Solo travel · Phnom Penh · Cambodia
Solo travel in Phnom Penh
How to enjoy Phnom Penh at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Phnom Penh is a good city for solo travellers: guesthouses and hostels are cheap, ride-hailing makes getting around easy, and the café and bar scene in BKK1 and Toul Tom Poung is sociable. Many solo travellers base themselves in BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1).
Key facts
- Base
- BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1)
- Getting around
- Ride-hailing
- Emergency number
- 117 police, 118 fire, 119 ambulance
- Language
- Khmer
Solo travel tips
- Use ride-hailing apps rather than walking at night, especially along dark side streets.
- Hold your phone firmly and away from the road; phone and bag snatching from motorbikes is the main petty-crime risk.
- Wat Langka's evening meditation sessions are a calm way to meet people.
- Join a guided tour to Choeung Ek and Tuol Sleng if you would rather not visit alone.
- Stay along the riverside or in Toul Tom Poung for walkable cafés and bars.
Where to stay
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, couples and solo travellers
BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1)
Boeung Keng Kang 1 is where much of the city's international dining is concentrated, from Khmer fine dining to French bistros and Japanese restaurants, alongside serviced apartments and mid-range hotels. Bassac Lane, a tiny alley off Street 308, packs several cocktail bars into a few metres.
- Good
- Widest choice of restaurants; Good bars and coffee; Quieter streets than the riverside
- Watch out
- A tuk-tuk ride from the riverside; Construction in some blocks
- Nearby
- Independence Monument, Bassac Lane, Wat Langka
Great on your own
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Palace · Royal Palace and Street 240
Royal Palace
Shoulders and knees must be covered; if you forget, cover-ups can be bought or rented at the entrance. The palace closes for a long break in the middle of the day, so go early.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours with the Silver Pagoda
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Royal Palace and Street 240
Silver Pagoda
Walk the full mural gallery around the courtyard; it is often skipped but shows the whole Khmer Ramayana.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Architecture
Museum · Toul Tom Poung
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)
Take the audio guide and allow time; many visitors pair it with Choeung Ek on the same day, which is emotionally heavy, so consider separate days.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Historic site · About 15 km south of the centre
Choeung Ek Genocidal Center
Go by tuk-tuk in the morning or late afternoon, when it is cooler and quieter; the audio guide is included with entry.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours plus travel
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
Museum · Royal Palace and Street 240
National Museum of Cambodia
Visit before a trip to Angkor to see the statues removed from the temples for safekeeping.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Religious site · Wat Phnom and Central Market
Wat Phnom
Come in the late afternoon, when the park around the hill fills with families and food vendors.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
Meeting people
- Market breakfast — The food courts of the Russian Market and Central Market serve kuy teav, num banh chok and iced coffee to locals from early morning; point and share a table.
- Training restaurants — Several restaurants in the centre are run by NGOs that train former street youth in cooking and service, offering good Khmer and international food while supporting the programmes.
- Bassac Lane — A narrow alley off Street 308 in BKK1 packed with small cocktail and craft-beer bars.
- Riverside — Bars and rooftop terraces along Sisowath Quay with views of the river.
Sensible precautions
Snatching of bags and phones by passengers on motorbikes is the most common problem, so keep valuables on the side away from traffic, including in tuk-tuks. Traffic is chaotic; cross slowly and steadily. Heat and dehydration are the other main risks.
- Emergency number
- 117 police, 118 fire, 119 ambulance
- Staying connected
- Prepaid SIMs and eSIMs from Cellcard, Smart and Metfone are inexpensive with generous data; Wi-Fi is standard in cafés and hotels.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Phnom Penh good for solo travellers?
Phnom Penh is a good city for solo travellers: guesthouses and hostels are cheap, ride-hailing makes getting around easy, and the café and bar scene in BKK1 and Toul Tom Poung is sociable.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Phnom Penh?
BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1): Leafy expat district of restaurants, cafés and small bars south of the Independence Monument.