Riverside (Sisowath Quay)

មហាវិថីព្រះស៊ីសុវត្ថិ

Three kilometers of Sisowath Quay along the Tonle Sap River, linking riverside parks, the Royal Palace, night markets, and bars and restaurants. Take a boat at sunset to see the Chaktomuk confluence, and go to a night market for Khmer street food.

The Riverside district runs along Sisowath Quay, extending about 3 km south from near Wat Phnom to the Royal Palace and the mouth of the Bassac River. It is the best area in Phnom Penh for walking. On the river side are wide riverfront parks and paths, where in the evening residents dance in groups, play takraw, and fly kites. Across the road is a row of French-style and modern arcaded buildings, with restaurants, cafés, and bars on the ground floors offering everything from 1-dollar draft beers to Khmer creative dishes and French food. Highlights along the way include the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, the National Museum, the giant flag square on the riverbank, Wat Ounalom (the Buddhist headquarters of Phnom Penh, said to house a relic of the Buddha's eyebrow), and the French colonial-era old post office built in 1929. Around 5 p.m., you can board a sunset cruise at the pier (1 to 1.5 hours; public boats cost about 5 to 8 dollars, and private boats with drinks cost 15 to 25 dollars). The cruise heads to the Chaktomuk, where the Tonle Sap River meets the Mekong, to watch the golden roof of the Royal Palace in the sunset, and the new high-rises and floating-house fishing villages across the river. In the evening, walk to the Phnom Penh Night Market (Phsar Reatrey) at the north end, open from 17:00 to 23:00, and eat grilled skewers, stir-fried noodles, and coconut ice cream. Sitting on mats on the ground is the local way to dine. Every year during the Water Festival (Bon Om Touk) in November, hundreds of dragon boat teams from across the country race here, and the riverbank is packed with people. Getting there: it's in the city center, reachable on foot or by tuk-tuk for 1 to 2 dollars. Tips: on the day you arrive, go on a riverboat cruise and have dinner here in the evening to get your bearings. On the second day, visit the Royal Palace and museums in the morning. Note: some establishments on the riverside bar strip have hidden charges and sex-trade traps, so choose reputable restaurants. At night, beware of drive-by bag snatchers and don't hold your phone out on the street for long. Boat safety equipment is basic, so avoid small boats when the waves are strong.

Riverside (Sisowath Quay)

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