PHNOM PENH
Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and a city that definitely deserves a visit, whether it’s your first stop when arriving in the country or your last before leaving. We absolutely love Cambodia, and Phnom Penh is without a doubt the most vibrant and hectic city of them all.
We recommend staying at least two nights, but ideally three nights, so you can explore everything at a relaxed pace and still have time to enjoy the local gay nightlife, which is lively, fun, and worth checking out.
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In case you didn’t know, we have a travel agency called Out Come Out - Travel & Tours, and if you’d like, you can join us on our next trip to Cambodia!
While in Phnom Penh, there’s plenty to see and experience. From the impressive Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, to the emotional and important visits to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields, the city offers a powerful insight into Cambodia’s history. For a lighter vibe, stroll along the riverside (Sisowath Quay), enjoy sunset drinks by the Mekong, explore local markets, cafés or simply soak up the city’s buzzing energy.
Phnom Penh is a city of contrasts — intense, chaotic, and full of character — and a solid stop to better understand Cambodia and break up your journey through the country.
BEST AREA TO STAY
For us, the best area to stay in Phnom Penh is as close as possible to the Royal Palace. It’s a very central area where you can easily explore a lot on foot, including the Royal Palace itself, walks along the river, and plenty of nearby services such as restaurants, cafés, bars, supermarkets, and more.
We stayed at Plantation Urban Resort & Spa and really loved both the resort and its location.
If you’d rather stay in a more openly gay-friendly hotel, there’s The Birdcage Boutique, which is also centrally located. Of course, there are many other options depending on your budget, but if you stay in this area, everything is much more convenient and we think you’ll enjoy Phnom Penh a lot more.
WHAT TO SEE IN PHNOM PENH AND SURROUNDINGS
Phnom Penh is a city of contrasts, where grand palaces, difficult history, lively markets, and riverside walks all come together. Here’s a list of the main sights worth visiting to better understand the Cambodian capital.
Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is Phnom Penh’s most iconic landmark and a must-visit. It’s still home to the Cambodian royal family, so only parts are open to visitors, but the beautifully decorated buildings, golden rooftops, and peaceful gardens give you a great first impression of the city’s heritage. To enter, shoulders and knees must be covered. If you’re visiting on your own, without a tour, pay attention to the opening hours: it’s open from 78am to 10:30 or 11 am, then closes and reopens from 2 pm to 5 pm. The entry fee is $10.
Silver Pagoda
Located within the Royal Palace grounds, the Silver Pagoda is best known for its silver-tiled floor and important Buddhist treasures. It’s a quieter, more contemplative space and a good stop to understand Cambodia’s religious traditions.
Wat Botum Park
A peaceful city park where locals relax, exercise, and enjoy a break from the city’s hustle. It also houses the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument, a striking sculpture celebrating the ties between the two countries.
National Museum of Cambodia
Right across from the Royal Palace, the National Museum is the perfect place to add context to what you’ll see throughout the country. It focuses on Khmer art and sculpture, and the traditional red building with its inner courtyard is worth the visit on its own. You can get up-to-date information on timetables and prices on the official website: cambodiamuseum.info
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)
This former school was turned into a prison during the Khmer Rouge regime. Today, it stands as a powerful reminder of Cambodia’s recent history. It’s a difficult but meaningful visit that helps you understand the country beyond the surface.
Choeung Ek (The Killing Fields)
Located just outside the city, Choeung Ek is one of the most well-known execution sites from the Khmer Rouge period. The memorial and surrounding grounds are sobering and emotional, but visiting gives important perspective on Cambodia’s past.
Wat Phnom
Wat Phnom sits on a small hill and is considered the birthplace of the city. It’s a nice place to take a break from the traffic, watch locals praying, and enjoy a bit of greenery in the middle of Phnom Penh.
Wat Langka
One of Phnom Penh’s oldest temples, Wat Langka is a calm and welcoming place. Locals come here to pray and monks study Buddhism, making it a nice spot to experience traditional Cambodian temple life.
Independence Monument
This lotus-shaped monument commemorates Cambodia’s independence from France. It’s not a long stop, but it’s interesting to see, especially in the late afternoon or evening when locals gather around the area.
Sisowath Quay (Riverside)
The riverside is one of the most pleasant areas to walk around, especially at sunset. It runs along the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers and is lined with cafés, bars, street food stalls, and places to sit and watch daily life go by.
Central Market (Psar Thmei)
Housed in a striking Art Deco building, Central Market is a lively place to explore. You’ll find everything from fresh produce to souvenirs and clothes, and it’s a great spot to experience the everyday rhythm of the city.
Russian Market (Tuol Tom Pong)
Popular with both locals and visitors, the Russian Market is ideal for browsing handicrafts, textiles, and small local shops. It’s also a good area to stop for casual food or a coffee break.
Night Market
A lively evening market where you can browse local crafts, souvenirs, and street food while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the city at night.
Some of these places can be visited on foot if you stay in the central area we mentioned. However, most of them are a bit further away, so it’s best either to arrange a tuk-tuk driver to take you around or, as we did and really enjoyed, join a tour that covers the main sights and includes a local guide who explains the history along the way.
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT AND THINGS TO DO IN PHNOM PENH
Sunset Cruise on the Mekong River
Take a sunset cruise on the Mekong River. Dinner is included, and it’s a wonderful way to relax while enjoying the city lights from a completely different perspective. We went on this cruise ourselves and loved it — it’s the perfect way to unwind after a day of sightseeing and see Phnom Penh from a new angle.
We recommend this tour on Get Your Guide:
Bassac Lane
A small street, which is trendy and more alternative with shops, bars and restaurants. Well decorated spaces. To visit day or night.
Sorya Center Point
A modern shopping mall in the heart of Phnom Penh, perfect for shopping, grabbing a bite, or escaping the heat for a while.
Silk Island (Koh Dach)
Silk Island is famous for its traditional silk weaving villages, where artisans create beautiful silk by hand. You can explore quiet rural lanes, see local life up close, and enjoy a peaceful escape from the city — perfect for a relaxing day trip from Phnom Penh.
We recommend this tour on Get Your Guide:
Food Tour and Cooking Class
Join a food tour or a cooking class to get a better taste of Cambodian flavors… and they’re always super fun experiences! :)
We recommend these tours on Get Your Guide:
NIGHTLIFE
When it comes to gay nightlife, Phnom Penh isn’t as big as some other cities, but it’s growing, and there are a few options — you’re sure to find a spot that suits you.
We went to Blue Chilli, which has moved to a new, much larger location since our last visit. They now host several drag shows and have a lively, fun atmosphere.
Here’s a list of gay-friendly venues you can check out in Phnom Penh:
Blue Chilli – One of the city’s oldest and most well-known gay bars, featuring drag shows and a lively, welcoming environment.
Space Hair Salon and Bar – During the day it’s a hair salon, but by night it turns into a vibrant bar with drinks, music, and an inclusive atmosphere.
POC Bar - A small bar with drag-show.
Heart Of Darkness – Not exclusively gay, but one of the most popular clubs in the city. It often attracts the LGBTQ+ crowd and stays lively well into the early hours.
The Hideaway Phnom Penh – A new bar expected to open in June 2026.
Depending on where you stay, some of these places might be a bit far. But don’t let that stop you from visiting! Use the Grab app to call a tuk-tuk — it’s very cheap.
GENERAL AND USEFUL TIPS FOR CAMBODIA
Check your passport validity and whether you need a visa for Laos.
Attention: It is mandatory to complete an Arrival Card for Cambodia. You can fill it in up to 7 days before your date of entry into the country. You can complete it online AT THIS LINK.
You’ll definitely need internet, right? We always install an eSIM on our phones and it worked really well. Just make sure your phone is eSIM-compatible and unlocked for other networks.
We have partnerships with several providers that offer discounts when you purchase through our links. Check the plans, compare them, and choose the one that suits you best. Depending on whether you’re visiting just one country or multiple countries in Asia, you can choose either a local or a regional eSIM. We recommend the following:
Holafly: get 5% off through THIS LINK
Nomad: use the promo code ARTUCWFEMY to get USD 5 off
Airalo: use the promo code ARTUR7072 to get €3 off
Yes, Grindr works in Cambodia ;)
Install the GRAB App (similar to Uber) and call cars and mainly tuk-tuks using the app. You'll find out the price right away and you don't have to negotiate prices with the tuk-tuk driver. It Works very well.
- Another app (similar to Uber) is PassApp. It's an app only for Cambodia and we advise you to install it because wherever Grab doesn't exist in that city, you always have the PassApp available. We say this because it was what saved us in another city in Cambodia, in Sihanoukville it was the only app available.
In Cambodia the currencies used are the US Dollar and the Cambodian Riel. Both are accepted everywhere. But the question remains: which one should I use? At ATMs, which currency should I choose to withdraw? We leave here our opinion.
At ATMs we always make withdrawals in Reils. If you withdraw in US Dollars, the high probability is that the machine will only give you $100 bills, which can then be complicated to make payments, because there will be no change.
Once you get used to Reils, it's easy. You'll always talk about having millions, but it's a matter of habit. We also noticed that in terms of conversion, if we pay in Reils, it pays off a little more.
And even if you don't want to pay in Reils, the chance of paying with US dollars and receiving change in Reils is very high and most likely.
There is also a greater chance that counterfeit $100 bills exist.
- There are blogs on the internet indicating that in Cambodia they do not accept banknotes in poor condition, dirty or a little torn. It's not entirely true. This applies to US Dollars but not to Reils. We were in Cambodia for a month and almost always used Reils and whatever condition it was in (some banknotes in very bad condition) everyone accepted it.
Cigarettes are very cheap in Cambodia and if you buy national brands, they cost around €0.50!
Install a currency converter app. It makes life much easier.
Food - Two of Cambodia’s most famous dishes are Amok and Beef Lok Lak. Amok is a creamy, fragrant fish curry with coconut milk and local spices, usually steamed in a banana leaf — really tasty and full of flavor. Beef Lok Lak, on the other hand, is a simple stir-fry of tender beef with a tangy lime and pepper dipping sauce, served with rice and fresh veggies. It’s easy to see why it’s so popular, and honestly, this one is our favorite!
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Final tip: relax, take things slow, and enjoy Cambodia at its own pace. That’s part of the magic.