What’s up guys! We’re here in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, and in this blog, we’re gonna tell you our top things to do. So enjoy it! Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia, located in the south-central part of the country. It’s a city of contrasts, where ancient temples and palaces stand alongside modern skyscrapers and wide boulevards. The rich history and culture here are what make Phnom Penh a great place to start your Cambodian journey. In this blog, we highlight 8 of our favorite things to do in and around the city. These activities are best combined in a 2 to 3-day visit. Make sure to read until the end, where we go over a few travel tips that will help you plan your trip. Now, let’s dive in!
Try The Cambodian Foods
One of the first things you should do when arriving in Phnom Penh is to try the unique cuisine, heavily influenced by the country’s geography and history. Dishes reflect the abundance of freshwater fish, rice, and tropical fruits. Some of the top dishes include fish amok, which is a fish curry; beef lok lak, a stir-fried beef dish served with rice, vegetables, and a fried egg; and samlor curry, which is a rich coconut curry, as well as stir-fried noodles or rice. There are tons of great restaurants in the city that serve these dishes at affordable prices, but for a more local experience, head to the night market or one of the food stalls scattered around the city.
Sisowath Quay
Sisowath Quay is Phnom Penh’s most popular waterfront promenade, stretching 3 km north from the Royal Palace. Lined with palm trees, restaurants, cafes, and street stalls, it’s a great spot for a relaxing stroll. It’s also a good place for taking photos of local boats on the river. You can easily combine the walk with visits to the nearby Royal Palace, National Museum, and temples, which we will talk about in a moment.
Buddhist Temples
Buddhism is the predominant religion of Cambodia, and Phnom Penh is home to a number of Buddhist temples. We visited Wat Phnom and Wat Ounalom, which are both located in the heart of the city. Wat Ounalom is the most important Buddhist temple in Cambodia and is also home to the head monk of the country. Wat Phnom, on the other hand, is one of the oldest temples in the city. Both temples are worth visiting for their cultural and historical significance as well as their beautiful architecture.
The National Museum
The National Museum is home to a large collection of cultural artifacts from Cambodia’s prehistoric times to the post-Angkorian period. It’s a must-visit for anyone with an interest in the country’s history. You can find an array of statues, religious objects, and household utensils made from stone, metal, wood, and ceramics. As a bonus, the exhibit is housed in a traditional building with a beautiful garden, so the setting itself is a work of art.
Sunset Cruise
Phnom Penh is a city on the river, and one of the most relaxing ways to see it is by boat. You can take a sunset cruise for a closer look at local river life, the city’s skyline, and important landmarks. Boats depart from the riverfront quay between 4:30 and 5 PM and generally last about 1.5 hours. Some tours also include free drinks, food, pick-up, and an English-speaking guide.
The Royal Palace
One of Phnom Penh’s highlights is undoubtedly the Royal Palace, which is the official residence of the King of Cambodia. Built in the 19th century, the complex is a beautiful example of traditional Khmer architecture. You’ll find a number of important buildings here, such as the Silver Pagoda, which is home to the Emerald Buddha. Another interesting building to visit is the Throne Hall, which is used for coronations and other royal ceremonies. If you’re interested in learning more about each building, you can hire a local guide at the entrance. However, be aware that the palace is sometimes closed for important events or ceremonies, so visit on your first day in the city to avoid missing the opportunity to see it.
The Killing Fields of choeung EK
The Killing Fields are a somber reminder of the terror that the Khmer Rouge regime brought to Cambodia, which ruled the country from 1975 to 1979. During this period, an estimated 1 to 3 million Cambodians were killed. Some died of famine and disease, but others were brutally murdered at specific killing fields, such as the one found on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. It is estimated that around 17,000 people were assassinated at this site.
A visit here is a sobering but essential experience for anyone who wants to understand this tumultuous period in Cambodian history. You can walk around these fields with an audio guide while learning about the regime and its atrocities. In the center, you’ll find a stupa that contains 8,000 skulls that have been exhumed. It is horrific to see all the mass graves here because there are so many, and this one, specifically, though it looks like a small lot, contained the bodies of hundreds of women and children.
Security Prison 21 (S-21)
To gain a better understanding of what happened at the Killing Fields, you should combine your visit with a trip to Security Prison 21 (S-21). This prison was located in a former high school and has now been converted into a museum. Over 17,000 people were tortured here between 1975 and 1979. The prison cells are still preserved in their original condition, and you can visit them with an audio guide. You can also see photographs of the prisoners and leaders of the Khmer Rouge. This genocide museum is a difficult place to visit, but it’s an important one to learn about this dark period of Cambodian history. We added the link in the description below the video to a tour that combines a visit to this museum along with the Killing Fields.
Some Travel Tips
I promise some travel tips at the beginning of the blog, we’ll now share three travel tips for Phnom Penh. Firstly, the official currency of Cambodia is the Cambodian riel, but US Dollars are also widely accepted. Just make sure that your dollars don’t have any small tears or marks on them because they won’t be accepted in a number of places. You can also now pay with a credit card.
Secondly, Phnom Penh is a relatively safe city, but it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions against petty theft. We’ve heard pickpockets do happen, but we didn’t experience anything like it ourselves when we visited.
Finally, this is a relatively easy city to get around. There are a variety of transportation options available, including tuk-tuks, taxis, and buses. To avoid having to bargain over the price, consider downloading the Grab app or PassApp. These are ride-hailing apps, and they work for both taxis and tuk-tuks. If you want full travel tips and budget tricks there is a blog in our website details travel tips for Cambodia, also check that.
This was our top selection of things to do in and around Phnom Penh, but of course, there are many other activities worth checking out if you have more time in the city. If you’re planning your Cambodia trip, we recommend keeping things organized with our interactive travel guide. Thank you for reading.
