Sitting at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, Phnom Penh blends French colonial architecture, traditional Khmer landmarks, and a fast-moving modern energy that rewards a couple of unhurried days.
Royal and cultural landmarks
The Royal Palace and its dazzling Silver Pagoda remain the city's ceremonial heart, while the National Museum of Cambodia, with its striking terracotta architecture, holds one of the world's finest collections of Khmer sculpture.
A city that remembers
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields preserve the memory of the Khmer Rouge period with quiet dignity. They aren't easy visits, but many travellers find them essential to understanding modern Cambodia.
Riverside life and markets
The riverside promenade along the Tonle Sap comes alive at sunset with joggers, food stalls, and river breezes, while the domed Art Deco halls of Phsar Thmei (Central Market) and the bustling Russian Market offer excellent shopping for silk, souvenirs, and street food alike.
A private driver makes moving between the palace, museums, and markets simple — leaving more time to actually enjoy the capital rather than navigate it.