Phnom Penh: The Classic Cambodian City

In the city of Phnom Penh, there are 2.2 million people. It's the capital of Cambodia, and has some of the country’s richest heritage pieces located inside it's limits. The famous Silver Pagoda draws travelers from far and wide, for inside there are historical pieces that cannot be found elsewhere. It's a typical Asian city in many respects. Lots of hustle and bustle, with so many people walking in and out of shopping zones, business districts and tourist areas. When exploring this city, you may not want to rely on public transport. It's not as advanced as you see in other Asian countries so if you’re used to getting everywhere reasonably quickly, chances are you’ll need a car instead.

Why drive?

There is no metro service in Phnom Penh. it's been in the works for years but so far, it's just an idea on paper. So it's important you consider a good rental car for your trip to be successful. We want a car that is affordable in fuel, but also modern enough that we don’t have to sweat in the heat of Cambodia’s weather. On burswoodcarrentals.com.au you find all sorts of modern rentals. The crossovers they have are going to be able to fit 4 to 5 people easily. They have plenty of trunk space and they are very fuel efficient for their size. They make for the perfect stopgap between city driving and heading out into the surrounding hills. 

Silver Pagoda

Cambodia has an interesting history. The country now has a modern royal family. One of their most amazing palaces is called the Silver Pagoda. It was built between 1866 and 1870. This was because the then King Norodom changed the country’s capital city from Oudong to Phnom Penh. So he built a brand new palace and considering it's age, compared to a lot of other royal quarters, it's actually pretty new. This is why you see the amazing detail in the roof carvings and sculptures in so much detail. The inside is tiled with over 5,000 separate silver tiles. There are lots of art pieces and documents inside that speak of it's history.

Stopping off for coffee

Around the city you’ll find a mixture of domestic and foreign-style places to eat and drink. They do sometimes cater for the Western palate, but if you want authentic Cambodian food you’ll have no trouble finding it. But we stopped off at a coffee shop called Brown Coffee. It's by the Tonle Sap River so you have  a great view to enjoy your latte and egg salad. They also have a fresh bakery with all the goods you would want, croissants, brioche buns and different kinds of cakes.


Phnom Penh is a great place to visit. The capital of Cambodia has a lot to offer. But if time is not on your side, you should not rely on public transport to get around. Stop at the Silver Pagoda just once, to see the 5,000 silver tiles.