Gay Phnom Penh • Attractions

The Royal Palace was built by King Norodom in 1866 as a place for ceremonies. It has survived the Pol Pot, and the Communist regimes remained relatively untouched. During the mid 90’s, much of the Palace was restored to its former glory, and it continues to be the home of the Cambodian Royal family.

Many sections of the Palace, including the Throne Hall and the Chan Chaya Pavilion (built for the performance of classical Cambodian dance) are open daily to the public and very much worth visiting.

The Silver Pagoda (Wat Preah Keo Morokat – ‘The Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is located next to the Royal Palace. It became known as the ‘Silver Pagoda’ after solid silver floor tiles were installed. Royal ceremonies are still performed in the Silver Pagoda.

The building is renowned for a priceless collection of historical objects including the ‘Emerald Buddha’ – a life-sized Buddha made of 90 kg of gold and 9,584 diamonds – the largest of which is an astonishing 25 karats.

Admission included in the Royal Palace ticket price. Dress code applies to both Palace and Pagoda. No shorts, no tank tops/exposed shoulders, no hats and no backpacks.

The National Museum of Phnom Pehn contains over 5,000 Khmer art sculptures, ancient pottery and artworks dating from 4th-10th century and many more recent artefacts.

The ultra-Communist Khmer Rouge, headed by Pol Pot, controlled Cambodia between 1975-1979. During this period, an estimated 2.5 million Cambodians were killed from diseases and malnutrition. Brutal executions took place in ‘killing fields’ across the country.

Choeung Ek is one such killing field where more than 17,000 men, women, children and even babies were murdered, most of whom had first suffered torture at Toul Sleng Prision.

A visit to Choeung Ek Genocide Center is an experience that you will not forget. Located 15 km southwest of Phnom Penh.

Home to a maze of stalls and shops selling cheap clothing, jewellery, flowers, souvenirs, electronic goods and more.

The Central Market is worth visiting for the distinctive art deco, four-winged building built in 1937.

Phnom Penh’s Night Market is almost exclusively a retail experience for tourists. The riverfront area is dominated by stalls selling a variety of good quality Cambodian arts, crafts and souvenirs.

The vibe is laid-back, and a visit is a pleasant experience.Located between Street 106 and Street 108 on the riverside. The market operates Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from 5pm until around midnight.

As per a legend, the first pagoda was housed statues of Buddha deposited here by the Mekong River and then discovered by Lady Penh in 1373.

The current temple was built in 1926 and restored in 1998. There is a large stupa containing the ashes of King Ponhea Yat.

Entrance fee $1. Elephant rides also available.

Before 1975, Toul Sleng was just an ordinary high school. The Khmer Rouge transformed the building in a prison and interrogation facility known as ‘S-21’. Prisoners were tortured over a period of many months before being sent to the Choeung Ka killing fields.

17,000 people were known to have been ‘processed’ through S-21 of which only seven survived.

The building is now a museum and memorial to those who suffered at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. A disturbing, but essential, part of any visit to Phnom Penh.

One of the most prominent buildings in the city is the rather optimistically named ‘Phnom Penh National Olympic Stadium’.

The stadium, built in 1964, is home to the Cambodian national football team, although it is also used for other sports such as volleyball and basketball. Located on Sihanouk Boulevard.

The Russian Market dates back to when most foreigners to the city were from Russia.

Today, it is another shopping paradise for bargain-hunting tourists.

Home to a large number of art boutiques and galleries, featuring both traditional and modern art. The Reyum Gallery hosts some of the most important exhibitions that Phnom Penh.

Most shops are open daily until 8pm. Gay bar Blue Chilli is nearby.