Ultimate Guide to Phnom Penh
Google Maps Link - IMOL recommended hotels, bars, restaurants and points of interest.
PHNOM PEHN CAMBODIA IMOL RANKINGS
Difficulty Level 4/10
GFE Level 7/10
Concerns: Dishonest taxi drivers, massage parlor thieves, C&I nonsense.
Why we go there: Once you are aware of the nonsense (keep reading) Phnom Penh can be a lot of fun!
Phnom Penh is a fun, safe, vibrant city but it also home to the worlds sketchiest expats:
When out traveling we usually gravitate towards the expat bars and try to buddy up with a few old timers for some good intel. Not in Phnom Penh. This town is home to the world’s sketchiest expats. Clearly, someone sent out a memo to every dead beat on the planet - “Move to Phnom Penh”. The city is now home to a host of pedofiles, side game hustlers, con artists and dead beats. Not all, but most foreign guys living here have a bag full of problems. Be careful when interacting with anyone fluent in English.
As for the locals… the big sign when entering Immigration “Please, do not tip the customs officers” should be your first indication. The town is full of corruption and hustle. Luckily it’s easily spotted and avoided. Just avoid any lengthy conversations with strangers/expats. Stay on your toes anytime you are dealing with currency. Closely examine each bill and double count. Better yet, latch onto a bar girl for a few days and let her navigate all of the bullshit.
Facts
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia, a country located in Southeast Asia. Here are some key aspects of Phnom Penh:
Location:
Phnom Penh is situated at the confluence of three major rivers: the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac rivers. This strategic location has historically made it an important trading and transportation hub.
History:
The city has a rich history that includes periods of French colonization and influence. During the 20th century, Phnom Penh also played a significant role in the tragic events associated with the Khmer Rouge regime, led by Pol Pot, which resulted in widespread suffering and loss of life. Over 2 million people are said to have perished in the Killing Fields.
Culture and Religion:
As the capital, Phnom Penh is a cultural and economic center with a mix of traditional Khmer influences and more modern elements. The city is home to various cultural and historical sites, including the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum of Cambodia.
Economy:
Phnom Penh's economy has been growing steadily in recent years, driven by construction, garment manufacturing, and tourism. The city has seen increased foreign investment and development projects. Currency is largely based on the US dollar.
Landmarks:
The Royal Palace, located on the banks of the Tonle Sap River, is a major landmark in Phnom Penh. It serves as the official residence of the King of Cambodia and is a prime example of traditional Khmer architecture. The Silver Pagoda, situated within the palace complex, is known for its silver floor tiles.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21):
This museum was once a high school but was converted into a prison and torture center during the Khmer Rouge regime. It stands as a reminder of Cambodia's dark history and the atrocities committed during that period.
Russian Market and Central Market:
Phnom Penh offers vibrant markets like the Russian Market (Psar Toul Tom Pong) and Central Market (Phsar Thmei), where locals and tourists can shop for a variety of goods, including clothing, jewelry, and traditional crafts.
Cuisine:
The city boasts a diverse culinary scene with a range of Khmer, Chinese, and French-influenced dishes. Street food is popular, and you can find markets and food stalls offering delicious local specialties.
Riverfront:
The riverside area along the Tonle Sap River is a popular spot for both locals and tourists. It features a pleasant promenade, restaurants, and cafes, making it a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery.
Logistics
Most travelers entering the Kingdom of Cambodia are required to obtain visas. Online E-Visas can be secured by completing the official application, a process that typically takes 3-5 business days for approval. These E-Visas remain valid for 3 months, allowing a stay of up to 30 days.
For those who arrive without an E-Visa, Tourist Visas can be acquired at the “Visa Upon Arrival” counters located at three airports: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanouk International Airport. The application process at these counters typically takes 20-30 minutes. To complete the process, travelers must present a passport with a minimum of six months’ validity and provide evidence of an onward ticket. The fee for the Tourist Visa is $30.00.
Techo International Airport (IATA: KTI, ICAO: VDTI)
Cambodia's newest and main international airport serving Phnom Penh. It opened for commercial operations on September 9, 2025, and fully replaced the old Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) as the city's primary hub. Located 20 km (12 mi) south of central Phnom Penh, travel time to the city center is roughly 30–60 minutes depending on traffic
Airport buses, taxis, rideshares (Grab), and private transfers are available. As will all SEA airports, know the price before getting into the car. Grab App is the easiest because there is zero negotiation.. Avoid the “unofficial” taxi drivers trolling around inside or right outside the terminal.
Rides should cost: Around $10–20 USD (≈ 40,000–85,000 KHR) to central Phnom Penh
The main currency in Cambodia is the US dollar. Watch out for fake bills!
Most of you will likely arrive into Cambodia via connecting flights from Bangkok, Hong Kong or Singapore. We purchased two round trip tickets on VietJet out of Bangkok for roughly $150.00 each. Note –VietJet is known as the Bikini Airline for occasionally having their female flight attendants switch uniforms from the standard aviation outfit into… bikinis. Unfortunately no such luck on either of our flights in/out.. dang!
Lodging
We stayed at the Mettavary Hotel located in the Bassac Lane district. Solid 4 star upscale hotel with very comfortable beds *Note: the hotel website quoted us a $175.00 per night. We booked on Agoda for $39.00 per night for the exact same room. – use Agoda.
The Monsoon Bassac was the destination for our final night in Phnom Penh, the property was a little dated but clean and conveniently located. We highly urge our members to stay in the Bassac Lane district. There are dozens of hotels and this tourist district is clean, safe and has a great offering of cool bars, cafes and restaurants.
Nightlife
Beer prices range from $.75 drafts during happy hour to $2.00 cans of Cambodia during non-happy hours. Mixed drinks ranged between $3.00 and $6.00 depending on what you were pounding. Lady Drinks averaged $6.00 and consisted of a draft beer with ice. (at least there is some alcohol and not just fruit juice as in the case with Pattaya.) We didn’t notice any crime issues (besides the massage parlors) nor any urban decay that would give someone pause on coming here.
Note: you will see a lot of negativity floating around on YouTube about the current state of Cambodia. As previously mentioned the hustle factor amongst the locals and expats is a factor. Fake currency, corrupt government officials and host of other problems warrant the bad publicity. However, the women in this town are some the funnest to be around and worth the trip over here.
The main girly bar district in Phnom Penh can be found in and around: Street 104, Street 118, Street 130 and Street 136. Start the foot of each street with your back to the river, walk up two blocks, turn and walk to the next block, then head back down towards the river. Wash, rinse and repeat. We managed to visit around a dozen bars over a four day span. There is a large variety of bars and they stay open until 5am. The Factory and Air Force Bar on 104, OSTEX Bar (grab a seat on the upstairs balcony), Party Girl on 136 were among our favorites.
Restaurant Street (Street 172) which includes a long line of restaurants (expat and backpacker heavy). This district also includes the two main clubs in town – Pontoon and the Heart of Darkness (which is supposedly Lady Boy intensive).
There is a fun Facebook Group called Street 172 which obviously focuses on that district - check it out.
Bassac Road District. This is a very cool, hip and energetic part of town. Upscale pubs, cocktail bars, restaurants, pizza joints and take out food abound. We recommend staying in this district and then traveling to the other districts for “entertainment”. Yacht Club, Kate Gin Bar and SROLANH Cocktail bar shouldn’t be missed for good drinks and people watching
Almost all of the hostess bars are air-conditioned with VIP Rooms and pool tables. As opposed to Pattaya, none offered actual short time rooms.
The Girls….
The women of Phnom Penh are absolutely amazing. Beautiful, intelligent, well mannered and most have a working knowledge of English. As stated in the video, I think this is a GFE territory second only to the Philippines. The women we interacted with were fun, loved to drink and were thankful to be hanging out with a few well mannered International Men of Leisure.
Note: The girls will not trust you at first. You can thank the dead beat expat population for this. Practice your IMOL skills and they usually warm up pretty quickly. We’ve had members fly into Phnom Penh, bar fine a girl for the first night at a high rate and then get a discount for the rest of the week. The girls are used to being played and hustled also.
If you are in town hunting for companionship your best bet will be walking down Street 104, Street 118, Street 130 and Street 136. These streets host a variety of girly bars, massage parlors, pubs restaurants etc. Start the foot of each street with your back to the river, walk up two blocks, turn and walk to the next block, then head back down towards the river. Poke your head into any establishment that looks interesting, you’ll have plenty of choices. If it looks fun stay and have a beer, if not leave and try the next one. Wash, rinse and repeat. We managed to visit around a dozen bars over a four day span. Note: most bars stay open until 5am. The Factory and Air Force Bar on 104, OSTEX Bar (grab a seat on the upstairs balcony), Party Girl on 136 were among our favorites. All are listed on our Google Maps Link at the top of the page.
Bar fines average $15.00 to $20.00 and do not include the lady’s fee. You’ll have to work that out with her. Most will suggest $100.00 for long time. Just like Thailand, LT means she’ll probably be with you until the next afternoon. These girls love to sleep.
Pro Tip: The lady drinks can get expensive here. Buy a few LD’s and if you are getting along ask her to bar fine. Then move to a neutral location where her drinks aren’t costing double of yours.
Freelancers:
A considerable number of freelancers can be found standing around the Way Phnom traffic circle, situated a few blocks North and a few blocks West of 104 Street. Additionally, we observed numerous women entering and exiting the pubs on Bassac Lane during the later hours of the evening, many seemingly on the lookout for someone willing to buy them a drink. Obviously the night clubs are also loaded with talent.
Pricing will depend on the girl, location and your negotiation skills.
The fake $100 bill (picture above) came out of the ATM machine! Fake currency is a major issue in Cambodia. Check every bill carefully when exchanging money.
Massage Parlor Scam
Massage Scams are big business in Phnom Penh.
We found lots of reports like the one below while doing research for our first Cambodia trip.
Don’t go,,,,stick to Thailand for a massage,,Red sign $3/5 massage franchise I had $800 in a locked locker, they must have false backs to access from room behind,,they replaced my money with fake dollars and one real $100 bill.. silly me I had just been to ATM minutes before so money not fake,,,48 hrs later when I tried cashing in $100 at reception they said all your money is fake,,,,have you been to a massage,,,,,told me it’s a regular thing people getting robbed,,,,told me go ask money back or you get the police!!!! They haggled but gave me $600 back but wanted the fake,,,,I went back hotel,,they said your lucky leave it,,,, sod that I went to the police station within 10 minutes I’m at the shop with the proper cop,,,got my last $100 and was told now situation finished!!! Yes I’m very lucky,,,,but I’ve been here 30 times and shocked how blatant and skilled the con trick is. I hope helps,,,all by River side.
We tried ( research purposes only 🤣) to find a legit massage. It was the same deal with each one we entered “Please put all clothes and possessions in locker” - my response “No. I want to keep my bag with me” None of the three shops we went into would allow us to keep our man bag (shoulder bag with wallet, phone etc) inside the massage room. I always hang mine in plain view.
We don’t recommend getting a massage in Phnom Penh - save it for Thailand.
Phnom Penh is an incredibly cool town to hang out in. Laid back vibe, lots of fellow travelers, expats and digital nomads drifting in/out of the bars. You’ll feel comfortable walking around here in no time.. Just don’t get too comfortable, the hustle can be strong here.