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The Royal Palace of Phnom Penh is a must for any visitor to Cambodia’s capital city. The palace was constructed in 1866 as a place of residence for the King shortly after King Norodom relocated the capital from Oudong to Phnom Penh. The Royal Palace is one of the most famous landmarks of Cambodia after Angkor Wat and is the best example of Khmer architecture in the capital. The Phnom Penh Royal palace is included in most Phnom Penh tours of the city, but it is easy to do independently.
How to Dress for the Phnom Penh Royal Palace
Dressing conservatively is VITAL for the Phnom Penh Royal Palace — they are extremely strict about this, more so than the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Do not wear shorts, vest tops, short dresses or skirts — you will be REFUSED entry.
You are also NOT allowed hats or head coverings in the Royal Palace — if you have a cap on you will be asked to remove it as it will not be allowed inside the Viharas (Buddhist temples), but it’s ok to keep it in your bag and wear in the gardens (the sun will be hot!).
I thought I was dressing conservatively with long trousers, vest top and scarf covering my shoulders — this was fine in the Grand Palace of neighbouring Thailand, but it didn’t pass the test for the Royal Palace. I was refused a ticket and told to go home, get a T-shirt…
