This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you are better prepared for what to expect, what not to expect and can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Phnom Penh. To help you make friends with Phnom Penh before you visit, we've included a few helpful and fun things you should know about the area. Enjoy!
Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, is an attractive, friendly, up and coming city which is well worth a visit.
While staying in a Phnom Penh hostel, we recommend that you sample the local cuisine, stroll along the river at dusk, take a tuk tuk tour of the city, and surrounding countryside. If you're brave, you can visit the harrowing S21 prison museum and the Killing Fields. Be prepared for the heat - like most of Cambodia it's oppressively hot and suffocating at times - but its colorful flavor, friendly locals, and fantastic architecture more than make up for this.
The main area for to look for a hostel in Phnom Penh is Boeung Kak, where rooms are cheap and plentiful. Local and western restaurants line the streets, and if you're willing to pay a few extra dollars, the riverfront restaurants and bars offer a beautiful and scenic view well worth the additional cash. It's worth booking in advance if you plan to visit during Cambodian New Year (when many of the guesthouses close so the locals can return to their home towns and villages). However for the most part Phnom Penh hostel rooms are plentiful and easy to come by.
