6 Best Things to Do in Phnom Penh With Kids

Featured image: trungydang, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Planning a Kid-Friendly Day in Phnom Penh's Heat

Phnom Penh is hot, so build each day around two outdoor windows. Mornings from about 8 to 11 am and late afternoons from about 4 pm are the easiest hours for children. Use the gap in between for lunch, a hotel rest or an indoor stop. Pack water, a hat and closed shoes or sandals that protect feet from sunburn. Kids need covered knees and shoulders at the Royal Palace, so put light trousers in the day bag. A day with two or three stops beats a packed list.

6 Best Things to Do in Phnom Penh With Kids

Hours and access notes below were checked in November 2026. The order runs from easiest to slightly more involved, so start at the top if your children are young.

1. Sisowath Quay Riverside Walk

Sisowath Quay is the riverfront promenade, and it makes the gentlest opener to a family day. There is no ticket and no schedule, so children can stop, run ahead or sit down whenever they like. Walk it in the late-afternoon window from 4 pm, when the day's worst heat has eased.

Add a drink stop at a riverside café and let the kids watch boats on the water. It suits every age, including toddlers who need to burn off energy. Skip it at midday, when the sun is at its hardest and a walk becomes a chore.

2. Wat Phnom and Its Gardens

Wat Phnom is a hilltop temple that locals treat as a sacred place. Its green grounds make a good breather after a morning of heavy history. Children can place incense for a short prayer, and a Chinese temple sits at the top of the hill.

Views over the city give older kids a good photo stop. Visit in the morning window before 11 am, while the climb is still comfortable. Skip it if your family is already worn out by temples, because a riverside walk gives the same rest without the hill.

3. Royal Palace Grounds

The Royal Palace is still the residence of the King of Cambodia, and its many buildings and gardens keep children looking around. The Silver Pagoda sits in the same complex, and parts of the site are closed to visitors. Kids can hunt for statues and temple roofs, which turns a long walk into a game.

Anything above the knee keeps you out, so cover knees and shoulders for every family member. Bring a hat and water, because the paths are open and sunny. Skip it with toddlers who cannot manage a long walk, or go for a shorter visit and leave when attention fades.

4. Central Market's Domed Hall

Central Market is a domed hall, which makes it a fun stop for children who like looking up as much as shopping. Opening hours run from early morning until early evening, so go in the first part of the day. A taxi stand is at the northwest corner, and the southwest exit leads to a bus stand.

Those two corners give you an easy meeting point if the family splits up. Tourism Cambodia describes the market on its Central Market listing. Skip it with children who dislike crowds or close aisles.

5. Mekong Boat Ride at Sunset

A boat ride on the Mekong lets children sit still and watch the city slide past, which suits the end of a busy day. Evening cruises usually catch the sunset, and passengers may spot fishermen at work and floating houses. Our Phnom Penh Sunset Cruise: Options, Timing & Tips page covers boarding and timing in detail.

Before you book, ask the operator about life jackets for children and any age limits. It suits school-age kids and calm toddlers. Skip it if your child cannot stay seated on a boat.

6. Silk Island Half-Day

Silk Island is the calmer option when the city starts to feel loud and hot. It works as a half-day trip, so schedule it on a day with no other big stop. Our guide to Silk Island from Phnom Penh covers getting there and what to see.

Kids who enjoy watching how things are made will get the most from it. Travel time eats into the day, so leave in the morning window. Skip it if you have only one day in the city, because the central stops above fit better.

Tuol Sleng and Other Heavy History With Kids

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a former school that became a prison under the Khmer Rouge. Its photographs and cells can upset younger children and cause nightmares. Treat it as a judgement call for your own family, not a standard stop. If you go with older children, talk through what they will see beforehand and leave time afterward for questions. Some families choose to skip the Killing Fields for the same reason. Children who struggle with dark topics will do better at the Royal Palace or Wat Phnom.

Costs, Tickets and Getting Around With Kids

Fees for the Royal Palace, Wat Phnom and cruises change, so use Cambodia's official tourism site or the operator for current rates. Families watching their budget can start with our Free Things to Do in Phnom Penh: What's Really Free. Grab is easier than negotiating a tuk-tuk fare, but do not assume a child seat will be available. Ask your driver before you set off. For a fuller menu of options beyond kid-friendly stops, return to our main Phnom Penh guide.