The glimmering spires of the royal palace, the fluttering saffron of the monks’ robes, and the luscious location on the banks of the Mekong.

Phnom Penh: the name can’t help but conjure up an image of exotic Asia: the glimmering spires of the royal palace, the fluttering saffron of the monks’ robes, and the luscious location on the banks of the Mekong. It is a city on the move, as a new wave of investors moves in, perhaps forever changing the character of this classic city.

Phnom Penh is a crossroads of Asia’s past and present, a city of extremes of poverty and excess, of charm and chaos, but one that never fails to captivate.

Phnom Penh can be an assault on the senses. Motorbikes whiz through the backstreets without a thought for pedestrians; pungent scents float up from stalls and markets; and all the while the sound of life, of commerce, of survival, reverberates all around. But this is all part of the attraction.

Phnom Penh has risen from the impacts of war and revolution to take its place among the cool capitals of the region. Delve into the ancient past at the National Museum, browse the city’s markets for a bargain or linger in the beautiful boutiques that are putting Phnom Penh on the style map. Street-surf through the local stalls for a snack or enjoy the refined surrounds of a designer restaurant.

When to travel to Phnom Penh

Winter (December and January) is the best time to visit Phnom Penh. The rainy season stretches from April to October, while February and March are indescribably hot with high levels of humidity