Where London has Buckingham Palace, Phnom Penh has the Royal Palace.

Spread across a vast, manicured site which feels miles away from the cramped urbanity elsewhere in Phnom Penh, the elegant opulence of the various temples and buildings which compose the King's residence are quite breathtaking. The design is also so quintessentially of the south-east Asian style too. It's not as old as you may think though, with construction beginning only in 1865 at the behest of the then-King Norodom who had decided to make Phnom Penh his capital.

Although its restricted opening hours can make it busy, and it really could do with a few more signs about its history, it's still a joy to walk around and appreciate the details for yourself. The Silver Pagoda is a highlight for many, but we'd recommend to take your time at the wonderfully sprawling murals within the courtyard.

Important Things To Know Before You Visit The Royal Palace

Unsurprisingly for a royal palace, this popular tourist attraction has a number of rules and regulations that are strictly enforced. Knowing these in advance (as well as some quirks and potential scams), will mean you have the very best visit!

It’s Possibly Not for the Budget Backpackers

Many years ago, when we travelled on a significant shoestring, we would probably have balked at the $10 USD per person entry fee for the Royal Palace.

So we completely understand that for those travelling on a tight budget, this may well have to be something that is cut from your itinerary.

Information is a little lacking

Given that the entrance fee was a little steep by local standards, we expected there to be a few more informative signs around the site - they were somewhat lacking.

If you’re the sort of person who really prefers to have a little more information to understand the context of what you see as well as its full history, please consider hiring one of the guides at the entrance or joining a halfway tour that covers a number of the city’s major attractions - like this one.

Colourful tiles in the Royal Palace Phnom Penh

Some Areas Are Closed to the Public

It’s very obvious where you can and cannot enter, but there’s usually a window that you can peer in to get a better look! Also of note is that photography is strictly prohibited in certain parts of the complex, for example in the throne room.

The Monks are Not Part of the Tourist Attraction

During our visit there were several Buddhist monks visiting as tourists. Please be aware that you're expected to conduct yourself in a respectful way towards them. Woman should be modestly dressed, and make no attempts to touch the monk. Additionally, do not see their presence as a photographic opportunity - they are tourists, just like you, albeit significantly more photogenic that Dave and Sue from Southamptom.

For more information, see our 23 Things To Know Before You Visit Cambodia post (published soon!)

There is a Super Strict Royal Palace Dress Code

Note that, as with several other sites in Phnom Penh, there is a strictly enforced dress code for visitors to the Royal Palace. Exposed shoulders and backs are forbidden, and visitors must wear dresses or shorts which sit below the knee. Hats and shoes cannot be worn in certain areas, and only small bags are permitted inside the site.

There are checks on what you’re wearing after you have bought your tickets (which is a bit sneaky), and you will not be allowed in if your clothing does not meet expectations.

We knew about the Royal palace dress code in advance, so Emily chose to wear a loose ankle-length jumpsuit for the day, and bring a light scarf to cover her shoulders, back, and chest for the palace visit (thereby creating instant modesty in a hot country). Unfortunately, we did not realise that scarves were also prohibited as part of the dress code!

Having already paid our entrance fee, we had no alternative but to buy one of their - admittedly rather cool - $3 t-shirts which they sell by the ticket booths (they also sell sarongs). Thankfully, Emily totally rocked it.

For the avoidance of doubt though, it's best to wear a longer dress, longer shorts (over the knee) or trousers, and a t-shirt or shirt, not a vest.

It’s gets super, super busy

After the Killing Fields and S21 Prison, we’d hazard a guess that the Royal Palace is the most popular tourist attraction in Phnom Penh. Once you factor in the limited opening hours, you can imagine how busy it gets!

As with any site across the world, if you’re keen to avoid the crowds (and keep them out of your photos), we’d recommend arriving early.

We, of course, paid absolutely no attention to our own advice, and went at 2.30 p.m. And damn was it hot!

The opening hours are a little limited…

The standard opening hours for the Royal Palace are a little more limited than many other of the best things to do in Phnom Penh, opening between the hours of 8 am and 11 am, and 2 pm and 5 pm only.

Additionally, given that this is a functioning royal building, it should come of no surprise that occasionally the Palace is closed for specific engagements, which you may or may not be aware of in advance.

But Please Don’t Fall For This Scam

A common scam that occasionally befalls tourists involves people on the surrounding streets telling you that the Royal Palace is 'closed today'. Due to its short hours and the fact it can be closed to the public for Royal events, this may sometimes be true - but it often won't. The scam is really just to try and get you to take a tour with them to somewhere else, and the best approach is to just go to the entrance gate yourself to verify whether the Palace is indeed open.