Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Despite its reputation as a 'rough' city, Phnom Penh is easy to get around and is a great introduction to Cambodia. For Western visitors, even those who have visited other Asian cities, Phnom Penh can be a bit of a shock. It can be very hot and its infrastructure is lacking. But things are changing. Development is on the rise and infrastructure is improving rapidly. Beautiful wide boulevards, fine colonial architecture and a park-like riverfront with cafés and restaurants make Phnom Penh a worthwhile destination.
Sisowath Quay is a boulevard that runs along the banks of the Mekong and Tonle Sap. It is home to cafés and shops and the better class of bar, and is popular with tourists and ex-pat Westerners. The Royal Palace and its two magnificent pagodas in the Palace Grounds are worth seeing.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum was a school converted into Cambodia's most important prison in 1975. The museum is easily accessible and a must-see for everyone interested in Cambodia's recent past.