Best of Phnom Penh

Stretching along the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh is a dynamic city of ornate temples, artifact-filled museums and a royal palace still used by the country’s monarch. The riverside plays a starring role in the capital, with vibrant markets and pagodas just steps from the waterfront. You’ll also find some of Cambodia’s best restaurants here, with outstanding Khmer cuisine as well as Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, French and many other global flavors. There’s so much to experience here that you’ll need a few days to pack it all in.

An architecture-themed walking tour takes you to some of Phnom Penh’s most important buildings, while also giving an overview of the city’s turbulent past. It’s also worthwhile taking a guided tour through the National Museum of Cambodia, with sculptures, pottery and bronzes spanning nearly a thousand years. Late afternoon boat trips are a great way to cap the day, with views of the sun setting behind the spires of the Royal Palace. Beyond the capital, you can go mountain biking on the river island of Koh Dach, see the stupas of the old royal capital of Udong and see endangered wildlife at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre.