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Cambodia's capital city lies at the confluence of three of the region's great rivers - the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac. Phnom Penh was once considered the most beautiful of all cities in French Indochina, and much of this colonial charm has survived the violent decades the country and its people have witnessed and endured since independence.
As the capital, Phnom Penh is the political and commercial centre of the country, and the city is home to more than one million people. Although from a sightseeing perspective Cambodia's major draw is the ancient capital of Angkor Wat in the northwest of the country, Phnom Penh also has plenty to offer the culture-vulture including the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda and the excellent National Museum. There is also the legacy left by the country's French colonial masters in the form of beautiful (if somewhat dilapidated) public buildings and private villas, plus a wide selection of hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars catering to all tastes and pockets. In recent years, several first-class hotels have opened their doors in the city and some would not look out of place in any Asian capital. In addition, travellers on a budget will benefit from the wide choice of competitively-priced guesthouses dotted around town, and all visitors will enjoy the wide range of restaurants and bars catering to tourists and foreign residents. The city is a great place to stay, even if only to spend a few days before visiting Cambodia's other attractions. To explore Phnom Penh further, and for details of special deals currently on offer for ElephantGuide.com members, simply select your channel of choice at left and let The Elephant guide you.
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