Things to do in Phnom Penh

In Phnom Penh, walk the courtyards of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda within the same grounds, see Khmer art at the neighbouring National Museum of Cambodia, and climb to Wat Phnom, the hilltop pagoda that gave the city its name. The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) and the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, a former execution site that is now a memorial, preserve the history of the Khmer Rouge period so visitors can learn from it and reflect on peace. The SOSORO Museum traces Cambodian history through money, Koh Dach (Silk Island) is a weaving community on the Mekong, and on weekend evenings Chaktomuk Walk Street fills the riverfront with street food, crafts and live music.

Good to knowVisit the Royal Palace in the morning to avoid the strongest midday heat. At Tuol Sleng, cover shoulders and knees, and children under 14 should not enter the lower-floor exhibition rooms; at Choeung Ek the audio guide takes more than an hour, so allow time to walk the grounds quietly. At Wat Phnom, keep food and bags secure around the resident monkeys.