Phnom Penh
Population: 1’500’000
Date of visit: January 2013
Attractions & sights: 3/5
Nightlife: ?/5
Safety: 4/5
Infrastructure: 2/5
Low budget factor: $$$$$/5
Total: 👍👍/5
The city in a nutshell:
Cambodia’s capital is a great place for people interested in Khmer history. Beyond that, it’s just another vibrant and hectic Asian city.
Where to stay:
Sisowath Quai is in my opinion the most beautiful part of the city. Therefore, I hotel close to the quai and Mekong River is a good decision. As taxis or tuk-tuks are very cheap, the location of the hotel is not that important.
The Good:
Phnom Penh is the place to be for people who are into Khmer history. This is the city to learn about the genocide the Khmer Rouge regime did to their own people. Visiting Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields is a must. In addition, Phnom Penh has a few good sites, a nice promenade (Sisowath Quai) and an architecture that is heavily influenced by the French. You can also see the French influence in restaurants or bakeries, as French bread is available everywhere.
Obviously, the low budget factor is also a big plus, as Cambodia is one of the cheapest countries in the world.
The Bad & The Ugly:
Like in every other Southeast Asian country traffic is very bad in Cambodia’s capital. Getting hit by a car, tuk-tuk or motorbike is probably the biggest threat in Phnom Penh. The city is generally safe, but there are warnings that the young Khmer elite with their bodyguards is looking for trouble in nightclubs (I didn’t go out, so I cannot comment on that).
The city isn’t a beauty and there are generally better cities in Southeast Asia. So if history is not in your interest and time is short, then skip Phnom Penh and visit another city instead.
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