What city to visit in Cambodia?

I crossed the border from Vietnam into Cambodia in February 2020. Before booking to go Cambodia, I had no prior knowledge of the country, except that Angelina Jolie had adopted her son from there. But my gut said that I would love it in Cambodia. If I listened to the views of others about Cambodia I would have skrr’d and not visited. Turns out half the people with a negative opinion had heard stories “through the grapevine” and hadn’t even been to Cambodia. You might be stuck with the question, what city do I go to? So I’m breaking down the differences when it comes to staying in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, and Siem Reap.

Vibe

Siem Reap is all about community life. The people are super friendly and chilled. Solo travel would be ideal in this city as you can be alone but not feel lonely. There’s also the option to fully immerse yourself in the community. I was able to enter a school and be part of a 2 hour English class on the day.

Phnom Penh is more lively and gives off an “every man for themselves” feel. I was warned by hotel staff to stay alert as people stay ready to steal your phone in public. My friend was out and about one night and someone on a motorbike attempted to steal the phone of someone she was with.

*Siem Reap wins on the vibe for me. Even though I’m “anti” I like to feel welcome when I travel!*

Hotels

In both cities, I stayed in cute hotels with swimming pools. The places that I stayed in were both away from the party area, which was a must after the areas I’d stayed in before. In Phnom Penh I stayed in Okay Boutique Hotel and in Siem Reap I stayed in The Secret Corner Unique Residence

*Siem Reap wins on the hotel front. The hotel in Siem Reap was a boutique and therefore much more intimate. Plus the staff dropped us to venues in the area which was sweet*

Things To Do

Siem Reap is the closest city to Angkor Wat, also known as the city of temples. It is a major tourist attraction and the largest religious monument in the world. So a big big deal! People come from around the world to visit there, and spend anything from 1,2 and 3 days exploring. Tomb Raider was also filmed there I believe. In Siem Reap there is also a man-made beach club, which was a motive once I took over the music. They usually have live DJ sets.

Phnom Penh offers a detailed remembrance of the Cambodian Genocide and has buildings to highlight their history. You can visit the Killing Fields and S21 to learn about what happened during the Khmer Rouge era. There are also various temples and the beautiful Presidential Palace that you can visit. The views and architecture are proper breathtaking. Plus if cats are your thing they have cat cafes in this city. (They make me itch but the cafes are popular)

*Phnom Penh wins with things to do. There is just so much to see. I’m big on learning about historical events and culture in general and this city provides the biggest variety*

The Presidential Palace Grounds - Phnom Penh

Angkor Wat - Siem Reap

Markets

Phnom Penh has really lively night markets that include live bands, food stalls and clothes galore. The Russian Market and Central Market are the most popular. I got lost in the Central Market and panicked majorly because there was so much going on. They sell everything from suitcases, jade bracelets, clothing, to woodwork there.

Siem Reap has a day market just off of Pub Street, and a night market by the lake. The products are quite repetitive though. Once you’ve seen a few vendors you’ve seen them all!

*Phnom Penh wins with their markets. There are more choices and extras.*

Food Places

Phnom Penh offers river trips where you can dine on the boat. It’s a nice experience but the river isn’t appealing at all. Food stalls in the Russian night market offer floor seating and the items you put into a basket get cooked in front of you which is an experience. The restaurants and bars on the main strip were very western. And the stalls around the city were surrounded by rubbish bags, horrific smelling with dust around them. That whole set up made me feel uncomfortable so I avoided the food stalls in Phnom Penh. The only aroma I like to smell is the good stuff coming from my food.

Siem Reap has Pub Street where luxury restaurants are situated and bars. Big prices, minimal food, the usual set up. But just around the corner literally, on the side of the road by the lake bridge, there are stalls that provide the best food you’ll have in Cambodia. You’re sitting on plastic chairs at a table for primary school children but the energy and food is everything.

*Siem Reap wins here but it really comes down to preference on this one. Either way, the food in Cambodia is amazing though.*

Wrap Up

When I add up the sections Siem Reap wins. I 100% had a more enjoyable experience in Siem Reap. I’m not anti-Phnom Penh though and I’m happy I visited the city. Ultimately, I learned what I needed to about the country’s past which was my sole focus for visiting that city. There’s nothing that would pull me back to Phnom Penh, whereas with Siem Reap it’s the sort of place I would continuously go back to. It’s comforting and vibezy. I could see Siem Reap as a base for someone who could work remotely and just wanted to live and breathe freely.

If you want some in-depth deetz from my experience in each of the cities read ‘Frizzy’s guide to … Phnom Penh or Siem Reap