Whether you are interested in exploring the ancient temples, learning about the tragic past, or enjoying the lively nightlife, you will find something to suit your taste in Phnom Penh. Here are some suggestions on how to spend a weekend in this fascinating city.
Day 1: Discover the Royal and Religious Heritage
Start your day with a visit to the Royal Palace, the official residence of the King of Cambodia and a stunning example of Khmer architecture. The palace complex contains several buildings, such as the Throne Hall, the Silver Pagoda, and the Khemarin Palace. You can admire the ornate decorations, the golden roofs, and the beautiful gardens. The palace is open from 8 am to 11 am and from 2 pm to 5 pm. The entrance fee is $10 per person.
Next, walk to the nearby National Museum of Cambodia, which houses one of the world’s largest collections of Khmer art and artifacts. The museum showcases the history and culture of Cambodia from prehistoric times to the present day. You can see sculptures, ceramics, bronzes, and ethnographic objects from various periods and regions. The museum is open from 8 am to 5 pm. The entrance fee is $5 per person.
For lunch, head to L’Orchidee Restaurant, a cozy restaurant that serves authentic Khmer and regional cuisine with some selections of European dishes. You can try dishes such as amok trey (fish curry steamed in banana leaves), samlor machu kreung (sour soup with lemongrass paste), and lok lak khmer (beef lok lak with fried egg).
After lunch, take a tuk-tuk to Wat Phnom, the oldest and most sacred temple in Phnom Penh. According to legend, the temple was built in 1372 by a wealthy widow named Penh, who found four Buddha statues inside a floating koki tree on the Mekong River. She decided to build a hill (phnom) and a temple (wat) to house the statues, and thus gave the city its name. You can climb up the hill and see the temple, the statues, and the stupa that contains Penh’s ashes. You can also enjoy the views of the city and the river from the top. The temple is open from 7 am to 6:30 pm. The entrance fee is $1 per person.
End your day with a relaxing cruise on the Mekong River, where you can watch the sunset and enjoy the breeze. You can choose from various options, such as a dinner cruise, a cocktail cruise, or a sightseeing cruise. You can book your cruise online or through your hotel or a travel agent. The prices vary depending on the duration and type of cruise.
Day 2: Learn about the Dark History and Enjoy the Nightlife
On your second day, prepare yourself for an emotional journey as you learn about the dark history of Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge regime. Take a tuk-tuk to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former high school that was turned into a prison and torture center by the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. Here, more than 17,000 people were detained, interrogated, tortured, and killed. You can see the cells, the torture instruments, the photographs, and the paintings of the victims and survivors. The museum is open from 8 am to 5 pm. The entrance fee is $5 per person.
Next, take another tuk-tuk to Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, also known as the Killing Fields. This is one of more than 300 mass graves where more than one million people were executed and buried by the Khmer Rouge. You can see the skulls, bones, clothes, and tools that were used to kill them. You can also listen to an audio guide that tells you the stories of what happened here. The center is open from 8 am to 5:30 pm. The entrance fee is $6 per person.
After this sobering experience, you may want to have some lunch and rest for a while before heading out again. For lunch, you can try Elia Greek Kitchen, a charming restaurant that serves Mediterranean and Greek cuisine. You can try dishes such as tzatziki (yogurt dip with cucumber and garlic), souvlaki (grilled meat on skewers), and baklava (filo pastry with nuts and honey).
In the afternoon, you can do some shopping at Central Market, one of the largest and oldest markets in Phnom Penh. The market is housed in a yellow art deco building that was built in 1937. You can find a variety of goods, such as clothes, jewelry, souvenirs, and food. The market is open from 7 am to 6 pm.
In the evening, you can enjoy the nightlife of Phnom Penh at Riverside, the lively stretch of street that overlooks the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers. Here, you can find many restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and stores. You can have a drink, listen to music, watch the people, and admire the lights. Some of the popular spots are Riverhouse Restaurant and Lounge, a stylish bistro and bar that serves Asian and Western dishes and cocktails; Chinese House, a historic building that serves fusion fine-dining meals and tapas; and Bopha Phnom Penh Titanic Restaurant, a restaurant that serves authentic Khmer cuisine and offers a view of the river.
