National Museum of Cambodia
National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh
By SmileJet Editorial Team · Updated May 2026
The world\'s largest collection of Khmer art — sculpture, ceramics, ethnographic objects from the prehistoric period through the Angkorian era to the 20th century. The best primer for any patient planning the Angkor Wat extension trip.
Visit details
Practical
- Address
- Street 13, immediately north of Royal Palace
- Hours
- 8am to 5pm daily, last entry 4:30pm
- Admission
- US$10 per adult; US$5 students with ID
- Time required
- 90 minutes self-guided
- Audio guide
- US$5 hire (English, French, Japanese, Khmer)
- Photography
- Not permitted inside galleries; courtyard photos OK
Why pair with the Royal Palace
The two sites are adjacent — a 5-minute walk between them. Most patients combine them into a single half-day cultural outing on day 3+ of recovery: 9am Royal Palace, lunch at a Sisowath Quay cafe, 2pm National Museum.
If you only have time for one, the National Museum is the better primer for the Angkor Wat extension because the sculpture collection contextualises what you will see at the temples.
What to see
The galleries follow a chronological flow around a central courtyard. The four wings cover prehistoric/Funan/Chenla, pre-Angkorian, Angkorian (the bulk of the collection), and post-Angkorian/ethnographic.
Highlights:
- The 6th-century Vishnu of Phnom Da, one of the earliest masterpieces of Khmer sculpture
- The 9th-century Harihara from Phnom Da, half-Vishnu half-Shiva
- The reclining bronze Vishnu from West Mebon at Angkor (1.6m, 11th century)
- Sculpture removed from Angkor Wat itself for protection — fragments and complete pieces that contextualise what remains in situ at the temple complex
- The 12th-century Jayavarman VII portrait head, the iconic image of the Khmer Empire\'s most prolific royal patron
Recovery suitability
Day 2+ post-op
90 minutes mostly indoor and air-conditioned. Sit-down benches throughout. Suitable from day 2 post-op for most patients including All-on-4. The single best cultural activity for an early-recovery day because of the climate-controlled environment and frequent rest options.
Plan your Phnom Penh trip
Free quote. Your coordinator helps fit cultural visits around your treatment timeline.