Phnom Penh Riverside Life - Check Out Some Best Places to Visit Along the Royal Palace

Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, has rich riverside resources and formed by the Mekong River, Tonle Sap River and Tonle Bassac River. There are many well-known visited places such as: Phnom Penh Night Market, Royal Palace, Diamond Island (Koh Pich), etc. which are also important support for the development of riverside commercial in Phnom Penh.

Due to the differences in the development level and supporting resources of each riverside area, there are still obvious differences between the major riverside areas in Phnom Penh.

Today, let's check out some best places to visit along the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh.

Along the Riverside of the Royal Palace

Along the Tonle Sap River, national flags of various countries flutter in the river breeze, many pigeons stroll in the square in front of the Royal Palace, attracting countless tourists and became a favorite landscape for citizens and tourists.

People enjoying the breeze, taking photos, riding bicycles, jogging, exercising, or watching the cruise ship slowly sailing, watching the ships slowly sailing, or sitting on a mat on the ground and enjoy a simple dinner with the sunset. 

On one side are the solemn and majestic Phnom Penh Royal Palace, the National Museum and other iconic buildings, and on the other side are the leisurely citizens and tourists. Here, you can feel a friendly and inclusive environment.

During holidays, this area becomes the liveliest area in Phnom Penh, especially during major festivals such as Global New Year's Day and Khmer New Year. The area around the Royal Palace and along the Mekong River is decorated with colorful lights, beautiful fireworks bloom in the night sky, special illuminated floating boats slowly pass by the river, and the streets are crowded with people, creating a joyful festive atmosphere.

Bassac Street

If you want to experience the beauty of a city, you shouldn't miss it whether it's daytime or nighttime!

Bassac Street is the most distinctive representative of Phnom Penh's nightlife. It gathers foreigners from various countries, most of whom are European and American tourists, followed by Koreans, Indians, Africans and Chinese. The atmosphere here during the day and at night is completely different. It is quiet during the day, but filled with music and laughter at night. There are a lot of food and drinks here. It is a good place to relax after a busy work and have some drink with friends.

Another thing that has to be mentioned is the Sky Bar. There are also many Sky Bars and restaurants along the riverside of the Royal. In the evening, you can enjoy the sunset and live bands playing here.

Phnom Penh Night Market

Due to climate reasons, night markets are very popular in Southeast Asia. The existence of night markets is like a necessity of life, distributed in the streets and alleys of various cities. The fact that, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, have a nickname of the "Little Paris", with numerous night markets and colorful nightlife.

Among them, Phnom Penh Night Market is the first and most famous night market in Phnom Penh. Since its opening in 2010, it has quickly become a popular destination for tourists and locals. The night market spans several blocks and is lined with stalls. Visitors can find souvenirs, jewelry, clothing, electronics, etc., as well as local specialties such as grilled meat or seafood, fried meatballs and fresh fruits. Concerts are also held in the center of the market, so you can also enjoy live performances by singers, musicians and dancers.

Phnom Penh Pedestrian Street (under construction)

Since May, the Phnom Penh Capital Administration has begun to build a 57-hectare "pedestrian street" including restaurants, hotels, bars, etc., to provide locals and foreign tourists with a better experience for night time travel and shopping. This project is expected to be completed before Global New Year 2025.

This pedestrian street is located along the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh and can be seen as an expansion of the existing riverside area. After completion, it will be open from 18:00 to 23:00 in the evening. It will better combine leisure, tourism and shopping to bring a richer experience.

In addition, Phnom Penh’s first underground shopping mall project, “EDC Juta Entertainment Plaza”, located adjacent to the Phnom Penh Night Market, has started it construction in early July last year, and “Sokha Plaza” next to the Phnom Penh Royal Palace is also continuing to attract investment.

* Sokha Plaza

Since the riverside area along the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh is home to some important historical sites such as the Royal Palace, the National Museum, Wat Phnom, etc., it is an area that attracts foreign tourists and other leisure places.

The lifestyle here is relatively localized, there are not many high-rise buildings, but you can see modern luxury villas. At the same time, there are also many hotels, providing services for tourists who come to travel or stay for a short time, but in terms of accommodation and daily needs, the living expenses here may be higher than other areas.

It is a typical large commercial district in Phnom Penh that combines modern shopping centers and traditional markets. Modern high-end shopping centers include Vattanac Capital Building, and local traditional market includes the Central Market and Phnom Penh Night Market. With the construction of the pedestrian street, major commercial projects will also be better connected.

In addition, there are a large number of convenience stores, such as E-supermart, Daily Mart, 7-11, Big C, Kiwi Mart, etc., from well-known foreign and local brand, making daily life here more convenience.

Overall, the riverside area along the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh has many historical sites and is a must-visit "tourist area" in Phnom Penh. The area has a good atmosphere, beautiful scenery, and good public security, and is favored by local residents and foreign tourists. Based on the strong development of the tourism industry, the commercial activities, urban infrastructure, and lifestyle here have also been gradually improved and upgraded with this as the center.

Therefore, people who like a bustling and lively atmosphere can choose to live here. At the same time, if you have sufficient budget, it is also an ideal place for open business such as restaurants, coffee shops, bars, hotels, souvenir shops, etc.