One of the first things to see in Phnom Penh is the Royal Palace, built in 1866, and whose full name in Khmer language is Preah Barom Reachea Vaeng Chaktomuk. It is located on a site that houses several buildings surrounded by gardens and temples. Among the buildings is the official residence of King Sihamoni along with other Phnom Penh attractions including the National Museum and the Silver Pagoda.
The Silver Pagoda, one of the most important places to visit in Phnom Penh, was built by King Norodom in the nineteenth century and is dedicated to Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. Here you can see a statue of great value made in pure crystal, but be warned - it takes a long time to see everything completely, so when making your list of what to do in Phnom Penh, be sure to devote an entire day to this incredible site.
Other places to visit in Phnom Penh are the temples of Angkor Wat, about 100 temples and thousands of structures built in honor of the various Khmer kings. They situated in a superb natural environment with rich vegetation, ponds, and large trees. The site is about a one-day boat and bus ride from Phnom Penh. On a more somber note, no list of things to do in Phnom Penh would be complete without a visit to the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, or Killing Fields of the Khmer Rouge, located about 15km southeast of the city. It is one of the most unsettling attractions in Phnom Penh, recalling the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge. It stands today as a way of paying tribute to their millions of victims.
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