For couples · Phnom Penh · Cambodia
Romantic things to do in Phnom Penh
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Phnom Penh's romance lies in its river at dusk, colonial bars and rooftop terraces, and the gold roofs of the palace lit at night. Couples tend to stay in Royal Palace and Street 240.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 5
- Couple-friendly sights
- 3
- Area for couples
- Royal Palace and Street 240
- Best months
- November–February
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset on the Mekong
Take a private boat at sunset past the Royal Palace and onto the wide Mekong.
2.Cocktails at the Elephant Bar
A drink under the ceiling fans of the 1929 Raffles Hotel Le Royal.
3.Rooftop drinks by the river
Several riverside hotels and bars have rooftop terraces overlooking the confluence and the palace.
4.Khmer tasting menu
Book a chef-led Cambodian dinner in BKK1 or near the palace.
5.Cycling on Koh Dach
Rent bicycles and ride the quiet lanes of the silk-weaving island.
Sights couples love
Waterfront · Riverside (Sisowath Quay)
Sisowath Quay riverside
Walk the stretch between the Royal Palace and Wat Ounalom around sunset, then stop for a drink overlooking the water.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
Experience · Riverside (Sisowath Quay)
Sunset river cruise
Bring your own snacks or choose a boat with drinks included, and sit on the upper deck for views of the palace.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
- After dark
Architecture · Wat Phnom and Central Market
Raffles Hotel Le Royal
Visit in the early evening for a classic cocktail in the Elephant Bar, a good way to see the interiors.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Couples
- Architecture
- After dark
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for couples, shopping, first-timers and quiet stays
Royal Palace and Street 240
Streets 240 and 240½, just south of the Royal Palace, are lined with small boutiques, bookshops and cafés under shady trees, and the surrounding blocks hold many of the city's boutique hotels with pools. It is calm at night yet a five-minute walk from the riverside and the National Museum.
- Good
- Central but quiet; Good boutique hotels with pools; Independent shops and cafés
- Watch out
- Fewer cheap eats than the markets; Limited nightlife
- Nearby
- Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum of Cambodia, Independence Monument
Romantic day trips
- Kampot (About 3–4 hours by road) — A sleepy riverside town of colonial shophouses, known for its pepper farms, the abandoned French hill station on Bokor Mountain and the crab market at nearby Kep.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Fish amok and Sour soup. Book ahead for popular BKK1 restaurants on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Phnom Penh romantic?
Phnom Penh's romance lies in its river at dusk, colonial bars and rooftop terraces, and the gold roofs of the palace lit at night.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Phnom Penh?
Sunset on the Mekong: Take a private boat at sunset past the Royal Palace and onto the wide Mekong.
+Where should couples stay in Phnom Penh?
Royal Palace and Street 240: Boutique hotels, cafés and design shops in the quiet streets south of the palace.