Phnom Penh: Museums, Royal Palace and City History

Phnom Penh can be explored through a wide range of themes: a historical and archaeological museum, a royal palace on the riverbank, a tree-covered hill and a market in a dark yellow Art Deco building each offer a different perspective. When choosing a holiday apartment, it is worth first considering which of these experiences you want to shape your trip.

Museum Collection and City History

The National Museum of Cambodia is a historical and archaeological museum opened by King Sisowath in 1920. It is housed in a traditionally designed terracotta building constructed between 1917 and 1920. The museum is located on Street 13 in central Phnom Penh, north of the Royal Palace.

The collection includes Khmer sculptures, ceramics and ethnographic objects from prehistoric times, as well as from the pre-Angkorian, Angkorian and post-Angkorian periods. Different materials and eras are brought together here, offering a concrete starting point if you are interested in Cambodian art and history.

Tours for individuals or groups can be arranged at the museum entrance. They are available in Khmer, English, French and Japanese. As arrangements and language offerings can change, check with the museum before your visit.

The history of Toul Sleng reveals another, more sombre facet of the city’s past: before 1975, it was a secondary school. After the Khmer Rouge came to power, it was converted into the S-21 prison and interrogation centre. This historical turning point presents a different perspective from the architecture and collections of the National Museum.

Wat Phnom and Routes Through the City

Wat Phnom stands at the northern end of the old French Quarter, on a 27-metre-high, tree-covered hill. From the riverfront, it is easy to reach on foot or with a short tuk-tuk ride. The main entrance is via a large eastern staircase lined with lions and naga serpent balustrades. The hill, setting and distinctive entrance give this destination a different character from museum galleries and historic buildings.

The Royal Palace and National History

The history of the Royal Palace is closely linked to the transfer of the capital: after King Norodom moved the capital from Oudong to Phnom Penh in 1866, the palace was soon established at its riverside location, where it remains today. The Preah Tineang Tevea Vinichhay, or Throne Hall, hosts coronations and royal weddings; it is also used to receive ambassadors.

The Napoleon III Pavilion stands in the gardens of the Royal Palace. The cast-iron building was a gift from France to King Norodom in the 1870s. Another landmark in the country’s history, the Independence Monument commemorates Cambodia’s independence from France, achieved in 1953; the monument was built in 1958.

Central Market and Choosing the Right Location

Phsa Thmei, also known as New Market or Central Market, is a dark yellow Art Deco building dating from 1935 to 1937. Its four wings house numerous stalls selling gold and silver jewellery, antique coins, clothing, watches, flowers, food, fabrics, shoes and luggage. The market offers a very different focus from the museum collection, palace history or Wat Phnom’s striking staircase.

You can use these different interests as a guide when looking for a holiday apartment: would you like to focus on collections and architectural history, the history of the Royal Palace, Wat Phnom or the market’s range of goods? If you are travelling as a family, you can weigh up your priorities together and then compare the location of an accommodation with your own plans. This way, you can start choosing a location based on the experiences that matter to you, rather than on a generic idea of what a stay in Phnom Penh should look like.

For the broader travel overview: Phnom Penh.