Phnom Penh

Why Visit Phnom Penh? Temples, Nightlife, and the Epic Water Festival

Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s dynamic capital, is a city where golden-roofed pagodas stand side by side with gleaming skyscrapers. It’s a place to visit in Cambodia for anyone seeking both culture and excitement. Let’s explore Phnom Penh with Absolute Asia Tours!

When you are going to visit Phnom Penh, Raffles Hotel Le Royal is one of the best places to stay. The property has great history, as it acted as a Red Cross facility during the civil war. A quick Vespa ride away is your next stop: the Vattanac Capital Tower. Their sky bar provides excellent views across the 14th-century pagodas, colonial buidings, and modern skyscrapers that all come together to create a beautiful skyline as the city rises.

Architectural Highlights During Your Phnom Penh Tour

If you are drawn to the colonial-Khmer architecture of Phnom Penh, then an architectural tour will reveal the stunning mix of the old and new, like the New-Khmer designed Institute of Foreign Languages and the Art Deco Central Market.

Cultural Highlights and The Phnom Penh Water Festival

The Royal Palace is where the king lives and is home to the famous Silver Pagoda, home to a life-size and beautiful Buddha that is bedecked with almost 10,000 diamonds! You could plan your tour to finish in November for the Phnom Penh Water Festival (Bon Om Tuk) – a single day celebration celebrated once a year in Cambodia. The Phnom Penh Water Festival attracts local boats with their magnificent decorations for boat races, fireworks, and colorful street fair partying in the city. This event is one of Cambodia’s biggest events (and, arguably, the most spectacular)! Take a ride through the water festival celebrations and see the traditions of Cambodia.

And if you are wanting to see yet another cultural highlight museum, the National Museum of Cambodia has the largest collection of Khmer sculptures in the world. From ancient statues of Vishnu and other gods that are carved in stone and plaster, to bronze casts of stylized naked Khmer, you must see this place while doing any Phnom Penh tour, as it will add a wealth of culture to your bucket list!

Phnom Penh’s Nightlife

Phnom Penh nightlife is infinitely enjoyable! You can do it in style with a Vespa tour of the best bars and restaurants across town, sampling Khmer food and local craft beers. This is one of the most memorable things to do in Phnom Penh – it also ends at the famous Bassac Lane where you might catch live jazz music!

Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek

No Cambodia tour is complete without going to Tuol Sleng, a high school turned detention centre by the Khmer Rouge regime. With a professional guide, you will visit both locations and learn about the difficult history within Phnom Penh during Pol Pot, which is a sad and sobering experience for visitors.

If you’re ready to unlock Phnom Penh with a personalized experience, consider Absolute Asia Tours for customized Cambodia tours!