48 hours in Phnom Penh – Weekend Edition
Phnom Penh In Less Than 48 Words
To a traveler, Phnom Penh is a fitting introduction to Cambodia. The mere mention of its name evokes an aura of mysticism and exoticism. In that regard, the Royal Palace’s golden spires, the glimmering tiles of the Silver Pagoda, and the horrors of Tuol Sleng come to mind.
The Royal Palace’s pavilion (Photo from Google images)
First 24 Hours
You can fly to the gateway of Cambodia via the Phnom Penh International Airport, which is located seven kilometers west of the city center. From there, you can catch a taxi to the town center, a journey that will take about 30 minutes and cost you $9. Alternatively, you can opt to hire a tuk-tuk for $7, or a motorcycle taxi (found near the terminal’s exit gates) for upwards of $2.
Phnom Penh is a fairly congested metropolis, but it is still not that difficult to explore, as public transportation is fast using tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis. It also helps that major tourist attractions are fortunately located close to each other. Still, it is advisable to visit the tourist information center (313 Preah Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh, +855 15 913 483), where you can get valuable tourist information. It is open from Mondays to Fridays from 7 am to 5 pm.
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at Phnom Penh’s hotels
You can arrange for a nice place to stay in during your 48 hour visit in Phnom Penh at one of its excellent hotels. One of the best in the city is The Pavilion (227, Street 19 | Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, +855 023 22 22 80, website). It is a five-star hotel with beautiful private grounds, spacious rooms, professional staff, and convenient location near major attractions and restaurants.
The Pavilion (Photo mmdurango)
A nice alternative is the Amanjaya Pancam Hotel (1, Street 154,Sisowath Quay, City Center, Phnom Penh, (0)23 219579, website), which offers comfortable rooms, top-quality breakfast, and balconies with great views. You can also try out the Raffles Hotel Le Royal (92, Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, (0)23 981 888, website). It has a convenient location near tourist attractions, plus pools, a bar, restaurants, and an excellent staff.
ROYAL PALACE: Go for a historical hike
Perhaps one of the most popular tourist attractions in Phnom Penh is the Royal Palace (Samdach Preah Theamak Lethet Ouk, Phnom Penh, Cambodia). It is a complex of buildings where the kings of Cambodia had ruled from since 1866, and is an epitome of Khmer architecture. The site covers an area of roughly 174,870 square meters, and is home to various historical buildings and monuments.
One of the most popular sites there is the Silver Pagoda, which can be found at the Royal Palace’s southern side. Officially called Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morako, it is a Buddhist temple where the king of Cambodia attends religious services. The pagoda itself is a marvel of architecture, inlaid with more than 5,000 silver tiles and Italian marble. Inside, you’ll find numerous golden and jeweled Buddha statues. Some of the most notable are the Emerald Buddha of Cambodia (a 17th century statue made out of baccarat crystal) and the life-size Maitreya Buddha (dressed in royal garments and encrusted with 2,086 diamonds).
The Throne Hall of Royal Palace (Photo by Taylor and Ayumi)
Another attraction inside the complex is the Throne Hall, which is often used as a site for royal and religious ceremonies. It is known for its 59-meter tall spire fitted with a four-faced head of Brahma at the summit. You can find inside it a royal throne, as well as busts of former Cambodian kings. The royal palace boasts of the Chan Chhaya Pavilion too, which is one of the most recognizable buildings in the complex. It is an open-air pavilion that has been used as a stage for the Khmer classical dance since its inception.
You can also take a leisurely stroll across the Royal Palace’s gardens, which are filled with various tropical flowers and plants such as Couroupita guianensis, Jatropha integerrima, and Allamanda cathartica.
FRIENDSHIP MONUMENT: Head to a symbol of friendship
Another famous attraction in Phnom Penh is the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument (Sothearos Boulevard, Phnom Penh 12202 Cambodia, +855 23 21 1593), which is located in the city center, just 500 meters from the Royal Palace. It is a massive concrete monument built during the late 1970s to commemorate the alliance between Cambodia and Vietnam. You can see there a bas relief in a Socialist-realist style that depicts Vietnamese and Cambodian soldiers. It also houses a sculpture of a woman and child, which represents Cambodian civilians.
Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument (Photo by Stephen Zhang)
TUOL SLENG: Remember the victims of the Khmer Rouge
One of the most harrowing destinations in Phnom Penh is the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (103 Phnom Penh, Cambodia). It is a museum set inside a former high school building that was used by the infamous Khmer Rouge as the Security Prison 21 (S-21).
It is estimated that between 1975 and 1979, not less than 17,000 Cambodians were imprisoned at the site, where they were photographed and forced to provide detailed autobiographies. Then, they were stripped to their underwear, and their possessions confiscated. All of them were subjected to prolonged interrogation, and were tortured to confess to crimes cooked up by the torturers. Some of those who died were buried in the grounds outside the site.
Inside the building, you will find the numerous torture implements used on the prisoners, including a waterboard. You can also see photographs of the victims, as well as human skulls on display in the museum.
DINNER TIME: Discover Phnom Penh’s restaurants
Friends restaurant (Photo by Stephen Zhang)
You are guaranteed a delicious dinner at the restaurants available all over the city. One of the best in the city is the Friends Restaurant (House 215, Street 13, Phnom Penh, (+855) 12 802 072, website). It is a colorful restaurant whose walls are adorned with art, serving dishes made delicious by local culinary traditions. A nice alternative is Romdeng (74 Street 174, Phnom Penh, 092-219-565), which offers contemporary Cambodian food.
If you’re a vegetarian, you can try out K’nyay (25K Suramarit Blvd. (Street 268), Phnom Penh, 023 225 225, website), which serves vegetarian dishes at reasonable prices. Have a taste of France in Phnom Penh at La Marmite (80 Street 108, Phnom Penh, (012) 391 746), a French bistro with delicious food and a good wine selection.
Next 24 Hours
Independence Monument (Photo by Chí Thanh)
You can discover Phnom Penh’s other tourist attractions during your next 24 hours in the city. One of the remaining sights is the Independence Monument, which is located at the intersection of Norodom Boulevard and Sihanouk Boulevard near the city center. It is a lotus-shaped stupa built in 1958 to commemorate the country’s independence from France. The monument was designed by the modernist Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann, and is often the site of national celebrations.
NATIONAL MUSEUM: Learn Cambodian history
National Museum of Cambodia (Photo by Bentley Smith)
You can learn much more about Cambodian history and heritage by visiting the National Museum of Cambodia (Street 13, Sangkat Chey Chumneas, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, +855 0(23) 211 753, website). It is considered as the country’s foremost archaeological and historical museum, and is known for having the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. Established in 1920, it has over 14,000 artifacts dating from prehistoric times to the end of the Khmer Empire. Notable finds are ceramics, bronze objects, sculptures, and ethnographic pieces. The site is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm, and admission will cost you $3.
WAT PHNOM: Let’s visit a temple
Wat Phnom (Photo by Allie Caulfield)
Have a religious experience by visiting the Wat Phnom (North of Road 102, Phnom Penh 12202 Cambodia, +855 23 21 6666), which is considered to be one of the most important pagodas in the city. It is also the tallest religious structure in Phnom Penh, standing at a height of 27 meters. The temple dates back to 1373, and is known for housing the ashes of the Cambodian king Ponhea Yat. The site is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm.
CHOEUNG EK: Go to the “Killing Field”
Choeung Ek Memorial (Photo by spiggycat)
Apart from the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, another reminder of the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime in Phnom Penh is Choeung Ek. It is located 15 kilometers southwest of the city center, and is best known for the nick name “Killing Field”, as it was the site where around 17,000 people were exterminated by the Khmer Rouge. Most of the victims were former prisoners at Tuol Sleng. The area is littered with mass graves that contained about 8,895 bodies, and you can still see numerous human bones scattered throughout. You can also find a Buddhist stupa there, which is a memorial with a display of around 5,000 human skulls.
NIGHTLIFE: Enjoy Phnom Penh’s vibrant nightlife scene
At night you may proceed to Phnom Penh’s bars and clubs to have a taste of the city’s exciting nightlife. One of the most popular is the Elephant Bar (Ph 92, Central Phnom Penh, 855 23 981 888, website). It is a bar owned by the Hotel Le Royal, and is an ideal place to relax and play pool, enjoy snacks, or drink during a happy hour.
A nice alternative is the Elsewhere Bar (175 cnr Ph 51 & 254, Central Phnom Penh, 855 23 211348), which features a garden environment, thrilling music, novel drinks, and a swimming pool. You can also try out Gasolina (56-58 Ph 57, S of Central Phnom Penh, 855 12 373009). It is a Latin bar located in a simple Spanish style villa, and serves Chilean wines and cocktails.
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