Top 7 things to do in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Dusty roads, chaotic traffic and street food. And on the other side: shocking, sad, devastating and a dark place of humanity. Welcome to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Located in South East Asia, the city is not unknown to travellers. Cambodia itself is evolving into a popular travel destination and its boarder to Vietnam makes it perfect for a round trip. And yes, Cambodia is more than the ancient temples of Angkor Wat. Phnom Penh itself is an absolute must-see destination when touring the country. With different attractions, a shocking history and delicious food, it is an Asian city dream. But let´s dive right into it: here are the 7 top things to do in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This trip is all about the importance of history, knowledge and the beauty of a city in between a dark past and a typical South East Asian experience.
The number 1 thing to do in Phnom Penh: Visit the killing fields
Let´s start with the dark past of the country. To be honest: most travellers do not even know about it until they visit Phnom Penh for the first time. And even if it is not one of the fun things to do, it should never be unmentioned. It is necessary for travellers to educate themselves on the country they are visiting and to get to know its past. And Cambodia is no exception. But what are the killing fields and what did even happen?
In the 1970s Pol Plot´s communist Khmer Rouge regime controlled the country. It ended in a brutal genocide, killing more than 1.7 million Khmer citizen. A depressing and haunting past, which has left its marks on the population until today. Places such as the Killing Fields, where the people were being executed in the worst possible ways, are a memory of what has happened a few centuries ago.
The Killing Fields are located a little outside of the city center and it is best to book a tuk-tuk driver for the day who picks you up at your hostel or hotel and waits for you to finish the tour. You can book an audio tour at the entrance, which includes an audio guide in many languages. This will allow you to visit the place at your own pace and take the time you need to process what you see and hear.
Please consider, leaving your phone in your bag during the tour. It does not feel right to take pictures of horrible places like the Killing Fields. But still, share your experience and spread the past of Cambodia to those unable to visit the country.
Spend an afternoon at the Tuol Sleng S21 Museum
The second half of the devastating history is portrayed in the Tuol Sleng S21 Museum. Like the Killing Fields, it is a place of brutal killing, starving and the darkest sides of humanity. The Tuol Sleng has once been a high school in the center of Phnom Penh. Under the regime of the Khmer Rouge it became a prison. What happened behind those doors is tragically yet beautifully told in the multilingual guide. You can walk from room to room, listening to voice telling the dark past of those walls. You can see the small cells, the blood stains on the walls and pictures of those who either died in the prison or got transported to their execution outside the city.
What touches most are the survivors who are working at Tuol Sleng. They sit at the very end of the route and are open for your questions. It touches your heart and leaves you shocked and speechless. And yet, this is on top of the list of the top best things to do in Phnom Penh for a reason.
The price for the audio guide is 5 Dollars for Non-Cambodian adults. You can spend as much time as you like in the museum, which allows you to process it all better.
Taste the delicious street food
After a trip into the past, it is time to see a different perspective as well. Phnom Penh is famous for its delicious street food. The countless cute little restaurants, markets or stands are any traveller´s dream. Cheap and tasty food from the Cambodian cuisine – what more could you possibly want?
The Cambodian cuisine is something for anybody. If you are on a vegetarian diet, you will have no problem finding a delish dish. And if you are willing to try something exotic, you can have almost anything from fried spiders to local specialities.
Make sure to eat as many e to eat as many “Amok” as you can. Amok is the national dish of Cambodia, a tasty curry with rice. They serve it at any place. Heaven for the curry lovers!
Visit the Phnom Penh Night Market for food and shopping
Can´t get enough of the food? The Phnom Penh Night Market is the place to be for travellers. It is located right in the center of the city and has a great selection of food. You can basically get whatever you desire for a cheap price and eat together with the locals. Fried vegetables, rice and specialties.
And if this isn´t already enough, the Night Market is perfect to do some shopping as well. You can stroll over the square and bargain with the vendors. From souvenirs to pretty trousers, shirts and jewelry. This really is heaven for shopping-lovers or any traveller who needs some new pieces for the further trips.
The entry to the market is of course free and you get get your dinner for 2 to 3 USD. Make sure to bargain with the vendors, but do not try to pay a ridiculously low price to the locals.
The market opens at 5pm every day. It gets quite crowded from around 7pm, as it is not only a great thing to do in Phnom Penh for tourists and travellers, but as well popular among the locals.
You might want to watch out when strolling around. Thieves are quite common and especially foreigners are victims. Keep an eye on your belongings, especially on your wallet and phone.
Sit by the river and watch the locals
A popular place to be for the locals is the river side. The Mekong River and the Tonle Sap River flow right through the city center. Chilling by the water and watching the locals is absolutely one of the best things to do in Phnom Penh. You can watch the kids play soccer at the square or even watch the sunset sky above the water. Even if it it might not be the most beautiful riverside in Asia, it is the heart of the city and filled with life. Especially during the evening hours, it is a perfect place to be to get more impressions on what Phnom Penh really is like.
Wander through the streets of Phnom Penh
Like in any Asian city, the best thing you could to is to simply wander around. There ain´t no better way to experience a city. You can capture the local in their daily business, see how they live and work and get a feeling of the overall atmosphere.
A mountain of coconuts next to the road, small food trucks selling unrecognizable dishes, the chaos of the traffic and the green plants in the corners – Phnom Penh has so much to show and so much to see.
Phnom Penh is generally a safe place for travellers and it safe to walk around and even get a little off the beaten path. Dare to take the side roads to get to the real local centers. Stroll over the hidden markets and see where you end up. This might sound a little odd at first, but once you arrive in Phnom Penh, you will quickly notice why this is on the list of the best things to do.
Visit the Royal Palace
And finally, a typical tourist thing to do. This is not one of my favorite attractions of Phnom Penh, but many recommend it, so I guess it should not be missing here either. The Royal Palace is an important place for the locals. Cambodia still has a royal family and even today, it plays an important role in politics.
The Pagoda has restricted opening hours which tend to get busy as many tourists want to get an impression. If you walk around the Palace, arrive at 8 am in the morning. The cost is at 10 USD for adults.
Can’t get enough of Cambodia?
As you are probably planning to not only see Phnom Penh but to explore the rest of the country as well, here are some useful guides to plan your trip. And if that is not on your list yet, make sure to add it ASAP:
