Things to Do in Phnom Penh
Discover 17 activities and experiences in Phnom Penh, Cambodia — from outdoor adventures to cultural events. Curated from real traveler recommendations.
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Backstreet Academy
An alternative tour experiences platform, they enable locals to offer authentic and unique activities to tourists such as fishing on the mekong like a local fisherman, coconut carving workshops, Cambodian Boxing, Apsara dance classes, even a fear factor challenge where you learn to cook insects which are sold by vendors along the streets in Phnom Penh. A social enterpise, they work with many underprivileged people who either serve as hosts or facilitators. The facilitators will pick you up from your hotel and translate for you. These facilitators are usually young students looking for work to pay for their education or orphans looking to transition into society. Transport is provided for most activities in Phnom Penh. A great way to interact with local people and take in the culture and have something memorable to bring home.
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- #14, Street 360, Sangkat Boueng Keng Kong 1 (BKK1)
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- 09:00-18:00
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Orphanage Visit
If considering visiting one of the orphanages do be aware that they may be exploitative and poorly run. Your money may go to the owner rather than the children. There are few if any legitimate orphanages in Phnom Penh: almost all are scams. Also, accepting impromptu visits from unscreened foreigners is often a sign of a substandard orphanage which does not have the children's best interests at heart. If you really want to help, try contacting organisations like this one that run educational programs, and see if there is any way you can assist.
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Help the Needy with Choice
A great way to help some of the local poor people in a positive and rewarding way is to help the expat run charity called Choice. They help provide food and basic supplies to about 200+ extremely poor families as well as medical assistance if needed. They also provide vocational training and feed and send many children to local schools and universities. Skilled volunteers especially teachers are welcome to help.
More info -
Scuba Nation Diving Centre
The pioneers of diving in Cambodia, providing comprehensive diving and snorkelling services, day trips, liveaboards, nitrox and a full range of PADI courses from beginner to instructor. Flexibility is the key: you can do training sessions while sightseeing in Phnom Penh, then finish with a liveaboard on the only custom made diving boat in Cambodia.
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- 18Eo, St 3
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- M-F, 09:00-18:00, Sa 09:00-17:00, Su 11:00-18:00
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Thunder Ranch Shooting Range
Shooting range run by a unit of the Royal Cambodian Army. For a pretty hefty fee you can fire everything from pistols to machine guns at paper targets. Moto drivers, apparently oblivious of the reaction most visitors have, will try to include this in a trip to the killing fields and will take a nice commission for taking you there.
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- Pistol, USD20; AK-47, (30 rounds) USD40; rocket launcher, USD350
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The Empire cinema
Arthouse cinema/restaurant featuring blockbusters, children's films, documentaries, music, animations and the classics on the big screen on the 2nd floor of an original Cambodian wooden house with air conditioning. Drinks and house-made hot buttered popcorn available. ''The Killing Fields'' screens daily.
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- 34, St 130
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- M-F, 16:00-23:00; Sa-Su, 13:30-23:00
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- USD3.50 for adults, USD1.50 for under 18 for all day
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PhoceaMekong Cruises
Phoceamekong Cruises operates river cruises from Phnom Penh. The trips are "all-inclusive," but their website notes that they actually do not include "personal expenses, tips, and other services not mentioned."
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- Tourism terminal passenger
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Mekong Islands Bicycle Tour
Daily 20 km bicycle ride with Grasshopper Adventures, along small trails along the rivers and criss-crossing the islands (4 ferry hops) to explore the lush green countryside around Phnom Penh.
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- 23 St 144
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- 08:00-12:30
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- USD29
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Meta House
Art gallery, bar, mini-cinema and production house. Shows free, high quality foreign and Cambodian films Tu-Su nights at 19:00 in the bar-lounge on the roof.
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- 6, St 264, opposite Wat Botum
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Mekong Cruises
Boats leave every evening for a river cruise. Many provide snacks or dinners at sunset. Be sure to visit Mekong Island to see rural life.
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- USD8
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Bicycle Tours and Rental
Take a short trip alone or with a group to the other side of the Mekong River or into the countryside.
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- Sa-Su, 09:00-17:00. During the week upon request
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- USD2
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Flicks 2 cinema
Great 32-seat mini cinema showing lots of great movies. Their website gives the current film schedule.
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- #90, St 136
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- $3.50 all day ticket
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Flicks 3 cinema
Great 32-seat mini cinema showing lots of great movies. Their website gives the current film schedule.
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- #, St 258
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- $3.50 all day ticket
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Feel Good Spa
Western-managed-spa and emporium that offers many different types of massage and health treatments.
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- #79, St 136
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Hash House Harriers
A running club that meets every Sunday at 14:15 at the railway station.
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- USD5
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Exploring Phnom Penh: A Traveler's Guide to Activities
Phnom Penh rewards curious travelers with an exceptional range of experiences. Whether you have a weekend or several weeks, the city's 17 documented activities cover the full spectrum — architectural landmarks and world-class museums at one end, local neighborhood festivals and underground cultural scenes at the other. The activities listed on this page come from Wikivoyage contributors who have personally explored Phnom Penh and written detailed, practical descriptions to help you plan your visit.
The most rewarding way to experience Phnom Penh's activities is with company. Solo travelers who arrive without plans often find that meeting a fellow traveler at a hostel, cafe, or through the Nomax app opens up entirely new itineraries — a museum visit becomes a half-day exploration, a street food crawl turns into an evening of discovery, a day trip to a nearby site becomes an adventure. Phnom Penh has an active traveler community, and the city is designed to reward those who explore it with open curiosity.
When planning what to do in Phnom Penh, consider mixing well-known attractions with neighborhood-level experiences. The city's most photographed sights are popular for good reason, but Phnom Penh's character lives in its quieter corners too — the local markets, the parks where residents spend their weekends, the small performance venues where the next generation of artists and musicians are finding their voice. The 17 activities on this page include both categories, ordered by the richness of their traveler-written descriptions.
How to Get the Most from Phnom Penh's Activities
Timing matters in Phnom Penh. Many of the city's best attractions have shorter queues and better atmospheres on weekday mornings. Major cultural sites — museums, galleries, historic monuments — often run free admission windows on certain days or evenings; check before booking. Outdoor activities and walking tours are best enjoyed in the morning before the city heats up or fills with tour groups.
Budget-conscious travelers will find that Phnom Penh has a strong free-to-access layer. Public parks, open-air markets, architectural walking routes, and many community events cost nothing. The price information included with activities on this page (where available) helps you plan a realistic daily budget. A mix of free and paid activities across a week in Phnom Penh is entirely feasible for most traveler budgets.
For travelers who want to do more than just sightseeing, Phnom Penh offers organized activities through local guides, tour companies, and traveler apps like Nomax. Group activities — cooking classes, cycling tours, kayaking excursions, photography walks — are a natural way to meet people while experiencing the city. Many travelers who use Nomax in Phnom Penh coordinate these types of group experiences together, splitting costs and building memories that last beyond the trip itself.
Activities for Different Travel Styles
Not every traveler wants the same experience. History enthusiasts will gravitate toward Phnom Penh's museums, heritage sites, and guided historical walks that reveal the layers of the city's past. Outdoor and adventure travelers will focus on the parks, cycling routes, climbing areas, and day trips to surrounding natural areas. Food travelers will treat Phnom Penh's markets, restaurants, and food tours as the primary activities of each day. Culture seekers will fill evenings with concerts, theater, gallery openings, and street performances.
The 17 activities documented on this page span all these categories. Use the numbered list above to browse in order of description quality — longer descriptions generally mean more detailed, firsthand traveler knowledge. For each activity, the address and opening hours (where available) give you everything you need to plan your visit without needing to search elsewhere.
Connecting with Travelers in Phnom Penh
One of the best things about traveling to Phnom Penh is the community of international travelers already there. Backpackers, digital nomads, long-term expats, and short-trip tourists all share the same city at any given moment. Nomax makes it easy to find who is in Phnom Penh right now, see what activities they are joining, and coordinate plans. Whether you want a hiking companion, someone to split museum entry with, or a group for an evening out — the app connects you to people with the same itinerary in minutes.
Download Nomax before your trip to Phnom Penh to set your travel dates and start discovering who else will be there at the same time. The app is free, requires no subscription, and works across all the major traveler destinations worldwide — meaning the community you build in Phnom Penh often extends to your next destination too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh offers 17+ activities and experiences for travelers. Top highlights include Backstreet Academy, Orphanage Visit, Help the Needy with Choice, and much more. This page lists every documented activity in order of description quality, so you can find both the major attractions and the hidden gems.
Are there free things to do in Phnom Penh?
Yes — Phnom Penh has a strong selection of free activities. Public parks, open-air markets, walking routes through historic neighborhoods, and many cultural institutions offer free admission on specific days. Scroll through the list above and look for activities marked with free or no price information — these are often the city's most authentic experiences.
How do I meet other travelers while exploring Phnom Penh?
Download Nomax — a free travel companion app that shows you other solo travelers currently in Phnom Penh. You can join group activities, chat with travelers at the same spots, and plan outings together. Many travelers in Phnom Penh use Nomax to find companions for day trips, museum visits, and evening activities.
What activities can I do with travel companions I meet in Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has activities for every interest — guided tours, food experiences, outdoor adventures, cultural events, and nightlife. Use Nomax to coordinate with other travelers: join a group for a walking tour, split a day-trip cost, or simply explore the city together. The app makes spontaneous plans easy.
Explore Phnom Penh with fellow travelers
Download Nomax — find travel companions, join group activities, and chat with solo travelers in Phnom Penh right now. Free forever.
Travel tips by Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 3.0). Content may have been updated since publication.
