Support Social Enterprises
It will become quite clear, quite quickly, that there is a sex tourism problem in Phnom Penh.
This is not the post to discuss it in too much detail, or share our disgust at the people who travel to Cambodia to perpetrate this (we do in this one though) but it cannot go unsaid. Any blog post talking about things to do in Phnom Penh which does not point out this deep-rooted and visible problem to future visitors is either ignorant, irresponsible, or both. Worryingly, in contrast to other countries we’ve visited, there does not appear to be a visible government campaign against it…
However, within this post, we wanted to share a few of the positive social enterprises in the city which are working help improve the socio-economic situation for street kids and marginalised youth in the city. By visiting them, not only are you making your tourist dollars have as positive a contribution as possible, but you are directly supporting the creating of viable, alternative economic paths for marginalised youths.
How to plan a day trip from Phnom Penh
Day tours from Phnom Penh
Even if you’re not a group tour person, this can be the most straightforward and economical option. Having all transport and logistics organised for you is a huge bonus, and you can often find interesting itineraries that go beyond the typical day trips destinations. Most companies also offer private tours.
Choose from boutique companies such as Grasshopper Adventures (a social enterprise that organises cycling tours) or browse a range of itineraries from different operators on a website such as Get Your Guide. This is my favourite platform for booking tours – companies are vetted, online payment is secure, and there’s a generous refund policy in case plans change. Browse all their Phnom Penh itineraries here.
If you enjoy getting outdoors, the Facebook Group Phnom Penh Hike organises weekly full day excursions focused on nature and trekking. Transfers to/from Phnom Penh by minivan are included, and you’ll be accompanied by an English-speaking guide. Group sizes are more intimate so it’s a great way to meet expats, locals and other travellers too.
Hiring a driver in Phnom Penh
Another option is to hire a car and driver for the day. This will give you more flexibility to plan your own itinerary, but you’ll have to pay a bit extra for the privilege. Prices vary depending on the distance and type of vehicle. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect to pay around 30-40 cents/kilometre for an SUV that seats four passengers.
I recommend finding a driver with good references from other travellers, either by asking around online or by enquiring through your accommodation.
12Go Asia offers an option to book taxis online through a number of private companies, but prices are more expensive (up to double the cost in some instances).
Renting a bicycle
For shorter trips around the countryside and Mekong/Bassac islands, you may like to take your own wheels. I rode a bicycle in Phnom Penh every day when I lived there – but I definitely had some hair-raising experiences. I only recommend riding outside the city (on the islands, for example) where traffic is sparser.
Needless to say you should exercise a high level of caution and use proper safety gear, including a helmet. For peace of mind, I recommend joining a guided bike excursion with Grasshopper Adventures.
Using public transport
Public transport in Cambodia is generally slow going and not exactly conducive to day trips. Only a handful of these destinations can be reached by bus or train.
When using buses in Cambodia, I always book a day or two in advance (longer for popular routes) either directly through the company website or on Bookaway.
Daughters of Cambodia Visitor Centre
Daughters Of Cambodia
In Cambodia, the sex trade is still a harsh reality. Daughters of Cambodia Visitor Centre is a place where former victims of sex trafficking have been given a chance to start over by acquiring skills and learning a trade that will lead them to a better life.
Visit the boutique where you can buy souvenirs with a cause. From fashion accessories to children’s toys, every item is handmade by Cambodian workers on the road to a bright future.
Have a seat in the café where chefs in training will whip you up a scrumptious brunch or a decadent dessert while you lounge in the air-conditioned dining room.
Afterwards, women can treat themselves to a much needed massage, manicure and pedicure.
What to do in Phnom Penh at night
After your riverside wander, head to the Foreign Correspondents Club for a sunset drink, with views overlooking the banks of the Tonle Sap river. The FCC was once the cornerstone of the area, where journalists, aid workers and travelers would meet to swap stories.
Depending on your preference, we have a couple of dinner recommendations. For high-quality Cambodian fare, Malis restaurant is the place to go. Their focus is on reviving traditional Cambodian dishes that have been lost over time and the setting is beautiful. After dinner, walk around the corner to Bassac Lane, an alleyway with tiny, quirky themed bars that is popular with expats.
A nice mid-range dinner option is Romdeng Restaurant, which serves adventurous dishes like beef with red ants and deep-fried tarantula, which is honestly pretty tasty! They also serve delicious traditional Cambodian dishes that don’t include bugs. Romdeng is also a Friends International training restaurant.
If you are looking for somewhere more affordable and local, Sovanna II BBQ is the place to go. Hundreds of locals gather here every evening to enjoy BBQ’d meat and cooked dishes with refreshing local beer. After dinner, walk one street over to Botanico Wine and Beer Garden to enjoy the tranquil setting and an excellent locally made craft beer selection. If you are lucky you might even catch a live music performance there.
For a truly Phnom Penh expat experience, order a late night pizza from Katy Peri’s Pizza tuk-tuk, which only delivers from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am. As I’m sure you can imagine, they do great business in this city. Our favorite is the Peri Peri chicken pizza, extra cheese, extra chicken plus garlic. But you do you.
Photo by Jen Joslin.
National Museum
Source: meunierd / shutterstockNational Museum
With ancient artifacts from the 1600s, cultural performances by Khmer dancers, stone busts of Buddhist figures, full statues of Cambodian warriors, models of traditional Khmer houses, clothing and accessories worn by modern day farmers, and more- the National Museum is a comprehensive representation of Khmer culture. Covering ancient times to present day, give yourself a few hours to absorb all of the information presented in the various galleries.
The museum itself is gorgeous, built with dark red clay bricks and roofs that spirals toward the heavens. It is surrounded by a lush green garden providing areas to sit and shade to cool you down. There are also a few pagodas in the garden with gorgeous meditating Buddha statues.
Admission is from $5-$10, depending on whether you opt for the audio guide to take you through the museum.
Recommended tour: Phnom Penh: National Museum, Russian Market & Wat Phnom
More Things To Do Phnom Penh, Cambodia
A few more suggestions of things to do in Phnom Penh on your trip to Cambodia.
Cooking Class in Phnom Penh
Although there are many choices of Phnom Penh places to eat, none are quite as interesting as cooking a traditional meal yourself alongside a professional local chef. The Phnom Penh Culinary Delights Tour allows participants the opportunity to shop for local ingredients at the market and then prepare Khmer specialties for lunch. Book now on Viator!
Cinema in Phnom Penh
Going to the cinema is one of the popular things to do around Phnom Penh for both locals and tourists. Modern movie theaters show first-run movies on 4D screens and arthouses, like Meta House, show indie films in more intimate settings.
Phnom Penh Happy Pizza
Marijuana is technically illegal in Cambodia, but some establishments have been able to skirt the law. Eating a Happy Pizza in Phnom Penh means the pizza will be topped with cannabis (which is hardly distinguishable from oregano) and Dirty Old Sailor Bar is known for their edible pot treats. Be warned: the potent pot packs a punch and we personally don’t recommend the experience unless you are a pro.
Phnom Penh Sightseeing Tours
In this Phnom Penh guide, we have provided a ton of useful information and facts. However, a professional tour guide can offer deeper insight into the history of Phnom Penh. There are many sightseeing tours in the city, which can be booked in advance of your trip on Viator.
Phnom Penh Travel Basics
Things to Know Before you Go
- The currency of Cambodia is the Cambodian Riel (KHR) and at the time of writing, the exchange rate was 4032.26 to $1 USD. But Cambodia mainly uses US currency, just without the small change. Use Riels for anything under $1 USD.
- Khmer is the official language of Cambodia and nearly 90% of the people in the country can speak it. Most people in Cambodia also speak English.
- Learn a few Khmer phrases to get around! “Hello” is “sous-dey“, “thank you” is “orkun”, and “where is the toilet?” is “bantub dakk noew ay nah?“.
- Tipping should be minimal if at all in Cambodia. An extra $1-2 USD for a long tuk-tuk ride or great service at a restaurant should suffice.
- There are several luxury hotel pools in Phnom Penh that offer day passes for $5-10. So if you have extra time in the city, spend a day at a swanky pool!
Getting to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh has an international airport (PNH) so getting here is relatively easy.
And if you’re coming from a neighboring country or city, Giant Ibis is one bus company that is comfortable and reliable. It’s worth paying the extra charge for them to take care of your visa-on-arrival at the border. We prefer Bookaway.com for checking schedules and booking buses in Southeast Asia.
Getting Around Phnom Penh
And don’t worry about haggling with taxis or tuk-tuks in Phnom Penh. Download Grab (iPhone | Android) and/or PassApp (iPhone | Android) which are the equivalent of Uber in Cambodia. You can order a car, a tuk-tuk, or a motorbike for a standardized rate, no negotiations required.
The prices were so unbelievably low that we often gave a small tip on top of our rate just because we felt bad paying so little.
Phnom Penh travel blog: Experiences you should not miss in Phnom Penh — Best places to visit and top things to do
Wat Phnom
Wat Phnom is one of the oldest temples in Phnom Penh. It is also considered the most sacred temple in Cambodia. Visiting this temple you can see the whole city of Phnom Penh because this is the highest point in the city. You can also learn about the history of the city and the legendary legends of Cambodia.
Image by: phnom penh travel blog.
Independent monument
Foto by: phnom penh blog.
The monument and square are located at the intersection of Phnom Penh’s two largest roads, Sihanouk and Norodom. The monument is a traditional stupa, mimicking the architecture of Angkor Wat temple and other famous historical buildings of Cambodia.
Photo by: phnom penh blog 2019 bog.
Phnom Penh at night
Royal Palace of Cambodia
This is one of the symbols of the royal Cambodian. This is also the place where the king lived and worked and where ceremonies were held. It is a complex of primitive white and gold buildings, flower gardens and the famous Silver Pagoda. Today, you can come here to admire the magnificent, luxuriant and rich architecture of Phnom Penh.
Foto by: phnom penh travel blog.
Royal Square
It is one of the places that attract visitors to take pictures. Located near the palace, you can visit this place after visiting the palace. In addition, the most feature of this area is a very friendly and sociable
Image by: phnom penh travel blog.
Silver Pagoda
Silver Pagoda (original name: Wat Preah Morakat) is the most prominent temple in the Royal Palace of Cambodia. The pagoda is called the Silver Pagoda (also known as the Golden Pagoda-Silver Pagoda) by the legend of 5329 pieces of silver on the floor, each piece is handmade and has an accurate weight of 1.125 g. In addition, the temple also has thousands of statues of gold, silver, copper are carved finely.
Image by: phnom penh travel blog.
Sisowath Quay -Walk along the Tonle Sap
From the Mekong (The Mekong and Tonle Sap are meeting here) you can find a nice fresh breeze which can help you endure the humid afternoon heat of Phnom Penh a little better.
The Sisowath Quay promenade is just perfect for a little walk as a little break from discovering the temples and museums Phnom Penh.
Moreover, it is known to be the connection spot between all the important sights of the city.
Another benefit is, that on the Phnom Penh riverside, less Tuk-Tuk driver will approach to you and try to convince you to take a ride with them (“same same, my friend“) In general, it seemed as if there were way too many of them waiting for new customers during monsoon season.
During your walk around Sisowath Quay, you will have a nice view of the river, find a lot of restaurants as well as several bars. But also you will get to the Royal Palace on this journey.
An Evening At The Kickboxing
Whilst would love to be able to share exactly where we spent the Sunday evening in a crowded arena, with ringside seats to a local kickboxing tournament that was actually live on Cambodian telly, the truth is that we don’t actually have a clue. The CEO of our G Adventures group, who we travelled with for two weeks in Cambodia, suggested it to us and, a half hour golden hour tuk-tuk ride and $10 later, we were ushered to our sweat-hitting seats with our 25-cent beers amid the raucous and the ruckus. It was a really fantastic few hours of authentic local entertainment, and we were both quite shocked at how quickly Emily’s apparent bloodlust revealed itself at her firstever live combat event.
The good news is that kickboxing fights like this take place every Saturday and Sunday. The crowd was about 98% local, but groups of barang (foreigner) did join our section as the evening progressed, which means that it’s definitely something which hostels will arrange or be able to share the details on – please let us know if you go there go so we can update the post!
The Details
Cost | $10 each for tuk-tuk return journey + entry
Where | TBC!
When | Saturday + Sunday evenings
If that doesn’t sound like your sort of thing, then perhaps a sunset cruise along the Tonle Sap river may be more suited to your travel style.
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Where to Stay in Daun Penh
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Daun PenhRachana HostelB52 HostelSLA Boutique HostelThe Happy House Zone
Budget Hotels in Daun PenhSundance Inn & SaloonGood Morning GuesthouseLong Lin House
Mid range Hotels in Daun PenhBlue LimeOkay Boutique HotelSuite Home Boutique HotelCity Comfort Hotel Royal Palace
Family Friendly Hotels in Daun PenhSaravoan Royal Palace HotelG Eleven HotelPlantation – urban resort & spaSilver River Hotel
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Daun PenhRaffles Hotel Le Royal Palace Gate Hotel & ResortRosewood Phnom PenhHotel Cambodiana
Riverfront District – Where to stay in Phnom Penh for nightlife
At the northern end of Daun Penh along the Tonle Sap river is the Riverfront District, or Sisowath Quay. With a plethora of bars, restaurants, and the Phnom Penh night market, this is the best area to stay in Phnom Penh for nightlife. Sisowath Quay is also where you’ll find the most budget-friendly accommodation options.
If you are a budget traveler wondering where to stay in Phnom Penh, backpackers love the Riverfront District for cheap accommodation and delicious street food. This also happens to be the launching point for one of the must-do activities in Phnom Penh: taking a ferryboat ride around the rivers.
How to Get From Siem Reap Airport to Siem Reap Centre
Getting from Siem Reap Airport to the city centre is pretty straight forward – there’s no line-jumping, and all of the prices are set (the drivers are under strict instructions to not undercut each other). This means that once you find your taxi, moto, or Tuk Tuk, you’re all set to go.
The taxi rank is immediately in front of you as you exit the arrivals building. On average, it’ll cost you about $10 to Siem Reap city centre. If you need a bigger taxi (for 6+ people), it will cost a little more.
If you prefer to book your taxi in advance, you can do so here:
Book Your Taxi Now
Although you can also book a Tuk Tuk at the taxi rank, it’s best to walk a little further and exit the airport – here you’ll find the cheapest Tuk Tuk’s (and motos) which will charge roughly $6 to the city centre (a moto will cost $2).
A Typical Tuk Tuk from Siem Reap Airport to Siem Reap City Centre
A typical Tuk Tuk can take up to 4 people but doesn’t have as much room for luggage – if you have a lot of bags you’ll struggle to get more than 2 people in the back.
Siem Reap Tuk Tuk drivers are well-known for dropping you off at your hotel and then offering very cheap temple-tours, only to change the prices half way. If you’re considering to take a temple tour, it’s best to book one through your hotel.
Where to Stay in Sangkat Tumnob Tuek
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Sangkat Tumnob TuekTuk Tuk Hostel & CafeSovanphum VillaBase VillaLovely Jubbly Villa
Budget Hotels in Sangkat Tumnob TuekKim Guest HouseThe Mou HotelKirirom Crystal HotelStar Wood Inn
Mid range Hotels in Sangkat Tumnob TuekRose Emerald HotelV Hotel Phnom PenhSim Boutique HotelDiamond Serviced Apartments
Family Friendly Hotels in Sangkat Tumnob TuekKravan Hotelthe 252Essence Hotel & ApartmentsOrussey One Hotel & Apartment
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Sangkat Tumnob TuekHM Grand Central HotelLa Rose SuitesThe Great Duke Phnom PenhPalace Gate Hotel & Resort
Phnom Penh Airport – Where to stay in Phnom Penh close to the airport
The Phnom Penh International Airport is about 15 kilometers west of the riverfront. Obviously, this is a good area to stay in Phnom Penh if you have a late arrival or a very early departure from the airport. It’s also a good option if you can’t find budget-friendly accommodation closer to the city center.
Be sure to factor in your transportation costs, though, as you may save money on a hotel only to spend it on tuk-tuk rides. To get from the airport to the city center, there are several options, including bus, taxi or tuk-tuk which can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, or the train which takes 30 minutes.
Where to Stay in Phnom Penh Airport
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Phnom Penh AirportTOP Hostel
Budget Hotels in Phnom Penh AirportYou Eng HotelBali Bali Resort and Hotel9 Dragon Hotel & RestaurantGood Luck Day Hotel
Mid range Hotels in Phnom Penh AirportCalifornia International HotelBodaiju ResidencesTamasa Service Apartment and HotelCity Comfort Inn
Family Friendly Hotels in Phnom Penh Airport9 Dragon Hotel & RestaurantBonnie VillaDara Airport HotelCCC Hotel
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Phnom Penh AirportThe Great Duke Phnom PenhMane La Residence
Safety
The whole point of finding transportation in Phnom Penh is to arrive safely at your destination in one piece. In a tuk-tuk, never let go of your bags or valuables and try to keep them near the center of the tuk-tuk to make them harder for any passing rapscallion to grab.
Don’t flaunt your gadgets, they can and will get snatched right out of your hands. That means no tuk-tuk selfies.
If you’re on the back of a motorbike, put your bag on your front and keep it between you and the driver so thieves can’t snatch your bag (with you still attached!).
If you plan to ride a bicycle or moto, get a helmet. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Transportation in Phnom Penh can be a bit daunting at times, but if you go with the flow every ride will be an adventure, and chances are you’ll make it out just fine.
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How to get to Phnom Penh
Taking a Bus from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh
Duration: 5 hours
Price: $10 – $15
Ticket: Get your bus ticket on-site or online here
The bus journey from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh was one of our rides where we didn’t only look at the money in order to book our ticket. We’ve heard of many scams on the Vietnam/Cambodia border by bus companies as well as people get left behind at the border if their visa takes too long or if they refuse to pay extra fees to the bus company.
In the end, we choose Sapaco Tourist and we didn’t get scammed or anything. We chose a visa on arrival and everything went fine. They made sure that everyone got their visa.
Taking a Bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Duration: 6-7 hours
Price: starting from $6
Ticket: Get your ticket on-site or online here
The Bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh leaves several times a day. The road is not amazing so the trip can be a little bit shaky. Even though it’s said to be 6-7 hours, the trip often takes longer. Especially during the rainy season.
ATV Tour
Source: ChadwickWrites / shutterstockATV
Phnom Penh is the land of dirt roads, so why not explore them the right way? Hop on an ATV and go from city life to village life with the crew over at Village Quad Bike Trails.
The ATV tour starts out in the city where you ride over to the Killing Fields and the S21 prison. After your intense experience here, settle down with a calming and peaceful ride through the rural villages of Phnom Penh. You’ll pass by farmers in the bright green rice paddies, traditional Cambodian houses, cows grazing, kids playing, and birds chirping. You can stop by some village shops to buy some goodies before you head back to base.
The entire tour lasts about 4 hours and you can choose to go on a morning tour or afternoon tour.
Pro Tip: The morning tour will offer lower temperatures in the dry season, and dryer temperatures in the rainy season.
Take a Boat Ride on the Mekong
The Mekong River and the Tonle Sap River converge right near the touristy area of Phnom Penh and watching a sunset on the water is something you must do in Phnom Penh. The Kanika Cruise Boats dock right outside of the Himawari Hotel (address: 313 Sisowath Quay) and offer a quality cruising experience for a really reasonable price.
Boats leave twice a day from Monday to Sunday. The sunset cruise leaves at 17:00 (so you’ll want to arrive at 16:45 to reserve a spot) and the trip takes about an hour and 20 minutes. If you just want to enjoy the cruise, you’ll pay $8 USD per person. If you want to cruise and have a free-flow draft beer or soft drinks, you’ll pay $17 USD per person. You can just order food and drinks from the menu if you’d prefer as well.
The dinner cruise leaves at 19:00 and takes about an hour and 45 minutes. The $22 USD price includes the cruise as well as a 4-course dinner experience. No matter which one you choose, you’ll love getting the view of the Phnom Penh skyline from the mighty Mekong River!
When is the best time to visit Phnom Penh?
While other Southeast Asian countries experience slightly cooler seasons at some point of the year, Cambodia is hot all year long.
Because of this, the best time to visit Phnom Penh and Cambodia in general is during the dry season, which runs from November to January. While temperatures won’t actually be much lower during these months, humidity drops considerably, making the weather more bearable.
This also means lots of people choose these months to visit, so prices go up and you are unlikely to find any discounts on airfares, hotels, or package tours.
If costs are an issue, consider arriving during the hot season, which runs from February until mid-May.
With temperatures in the high 30s and very high humidity, these aren’t great months to tour the temples of Angkor Wat and nearby Siem Reap, but things are not as bad in the capital city – just make sure your hotel has a pool and organize your outdoor excursions for the early morning or the evenings.
Heavy southwest monsoon rains hit Phnom Penh from May to October, with the strongest storms happening in August and September.
In the city, this can mean flooding and lots of mosquitoes but also lots of beautiful thick greenery, dramatic electric storms, and a concert of geckos singing well into the night. This is the cheapest time of the year to visit and a great time to see the real Phnom Penh without masses of tourists around.
Eat Streetside Noodles for Breakfast
So, the only thing that we struggle with as vegetarian travellers in Asia, is that we can’t devour a lot of the street food.
And it isn’t simply because we miss being able to try out lots of authentically local flavours or taking the risk on ordering whatever looks good at the next person’s table, but it’s the atmosphere which comes with eating street food all over this part of the world. And the serendipitous, unmanufactured travel memories it creates.
In Phnom Penh, for example, it’s not being able to have the moment on your first or second morning of taking a chance on the little place on the street corner with dozens of breakfasting locals hunched over steaming bowls of fresh noodle soup. Of pulling up a red plastic chair on the grey concrete, ordering with a smile and a point, and trying to seamlessly slurp and suck the broth and the stringy noodles of the nom banh chok as they do. Letting new flavours and textures – some good, some bad – tell you more about a country than a museum exhibit.
Or a meal for a dollar or so, served up by a stranger, being the best damn thing you’ll taste all year. So, if you are happy to eat animals, that’s certainly a fun thing to do in Phnom Penh.
Read Next | 23 Things To Know Before You Visit Cambodia
Phocea Mekong Cruises
Source: Mark52 / shutterstockMekong Cruise, Phnom Penh
Whether it’s romance you seek or adventure you’re after, there’s no better way to fulfill your desires than a sunset river cruise. Phocea Mekong Cruises has a variety of river cruises on the Mekong to choose from.
The Sunset Cocktail River Cruise offers an onboard BBQ with local ingredients and traditional Khmer sides, along with cocktails and wine. Eat slowly as you pass the Royal Palace and watch the sun go down over the river. This cruise lasts about 2 ½ hours and is perfect for couples and groups.
There are also destination cruises to choose from that take you to places such as the former capitol of Cambodia called Udong, Silk Island, and even multi-day cruises up to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat.
Recommended cruise: Mekong River Sunset Cocktail Dinner Cruise
Pray for Good Luck at Wat Phnom
Wat Phnom is a temple that sits in the middle of a traffic circle on top of the only hill in Phnom Penh. At 88 feet in height, it is also the tallest religious structure in the city. After paying the modest $1 USD entrance fee, you’ll approach the temple from the grand staircase. There are many women and children selling various snacks and beverages near the tour bus stop at the bottom of the stairs.
Wat Phnom is a popular place for people to pray for good luck and success both in school and in business. Take your shoes off before entering and you’ll find locals and tourists alike – praying or wandering around, admiring the walls and the artifacts.
After checking out the large pagoda in the back, you can take the shady path in the back of the temple back to the bottom of the hill. This is also a good place to take a breather if you find yourself at the temple in the middle of the day when the sun is unrelenting.
Day 2 in Phnom Penh
Morning to Early Afternoon
The last day in my Cambodia itinerary is a half day in Phnom Penh. This is a good time to fit in a visit to the S21 Prison and the Killing Fields (Choeung Ek). During the Khmer Rouge era this old school turned prison, was used for torture in which ‘prisoners’ were then transported to the killing fields to be executed.
People leave bracelets by the children’s grave.
The communist regime resulted in famine, disease and execution throughout the country, in which almost a quarter of the population died. This will be a very sobering experience but to get a sense of Cambodia’s history I would advise a visit here. It certainly left a lasting and humble impact on me.
The killing fields are a little bit out of town (30-40 min tuk tuk ride) but if you leave at 8-9am then you can be back in the city by around 2pm, in time to catch an afternoon bus to your next destination. You can easily hire a tuk tuk or taxi for the day to take you to both places. And I would recommend to see both.
So that’s it for 36 hours in Phnom Penh- hope you enjoyed the post and as always share amongst friends or save to for later
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Daun Penh – Where to stay in Phnom Penh for tourists
Daun Penh is the most central area of Phnom Penh and therefore the best area for tourists who only have a short time to stay in the capital city. It’s an interesting mix of modern buildings and historic architecture, as well as some of the best things to see in Phnom Penh.
At the center is Wat Phnom, the site of a 14th-century Buddhist temple, in addition to the Royal Palace, the Independence Monument, and the National Museum of Cambodia. This area has the largest selection of hotels in Phnom Penh Cambodia, and a huge selection of restaurants to choose from as well. With all of the parks and play areas, this is also a very family-friendly place to stay in Phnom Penh.
One day in Phnom Penh: afternoon itinerary
It’s time to relax and beat the heat. Next, walk to nearby U & Me Spa & Massage, or any other spa along the riverside. We recommend trying a traditional Cambodian massage, which is like a lighter, less painful version of Thai massage that will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
After your massage, take a walk along the riverside towards the Royal Palace, the home of the Royal family in Cambodia dating back to 1866. The street in front of the palace is blocked off, and is a popular spot in the late afternoons for locals to gather. Children play in the street, riding bicycles and feeding the pigeons, and people of all walks of life gather there.
There are two sacred temples across the street from the palace along the riverside where locals go to pray when they are going through a difficult time. There is always a flurry of activity in this area with people buying flowers and lighting incense at the temples, and buying small birds to release. The riverside is a fantastic area for people watching or to interact with locals. You may even see group exercise classes taking place along the riverside, which you are welcome to join for just a few thousand Riel (less than $1USD).
Within walking distance of the Royal Palace is the National Museum and an outdoor cultural center, which is another popular place for locals to gather. There you can learn about and purchase a krama, Cambodia’s traditional checked scarf worn by farmers and people around the country, and potentially see a free local movie or watch a live theater performance.
Photo by Jen Joslin.
Volunteer with CHOICE
Choice Cambodia
The saying goes in Cambodia, “kids are not zoo animals”.
Many visitors come to Cambodia with a good heart and pure intentions to help the needy, particularly children. This, however, has given birth to a profitable industry of orphanage scams. With the influx of western tourists looking to volunteer, hundreds of “orphanages” have popped up and needlessly filled with children. The estimate is that 70% of these children have at least 1 parent and are essentially being rented from their families for western volunteers to play with and unknowingly, exploit.
If you want to make a positive impact during your time in Cambodia, instead, volunteer with trusted and transparent organizations like CHOICE who aim to provide resources to Cambodia’s poorest communities. You can join CHOICE on village trips where they collect water and food and then deliver them to villages in need. No photos and no “playing with the kids” are offered on these trips. Instead, you’ll donate $15 to the organization to keep the resources coming and leave with an insight into how an invisible population struggles to survive in South East Asia.
A rule of thumb for Cambodia: any organization that let’s strangers come and play with their kids does not have the kids’ best intentions in mind.
See the Stupas of Wat Ounalom
Wat Ounalom
The most important temple complex in Cambodia, Wat Ounalom is the headquarters of Buddhism in the country. A stupa within the complex contains one of the Buddha’s eyebrow hairs.
The wat was first situated here in 1443 and although it suffered considerable damage during the Khmer Rouge era, with many of its statues and religious iconography destroyed, it is thriving again today.
Of particular note for visitors is a beautiful Buddha statue in the main building’s third floor that has been reassembled after being smashed to pieces by the Khmer Rouge and a statue commemorating Huot Tat, the fourth patriarch, who was murdered by Pol Pot, on the 2nd Floor.
Address: Sothearos Boulevard, Phnom Penh
