Family-Friendly Activities in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital on the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, has a working riverfront, markets, and a zoo alongside the more serious history the city is known for. Here are family-friendly activities to enjoy during your stay:

1. National Museum of Cambodia

Visit the National Museum of Cambodia, home to a collection of Khmer art and sculpture that gives children a sense of the country’s history without heavy subject matter. The layout, arranged around a courtyard garden, is easy for kids to move through at their own pace.

2. Central Market (Phsar Thmei)

Explore Phnom Penh’s Central Market, also known as Phsar Thmei. This landmark art deco building houses vendors selling everything from souvenirs to local produce, and its echoing dome is a novelty kids notice immediately.

3. Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

Visit the Royal Palace, home to Cambodia’s King, and the Silver Pagoda, which houses over 5,000 silver tiles on its floor and Buddhist artifacts. Dress modestly before entering these sites.

4. Phnom Penh Zoo

Spend a day at the Phnom Penh Zoo, home to over 140 species of animals from around the world, including elephants, tigers, and orangutans. The zoo also has a petting area where children can interact with small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs.

5. Riverside Park

Relax at Riverside Park, with views of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. The park has food stalls, playgrounds, and regular evening performances, an easy spot for a family picnic.

6. Wat Phnom

Visit Wat Phnom, the hill temple the city takes its name from, dating back to 1372. Climb the steps for a view over the surrounding streets while learning a bit about Buddhist architecture.

7. Night Markets

Phnom Penh’s night markets, including the one near the riverside, mix food stalls with games and cheap souvenirs, a relaxed way to spend an evening once the day’s heat has broken.

Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields

Phnom Penh is also where Tuol Sleng (S-21) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek stand, and neither belongs on a family activities list. Both are serious memorial sites, and international guidance on visiting this kind of site generally points to early teens as the earliest sensible age, not younger. If your family decides an older teenager should visit, treat it as its own separate outing, apart from the rest of the trip, and make the call based on your own child rather than a general rule.