5 Must-Have Experiences in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Life is short and the older you get, the more you feel it.  Indeed, the shorter it is.  People lose their capacity to walk, run, travel, think, and experience life. I realize how important it is to use the time I have. – Viggo Mortensen

There’s always so much to see and experience when visiting a new place.  Knowing you might never return is a great motivator to go full speed ahead.  But, it’s often hard to know where to start and what to prioritize.  Especially if you’ve not researched your location – like me with Cambodia.

I’ll be the first to admit – Cambodia was the trip I didn’t know I wanted to go on.  Sounds a little weird, right?  When Husband and I first found out Japan was on our list of possible duty stations, I confessed to him that Asia had never been on my list of places to travel.  I’m not sure why – I’m pretty liberal with that list.  But for whatever reason, anything East of China was never really on my radar.

Yet here we are, living the adventure of a lifetime, and getting to travel around a bit to boot.  While Cambodia was also never on my list, when Vicki asked if I wanted to accompany her on a work trip, I jumped at the chance!

Settling into Phnom Penh

Because the trip was primarily business, we didn’t get a ton of time to explore.  Our daily schedule was a mix of work and pleasure, with only one full day to do what we pleased.  This was both awesome and a little frustrating.  Vicki mentioned that this was one of the busier work trips she’s been on, with more meetings and training than usual.  So, while it cut down on our travel, and eliminated any chance that’d we’d get to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, it forced us to be selective about what we did and saw.  Thankfully, Phnom Penh has no shortage of things to do and see.

This trip was also one of the most relaxing trips I’ve ever taken, and despite our busy schedule, we built in a lot of time for self-care.  Our hotel, The Pavilion, was stellar, and I highly recommend it as the place to enjoy your time in Phnom Penh.  With knowledgeable staff, two pools (two!), complimentary breakfast and 25-minute arrival massage, and AC and mosquito nets in each room, it’s got it all.  For an additional $75, we received airport pick up, an extra one-hour massage for 2, and Prosecco by the pool.  Yes, girl, yes.

We traveled in February, missing peak heat and humidity by a few months (although it didn’t feel like it)!  With the rainy season primarily running May through October, we were lucky to miss that as well.  With no rain to worry about, Vicki and I could have a little bit of both work and play in most days.  Of course, we didn’t see it all, but that just means there’s something on the list for next time!  Here are some of my favorite experiences and things to see in Phnom Penh.

See the Cultural Sites

One of the most well-known cultural stops is the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields.  Check out my whole post about this experience HERE.   Although not a lighthearted experience, I recommend seeing these two sights early on your trip.  Both offer insight into the history and reality of Cambodia in the 1970s and helps explain why the city is the way it is.

Make sure to also stop into Wat Phnom.  A Buddhist temple dating back to 1372, Wat Phnom resides atop the only hill in Phnom Penh.  Wat Phnom marks the official center of the capital.  Don’t be afraid to step into the temple to look around – just be respectful.  Entry will cost foreigners about $1.

Although we didn’t make it on this trip, the Silver Pagoda and Royal Palace are on my list for next time.  The Silver Pagoda sits in the palace compound and is home to an Emerald Buddha.  If you visit, consider wearing a long skirt or pants, and know that you can’t take photos inside the temple.  As the official residence of the royal family, only sections of the palace are open to the public.  Dress modestly for your visit, making sure your clothing covers from elbows to knees.  Don’t have time for a visit?  You can see the palace from outside the gates while strolling down the Riverwalk.

Ride in a Tuk-Tuk

This may seem like a silly thing to have on the list.  But tuk-tuks are a unique experience everyone should have while traveling in Cambodia.  There’s nothing quite like zipping through traffic, narrowly missing cyclos and cars.  When riding a tuk-tuk, be safe, not scared.  Make sure to keep essential things like your phone out of the side pockets of your bag.  We were warned that sometimes bags are stolen from inattentive travelers in tuk-tuks.  Don’t be that guy.  Negotiate the price with your driver ahead of time and know where you’re going.  Don’t let a driver take you somewhere you don’t want to go.  In your initial conversation about price and location, if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t be afraid to get out an find a new driver.  All that being said, we never once felt unsafe or taken advantage of in a tuk-tuk.

Take a Cruise on the Mekong River

The Mekong River, in the top 12 of the world’s longest, travels through six countries.  In Phnom Penh, it meets and mingles with the Tonle Sap.  Cruises on the river are a sought after tourist experience, and several companies operate sunset and dinner cruises.  Ours was arranged through our hotel.  Although I didn’t catch the name of the company, the experience was pretty no-frills, which suited me just fine.  I wasn’t interested in dinner – just wanted to see the sunset.  Watching the sky change behind the silhouetted city was an experience I’ll never forget.  It was nice to see the city from a different angle.  There’s so much of life lived on and near the water that we miss as tourists sticking to the city.

Go Shopping

Shopping for souvenirs is something I very much enjoy.  Whenever possible, I like to buy local, handmade items that are unique to a particular country and the store.  Street 240 in Phnom Penh offers a selection of shops with homemade and fair-trade items.  I wish we had shopped this area first, as opposed to the touristy markets.  If you’re looking for a more extensive selection of items, check out either the Russian Market or Central Market.

The Russian market, so named for the large population of Russian expats in the area in the 1980s, is known locally as Phsar Toul Tom Poung.  The shopping area is covered but without AC.  Stalls are tightly packed and, if you wander through enough of them, you’ll start to see repeat items.  If arriving by tuk-tuk and using the same driver, pay special attention to your drop off point.  With multiple entrances and exits, it’s easy to go in one spot and come out another.  Don’t skip on wandering the outskirts – there is a lot to see in the area around the market.

Another tourist market worth stopping in is Central Market.  Also known as Phsar Thmei, Central Market is a beautiful art deco building from the 1930s.  I thought this shopping area was a little easier to navigate, although many of the items for sale are very similar to the Russian Market.  The actual food market area outside of Central Market seemed to have more ready-to-eat options.   Central Market is centrally located, hence the name, and easily walkable.

Spend some Time on Self-Care

Our trip to Phnom Penh offered more self-care experiences than I’ve ever had on vacation.  Our hotel (which, if I haven’t said it enough, was terrific), offered a 25-minute welcome massage for free.  As part of an additional package we purchased, we also received a one-hour couples massage later in the week.  Although both our massages were at our hotel, there are tons of places on the economy to get a massage at an affordable price.  I recommend getting recommendations from your hotel, friends in the area, or the internet before booking on the economy.  Knowing massages are popular among tourists, massage parlors sometimes exploit and underpay their workers.  As mindful travelers, we try not to support that behavior whenever we can.

We also booked a pedicure at Bodia.  The ability to book online made the reservation process super easy; they even offered to pick us up at our hotel.  This pedicure was very much appreciated after spending much of the week on our feet.   Interestingly, almost the entire thing took place laying down.  The price point was very reasonable and less than what I pay in the States.  The staff was very professional and clean, and we were able to buy some additional products in the shop downstairs.

There’s so much to experience in Phnom Penh; you won’t be short of things to do.  If you have particular spots on your list you’d like to see, consider making reservations early and doing research ahead of time.  Otherwise, don’t be afraid to spend a day or two wandering and getting a feel for the city.

Tell me – what are some of your favorite experiences in Cambodia?  What’s missing from my list?