Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital city, is only sometimes considered a popular vacation spot. But it can be a great place to visit if you want something different from the usual tourist destinations. Some people who have already visited Phnom Penh will likely tell you something like this, “you are gonna fall in love deeply with this city or otherwise hate it.”

If you are interested and looking for something new in Phnom Penh, you should know about some travel tips before going to Phnom Penh. For an overview, Phnom Penh is an excellent place for you who love nightlife. This city is also famous for being one of the best places in Cambodia to find great food.

No wonder if you go to Phnom Penh, the city is busy, diverse, and vibrant.

The first thing you must highlight since it will summarize the rest of your trip in Phnom Penh, is the best time to visit the city. Since Cambodia is included as a tropical climate city, it only has two seasons and is the same as Phnom Penh.

The two main seasons in Phnom Penh are the dry and rainy seasons. Most tourists visit Phnom Penh from December to February because the weather is nice during these months.

However, if you love having fun outdoor activities, the summer season from May to October can also be a great choice. September to October is when the rain is heaviest around the city. Which month will you choose as a date for your holiday trip to Phnom Penh?

For your information, in Cambodia, and of course, it also applies to Phnom Penh. They use the US Dollar (USD) and the local currency, Cambodian Riels (KHR). However, for everyday daily activities, people commonly use USD instead of KHR, which is only used for the small things you buy on the street.

You need to prepare some things, including hotel prices, ticket flights, cost of food, public transportation, and many more.

For hotel prices itself, in Phnom Penh, the usual prices for hotels/guest houses near the city center are around 15 - 20 USD. The facilities you can get such Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, private bathroom, and many more.

However, if you want to sleep at least in a three-star hotel, the budget per night is around 25 - 35 USD. For cheaper expenses, you can sleep in a hostel instead, which only costs you about 7 - 12 USD.

You can choose from Common public transport, called tuk-tuk and buses. The buses usually cost around 0.4 USD. For tuk-tuk, you spend approximately 2 - 15 USD. You should have a deal first before going around with tuk-tuk.

You can also use taxis, rent a car or motorbike, or even hire a driver for your local guide. Taxis will cost you around 3 USD per 3 kilometers while renting a car will cost around 50 USD daily.

The budget for food is different for each person since we all have different tastes in cuisine. As an overview, many foods in Cambodia likely have the same taste as Thai or Vietnamese cuisines.

There are many exciting places to visit while in Phnom Penh. However, here are some ultimate destination recommendations for a first-timer to Phnom Penh.

Like Thailand, it will be easy to find temples around Cambodia. One of them is The Silver Pagoda. What makes it exciting & unique is over 5,000 silver tiles cover the Silver Pagoda on the temple floor.

Get a better knowledge of the royal family of Cambodia. The Royal Palace is the residence of King Sihamoni. There are only a few buildings available.

Around this palace, you will find stories about the royal family's history, various temples, and even the courtyard’s picture.

Phnom Penh also has a wildlife rescue in Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue. Hundreds of endangered species are rescued, rehabilitated, and even released at this place. A full day will cost around 150 USD if you want to visit this place.

Get yourself ready to spend a great time in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Plan your trip through Traveloka to have an excellent experience for a holiday trip. Happy holiday!