Shopping · Phnom Penh · Cambodia
Shopping in Phnom Penh
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Markets are the heart of shopping in Phnom Penh, backed up by boutiques selling Cambodian-designed clothes and social-enterprise crafts. Silk, krama, Kampot pepper and books on Cambodian history are the popular buys. Best souvenirs: Silk scarves, Kampot pepper and Krama.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 4
- Top souvenir
- Silk scarves
Where to shop
Street 240 and 240½
Small boutiques, galleries and bookshops near the Royal Palace selling local designs.
Toul Tom Poung
Vintage shops, studios and craft stores around the Russian Market.
Aeon Mall
A large air-conditioned mall south of the palace for international brands and food courts.
Markets
Russian Market
Silk, handicrafts, factory-overrun clothing and a food court; bargaining expected.
Central Market
The Art Deco domed market for jewellery, clothes, souvenirs and street food.
Orussey Market
A large local market for household goods, dried foods and spices, with few tourists.
Night Market
An open-air market on the riverside with clothing stalls and food, usually on weekend evenings.
What to buy
Silk scarves
Hand-woven silk from Koh Dach and other villages; buying direct from weavers supports them.
Kampot pepper
Cambodia's protected-origin pepper in black, red and white varieties.
Krama
The traditional checked cotton scarf, sold in every market.
Silverwork
Small silver boxes and jewellery in traditional Khmer designs, sold at markets and specialist shops.
Books on Cambodian history
Memoirs and histories of the Khmer Rouge period are widely sold in bookshops and at Tuol Sleng.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Wat Phnom and Central Market
Central Market (Phsar Thmei)
Opened in 1937, this bright yellow Art Deco market has a soaring central dome with four wings radiating out.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Food
- Kids
Market · Toul Tom Poung
Russian Market (Phsar Toul Tom Poung)
Named after the Russian expatriates who shopped here in the 1980s, this low, cramped market sells silk, krama, handicrafts, clothing from local garment factories, motorbike parts and food.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Cambodian baguette sandwich, Sugarcane juice and Sticky rice with mango. Bread carts on street corners from early morning, especially near markets. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside (Sisowath Quay) | $$ | Guesthouses, bars and river views along the promenade facing the Tonle Sap |
| Royal Palace and Street 240 | $$$ | Boutique hotels, cafés and design shops in the quiet streets south of the palace |
| BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1) | $$$ | Leafy expat district of restaurants, cafés and small bars south of the Independence Monument |
| Toul Tom Poung | $$ | Cafés, studios and street food around the Russian Market |
| Wat Phnom and Central Market | $$ | Northern Daun Penh, with colonial buildings, banks and the Art Deco Central Market |
| Chroy Changvar | $$$ | Peninsula across the Tonle Sap with river views back to the palace |
| Tonle Bassac and Koh Pich | $$$ | High-rise hotels, malls and the Diamond Island development near the Bassac river |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in KHR. Tipping is not expected in local eateries but is appreciated in restaurants catering to visitors, where a dollar or two or rounding up is normal. Tuk-tuk drivers on a long hire and guides usually receive a few dollars.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in September; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- September: Pchum Ben — 15-day ancestors' festival; many people travel to home provinces (September or October)
- November: Water Festival (Bon Om Touk) — dragon-boat races on the Tonle Sap in front of the Royal Palace (usually November)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for couples, shopping, first-timers and quiet stays
Royal Palace and Street 240
Boutique hotels, cafés and design shops in the quiet streets south of the palace
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Phnom Penh?
Silk scarves, Kampot pepper, Krama and Silverwork.
+Where is the best shopping in Phnom Penh?
Street 240 and 240½: Small boutiques, galleries and bookshops near the Royal Palace selling local designs.
+What are the best markets in Phnom Penh?
Russian Market, Central Market, Orussey Market and Night Market.