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Phnom Penh
Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh is worth a visit for two reasons. Firstly, it’s historical importance. This is where visitors can witness the 1960s – 90s atrocities of the dictator, Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge regime’s genocide through visiting the high school turned torture prison, now a museum – S21.
The natural next steps in a Phnom Penh itinerary would be a visit to Cambodia’s Killing Field where Pol Pot murdered 20,000 of the 1.5 million Cambodians who died during his communist reign.
If you are interested in history, politics, and culture, the very recent sombre past events of Phnom Penh has a lot of offer.
Secondly, people are super friendly! Craig lost his iPhone in a tuk-tuk taxi and got it back.
We extended our stay from three to five days which gave us the chance to check out the more unusual things to do in Phnom Penh, including going to see a film at the cinema from the comfort of a red velvet bed!
- Read our guide: 15 things to do in Phnom Penh under $15
Siem Reap
Angkor Wat is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sights that I am sad we missed out on.
Angkor Archaeological Park is 400 km2, it’s big however you can see the three main temples in one day if short on time. Do try to see a sunrise or sunset, weather permitting!
Useful Travel Information
The Cambodian Riel is the official currency in Cambodia but the U.S dollar (note form) is the second unofficial currency!
Cambodia can be reached by economic airlines such as Air Asia from other Asian countries. The cost of living is relatively cheap (not as cheap as Vietnam but not as costly as Thailand).
Accommodation in Cambodia is economical. Hotels in Phnom Penh start at around £29 and those with a pool £37, whereas a dorm bed in a hostel can cost £2 for 8/10 rating! Airbnb operates in Cambodia with the average entire home rental cost coming in at £51 whereas a private room is cheaper at £31 and go as low as £10.
Local food can be cheap (£3) but Western-style food is more expensive, this is the case for many Asian countries. Local beer comes in at a mere £1 for 0.5 litres. Tuk-tuks operate in Phnom Penh and cost a couple of dollars.
Environmentally cautious but don’t want to get sick? Check out our review of purifying and filtering water bottles