Royal Palace, Museums & Memorials

Phnom Penh Royal Palace [ព្រះបរមរាជវាំងចតុមុខមង្គល preahbaromreachvang chaktomuk mongkol in Khmer] reflects the history of Queens and Kings and Cambodia, from the echoes of Angkorian past to the struggle for independence to a modern Constitutional monarchy.

Established in the 1860s, modified in the 1920s and reclaimed after the civil war devastations in the 1970s, the large complex of buildings, statues, landmarks and gardens is oriented to the East and to Chaktomuk, The Four-Face River.

Stroll through elegant pavilions, landscaped gardens, and ceremonial halls showcasing traditional Khmer craftsmanship. (photos by Ken Bodian; MAADS)

• 8am – 5pm
• Appropriate clothing.
• 950 m (13 min) from your hotel

The Silver Pagoda (photo Flickr). Nearby, a 19th century European-style building is nowadays the oldest standing structure within the Royal Pavilion precinct. Often called 'The Napoleon Pavilion' in the past, the 'Iron House' has a fascinating history worth the read. (photo from Measbandol Collection)

Exclusively for Pavilion guests, professional guide Hem Sophoan will tailor the visit you envision. Together with Sophoan, select:

• Duration: 1 to 4 hours.
• Emphasis on specific landmarks accessible to the public (for instance the Reamker [Khmer Ramayana] frescoes;
• Optional combination with visit to the National Museum of Cambodia.
• All visits start and end at Pavilion lobby or restaurant.
• Contact front desk to plan your visit the day before.

Especially now, as spectacular looted pieces of Khmer art are handed back to Cambodian by museums and private investors around the world, it is essential to pay a visit to the National Museum [សារមន្ទីរជាតិ saromontir cheate], founded more than a century ago.

Collections of Khmer art and religious artifacts are unique, exhibitions of Cambodian contemporary art frequent, and it is pure pleasure to stroll through the vast, peaceful halls. The gardens are also a destination, with modern statues scattered under the canopy and among flowers.

The library is a trove for researchers and Khmer art lovers (on appointment). And a cup or a drink the Museum Café, open to the trees, is a welcome respite from the city hassle. (photos by Pann Rachana/KT; IntoCambodia; NMC)

• 9 AM-6 M.
• Closes on major Khmer holidays
• 950 m (~ 13 min.) from your hotel

Named after King Preah Srey Isanavarman (7th century), SOSORO Museum explores Cambodia’s past through the lens of currency, trade, and economic life. Interactive galleries and multimedia displays trace the country’s political, social, and financial evolution from ancient civilizations to the modern era.

The museum hosts temporary exhibitions and public conferences throughout the year. It also publishes books and catalogs. (photos by Sosoro Museum)

• 9am – 6pm (Closed on Monday)
• 2 km from your hotel (28 min walking northward on Street 13)

The museum and memorial site opened in May 1979, four months after Phnom Penh liberation from the Khmer Rouge regime, in the secondary school converted into "Security Office 21", S-21, a secret facility at the center of a vast network of detention, interrogation, torture and extermination.

One of the five wings, Building C, has been preserved exactly at it was under Khmer Rouge terror (1975-1979), when at times whole families were detained at the center. Only 12 inmates, four of them children, survived the ordeal. Among them, renowned artist Vann Nath, whose paintings are displayed across three other buildings.

Tens of thousands of photographs, files and survivor testimonies have been digitized and indexed since the Museum Archives were added to UNESCO Memory of the World Program in 2009.

Visitors are welcome to pause and meditate in the White Lotus Room after an experience aimed at encouraging them to be messengers of peace. (main photo by AnywhereWeRoam; section photo by CIPDH)

• 8am – 5pm
• 2.5 km from your hotel (24 min walk passing by Independence Monument and Wat Langka Pagoda)

Peaceful memorial site honoring the victims of the Khmer Rouge era, erected on a major execution & burial site.

Guided paths and audio narratives recount personal stories and historical context, offering a reflective experience amidst tranquil surroundings. The stupa and preserved grounds stand as a reminder of resilience and remembrance. (photo via UNESCO)

• 7:30am – 5:30pm
• 11.9 km from your hotel (22 min) (16.7 km when driving through Takhmau តាខ្មៅ, Kandal Province capital city).