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 Situated at the crossroads of three great rivers – the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac – Phnom Penh is the heart of a country steeped in tradition, overflowing with rice paddies, jungles, and rural communities. Once a sleepy backwater, Phnom Penh now buzzes with commercial activity as the country develops after years of isolation. Old French colonial mansions stand alongside newly emerging designs, which make the city’s mixed architecture and communities fascinating to explore.

currency

Cambodian Riel (KHR): 1 KHR = 10 kak = 100 sen

phone

Ambulance: +855 023 724 891 (or 119 if you have a Cambodian phone number).

Police: +855 023 366 841 - +855 023 720 235 (or 117 if you have a Cambodian phone number).

Fire: +855 023 723 555 (or 118 if you have a Cambodian phone number).

newspaper

The Cambodia Daily
The Phnom Penh Post (bi-monthly)
The Southeast Asia Weekly

hours

Most shops are open Monday to Sunday from 8am–7pm. Markets open from 6am–5pm. Stores and markets are only closed on public holidays.

population

2.282 million (2019)

info

Tourist Information Center in Phnom Penh
262 Monivong Boulevard
Khan Daun Penh
Phnom Penh

+855 023 218 585
info@tourismcambodia.com

The City

Phnom Penh took its name from a legend after a woman called Penh, thought to have found four Buddha washed ashore by the great river.

The French took over in 1869 and ruled until King Norodom Sihanouk declared independence in 1953. The colonial regime left behind impressive villas and large avenues, which form today's city centre. By the 1960s, the town was swinging, and cafes were overflowing the streets.

April 17, 1975, is the day Phnom Penh changed. It emptied in one day as the Khmer Rouge took over the country. After four years Cambodians came back from across the country to reinvigorate their capital city. From a small riverside village, it grew to become the country’s commercial hub. Today it is a burgeoning Asian capital crawling with activity; the landscape is still void of skyscrapers. Phnom Penh remains an untouched Asian gem where cyclo drivers get lost in a sea of motorbikes.

temple in Phnom Penh Tepikina Nastya / Shutterstock.com

Do & See

Spend a day walking through the historical streets surrounding the Royal Palace, ride a tuk-tuk hopping from market to market, and end your day gazing at the shimmering lights reflecting off the Tonle Bassac. The city’s life never ceases as the old and the new live alongside each other.

Xuanlu Wang/Shutterstock.com

Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

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Tuol Sleng Museum

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River Cruise

Lena May/Shutterstock.com

Reyum Institute of Arts and Culture

Michael Gunther

Wat Phnom

Clay Gilliland / Flickr.com

National Museum of Cambodia

shankar s.

The Killing Fields & Choeung Ek Memorial

Kzenon/Shutterstock.com

The Flicks Community Movie Houses

Phalinn Ooi

Phnom Tamao Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue Center (PTWRC)

JM Travel Photography/Shutterstock.com

Phnom Chisor Temple

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Sovanna Phum Art Association & Art Gallery

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Yoga Phnom Penh

Tepikina Nastya/Shutterstock.com

Wat Ounalom

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Kids City Asia

Peter Stuckings/Shutterstock.com

Independence Monument

typical Cambodian food GuoZhongHua / Shutterstock.com

Dining

Composed by a mix of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, Cambodian cuisine is varied, simple and delicious. A diet is usually based on fish and soups while the local food offers healthy and abundant Asian surprises. Khmer highlights are fish amok (fish cooked in coconut) and barbecued beef, which can be found on most street corners in the early evening around the Central Market. As the city is made up of many communities including Vietnamese, Chinese and Expatriates, there is a variety of delicacies and restaurants catering to a large expatriate community.

GuoZhongHua / Shutterstock.com

Khmer Surin

Jacek Chabraszewski / Shutterstock.com

FCC (Foreign Correspondents Club)

Joshua Resnick/Shutterstock.com

Pho de Paris Restaurant

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Boat Noodle

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Yi Xian

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Friends the Restaurant

Andrey Nastasenko/Shutterstock.com

Dine in the Dark

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Do Forni

Cafes

Just like Siem Reap, Phnom Penh is a haven for fruit lovers, from mangoes of all shapes and sizes to delicious mangosteens. All markets have a fruit section, and sellers walk along most main streets selling fresh papaya, pineapple, and whichever fruit is in season. However, you will still find cafes serving a strong cup of coffee and western-style pastries.

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Feel Good Café

Rawpixel.com / Pexels.com

Story Coffee Roasters

Joshua Resnick / Shutterstock.com

Vibe

cocktails in a bar View Apart / Shutterstock.com

Bars & Nightlife

Known for being a city without limits, Phnom Penh’s reputation as a nightspot rings true. With the local population out and about at night after years of unrest, bars and clubs have mushroomed in the last years.

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The Riverhouse Lounge

Minerva Studio/Shutterstock.com

Heart of Darkness

453169 / Pixabay.com

Elephant Bar

g-stockstudio/Shutterstock.com

Score! Bar & Grill

Domakhina Mariia

Top Banana

Thoom / Shutterstock.com

Le Moon Rooftop Bar

Shopping

Phnom Penh has an eclectic shopping scene. Some major international clothing chains have already hit the town, and with the several bustling markets and diverse communities, everything is here - from fragrant markets to modern malls.

kowit sitthi/Shutterstock.com

Street 240

Etienne Hartjes / Shutterstock.com

Tuol Tom Pong Market (Russian Market)

shankar s. / Flickr.com

Central Market

Blend Images/Shutterstock.com

Sorya Mall

Alan Wat / Flickr.com

Night Market

VannPhotography/Shutterstock.com

Aeon Mall

Africa Studio / Shutterstock.com

Phka Kn'jay Fashion Boutique

street in Phnom Penh at night Perfect Lazybones/Shutterstock.com

Tourist Information

Passport / Visa

Visas for Cambodia are available at airports and land borders, and are easy to obtain for citizens of most countries (see below). In order to obtain one, make sure you can provide a passport valid for at least six months and a passport-sized self photo for your visa.
Citizens from the following countries will need to make advance arrangements for their visa: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Sudan. Visitors from an ASEAN member country do not need a visa to enter Cambodia, as long as they have a valid passport.
Be aware that overcharging can be an issue at land borders with Thailand and Laos. To avoid that, you may want to arrange a visa in advance.
Online e-visas are only accepted at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports, and at the land borders of Bavet/Moc Bai (Vietnam), Cham Yeam/Hat Lek (Thailand) and Poipet/Aranya Prahet (Thailand).

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Best Time to Visit

Cambodia has rainy weather for half of the year and dry weather for the other half. The seasons can be subdivided into dry-cool (November-January), dry-hot (February-May), rainy-hot (May-September) and rainy-cool (October-November).
You'll find the best weather in the dry-cool season, with an overall average temperature of 26°C - this is the most popular time to go.
The rainy-cool season can be an alternative if you want to avoid the crowds of tourists, and the green landscapes boast incredibly beautiful colours during this time. However, so much rain might be uncomfortable for some, and if you're planning day trips be aware that water may flood the streets and make it impossible to reach smaller, remote places.The rainiest months are August and September.

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Health and Safety Advice

Vaccinations are not mandatory to enter Cambodia, but they are highly recommended. If you will need essential medications during your stay, bring enough of them from home - you might not find them in Phnom Penh.

A good travel insurance is extremely important. Health care is not cheap in Cambodia, and at the hospital, payment is required up front, which can be a very serious problem in emergency situations. Moreover, you might have to be transported to another country for bigger issues, and it's very expensive (and still requires upfront payment). Please make sure you gather as much information as possible on the topic, and be safe.

Avoid tap water, even if purified - stick to bottled water, which is available everywhere. Bring a good insect repellent in order to avoid mosquito borne diseases.

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Phnom Penh International Airport

Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) lies approximately 10 km from Phnom Penh. The easiest way to get to and from the airport is by taxi. It takes around 20 - 40 minutes depending on traffic. You can also take a tuk-tuk, which costs about $5. Whatever alternative you choose, you can buy a coupon inside the airport terminal to avoid the hustle outside.

Address: Phnom Penh International Airport, Russian Federation Boulevard, Phnom Penh

Email:

Phone: +855 23 862 800

Website: pnh.cambodia-airports.aero

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Public Transport

Although many visitors still often use tuk tuks, cyclos or taxis to move inside the city, the municipality of Phnom Penh has recently re-opened "Phnom Penh city bus", an efficient public bus service that is a bit slower, but more comfortable than the alternatives. Moreover, they don't require you to negotiate prices with the driver, as other means of transport do. Bus tickets are very cheap, and you can find transport apps for your phone.

You can find an alternative, private bus company at:
Giant Ibis Transport
+855 969 993 333
http://giantibis.com/contact.php

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Tuk Tuks, Cyclos, and Motorbikes

A good way to get around in Phnom Penh is hiring a tuk-tuk, a motor vehicle combining a motorcyle and a trailer, which has become traditional in Cambodia. Make sure to agree on a price before getting on. At night the price can increase.
Cyclos, usually driven by elderly men from the countryside, are slower but provide a relaxing way to view the city and are slightly cheaper than moto-taxi drivers.
Phone apps are also available to hail tuk tuks and taxis.

Hailing a motorbike driver is also popular, but be aware: although this is a nice way to explore the city, cautious driving is required to avoid accidents. Phnom Penh’s traffic can be dangerous and road regulations are not followed by most drivers. Beware of traffic police on major crossroads. If they stop you, a money transaction might be necessary.
Lucky Lucky Motorcycles has been renting bikes for years and has the largest variety of motorbikes. Find the company at:

Address: 413Eo, Preah Monivong, Phnom Penh

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Phone: +855 23 212 788

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Taxi

There are two types of taxis in Phnom Penh, those with a meter and those without. You find them outside major hotels or close to the tourist attractions. If you choose a taxi without a meter, always agree on a price before you start the journey. Two of the taxi companies offering metered taxis are Global Taxi and Choice Taxi:

Global Taxi
674, Street 271 (Yothapol Khemarak Phoumin), Phsar Doeum Thkov Commune, Phnom Penh
+855 092 889 962

Choice Taxi
A13, Confederation de la Russie, Phumi Phlov, Phnom Penh
+855 023 923 923

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Post

At the main post offices in the city you can find stamps and receive help for sending parcels etc. Always watch the carrier put the stamp on your postcard, letter etc., otherwise there might be a risk it will not reach its destination.

Find a post office at:

Address: Corner of Street 13 and Street 102, Sangkat, Phnom Penh

Email: carecp@cambodiapost.com.kh

Phone: +855 023 428 080

Website: cambodiapost.post/en

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Pharmacy

One of the biggest pharmacies in Phnom Penh is Pharmacie de la Gare, which is is found next to the railway station, at:
124Eo Preah Monivong Boulevard (93), Phnom Penh
+855 092 711 771
info@pharmacie-delagare.com
pharmacie-delagare.com/en

UCare Pharmacy is part of a recently opened pharmacy chain and offers one of the largest stock of medicine (from France) in town. You find one of their stores at:

Address: 26-28 Sothearos Boulevard, Corner of Street 178, Phnom Penh

Email:

Phone: +855 023 222 499

Website: www.ucarepharma.com

More Information: In front of National Museum

Telephone

Country code: +855

Area Code: 023

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Electricity

230 V, 50Hz

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