Phnom Penh

Sisowath Quay Riverside Hotel

A hotel right on the Sisowath Quay riverside promenade, walking distance from the Royal Palace, restaurants and sunset boat docks.

Daun Penh Palace-Area Guesthouse

A guesthouse in Daun Penh, the historic royal district around the Royal Palace, National Museum and Wat Phnom.

BKK1 Boutique Apartment

A modern apartment in Boeung Keng Kang 1 (BKK1), Phnom Penh's leafy expat district lined with cafes, restaurants and boutique shops.

Toul Tom Poung Boutique Stay

A boutique guesthouse near Phsar Toul Tom Poung, the Russian Market, in a quieter residential pocket popular with long-stay visitors.

Riverside Family Serviced Apartment

A spacious serviced apartment near the river with a pool and kitchenette, giving families room to relax between sightseeing days.

Airport-Area Business Hotel

A convenient hotel near Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH), useful for late arrivals, early departures or a stopover before Siem Reap.

Phnom Penh Airport (PNH) Transfer

Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) sits about 10 km from the riverside center; pre-book an airport taxi or hotel transfer for arrival with luggage.

PassApp / Grab Tuk-tuks

App-based tuk-tuk and car booking through PassApp or Grab locks in a fixed fare before the ride, avoiding the haggling of street-hailed drivers.

Remorque Motorbike Rickshaw

The remorque, a covered trailer towed by a motorbike, is Phnom Penh's classic street ride — agree the fare before boarding if not booked through an app.

Cyclo Pedicab Ride

The cyclo, a slow bicycle-powered rickshaw with the passenger seated in front, offers a gentle, old-fashioned way to explore Daun Penh's quieter streets.

Mekong River Boat

Small boats cross and cruise the Mekong and Tonlé Sap from docks along Sisowath Quay, reaching Koh Dach and offering scenic river transport.

Walking Sisowath Quay Promenade

A flat, shaded riverside walkway runs the length of Sisowath Quay past the Royal Palace, restaurants, bars and the Mekong waterfront.

Pu Rock Cafe

Pu Rock Cafe is a highly-rated cafe, boasting an impressive 4.9-star rating from 919 reviews.

📍128Eo, Street 242, just off, Street 63, Phnom Penh 12000, Cambodia · View on map

Ebinosekai Cambodia

Ebinosekai Cambodia is a Japanese restaurant, highly rated at 4.8 stars from 1057 reviews.

📍Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh. 235D, St. 63, Boeng Keng Kang 1,Khan Boeng Keng Kang · View on map

Khéma Restaurant - Pasteur

Khéma Restaurant - Pasteur is a French restaurant, highly rated at 4.5 from 1586 reviews.

📍Corner of Street 228 & Street 51 Phnom Penh, 163 Street 51, Phnom Penh 12211, Cambodia · View on map

Phnom Penh Three Rivers Restaurant

Phnom Penh Three Rivers Restaurant is a highly-rated Cambodian restaurant, boasting 4.9 stars from 867 reviews.

📍164 Preah Ang Eng St. (13), Phnom Penh 12200, Cambodia · View on map

Wild Phnom Penh

Wild Phnom Penh is a restaurant boasting an impressive 4.8-star rating from 927 reviews.

📍13Y St 830, Phnom Penh, Cambodia · View on map

Topaz Restaurant - Norodom Blvd

Topaz Restaurant - Norodom Blvd offers a fine dining experience, highly rated at 4.5 stars from 944 reviews.

📍162 Norodom Blvd, Phnom Penh 120102, Cambodia · View on map

Wat Phnom Hilltop and Monkeys

The small hilltop temple that gave Phnom Penh its name has resident monkeys, garden paths and a gentle climb that kids enjoy.

Mekong Sunset River Cruise

An evening boat cruise on the Mekong from Sisowath Quay shows the Royal Palace, riverside skyline and passing fishing boats lit by the setting sun.

Kids City Indoor Playground

An air-conditioned indoor playground with slides, ball pits and climbing structures, a welcome break from the heat for younger children.

Aeon Mall Ice Skating Rink

Aeon Mall houses an air-conditioned ice-skating rink alongside shops, restaurants and a cinema, a fun and cool surprise in a tropical city.

Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center

About an hour from the city, this rescue center cares for rescued elephants, tigers, bears and gibbons in spacious enclosures, with educational tours.

Koh Dach Silk Island Day Trip

A short boat ride from the riverside reaches Koh Dach, a rural island of silk-weaving villages, rice paddies and quiet lanes good for cycling.

Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

The gilded Royal Palace complex includes the Silver Pagoda, its floor laid with silver tiles and home to a solid-gold, diamond-studded Buddha statue.

National Museum of Cambodia

A terracotta-red building housing the world's finest collection of Khmer sculpture, spanning pre-Angkorian, Angkorian and post-Angkorian eras.

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)

A former school turned Khmer Rouge prison, S-21 preserves cells, photographs and testimonies documenting the Cambodian genocide of the late 1970s.

Choeung Ek Killing Fields

A memorial stupa filled with recovered skulls marks the site where thousands of prisoners from S-21 were executed during the Khmer Rouge regime.

Wat Phnom Temple

The founding legend of Phnom Penh centers on this hilltop temple, said to have been built by a woman named Penh who found Buddha statues in the river.

Independence Monument

A lotus-shaped tower built in 1958 to mark Cambodia's independence from France, standing at a major traffic circle and lit up at night.

Silver Pagoda Worship

Within the Royal Palace grounds, the Silver Pagoda remains an active Buddhist site holding royal ceremonies alongside its museum function.

Wat Ounalom

The historic seat of Cambodian Buddhism near the riverside, Wat Ounalom is said to house an eyebrow relic of the Buddha and remains an active monastery.

Wat Phnom Hilltop Shrine

Beyond its founding legend, Wat Phnom functions as an active shrine where locals come to pray and make offerings for luck and success.

Oudong Former Royal Capital

About an hour from Phnom Penh, Oudong served as Cambodia's royal capital for over two centuries and holds a hilltop cluster of stupas and pagodas.

Tonlé Bati and Phnom Chisor Temples

South of the city, these Angkorian-era temples — a lakeside brick sanctuary at Tonlé Bati and a hilltop ruin at Phnom Chisor — preview Angkor's architecture.

Buddhist Monk Almsgiving Custom

Each morning, saffron-robed monks walk through neighborhoods collecting alms of food from residents, a quiet daily ritual visible around temple areas.

Daun Penh / BKK1 Business District

Phnom Penh's commercial core spans Daun Penh's government and banking offices and BKK1's growing cluster of corporate headquarters and consultancies.

Diamond Island (Koh Pich) Convention Center

Diamond Island hosts Phnom Penh's largest convention center and exhibition venues, an artificial island reshaped from riverside sandbanks.

BKK1 Coworking Spaces

Several coworking hubs in BKK1 and along the riverside offer reliable wifi, meeting rooms and flexible desks for remote-working parents.

Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone

An industrial zone on the city's outskirts housing garment, footwear and light-manufacturing factories central to Cambodia's export economy.

National Bank of Cambodia District

The area around the National Bank of Cambodia anchors the country's financial sector, with major local and international banks nearby.

Cambodia Chamber of Commerce Events

The national chamber of commerce hosts trade events, networking sessions and business seminars covering Cambodia's growing economy.

Emergency Numbers 117 / 119

Dial 117 for police and 119 for ambulance and fire emergencies anywhere in Cambodia; response times can be slower than in major Western cities.

Royal Phnom Penh Hospital

A private international-standard hospital with English-speaking staff, commonly used by tourists and expats for urgent and routine care.

Pharmacy (U-Care / Pharmacie de la Gare) Locator

Reliable pharmacy chains with English-speaking staff are found across central Phnom Penh, stocking familiar over-the-counter medications.

Bottled Water Only

Tap water in Phnom Penh is not safe to drink — stick to bottled or filtered water for drinking and brushing teeth throughout the stay.

Motorbike Bag-Snatching Caution

Bag-snatching by passing motorbikes is an occasional risk on busy streets — carry bags on the side away from traffic and avoid dangling phones.

Rainy Season Flooding Precautions

During the June-to-October wet season, sudden downpours can flood low-lying streets — check forecasts and keep valuables and shoes dry-ready.

Mekong Sunset Cruise

A relaxed evening boat trip on the Mekong is Phnom Penh's most popular low-key activity, best enjoyed with drinks and snacks on deck.

Cycling Koh Dach Silk Island

Rented bicycles cover Koh Dach's flat, quiet lanes past silk-weaving workshops, rice paddies and small villages, ideal for a family ride.

Kirirom National Park Hiking

About two hours from the city, Kirirom's cool pine-forested plateau offers waterfalls, hiking trails and a break from Phnom Penh's tropical heat.

Riverside Jogging and Exercise

Locals gather along Sisowath Quay each morning and evening for group aerobics, jogging and stretching in the cooler hours of the day.

Kun Khmer Boxing Match

Kun Khmer, Cambodia's traditional kickboxing style, can be watched live at local arenas or on widely broadcast televised matches around town.

Golf Near Phnom Penh

Several golf courses on the city's outskirts, including Grand Phnom Penh, offer well-maintained fairways within a short drive of the center.

Private Guided Tour of Palace, S-21 and Killing Fields

A certified local guide leads a private family tour covering the Royal Palace, Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek, adding historical context children can absorb.

Airport Fast Track & Private Transfer

Skip the lines on arrival at Phnom Penh Airport with a concierge fast-track and private door-to-door transfer into the city.

SIM Card & Travel WiFi

Cambodian SIM cards from providers like Smart or Cellcard are available at the airport and city shops, with cheap data plans covering the whole trip.

Luggage Storage Near the Riverside

Store bags at a hotel or dedicated storage point near Sisowath Quay to explore the palace and old quarter freely before check-in or after checkout.

Local Concierge Service

A dedicated local fixer for restaurant reservations, day-trip planning, private drivers and any last-minute request across the city.

Family Photography at the Royal Palace

Local photographers offer family photo sessions at the Royal Palace grounds or along Sisowath Quay at golden hour with the Mekong as backdrop.

Best Family Months

November through February brings the coolest, driest weather of the year, ideal for walking the riverside and visiting outdoor sites comfortably.

Hot Season (March-May)

Temperatures peak from March through May, often exceeding 35°C — schedule outdoor sightseeing for early morning and plan indoor breaks midday.

Rainy Season (June-October)

Wet season brings afternoon downpours from June through October — mornings are usually clear, so schedule sightseeing before midday.

Khmer New Year (April)

Cambodia's biggest holiday, Khmer New Year in mid-April, brings water-splashing celebrations, temple visits and many shops closing for several days.

Water Festival (Bon Om Touk)

Held in November, Bon Om Touk fills the riverside with boat races, fireworks and huge crowds celebrating the reversal of the Tonlé Sap's flow.

Shoulder Season Value

Late October and early March offer a good balance of manageable weather and lower prices than the peak December-January season.

Use PassApp/Grab, Not Street Haggling

Booking tuk-tuks and cars through PassApp or Grab locks a fixed fare before the ride starts, avoiding the price haggling common with street-hailed drivers.

Dress Modestly at the Royal Palace

The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda enforce a strict dress code requiring shoulders and knees to be covered — bring a light scarf or cover-up.

Visit S-21 and Killing Fields in the Morning

Visiting Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek early in the day avoids the midday heat and gives time to process the heavy but essential history before the afternoon.

Carry US Dollars Alongside Riel

US dollars function as an everyday second currency in Cambodia — most prices are quoted in dollars, with riel used mainly for small change.

Try Nom Banh Chok at a Market Stall

For an authentic, inexpensive breakfast, seek out a market vendor selling nom banh chok — it's rarely found on restaurant menus but common at morning markets.

Pair a Sunset Cruise with the Gateway to Angkor

After a sunset Mekong cruise, use Phnom Penh as the natural jumping-off point for onward travel to Siem Reap's Angkor temples or the southern coast.