Mongkol Serey (Golden temple)

Mongkol Serey Temple (Golden Temple) is one of those calm, easy temple visits that works really well with kids — especially if you want a bit of culture without it feeling overwhelming.

The first thing that stands out is how bright and striking it is. The golden exterior immediately catches children’s attention, and ours always seem more engaged here than at more muted temples. There’s enough visual interest to keep them curious without needing to explain too much.

We tend to treat this as a short, gentle stop rather than a long visit (We often stop here on the way to Silk Island). There’s space to walk around slowly, look at details, and pause when needed, which makes it much more manageable with toddlers or younger children. It feels calm and respectful, but not intense or crowded.

Because it’s relatively straightforward to explore, it’s a nice way to introduce kids to temple visits in Phnom Penh — shoes off, quiet voices, a bit of looking and wandering — without pushing anyone past their limit.

Mongkol Serey Temple works best if you’re nearby and want to add a small cultural moment into your day rather than plan a whole outing around it. Simple, peaceful, and a good reminder that not every family activity needs to be loud or high-energy to be worthwhile.