What to See in Phnom Penh: 7 Cultural & Art Treasures, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

For anyone planning a trip to Cambodia, the nation’s capital may not necessarily be top of your priority list. After all, the main attraction will likely be Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, a 6-hour drive or 1-hour flight away.

But if you do find yourself in this emerging tourist destination and are wondering exactly what to see in Phnom Penh during your stay, read on for some recommended options. You can also download my free quick guide to Phnom Penh, concisely summarising everything you need to know before you go.

As far as Asian or even Southeast Asian metropolises go, Phnom Penh still flies largely under the radar. The city, like the rest of the country, has had a tragic recent history. The horrific genocide under Pol Pot’s totalitarian Khmer Rouge regime that killed millions of people in the late 1970s is not something anywhere can easily recover from. Talk to any local and you’ll find the scars are most definitely still there.

Indeed, to better understand the magnitude of exactly what happened during that unfathomably dark period, I recommend visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Killing Fields if you can. It is truly sobering and heavy to process, but nonetheless extremely important. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).