15 Best Things to Do in Phnom Penh & Siem Reap (2026)
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-17
You already have Angkor Wat, the Killing Fields, and Tuol Sleng on your list. This guide covers the rest.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa on arrival (Indian passport) | ₹2,896 (~30 USD) at airport | ₹2,896 (~30 USD) |
| e-Visa (apply online, skip queues) | ₹3,471 (~36 USD) at evisa.gov.kh | ₹3,471 (~36 USD) |
| Daily budget (backpacker) | ₹2,410-₹3,856 (~25-40 USD) | ₹2,410-₹3,856 (~25-40 USD) |
| Tuk-tuk within Phnom Penh | ₹193-₹482 (~2-5 USD) | ₹193-₹482 (~2-5 USD) |
| Phnom Penh → Siem Reap (bus) | ₹771-₹1,446 (~8-15 USD) | ₹771-₹1,446 (~8-15 USD) |
| Phnom Penh → Battambang (bus) | ₹964-₹1,735 (~10-18 USD) | ₹964-₹1,735 (~10-18 USD) |
| Phnom Penh → Sihanoukville (bus) | ₹771-₹1,350 (~8-14 USD) | ₹771-₹1,350 (~8-14 USD) |
| Siem Reap → Battambang (boat+bus) | ₹1,928-₹3,374 (~20-35 USD) | ₹1,928-₹3,374 (~20-35 USD) |
| Angkor Wat 1-day pass | ₹3,567 (~37 USD) | ₹3,567 (~37 USD) |
| Angkor Wat 3-day pass | ₹5,977 (~62 USD) | ₹5,977 (~62 USD) |
| Tourist SIM (7-day, 10GB) | $3 USD | ₹290 |
| FX rate | 1 USD = ₹96.33 |
Phnom Penh: Beyond the Genocide Sites
The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda get the headlines, but Phnom Penh’s second tier of attractions is what makes a 3-night stay worth it rather than a 1-night transit stop.
1. Phsar Tuol Tom Poung (Russian Market)
Tripadvisor lists this as a “must” for a reason. The Russian Market is the best shopping in Phnom Penh, with separate zones for souvenirs, fabrics, electronics, and a massive food court in the back. Bargain hard: start at 50% of the asking price and walk away once if needed. Travellers report the back-alley food court serves amok (fish curry in coconut) for under ₹193 (~2 USD).
2. Central Market (Phsar Thmei)
Art Deco building from 1937, with a central dome and four wings organised by category (jewellery, electronics, clothing, food). Less aggressive than Russian Market, better for fabrics and tailor-made clothes. Get a shirt made in 24 hours for ₹771-₹1,157 (~8-12 USD).
3. Sisowath Quay (Riverside Walk)
The 3-km promenade along the Tonle Sap river is where Phnom Penh feels alive at sunset. Street performers, families, river boats, and a string of bars and restaurants. Cheap Beer Cambodia drafts go for $0.50-1 USD at most spots.
4. Wat Phnom
The hilltop temple that gave the city its name. Small, $1 USD entry, and a 10-minute visit, but it’s the historical anchor of Phnom Penh and worth the stop if you’re already near the river.
5. Mekong Sunset Cruise
A 1.5-hour boat from the Sisowath Quay dock costs ₹482-₹868 (~5-9 USD) and includes drinks. Travellers report the golden hour light on the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong is the single best photo op in the city. Book Mekong sunset cruise
6. Choeung Ek (Killing Fields) + Tuol Sleng (S20)
You planned these already, but here’s the honest take: do both on the same day, morning at Tuol Sleng, afternoon at Choeung Ek. Tuk-tuks charge ₹1,446-₹2,410 (~15-25 USD) for the half-day combo. The audio guide at Choeung Ek (₹578 (~6 USD)) is worth it. Allow 4 hours total. This is the hardest part of any Cambodia trip. Plan accordingly.
7. Phnom Penh Night Market & Riverside Bars
Once the Killing Fields are done, you need somewhere lighter. The Phnom Penh Night Market on the river sells street food, cocktails, and souvenirs in a covered setting (5-11pm). See our cheap things to do in Phnom Penh for more budget-friendly options. For a bar scene, Rooftop bars in BKK1 have the best views in the city, with classic cocktails for ₹386-₹675 (~4-7 USD).
Where to Eat in Phnom Penh
Cambodian cuisine is underrated: fish amok, lok lak (stir-fried beef), kuy teav (noodle soup), and num pang (sandwich) are the dishes to try.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Why Go | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisine Wat Damnak | Cambodian (fine dining) | Chef Joannès Rivière’s modern take on Khmer classics | ₹1,446-₹2,410 (~15-25 USD) |
| Phnom Penh Three Rivers | Cambodian (river view) | Riverside setting, classic Khmer dishes | ₹482-₹964 (~5-10 USD) |
| CHINGU Cafe | Korean-Cambodian brunch | Kimchi Benedict is the signature; breakfast all day | ₹482-₹868 (~5-9 USD) |
| Ruby Jack | Fusion | Stylish indoor dining, craft cocktails | ₹964-₹1,446 (~10-15 USD) |
| Shindi Georgian Cuisine | Georgian | Khachapuri and khinkali for when you’re bored of rice | ₹771-₹1,157 (~8-12 USD) |
For Indian food or strict-veg fallback:
| Restaurant | Why Go | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gorkha Palace | Indian and Nepalese dishes, momos and thalis | ₹482-₹964 (~5-10 USD) |
| Indian Royal Halal Food (Riverside) | Upscale Punjabi/Mughlai with river views | ₹771-₹1,446 (~8-15 USD) |
| MDSK | Best vegan masala dosa and Indian street food | ₹482-₹964 (~5-10 USD) |
Siem Reap: Beyond Angkor
Angkor is the reason you’re here. Plan 2-3 days for the temples (3-day pass at ₹5,977 (~62 USD) is the sweet spot, see the full Angkor temple guide for the dress code and sunrise logistics). After that, Siem Reap town has more to offer than the bus-station-and-guesthouse transit hub most travellers treat it as.
8. Pub Street & Night Markets
The neon-lit centre of Siem Reap nightlife. Bars, restaurants, and the night market selling the same souvenirs as everywhere else, but the street food skewers are $0.50 USD each and the draft beer is $0.50-1 USD. Tourist trap, yes, but a fun one.
9. Phare: The Cambodian Circus
A social enterprise circus run by former street kids, performing acrobatics, juggling, and live music in a big-top tent. ₹1,735-₹3,663 (~18-38 USD) depending on seat category. Travellers consistently rate it the best live show in Southeast Asia. Book Phare Circus tickets
10. Tonle Sap Floating Villages (Kompong Khleang or Chong Khneas)
Half-day boat tours to the stilted villages on Tonle Sap lake. Chong Khneas is closer (₹1,928-₹2,410 (~20-25 USD), 1 hour away) but more touristy; Kompong Khleang is a full-day trip (₹3,374-₹4,820 (~35-50 USD)) with larger stilted houses and fewer boats. Wet season (June-October) means flooded forests; dry season (Nov-March) means you can walk through the village.
11. Phnom Kulen National Park
The “Mountain of Lychees” has a reclining Buddha carved into a riverside rock, two waterfalls you can swim in, and the riverbed of a thousand lingas (Hindu carvings). ₹1,928-₹2,892 (~20-30 USD) for a half-day tour from Siem Reap. Bring swimwear and a towel.
12. Cambodian Landmine Museum
Founded by Aki Ra, a former child soldier who defused mines, this small museum (₹482 (~5 USD) entry) tells the story of Cambodia’s 4-6 million unexploded ordnance problem. Heavier than the temples, important if you’re travelling with older kids who can handle the context.
Battambang: Worth the Stop?
Short answer: yes, if you have 2 extra days. Long answer: Battambang is Cambodia’s second-largest city but feels like a small town, with French colonial shophouses, a riverside promenade, bamboo trains, and the Phnom Sampov mountain with killing caves and a nightly bat exodus (millions of bats fly out at sunset, 20-30 minute spectacle).
How to get there: Bus from Siem Reap (₹1,928-₹3,374 (~20-35 USD), 5-7 hours via the boat-bus combo on Tonle Sap) or direct from Phnom Penh (₹964-₹1,735 (~10-18 USD), 6-8 hours). See our Phnom Penh to Siem Reap comparison for bus vs train vs motorbike. Book Phnom Penh → Battambang bus
Top things to do in Battambang:
- Bamboo train (norry) ride: ₹482 (~5 USD), 30 minutes, a motorised bamboo platform on rails
- Phnom Sampov bat cave: ₹289 (~3 USD) entry + tuk-tuk to the mountain, bat exodus at 5:30-6pm
- Wat Banan: hilltop temple with five towers, 300 steps, panoramic views
- Phare Ponleu Selpak circus: Battambang’s smaller version of the Siem Reap circus, ₹964-₹1,446 (~10-15 USD)
The town is walkable, has good café culture, and the cheapest prices in Cambodia for guesthouses ($5-8 USD/night). Allow 2 nights.
Koh Rong & Sihanoukville: Worth the Detour?
This is the most contested decision in Cambodia travel right now, so let me be direct.
Sihanoukville (Sihanouk): As of 2026, Sihanoukville is mostly Chinese-casino construction and overpriced beach access. The backpacker charm is gone. Travellers report the beaches are either fenced off for resorts or crowded with day-trippers. Skip it as a destination; pass through only if you need the ferry.
Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem: Still worth it for 2-3 nights if you want beach time, with conditions. Koh Rong Samloem is the quieter pick (Saracen Bay is the postcard beach). Koh Rong has the backpacker party scene at Police Beach and the more developed south (Long Beach, Sok San). Both have decent snorkelling and clear water in dry season.
How to get there: Bus from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville (₹771-₹1,350 (~8-14 USD), 6 hours), then ferry from Sihanoukville pier to Koh Rong (₹482-₹675 (~5-7 USD), 45 minutes). Total door-to-door from Phnom Penh: 8 hours. Book Phnom Penh → Koh Rong
Honest verdict: If you have 4+ extra days and want beach time, yes. If you’re on a tight 7-10 day Cambodia itinerary, skip it. The beaches in Thailand (Koh Tao, Koh Lanta) and Vietnam (Phu Quoc) are better value and easier to reach. See our Cambodia itinerary guide for how to fit everything in.
Getting Connected
Buy a tourist SIM at the airport or any Smart/Cellcard shop for ₹289 (~3 USD). The e-visa queue at Phnom Penh airport has free Wi-Fi, so don’t stress about landing offline. If you want to land already connected, get a Nomad eSIM before you fly.
Where to Stay (and the Bananarchy Trip)
Common Mistakes Indians Make in Cambodia
- Using a third-party site for the Cambodia entry permit. The real portal is evisa.gov.kh. Anything else charges a ₹964-₹1,928 (~10-20 USD) “service fee” for the same form.
- Exchanging INR at the airport. Bad rates. Use a forex card (HDFC, Niyo, Fi) or exchange USD at any town-based money changer for much better riel rates.
- Not carrying a passport photo for the visa on arrival. The official requirement is 4x6 cm white-background. Most counters accept any photo, but border runs to Koh Rong or Vietnam sometimes enforce it strictly.
- Planning only 1 night in Phnom Penh. Two nights minimum, three is better, given the emotional weight of the genocide sites plus the markets and river activities.
- Skipping Khmer food because it “looks weird.” Amok and lok lak are gentler than Thai food. Order one Khmer dish per meal and you’ll have a top-5 food memory from the trip.
What Most Guides Don’t Tell You
- The Royal Palace is closed on Fridays and for some Buddhist holidays. Check the official site before you walk over.
- Angkor 3-day passes are valid for 10 days, not 3 consecutive days. You can spread them across two trips if you’re coming back through Siem Reap.
- Phnom Penh’s riverside floods in wet season (Aug-Oct). The promenade stays open but some boat tours get cancelled. Plan sunset cruises for the dry season (Nov-March).
- Most tuk-tuks don’t have meters. Agree on the price before you get in. Use the PassApp or Grab app for fixed-price rides if you don’t want to negotiate.
- Cambodia uses both USD and Cambodian Riel (KHR). USD for everything $1 and up, riel for small change. Carry small USD bills because change often comes back in riel.
Safety Notes
Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are generally safe for Indian travellers, but the standard precautions apply: watch for bag-snatching on motorbikes, use Grab or PassApp instead of unmarked taxis at night, and don’t carry more cash than you need. For current advisories, check the Indian MEA travel advisory page before departure.
FAQ
Is 2 nights enough in Phnom Penh? Yes if you’re only doing the genocide sites and the palace. 3 nights if you want to add the markets and a Mekong cruise.
Is Battambang worth a stop? Yes, 2 nights, especially if you’re already travelling Phnom Penh → Siem Reap overland. It’s the cheapest and most relaxed town in Cambodia.
Is Koh Rong still worth visiting in 2026? Koh Rong Samloem yes (quiet, clean, good beaches). Sihanoukville no (overdeveloped). Skip Koh Rong if you’re short on time.
What should I do in Phnom Penh at night? Riverside walk, night market, rooftop bars in BKK1, or riverside cocktail spots. Avoid walking alone on riverside alleys past midnight.
What are the best things to do in Phnom Penh with kids? Royal Palace, Phsar Thmei (central market), the riverside promenade, and the Phare Circus in Siem Reap (older kids, 8+).
Where do locals shop in Phnom Penh? Phsar Thmei (Central Market) for daily goods, Orussey Market for wholesale, Aeon Mall for modern shopping.
Do I need cash in Cambodia or can I use cards? Cash (USD) for markets, tuk-tuks, and street food. Cards accepted at mid-range and above restaurants, hotels, and the bigger malls.
