Phnom Penh has a very unique vibe to it. While its busy (just like other capital cities), we felt a strong ‘what is this place’ while walking around the city. The people are also so different from neighbouring touristy countries like Vietnam and Thailand. But what really got us was the history of the country centrerd around the cold war era. and Phnom Penh narrates these stories at many of its important museums and historical sites. And once the sun sets, Phnom Penh takes on a different avatar. Its funky, chilled out and home to Cambodia’s best rap and modern music!

From what we learnt and saw, we put together this photo blog to show you some interesting sights. In fact, you’ll find everything you need to know to plan a trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia in this blog post. In addition, this guide contains details on what to see in Phnom Penh, and where to stay, where to eat, getting around in Phnom Penh and so much more! We’ve also added some recommendations on renting a scooter safely in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

What to see in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Most visitors to Cambodia visit Siem Reap for the Angkor Wat and Sihnaoukville for the beaches. Sometimes they stop at Phnom Penh just to transit in or out of the country. But after exploring. thecity over. afew days, we quickly learnt that it is worth visiting and spending time in to get the real, modern Cambodian experience! 

So check out this list of things to do and places to visit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

1. Choeung Ek Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 Prison)

Over a million people were killed and buried in many sites across the country from 1975 to 1979 by the Khmer Rouge. One such site is located just 30 mins south of Phnom Penh.

Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953. As a result, the Kingdom of Cambodia was established with Prince Norodom Sihanouk as the leader. Until 1970, Cambodia appeared to largely remain neutral by being a part of the non-aligned movement led by India and Egypt. However, due to the war in Vietnam, the Cambodian goverment was pulled into the fight between the West and the Communists which was spiralling out of control. Sihanouk allowed the Vietcong guerillas to set up bases on Cambodian soil in exchange for money from North Vietnam and China which was very much needed to improve the terrible state of their economy.

At the same time, he had attempted to make ties with the west stronger. USA and its allies were already in control of South Vietnam and it was expected that Cambodia might soon be too as the West wanted to ensure a capitalist South East Asia. With this, Cambodia was being pulled into the war in Vietnam, which the people did not like. Besides, the money which the administration received from foreign goverments also went into the hands of the elite and not to the benefit of the Khmer (Cambodian) people.

A group of Khmers had begun to revolt against the government with support from the Vietcong and China. Initially started as a guerilla force, the Red Khmers (“Khmer Rouges” in french) fought the government in a civil war that lasted five years until 1975. In a final act, the Khmer Rouge took control of the Kingdom and renamed it as the Republic of Kampuchea. Although this appeared to be a positive turn for the country, the Khmer Rouge turned out to be very autocratic.

Under the leadership of Pol Pot and his comrades, the Khmer Rouge imprisoned and massacred many innocent Cambodians suspected of having supported the previous government. Even common clerks in government jobs were not spared. The prisoners were tortured at the S21 jail in Phnom Penh and the killings happened in open daylight in rice fields, cities and even at the borders. Cheoung Ek was the biggest field where many lives were taken. Over 1.8 million people may have died with many others having gone missing or escaped as refugees.

In 1979, the Vietnamese forces launched a massive war on the Khmer Rouge, driving them permanently underground. As a result, the Kingdom of Cambodia was re-established.

Today, there is a memorial and an open air museum teaching visitors about the grim history of Cambodia.

2. Sunset cruise on the Mekong River

This was the most fun activity that we did in Phnom Penh city! While walking along the river on our first evening, we saw many cruise boats with funky lights going down the Mekong river. One of them looked like an Amazon-themed jungle boat! We discovered that it was called Crocodile Cruises Phnom Penh and decided to go on an impromptu Sunset cruise. For USD 5 (INR 400) per person, the cruise boat took us from the pier on Tonle Sap river, down to the confluence with the Mekong river and after sailing further on the Mekong for 45 minutes, we returned to the pier after sunset.

While sailing, we could see the Phnom Penh skyline and the royal complex lit up in golden lights. On the eastern banks of the river, we saw fishing villages, a stark contrast from the concrete towers on the west bank. We also got ourselves some snacks on the boat and enjoyed the sunset experience! Also, special mention of the crew and captain Kim – very respectful and courteous to customers.

3. Explore the classic French Quarter

Just a kilometre north of the royal palace is the old French quarter Quarter. This is a great place to explore on foot while admiring the architecture of old buildings such as the post office, Raffles hotel, the railway station and the national Library. There are a few coffee houses and restaurants as well.

4. Tonle Sap riverwalk

This is the place where all the locals come and hang out in the evenings! There is a long promenade stretching on the west bank of the river. Locals are usually exercising, walking their pets, playing with their children and even amongst themselves. Some vendors walk around selling street food snacks for 25 cents. Along the riverwalk, there are many old buildings, towering skyscrapers, royal monuments and tiny cafes. Its a great way to spend a few hours in the evening before stepping into a restaurant there for dinner.

 5. The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

Cambodia is a monarchy and the King lives in Phnom Penh in Palace at the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers. Its a massive building decorated with golden accents and towering arches in Khmer style. In the vicinity of the palace stands the most important temple in the capital city called the Silver Pagoda. At evening time, the buildings are lit up beautifully in a golden-yellow glow. There is an entry fee to the visitor side of the Palace and Pagoda (but was closed due to Covid rules when we visited).

6. Pray at the Wat Phnom Duan Penh and Wat Ounalom

Phnom Penh has only one mound of elevation and that is called Phnom Duan. There is a temple at the top of the mound overlooking the rest of the city. So it offers some incredible views! Interestingly, the mound has become the centre of a traffic roundabout. At the temple gates, vendors sell snacks and souvenirs too.

There is another temple in the city centre called as Wat Ounalom. Many Cambodians visit this temple from all over the country! It is a modern temple, but features traditional Khmer architecture.

7. Independence Monument and Statue of the King Father

Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953 and in 1958, the Independence Monument was built in the city centre of Phnom Penh as a memorial to the freedom from colonial rule. The monument’s design was inspired by the Banteay Srei temple near the Angkor Wat and features a lotus-shaped Stupa. There is a statue of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, the leader of independent Cambodia, just a little further away from the monument. This was built in 2013.

8. Russian Market and Night Market

Phnom Penh has some crazy markets scattered across the city. You can buy anything ranging from clothes and plastics to exotic foods and animals. Many of these markets sell knock-offs of big brands like Rolex watches and Nike Shoes for a fraction of the price. Local women spend hours shopping here because of how cheap fashionable clothes are (however they do have fake ZARA tags 😛). Prices start from USD 1 for some pieces of clothing! The markets also feature food courts where you can sit down with a bowl of Amok (the famous Khmer dish) or a hotpot.

All you need to know to travel to Phnom Penh in Cambodia

This section has details on accommodation, eating out, local transport, bike rentals and the best time to visit Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Prices are comparable with cities like Hanoi and a little more than Bangkok. For a two day visit, expect to spend around INR 8,000 / USD 100 for a mid-range experience, while around INR 3,200 / USD 40 for a truly budget experience inclusive of everything.

Food/eating out in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Since Phnom Penh is a capital city, you’ll find a variety of cuisine and restaurants, cafes, street food stalls and ofcourse, a night market. We highly recommend that you take a walk on the Tonle Sap Riverwalk road to checkout all the funky places you can eat at. At the night market, many stalls prepare Khmer food like Amok, noodle soup, etc. but there are no vegetarian options. Surprisingly, Indian restaurants are also all over the city!

Getting around/transport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Phnom Penh has a very basic public transport system with a few buses running at regular intervals on the main lines in the city. However for foreign visitors, it’s a little challenging as bus schedules are written in the local language including on the internet. The best way of getting around in the city is to use app-based taxis like Grab or Pass app. However, if you want to spend lesser, then you can rent a scooter from your hostel for USD 5 (INR 400). Alternatively, you can also take a Tuk Tuk but agree prices before hand.

We rented a scooter from Cambodia Motorcycling and rode it as far as the Killing Fields. Always make sure to park where there is paid parking only and get the receipt. Use the additional lock and chain provided by the rental shop as scooter and motorcycle thefts are very common in Cambodia (sometimes by the rental company themselves).

How to get to Phnom Penh in Cambodia

Being the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh has a large international Airport. There are daily flights connecting Phnom Penh with major cities in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and many others. there is also a direct bus service between Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh city) and Phnom Penh. In fact, We took the bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh and it was an interesting experience to cross the land border. Watch our vlog to see what happened!

Phnom Penh is also very well connected by air and road with Siem Reap where the Angkor Wat is located and is most likely on your travel itinerary for Cambodia.

However flight tickets to or from Cambodia are usually expensive. So make sure to book ahead.

Check schedules, prices and book tickets here

Want to see more of Cambodia? We’ve got some more blog posts for you, from some really picturesque places! And if you enjoyed reading this post, or found the travel guide to be helpful, please share it with your friends!

Useful links

Here are some useful resources to plan and book your next trip. These are the same websites and apps that we use for our own bookings! We may earn a small commission if you make your booking using the below link, at no extra cost to you. 🤓