Cambodia’s capital city can be challenging for even the seasoned traveler having a very harsh climate and a higher level of crime than other Asian destinations.
That said there is much to see and do here and excellent places to browse amongst its French Colonial streets and ancient temples.

The Royal Temple and Silver Pagoda are a must see as is The Museum of Cambodia containing much Cambodian art, history and culture. Getting around is probably best by bus, car taxi or foot, but as many victims will testify motor cycles can be treacherous in the city’s dangerous traffic.

The temples are nice and include:
Wat Phom which is situated on a hill in a tiny park near Sisowath Quay on St. 94. Although more important nowadays as an historical rather than visual experience the situation in pleasant greenery is lovely and you can always watch the monkeys or take an elephant ride.

Wat Botum is near the Royal Palace and understandably has royal favor. During the 1930’s it was home to Pol Pot then described as a ‘lovely child’.

Not for the faint of heart, but of historical significance, are The Killing Fields. In what was once a Chinese cemetery The Kymer Rouge executed thousands of intellectuals. A documentary film of the carnage is screened daily and you can observe the remains, skulls and mass graves. To get there you can take tuk-tuk which will wait for you whilst you visit this somber and emotional place.

Phnom Penh would be nobody’s first choice for a family holiday. Unfortunately even adults have to have their wits about them with treacherous traffic, robberies and bag snatching higher than in other Asian destinations. The climate and general health standards could be harsh for even the seasoned traveler and much of the sightseeing is related to recent warfare. Notably there are no toyshops in the capital and kid friendly or exclusive activities are hard if not impossible to find.

However, for the adaptable family who find themselves here there are always things to do and see and places to go. The absolute must sees are The Royal Palace and The Silver Pagoda which for the less fidgety child would provide hours of supervised entertainment.

The National Museum with its French colonial style may also be of interest to some families and contains many fine examples of Cambodian art and culture. With a little forward planning games can be played ‘spotting the exhibit’ or things that begin with….certain letters of the alphabet can provide amusement and enlightenment for the youngster.

The internet is now freely available in Phnom Penh and although sometimes a little slower than your kids may be used to can be a valuable resource in what can be a trying and challenging travel experience.

Raffles Hotel Le Royal has a kid friendly pool and other child friendly entertainments.

The local paper is The Phnom Penh Post which has an excellent listings section for local films, festivals and other entertainments.

Having a large expat community is testimonial to the livability of Phnom Pehn as a city and destination. It has a good number of reasonably priced Western bars. Perhaps the most popular with expats is Equinox on Street 278 This cocktail bar features paintings and photo exhibitions a gaming room with a pool table, great music and good food.

Next door is Liquid. With its polished concrete floor, leather seats, and fabulous cocktails is another local favourite.

Phnom Penh offers some interesting culinary fare including French-influenced dining as well as Thai, Vietnamese, Cambodian and Western styles easily available. Just wander along the riverfront where you can find everything from stand-up stalls to fine French bistros, however, peeled fruit and anything uncooked should be avoided.

The city is easy to navigate, however, the strange and busy traffic make motor cycles a hazard and best left avoided.

Also to be avoided especially for women is walking around the city alone at night as armed motor cyclists are an increasing problem in the city and you are better off not to carry large amounts of money with you. Robberies are common particularly bag snatching usually with tuk tuk taxi passengers or cyclists and probably again best avoided.

The local newspaper, The Phnom Pehn Post is a good listing resource for accommodation, entertainment, jobs and local events.

Hospitals are everywhere and a good insurance provider such as BUPA is an essential for everyone especially the long term visitor.

The internet is now very much improved and cafes are much in evidence with several providers for the home user.

Phnom Penh is the capital city of Cambodia and visitors will find getting g here and around much easier than in much of the nation. There are more services and facilities available in Phnom Penh than in the rest of the country and this is a good place to start any journey.

There is a good range of hotels and guesthouses available in the city to suit every budget and most of these places offer guests a wide range of other services such as laundry, internet, food and tours.

The riel is the main currency of Cambodia and is accepted in all businesses throughout the city. However, US Dollars are also widely accepted in major hotels and restaurants and carrying a supply of Dollars saves having to deal with moneychangers.

When it comes to changing money, the main banks for foreigners to use are the ANZ Royal Bank, Canadia Bank and Foreign Trade Bank. There are also ATMs located all over the city and most travel agencies chance traveller’s cheques for a small fee.

Getting around Phnom Penh is simple as the city is quite small and most of the attractions can be covered on foot. There are no public buses available and visitors who wish to cover larger distances can either hire a bicycle for the day or travel by taxi.

Visitors should choose carefully when to visit Phnom Penh as the climate is tropical and has two distinctly different seasons: one wet and the other dry. The best time to visit is from November to January, when the weather is generally at its coolest and driest and humidity is also relatively low.

Here are some phone numbers that might be useful:

Ambulance: 117

Local Police: 012-942484 to connect to the Tourist Police.

Hospitals:
American Medical Center: 023-991863, 012-891613
Calmette Hospital: 023-426948
International SOS Medical and Dental Clinic: 023-216911, 012-816911
Naga Clinic: 011-811175
Tropical and Travellers Medical Clinic: 023-366802, 012-898981
International SOS Medical and Dental Clinic: 023-216911
Blood Transfusion Center: 023 251949

Pharmacies:
Naga Pharmacy; 023-212324
Pharmacie De La Gare: 023-430205
U-Care: 023-222399

Inquiries:
1202
Directory Assistance: 1203
Operator Assisted Calls: 1205

The major tourist attractions in Phnom Penh are based in a fairly compact area, so it is possible to cover some ground on foot or by bike, if you can cope with the heat. Aside from that, taxis and motorcycle taxis are the most common methods of transport as there is no local bus service.

Bus: there is not public bus service to within Phnom Penh and most people tend to use motorbike taxis or taxis to get around.

Motorcycle taxis: there are plenty of motorcycle taxis which can be hired anywhere around town and are pretty cheap for short trips around. You may have to bargain hard, especially in the most popular tourist areas. This method of transport is not for everyone, as they can nip and weave around the streets at adventurous speeds.

Taxis: there are dozens of taxis around the city, often waiting outside hotels or popular tourist destinations. They can also be easily arranged through your hotel. Be sure to agree a fare before your journey. If you are planning a trip outside the city centre, such as to the Killing Fields, then it is a good idea to arrange the hire of a taxi and driving for a morning or a whole day.

Bicycle: it is possible to hire bicycles from many of the guesthouses, and this can be a pleasant way to get around, although in the summer you might find it a little too hot and uncomfortable. Phnom Penh is arranged in a grid system, so is relatively easy to get about and a good number of the major tourist attractions are accessible on foot as well

Phnom Penh has a lively and vibrant nightlife scene with many bars and clubs, and a few live music venues. Some of the nightlife here has a reputation for being a bit seedy and the bar scene ranges from quiet, friendly places to some of the ‘hostess bar’ style establishments.

For something a little more stylish, the Elephant Bar at the Hotel Le Royal, the most exclusive hotel in the city, is an attractive place with a great atmosphere and also some good happy hour deals in the early evening. Another popular place is the Foreign Correspondents’ Club on Sisowath Quay, while drinks are on the pricey side; it’s more than made up for by the atmosphere and riverside surroundings.

Sisowath Quay is the busiest nightlife area in the city, with a number of popular and interesting places such as Cambodia Club and the originally named, River 3. Probably the most popular late night bar, is the Heart of Darkness on Phlauv 51, one of the city’s longest standing venues. It doesn’t tend to get busy until later on in the night, but after midnight is usually heaving with revellers.

The club scene in Phnom Penh tends to be dominated by the expat community and is considered to be pretty good. Sharky’s Bar has been around for years and has good priced drinks, pool tables, and generally plays classic rock music, giving it an American feel. It does have a bit of a reputation for being popular with local sex workers and older western men.

Phnom Penh isn’t really the place to go for live music venues but there are a couple of options worth checking out. Memphis Pub has live music on most nights and Riverside Bistro tends to have live acts on the weekends. The Globe Bar and Restaurant has an open session on Sundays, with anyone welcome to join in.

The Killing Fields are important to visit in Cambodia to learn more about the history of this country and the atrocities that occurred. The Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia from 1975 until 1979 and during this time it is estimated that 1.7 million people were killed through execution, starvation and disease. The Killing fields are where dead bodies were mass buried by the Khmer Rouge. The fields are full of shallow ditches where hundreds of bodies were thrown and covered up with thin layers of dirt.

The Killing Fields of Choeung are approximately 15kms from Phnom Penh and have become well visited by tourists. This killing field is well known by tourists but there are millions of other killing fields all over the country and more are still being discovered. The Killing Field is the size of a soccer field and is located amongst farms. Here lie the mass graves of approximately 20 000 people. Visiting this site where horrendous atrocities occurred will give travelers valuable insight into what Cambodian people have endured and the need to revive a nation that has suffered so much.

In the middle of the Killing Fields is a shrine that displays 8000 skulls which have been unearthed from the surrounding area. These are the remains of some of the people who were buried here. Men, women, children and even members of the Khmer Rough were executed and buried. The trees surrounding the fields are sites of more violence. Many of the prisoners sent to the S-21 security prison now labeled the Tuol Sleng Museum were sent here.

Local tour guides can be hired to give you insight into the area and to show you around. The route to the Killing Fields is scenic and allows you to see more of Cambodia as you pass shacks, rice paddies and farm animals. Tuk tuk drivers offer transport and many tours incorporate this site into their itinerary.

Khmer Kingdom

Experience the sheer grandeur of one of the World’s Modern Wonders, visit Cambodia’s incredible Angkor complex. These 11th Century temple ruins, covering a vast area and comprising of numerous temples reclaimed by Cambodia’s tropical jungle. It’s just one of the surprises of this plucky country, where it’s sad recent history is very much part of the tourism.

We’ve been travelling to Cambodia for over a decade, recording the rise of its tourism, and present to you a blog, soon to become a full tourist site to help you plan your visit. The country has a surprisingly good tourist infrastructure and plenty to see and do, all recorded here.

From the Royal Palace, Tol Slueng Prison and Killing Fields of Phnom Penh to the beaches of Sihanoukville and tourist bustle of Siem Reap, we have the country covered. And we haven’t even mentioned the friendly locals, good food and amazing Asian landscapes.