The most impressive structure on Phnom Preah Reach Throap, Vihear Preah Ath Roes is home to an enormous seated Buddha, dedicated in 1911 by King Sisowath, that was blown up by the Khmer Rouge in 1977. The vihara, supported by eight enormous columns and topped by a soaring tin roof, has since been rebuilt, as was the 20m-high Buddha.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
19.41 MILES
In 1975 Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pol Pot’s security forces and turned into a prison known as Security Prison 21 (S-21); it soon became…
18.86 MILES
The National Museum of Cambodia is home to the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculpture: a millennium’s worth and more of masterful Khmer design…
19.12 MILES
Within the Royal Palace compound is this extravagant temple, also known as Wat Preah Keo or Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The Silver Pagoda is so named…
19.03 MILES
With its classic Khmer roofs and ornate gilding, the Royal Palace once dominated the skyline of Phnom Penh. It's a striking structure near the riverfront,…
22.89 MILES
Between 1975 and 1978, about 20,000 men, women, children and infants who had been detained and tortured at S-21 prison were transported to the…
18.32 MILES
A landmark building in the capital, the art deco Psar Thmei (literally 'New Market') is often called the Central Market, a reference to its location and…
21.4 MILES
Cambodia finally got a sizable contemporary arts space in 2019, when Kbach moved into three galleries covering 400 sq metres of Factory Phnom Penh. The…
21.39 MILES
This 3.4-hectare Levi's garment factory, 2km south of town, was completely transformed in 2018 into a graffiti-covered hub for entrepreneurs, artists and…
Nearby Cambodia attractions
0.25 MILES
Mak Proum is the final resting place of King Monivong (r 1927–41). Decorated with garudas (mythical half-man, half-bird creatures), floral designs and…
0.27 MILES
Decorated with coloured tiles, Ang Doung was built in 1891 by King Norodom to house the ashes of his father, King Ang Duong (r 1845–59), although some say…
0.28 MILES
At the base of the main (northern) staircase leading up to Phnom Preah Reach Throap, near the restaurants, is a memorial to the victims of Pol Pot. It…
0.29 MILES
The northwesternmost of the three stupas at Udong, built by King Chey Chetha II (r 1618–26) to hold the ashes of his predecessor, King Soriyopor.
17.29 MILES
Located at the northern end of Monivong Blvd, the French embassy played a significant role in the dramas that unfolded after the fall of Phnom Penh on 17…
17.88 MILES
The National Library is in a graceful old building constructed in 1924, near Wat Phnom. During its rule, the Khmer Rouge turned the building into a stable…
18.02 MILES
Set on top of a 27m-high tree-covered knoll, Wat Phnom is on the only ‘hill’ in town. According to legend, the first pagoda on this site was erected in…
18.32 MILES
A landmark building in the capital, the art deco Psar Thmei (literally 'New Market') is often called the Central Market, a reference to its location and…