Riverside
First-timersSisowath Quay, near the palace and museum.
Phnom Penh city guide
Things To Do In Phnom Penh
A riverfront capital of golden palaces, art deco markets and street food, and the place to understand what Cambodia went through under the Khmer Rouge.
37
Hostels in the city
8.0
Average, from 15,482 reviews
1975
The city emptied in a day
€1.50
A street meal
2025
The new airport opens
The capital on the Mekong
Phnom Penh stands where the Mekong meets the Tonlé Sap river. Under French rule it was called the Pearl of Asia, and some of its colonial buildings and art deco markets survive.
In 1975 the Khmer Rouge emptied the city in a single day, and between 1975 and 1979 around a fifth of Cambodia's population died. The Tuol Sleng prison and the Choeung Ek killing fields are the places to understand that history, and they are harrowing and essential.
Today the city is fast-changing, busy and full of rooftop bars and street food. Two or three days is right.
Where to stay
The Riverside, along Sisowath Quay, is the classic first base, close to the Royal Palace, the National Museum and the night market. BKK1, south of the Independence Monument, has the cafés, restaurants and bars. Bassac Lane and the streets around it are small and stylish, and the area around the Russian Market is more local and cheaper.
BKK1
Cafés and barsSouth of the Independence Monument.
Russian Market
LocalAround Tuol Tom Poung, cheaper and more local.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 7 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, on the banks of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers, is a city of French colonial streets, gilded pagodas and fast-growing towers, with a painful recent history.
The Royal Palace, with its golden spires, and the Silver Pagoda, whose floor is covered in silver tiles, are the city's grandest sights; cover shoulders and knees. The National Museum, in a red Khmer-style building beside it, holds the finest collection of Angkorian sculpture anywhere.
The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, S-21, a former school turned prison where the Khmer Rouge interrogated and tortured thousands, and the killing fields of Choeung Ek, where most were executed, about 30 minutes out of the city, tell the story of 1975 to 1979, when around a quarter of the population died. Both are harrowing and essential; take the audio guides, and allow time to process.
The Central Market, an Art Deco dome from 1937, and the Russian Market, Tuol Tom Poung, are the best places to shop and eat. Wat Phnom, on the city's only hill, is where Phnom Penh was founded.
Take a sunset cruise on the river, and a ferry and bicycle to Koh Dach, an island of silk-weaving villages.
Free things
Free things to do in Phnom Penh
The Riverside promenade, the Independence Monument and the parks around it are free, especially lively at sunset, when families exercise and fly kites.
The markets are free to wander, and so are many pagodas, such as Wat Ounalom by the river. The night market on the riverfront, at weekends, is free to browse.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Phnom Penh
Khmer food is fragrant rather than fiery. Fish amok, steamed fish curry in banana leaf with coconut and kroeung spice paste, is the national dish. Lok lak, stir-fried beef with a lime and pepper dip, and kuy teav, noodle soup, are everyday staples. Nom banh chok, rice noodles with fish curry, is the breakfast.
The markets have the cheapest and best food: try the stalls at the Russian Market and Central Market. Romdeng and Friends, training restaurants run by an organisation working with street youth, serve excellent Khmer food.
A street meal is €1.50 to €3; a restaurant meal €5 to €12.
Nightlife
Going out in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh has a lively nightlife: rooftop bars along the river and in BKK1, cocktail bars on Bassac Lane, and pubs and clubs in the centre.
Around Street 136 and parts of the riverside, some bars are hostess bars; they are easy to spot and avoid.
A beer is €1 to €3; happy-hour draught beer is under €1.
Getting around
Getting around Phnom Penh
Techo International Airport, opened in 2025 south of the city, has replaced the old airport; allow about an hour to the centre by taxi or the airport bus.
Tuk-tuks are the way around. Book tuk-tuks through PassApp or Grab to avoid haggling. Hold bags and phones tightly in open tuk-tuks.
Buses reach Siem Reap in about six hours, Kampot in three to four, and Sihanoukville, for Koh Rong, in about four. A slow train runs to Kampot and Sihanoukville several days a week. Buses also cross to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
Land crossings with Thailand have been closed or heavily restricted since mid-2025 because of a border dispute and fighting; check the current situation before planning to travel overland, and expect to fly between the two countries.
Costs
What Phnom Penh costs
Phnom Penh is cheap. Dorms start around €6 and a careful day is €20 to €30.
The Royal Palace and the genocide sites charge foreigners a few euros to about €10 each, with audio guides. A tuk-tuk across the city is €1.50 to €4.
Cambodia uses two currencies: US dollars for most prices, and the riel (about 4,000 to the dollar) for small change. Prices here are euro equivalents. Bring clean, untorn dollar notes; ATMs dispense dollars but charge fees. Cards work only in hotels and upmarket places.
Safety
Staying safe in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is generally safe, but bag and phone snatching from passing motorbikes is common. Keep your bag on the side away from the road, and hold your phone tightly in tuk-tuks.
At the genocide sites, be respectful. At the Royal Palace and pagodas, cover shoulders and knees.
Emergency: 117 police, 119 ambulance.
Day trips from Phnom Penh
The killing fields, an old royal capital, the pepper coast and silk islands.
Oudong
The old royal capital on a hill of stupas.
Kampot
The riverside pepper town.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Water Festival fills the riverfront in November.
Staff pick
23–25 November
Bon Om Touk (Water Festival)
Bon Om Touk, the Water Festival in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is a spectacular celebration marking the changing flow of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong…
Staff pick
10–12 October
Pchum Ben Day
Pchum Ben in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is a deeply meaningful festival where families gather at pagodas to honor their ancestors through prayers, candle lighting,…
Staff pick
9 November
Cambodian Independence Day
Cambodian Independence Day in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is a major national celebration honoring the country’s freedom from French colonial rule. The festivities begin with…
15 October
King Father Norodom Sihanouk Memorial Day
Late King Father Norodom Sihanouk Memorial Day honors one of Cambodia's most respected leaders who played a key role in the country's independence and…
19 Jul – 17 Jan
Pool Sunday
A free weekly pool day brings families, friends, and neighbors together every Sunday starting at 10 AM. Kids splash around while parents unwind, with…
31 Jul – 25 Dec
The Khmer '60s Golden Era
Cambodia's 1960s rock 'n' roll scene was a vibrant explosion of surf rock and psychedelia before it was tragically silenced by the Khmer Rouge…
4 Sep – 25 Dec
Friday Night Live: The Khmer '60s Golden Era
Live musicians bring Cambodia's 1960s rock 'n' roll scene back to life every Friday, playing classics from Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Serey Sothea, Pan Ron,…
31 Jul – 25 Dec
Friday Night Magic
Friday Night Magic brings together trading card game fans for weekly MTG sessions at TCG Vault Games in Phnom Penh. You can jump into…
Hostels
Where to stay in Phnom Penh
The top-rated places to stay in Phnom Penh right now, live from Hostelworld.
Sustainable
Mad Monkey Phnom Penh
Dorms from €8 a night
See dates and book
Pooltop Phnom Penh
Dorms from €11 a night
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Onederz Phnom Penh
Dorms from €9 a night
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Poolside Villa
Dorms from €6 a night
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The Big Easy Phnom Penh
Dorms from €4 a night
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Sustainable
THE PLACE Hostel Phnom Penh
Dorms from €7 a night
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Sacred Lotus - Vegan - Café x Hostel
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
When to go
November to February is the cool, dry season. March to May is very hot; May to October is the wet season.
Jan
Cool and dry
Feb
Dry
Mar
Hot
Apr
Khmer New Year
May
Rains start
Jun
Wet
Jul
Wet
Aug
Wet
Sep
Pchum Ben
Oct
Wet
Nov
Water Festival
Dec
Peak
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in dollars and riel locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Phnom Penh travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Should I visit S-21 and Choeung Ek?
Yes, they are essential to understanding Cambodia, though harrowing. Take the audio guides and allow time afterwards.
How do I get from the airport?
Techo International Airport, opened in 2025, is about an hour away by taxi or airport bus.
Can I cross to Thailand overland?
Land crossings have been closed or restricted since mid-2025; check before you go, and expect to fly.
Do I need riel?
Prices are mostly in dollars; you get small change in riel.
How many days do you need?
Two or three.
When is the best time to visit?
November to February, when it is cooler and dry.
What should I eat?
Fish amok, lok lak and nom banh chok for breakfast.
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