|
 |
Phnom Penh, Cambodia:
Travel Guide |
|
Attractions in & Getting Around Phnom Penh
There are many things to see and do in Phnom Penh, including;
 Wat Phnom
An active Buddhist pagoda atop a hill in Phnom Penh, you will get asked for US$1 to ascend to the top where you can enter the pagoda. Watch out for monkeys on the slopes, you should not feed them as they can turn aggressive.
 The Killing Fields
Choeung Ek. Site of many executions and mass graves under the Khmer Rouge regime of the seventies, now stands a memorial Buddhist Stupa containing skulls of the victims that were uncovered in the area.
 Royal Palace
Compound of many Royal Cambodian buildings, including the Silver Pagoda which has a floor made of solid silver tiles. Incredibly colourful area, gold roofs, green plants & blue skies make for a beautiful setting.
 National Museum
Many national treasures from Angkor and Khmer history. The original Statue of the Leper King from the terrace in Angkor Thom is housed here, along with many lingas, statues & carvings from the Angkor area.
Toul Sleng Genocide Museum
A grim reminder of the Khmer Rouge regime of 1975-78. Toul Sleng was a former school before it was converted into a prison and torture facility by the Khmer Rouge, many thousands of people were 'processed' through Toul Sleng. Now a museum and memorial to the dead, take a look around this eerie place.
 Riverfront
Take a walk along the riverfront on Sisowath Quay, where the three great rivers of the Mekong, Tonle Sap & Bassac join together to form an 'X'. Many restaurants & bars along the road offering picturesque views overlooking the rivers.
Independance Monument
Cambodia gained independance from France in 1953, this monument built in the centre of a traffic circle in Phnom Penh, was built in 1958 and is based on the central tower of Angkor Wat.
Also may be of some interest is Wat Ounalom near the riverfront.. and the Shooting Range nearby where you can fire an AK47 and other weapons.
All destinations are easily reached by moto, tuktuk or taxi, they are all more than happy to approach tourists, just tell the driver where you would like to go.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Where to Eat & Drink in Phnom Penh
Whilst the temples at Angkor are the main tourist attraction for travellers to Cambodia, the capital of Phnom Penh should not be overlooked and is a city that is constantly undergoing rapid development which started in the 1990's when peace and democracy came to Cambodia. The riverfront along Sisowath Quay has a wide pavement and is a pleasant walk, and a meeting place for local Khmers to dance in the evenings. Many restaurants, pubs, bars, guesthouses & hotels are dotted along Sisowath Quay, some of our restaurant recommendations along the riverfront;
The Foreign Correspondants Club (FCC) set on the first floor of an old colonial French building, traditionally a meeting place for journalists covering the conflicts during the seventies & eighties. The restaurant serves a variety of international and Italian dishes, with nice mixed fruit juice drinks in large glasses, just what you need on a hot day in Phnom Penh. Nice view over the river and Sisowath Quay from the balcony.
The Hope & Anchor an English style pub, nice food and seating outside next to the street.
Happy Herb's Pizza/Bistro good pizza, not sure if they still do 'happy pizza' in Phnom Penh (try Sihanoukville!), but still they claim to be the best pizza in town. Delivery & takeaway if you need it.
K-West a very good European/International restaurant & bar. Famous for its Mojito cocktails, and French/Italian style food, pretty nice, sophisticated, but can be a bit cold with the air-conditioning.
Shopping in Phnom Penh
You will not find any of the usual high-street shops you might find in more developed countries. But for a uniquely Cambodian shopping experience you can try the many small Khmer handicraft & art shops, or one of the markets;
 The Central Market has clothes, souvenirs, jewelry in the middle, fruit outside & more. Nice fairly open market, more pleasant than the Russian Market.
The Russian Market has lots of clothes, shoes/trainers, hats/caps & similar items that you can see being sewn together by people working in a rather sweatshop-like environment. It is a very hot and stuffy, enclosed market, and stay away from the meat for sale.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cambodia-Photos.com is an independant resource & travel guide to Cambodia providing photographs & information aimed at travellers to Cambodia.
The text and image content remains the property of its copyright holders and must not be reproduced without permission.
|
|
|
|
