| Phnom Penh | ||
 | ||
| State | Cambodia | |
|---|---|---|
| Inhabitants | 1.325.681 (2008) | |
| Prefix tel | 855 23 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Phnom Penh is the capital of the Cambodia.
To know
Despite its reputation as a violent and insecure city accumulated over the past decades, Phnom Penh is today a tourist destination and can be visited without excessive fear.
When to go
| Climate | gen | Feb | mar | apr | mag | down | Jul | needle | set | Oct | nov | dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum (° C) | 31 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Minimum (° C) | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 21 |
| Precipitation (mm) | 7 | 10 | 35 | 78 | 144 | 147 | 152 | 154 | 226 | 251 | 139 | 43 |
Climate a Phnom Penh - source [1](2017) | ||||||||||||
How to orient yourself
Phnom Penh: full screen map.
How to get
By plane
Boarding fees of US $ 25 are required for international flights and a 6 US $ for domestic flights. They must be paid in cash. (dollars or local currency). Only in theory can these fees be paid by credit card.
L'Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) - called "Pochentong" in the past - is the larger of the two international airports Cambodians (the other is a Siem Reap). Frequent connections with Bangkok, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Taipei and also with Luang Prabang (Laos). Among the companies that operate there are Bangkok Airways "," Lao Aviation "," Shanghai Airlines "," Thai Airways "," Silk Air "and" Dragon Air ".
Air Asia is a company Malaysian low cost making daily connections to Bangkok is Kuala Lumpur. The brand new terminal has a post office, a bank with an ATM machine, restaurants, a duty-free shop, a tourist information desk and a business center.
The airport is approximately 11 km from the city center. (Sisowath Quay). A taxi ride has a fixed price of US $ 7. Pay the fare directly at the counter inside the terminal and right next to the exit. Those with small luggage could take a motorcycle taxi for as little as $ 2.
By bus
There is a bus service to Poipet (border post with the Thailand) and for Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam (US $ 8-10, 5-6 hours). Numerous connections with other smaller towns of the Cambodia. Two of the major local bus companies are "Sorya" (formerly Ho Wah Genting) and GST. Both buses stop at the station on the side of the central market which is in a fairly chaotic situation. The company "Capitol Tours" makes connections with Ho Chi Minh City and locations in the Mekong delta in collaboration with the Vietnamese agency "Sinh Cafe". Reservations are recommended and can be made through tourist agencies in the center or even through your hotel for a small fee.
Almost all the tourists who have crossed the border with the city by bus Thailand they usually make a stop at Siem Reap to visit the archaeological site of Angkor, the most amazing of all Southeast Asia and, according to some, higher than Bagan, a site in itself already exceptional. The bus trip from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh takes about 5 hours. Buses leave early in the morning and others around noon. You frequent the rides for Sihanoukville. Be careful not to take buses without air conditioning (very few indeed). Double-decker buses with toilets and catering are a little more expensive but with more comfort on board.
The ferries that shuttle between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap it takes about 4-5 hours to make the crossing. For foreigners, the passage costs 20-30 US $. Only a few of these boats feature rooftop seating that offers a wider and more panoramic view. However, the journey by ship is not as comfortable as that by land and you must have caps and sufficient quantities of water bottles and sunscreen in the not infrequent case that the boat runs aground on the bottom of the river.
Motor launches depart at 8 am from Chau Doc, town on the Mekong delta (Vietnam) and takes about 5 hours to get to Phnom Penh. The reverse journey takes place on the same day (departure from Phnom Penh at 13:00).
How to get around
Phnom Penh's main boulevards are wide and well-kept while alleys and back streets are in pitiful condition with piles of rubbish and foul-smelling puddles everywhere. However, getting around is not a problem if you know a little about the city and, in case it is the first time, you can help yourself with a map.
- To stroll It can be dangerous to walk the streets of Phnom Penh as motorists do not respect pedestrians. One has to think twice before crossing the street and one solution may be to accompany Buddhist monks who enjoy a lot of respect among the locals. Traffic lights are few and limited to the main avenues.
By taxi
- Motorcycles-taxis (motodops / motodups in the local language) - They are everywhere and are a very popular means of transport in Phnom Penh as well as in the neighboring area Vietnam. The rates, then, are more than moderate. to do a simple A ride from Sisowath Quay to the central market costs around 2,000 riel (1/2 dollar) although at night you pay a little more.
- Taxi - There are few as well as parking lots generally located in front of foreign diplomatic representations or at "Sisowath Quay". Local taxis do not have a meter and the fare must be agreed in advance. The rates vary according to the fluctuation in fuel prices and you can ask the staff of your hotel to find out about them.
- Tuk-tuk Cambodian version Tuk-tuks consist of a motorcycle that pulls a cabin cruiser for passengers. The fare is considerably lower than that of a taxi but they are more picturesque not to mention that the drivers chew a little English.
- Cyclos They are the old rickshaws today similar in all to the tuk-uk but with pedal operation. Considerably slower, they tend to disappear from the city streets even if they are in great demand by those who visit for the first time a city of the Southeast Asia.
By motorbike
- Motorcycles - They are available for rental (it is forbidden for foreigners to rent cars). Traffic is chaotic and for safety reasons it is advisable to fall back on one of the public transport described below.
What see
The capital of the French colony of Cambodia was obtained very late and was largely neglected. As a result, little colonial architecture was developed and largely decayed. L'Imposing Post Office Building, the Central Market and theRaffles Le Royal Hotel are notable exceptions. In general, any building in good condition (regardless of whether it is colonialist or not) is located behind a large wall and protected by guards.
- 1 Independence and Liberation Memorials (វិមានឯករាជ្យ). The Independence Memorial is an impressive Buddhist-style piece commemorating the demise of France in 1953 and dominating the city center. Nearby is the Stalin-style Liberation Memorial which marks the Vietnamese conquest of the city in 1979. The area is very popular with locals on weekend evenings, when multi-colored fountains and music it is played by the municipality.
- 2 The Choeung Ek death camps (The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, មជ្ឈមណ្ឌល ប្រល័យពូជសាសន៍ ជើងឯក) (About 17km south of Phnom Penh, about 40 minutes by taxi, motorbike or tuk tuk).
USD6 which includes a very good audio guide. 
07:30-17:30. This place is not for the faint of heart. It was a Chinese cemetery and then became the place where the Khmer Rouge killed thousands of victims during the four years of their terror-based rule. Today the site is demarcated with a Buddhist stupa filled with some 8,000 skulls. The sides are made of glass so that visitors can see up close. Around there are also pits from which mass graves have been unearthed and here and there you can still find pieces of fabric. Austere but serene place where during the day a small museum displays a documentary with gruesome images of human remains unearthed when mass graves were found in 1979. It is recommended to visit after you have seen the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Millions of people were killed during the traumatic Pol Pot regime, so as a sign of respect it is recommended that you wear respectful clothing such as long pants and avoid undershirts and bare shoulders. You can buy flowers and incense in front of the stupa. In 2005 the memorial was sold to a private company. A tuk-tuk ride should cost 9-11USD (after negotiating) including the return and with a stop at the Genocide Museum. 
- 3 National Museum of Cambodia (The National Museum of Cambodia, សារមន្ទីរជាតិ), St 13, Sangkat Chey Chumneas, Khan Daun Penh (In front of the Royal Palace), ☎ 855 23 211753, 855 12 621522 (mobile), fax: 855 23 211753, @[email protected]. USD5. Mon-Sun, 08: 00-17: 00, last admission 16:30. It contains a beautiful collection of Cambodian art from the golden age of Angkor and a courtyard in the center. A main attraction is the statue of King Jayavarman VII (1181-1219) in a meditative pose. Other noteworthy exhibits include statues of the Hindu gods, steles with Sanskrit and Khmer inscriptions, as well as artifacts from a prehistoric burial site. Inside, no photos are allowed and in the central courtyard they are allowed upon payment of a small tip (USD1 cameras, and USD3 videos). At the center of this court is the original statue of the Leper King (actually Yama, the Hindu god of death) whose copy is found in the Angkor Archaeological Park. The park in front of the museum is the place where every year the Royal Plowing Ceremony is celebrated on which the success or failure of the harvest depends. The gift shop has a selection of books on Cambodian archeology, art, culture and history. It must be borne in mind that the money spent in government-run institutions ends up in the pockets of officials.
- 4 Olympic National Stadium (The National Olympic Stadium, ពហុ កីឡដ្ឋាន ជាតិ អូឡាំពិក). 6,000 riel to enter, 500 riel to check personal items. Built in the 60s of the last century for the Asian Games which were not then played. It is an interesting modern-style complex sold to Taiwanese with a murky deal from the Cambodian government. Renovated by the new owners, it is now used again as a venue for meetings and events. An evening stroll around the perimeter is well worth it to watch sportsmen train and dance lessons as well as see the abandoned rink. There is also an Olympic-size swimming pool and a diving pool with a 10m springboard open to the public, opposite the main building on the other side of the track.
USD6 which includes a very good audio guide. 
07:30-17:30. This place is not for the faint of heart. It was a Chinese cemetery and then became the place where the Khmer Rouge killed thousands of victims during the four years of their terror-based rule. Today the site is demarcated with a Buddhist stupa filled with some 8,000 skulls. The sides are made of glass so that visitors can see up close. Around there are also pits from which mass graves have been unearthed and here and there you can still find pieces of fabric. Austere but serene place where during the day a small museum displays a documentary with gruesome images of human remains unearthed when mass graves were found in 1979. It is recommended to visit after you have seen the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Millions of people were killed during the traumatic Pol Pot regime, so as a sign of respect it is recommended that you wear respectful clothing such as long pants and avoid undershirts and bare shoulders. You can buy flowers and incense in front of the stupa. In 2005 the memorial was sold to a private company. A tuk-tuk ride should cost 9-11USD (after negotiating) including the return and with a stop at the Genocide Museum.
- 5 Royal Palace (The Royal Palace, ព្រះបរមរាជវាំង), Sothearos Boulevard (one block away from Sisowath Quay, to the west). 40,000 riel. 08:00-10:00; 14:00-17:00. The King of Cambodia still lives here although much of the palace is open to the public. The manicured gardens are almost as glittering as the colorful roof tiles of the building. The two stunning pagodas found on the palace grounds, The Silver Pagoda and the Emerald Buddha Temple, are among the few buildings in Phnom Penh that are worth seeing. They were built in the 19th century with French technology and Cambodian design and survived the traumas of the 20th century quite well. It is recommended to visit them in the morning when it is not too hot. No photos are allowed inside the Silver Pagoda and in some parts of the palace. You are required to wear decent clothes (no bare legs or shoulders) and you can buy sarongs and t-shirts for 2-3 USD or rent them at the entrance for 1000 riel. Shorts that cover the knees are fine.
- 6 Sisowath Quay (Riverside, តីរវិថី ព្រះស៊ីសុវត្ថិ). Phnom Penh is a relatively small city and it's easy to combine sightseeing with shopping and culinary tours on the same walk. What combines all of this is the riverside walk, Sisowath Quay, which runs from the west bank of the Tonle Sap River. It is 3km long and is full of stalls, locals, tourists and immigrants, flanked by hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes and shops. Every morning the quay begins the day with gymnastics sessions to the sound of loud music. In front it has a large space with manicured lawns, palm trees and pedestrian paths, redone thanks to a Japanese project to reinforce the alluvial area along the river. The raised part of the street is home to cafes and shops as well as the best bars, very popular with tourists and immigrants ready to attack by touts selling drugs, girls and rides in tuk-tuk. This therefore appears to be not a super safe place and the police should be on the street dressed in plain clothes. The riverside is also very popular with Cambodians who come here to cool off in the evening and enjoy the almost carnival atmosphere. It starts in front of the Royal Palace and is probably the best experience in the early evening. Even dawn has its share of interest, however, with Cambodians doing calisthenics in front of the royal palace as the sun rises over the river. However, a good dose of attention is recommended. In the past there have been stone-throwing against tourists and gangs of children, as well as pickpockets.
- 7 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21 Prison) (Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21 Prison), សារមន្ទីរ គុក ទួល ស្លែង), Street 113, Boeng Keng Kang 3, Chamkar Morn, ☎ 855 23 300698. USD5 admission USD3 for the audio tour. Until 1975 it was a school, later converted into the most severe prison in Cambodia. More than 14,000 people were tortured here before being killed in the death camps. Only 8 people managed to get out alive. The museum is easily accessible and is a must see for anyone interested in this nation's terrifying past. There are skulls stuck in wardrobes, instruments of torture and disturbing photographs of dying people. A short film about the survivors is also shown at 09:30 on the top floor of the furthest building. A good percentage of the cost of the ticket will surely end up in the pockets of the director, who is the son of the relevant government minister. This is probably the reason why the museum is in poor condition and the exhibits don't show too much. You should also pay attention to the souvenir shop: you should not buy worthless fake watches sold as original Rolexes or Patek Philippe, or Omega. The owner will argue that it is her husband's private collection. In front of the museum (at number 54 & 56, Street 113) there is a small shop called CHA (http://www3.online.com.kh/users/wthanchashop) which sells cheap handicrafts made by women with disabilities due to polio and mines. If requested, they can also take a tour of the shop and meet the women.
- 8 Wat Botum (about 3km south of Wat Phnom, near the royal palace). Historically this temple was a favorite of the royal family. In the 1930s, it housed a novice named Saloth Sar, who "never hurt anyone and never fought - a loving child." Later in life he changed his name to Pol Pot.
Temples
- 9 Wat Phnom (Hill Temple, វត្តភ្នំ) (on a hill in the middle of a small park near Sisowat Quay on Street 94). admission USD1; elephant ride USD15. This pagoda on a hill marks the place where the city was founded and is always frequented by pilgrims and seers. The temple is noteworthy above all for its historical importance rather than for its structure and the park is a green space and a gathering center very popular with citizens. A colony of monkeys lives here stealing anything left unattended.
- 10 Wat Ounalom Monastery (វត្តឧណ្ណាលោម). Built in 1422 it is one of the five original monasteries in Phnom Penh.
- 11 Wat Langka (វត្ត លង្កា). It offers free meditation sessions on Mondays and Thursdays at 6pm.
Events and parties
What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Where stay
Moderate prices
- Bright Lotus Guesthouse 1, # 22, Str. 178, ☎ 855 023 990446, 855 012-676682 (Mobile phone), @[email protected]. Economic pension
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Phnom Penh
Commons contains images or other files on Phnom Penh
