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

Sihaoukville is one of the most visited places in Cambodia and Sihanoukville is easily accessible by road, bus or boat. Most visitors travel to Sihanoukville from the capital city of Phnom Pehn. However, there are also services from other major destinations.

By bus
There is a regular bus service from the Central Market in Phnom Pehn to the centre of Sihanoukville and this journey takes about four hours. There are also minibus services, but they can often be too crowded and although they are cheaper are less comfortable.

By taxi
There are a number of shared taxi services that travel to and from nearby towns and cities. The journey takes approximately three hours and is much more comfortable than the bus. They can take up to eight passengers and the more people there are on board, the cheaper the fare is.

By motorbike
It is possible to hire a motorbike to travel to Sihanoukville. Many people bike down from Phnom Penh as the route is well maintained and is the cheapest and often most exhilarating way to travel. The journey is about 230kms and takes about four hours. If you decide to hire a bike, it is vital that you always stay alert to oncoming traffic and be careful of speeding traffic as driving laws are not as strict as they are in Europe.

By car
Private cars can be hired from all major towns and cities with petrol stations being found en route. Travelling by car is somewhat safer than travelling by motorbike and can also be cost effective if you have a car full of people.

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.