed by the Khmer Rouge, and the temple was very badly ruined. Nevertheless, the temple was completely restored, only the killed monks can not be returned. Now the temple consists of 44 buildings, there is a marble Buddha, the walls are decorated with images from the life of the Buddha. The Institute for the Study of Buddhism is also located here.
🕐 Working hours: from 6:00 to 18:00.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free of charge.
🚶 How to get there: See the position of the temple on the map of Phnom Penh