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Phnom Penh — travel, stays & events guide
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Phnom Penh, CambodiaOpen-Meteo forecast.
Phnom Penh city overview
Phnom Penh works best as a base in Cambodia when you anchor days around Royal Palace Phnom Penh, Silver Pagoda and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Use those sights to understand the city's history, street life and visitor rhythm. Phnom Penh International handles the main arrival flow, so hotel choice should balance the centre, transfer time and day-trip plans.
City facts
Airport basePhnom Penh International (PNH)
Known forRoyal Palace Phnom Penh, Silver Pagoda, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Central Market Phnom Penh
RegionCambodiaCambodia
Time zoneAsia/Phnom_Penhlocal time
Founded1372historical origin
City history
It was the 14th century, and the Khmer capital was still at Angkor near Siem Reap 350 km (217 mi) to the north.
Archaeologists stated that a large community is surrounded by a circular earthwork structure that is 740 metres in diameter and 4 metres high, built in the 11th century.
Legend has it that in 1372, a wealthy widow named Penh found a Koki tree floating down the Tonlé Sap River after a storm.
1390 – 1463), king of the Khmer Empire, moved the capital from Angkor Thom after it was captured and destroyed by Siam years earlier.
Phnom Penh remained the royal capital for 73 years, from 1432 to 1505.
It was abandoned for 360 years (from 1505 to 1865) by subsequent kings due to internal fighting between the royal pretenders.
The initial settlement of Phnom Penh is believed to have been established since the 5th century AD, according to the discovery of kiln site in Choeung Ek commune of Dangkao district, southern part of.
Phnom Penh (lit. 'Penh's hill') takes its name from the Wat Phnom (lit. 'hill temple'), or from the Funan Kingdom, which existed from the 1st to the 7th century AD in Southeast Asia and.
A Portuguese community survived in Phnom Penh until the 17th century, undertaking commercial and religious activity in the country.
Gathering firewood along the banks of the river, Lady Penh spied a floating koki tree in the river and fished it from the water.
The discovery was taken as a divine blessing, and to some a sign that the Khmer capital was to be brought to Phnom Penh from Angkor.
Later kings moved the capital several times and established their royal capitals at locations in Tuol Basan (Srey Santhor), Pursat, Longvek, Lavear Em and Oudong.
During the Vietnam War, Cambodia was used as a base by the People's Army of Vietnam and the Viet Cong, and thousands of refugees from across the country flooded the city to escape the.
Reports from journalists stated that the Khmer Rouge shelling "tortured the capital almost continuously", inflicting "random death and mutilation" on millions of trapped civilians.
Worth seeing
Royal Palace Phnom Penh
Royal Palace Phnom Penh anchors the historic and ceremonial side of Phnom Penh, making it a practical stop for architecture, local memory and orientation.
Silver Pagoda
Silver Pagoda anchors the historic and ceremonial side of Phnom Penh, making it a practical stop for architecture, local memory and orientation.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a key Phnom Penh culture stop, useful for understanding local history, collections and rainy-day planning near the main sightseeing route.
Central Market Phnom Penh
Central Market Phnom Penh gives Phnom Penh a concrete street-life stop, with food, everyday shopping and local movement that helps visitors read the city.
Wat Phnom
Wat Phnom is a named stop in Phnom Penh worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
National Museum of Cambodia
National Museum of Cambodia is a key Phnom Penh culture stop, useful for understanding local history, collections and rainy-day planning near the main sightseeing route.
Stay overview
Start with Riverside for the easiest first Phnom Penh stay, then compare BKK1 and Daun Penh when price, nightlife, quieter evenings or transfer timing matter more than being beside every major sight.
Hotels & areas
Phnom Penh hotel choice is mostly about repeat journeys: use Riverside for sightseeing, BKK1 for a different local base, and Daun Penh or Toul Tom Poung when views, parking, airport timing or longer stays matter.
Riverside
Riverside suits travellers who want views, evening walks and a calmer base while still keeping central Phnom Penh reachable.
Best for: views, quieter evenings, walksCompare staysBKK1
BKK1 is useful when a Phnom Penh stay needs more local restaurants, apartment options or quieter nights outside the busiest core.
Best for: local stays, restaurants, quieter nightsCompare staysDaun Penh
Daun Penh is useful when a Phnom Penh stay needs more local restaurants, apartment options or quieter nights outside the busiest core.
Best for: local stays, restaurants, quieter nightsCompare staysToul Tom Poung
Toul Tom Poung is useful when a Phnom Penh stay needs more local restaurants, apartment options or quieter nights outside the busiest core.
Best for: local stays, restaurants, quieter nightsCompare staysFlights & airports
Phnom Penh International (PNH) arrival plan
- Phnom Penh International (PNH)Phnom Penh International (PNH), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh International (PNH) is the main air gateway for Phnom Penh; compare transfer time with your hotel base before locking the first night.
Rental cars
Phnom Penh day-trip car use
Do not rent a car for central Phnom Penh unless parking and traffic are part of the plan; use one mainly for regional day trips.
Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best base
Choose Riverside for a first stay because it keeps main sights, restaurants and practical local movement close.
Airport timing
Leave extra time for Phnom Penh International, especially for early flights, late arrivals, traffic or unfamiliar transfer routes.
Local movement
Plan each day in clusters around Royal Palace Phnom Penh and Silver Pagoda so transfers do not consume the best sightseeing hours.
Day trips
Keep one flexible slot for nearby routes from Phnom Penh, checking weather, transport and opening hours before committing.
Nearby ideas
Heritage
Silver Pagoda
Silver Pagoda is a heritage-focused side trip from Phnom Penh; check the route and opening hours before setting aside the day.
Heritage
Wat Phnom
Wat Phnom is a heritage-focused side trip from Phnom Penh; check the route and opening hours before setting aside the day.
Upcoming events
No upcoming Phnom Penh events in the shared event index yet.