51 Free (and Cheap) Things to Do in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Updated for 2021, here’s my ultimate list of fun, weird, wonderful and FREE things to do in Phnom Penh, Cambodia!

As far as Southeast Asian cities go, Cambodia’s capital can easily err on the expensive side. Thankfully, there are dozens of free activities and events on throughout the year to keep travellers on a tight budget occupied.

Still planning your trip? Check out my Phnom Penh accommodation guide and my 1-3 day Phnom Penh itinerary.

While some of these things might cost you a few dollars, all are open to the public and most are absolutely, completely, unashamedly free! Music, art, workshops, culture, architecture, exercise, networking, eating and drinking—this list of cheap and free things to do in Phnom Penh has something for everyone.

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51 cheap & free things to do in Phnom Penh Cambodia

1. See the monks in the morning. Saffron robes and bare feet are a common sight in Phnom Penh. Starting at around 6am each morning, the city’s monks begin to emerge from their wats to collect morning alms and food offerings, stopping at shop doorways to chant blessings as they make their daily procession through the streets.

2. Visit a farmers’ market. I was surprised to learn recently that a lot of Phnom Penh’s market produce is imported. Spotlighting locally grown and organic ingredients, Farm to Table’s Mindful Market is held on Street 360 every Saturday.

Fresh fruit and veg and artisan small goods (including La Pops natural ice cream) is on offer, plus live music and $5 seasonal cocktails. Entry is free.

3. Get schooled on a random topic. Inspired by Pecha Kucha, Nerd Night is a rapid-fire public speaking event where expats and locals make short presentations on any topic of their choosing.

From marine conservation to a brief history of memes, you’d be surprised how much you can learn in seven minutes. Nerd Night is a roving event and typically has four to six speakers; check their Facebook page for dates and locations (or to sign up for your own slot!).

4. Take a crash course in meditation. Centrally located Wat Langka offers free meditation classes four days a week. Each session lasts for an hour; be prepared to spend most of that time sitting cross-legged on the floor in complete silence.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing (being sure to cover your knees and shoulders), and remember to remove your shoes before entering the wat. If yoga is more your thing, YK Art House offers new clients a free trial (online bookings essential).

5. Go on a self-guided walking tour of central Phnom Penh. It might not seem obvious at first, but Cambodia’s capital is full of architectural gems. Many of the city’s most significant buildings, including examples of New Khmer modernism, are covered in this free PDF walking map.

If you’d rather go with a guide, Khmer Architecture Tours employ local students to run their seven walking itineraries. Tickets cost $15 and can be reserved online.

Check out more fantastic Phnom Penh day tours.

6. Brush up on your Khmer. While learning the local language isn’t every traveller’s priority, some basic vocabulary will get you a long way in Cambodia, especially if you’re heading out to the provinces.

Khmer Study Group runs free language classes every Sunday afternoon at Eleven One Kitchen (one of my favourite restaurants in Phnom Penh!), plus regular Sunday dinner events for $3-$4 where foreigners and locals are encouraged to come and exchange language skills.

7. Refresh your travel wardrobe. Got something in your suitcase you’re dying to get rid of? Bee Vintage & Craft on Street 93 offers store vouchers in exchange for donations of used garments (provided what you’re swapping is clean and in good condition). Anything that can’t be re-sold is donated to the Boeung Kak community.

Also check out Bee Vintage’s regular PI Dollar Sale events, where new garments are sold for $2 a piece. For something different, local outfit YK Art House Craft and Flea Market (formerly Swap Sabai) holds monthly clothes swap events at YK House.

8. Watch a documentary film at Meta House. Phnom Penh’s German cultural centre shows docos, subtitled Khmer movies and international films almost every night of the year. All screenings are completely free—see their website for up-to-date listings.

If Meta House’s program doesn’t take your fancy, Never Land Art Space and the Phnom Penh Film Club host regular short film screenings with discussion time.

9. Work out at Olympic Stadium. The name might be a misnomer (Phnom Penh has never hosted a major international sporting event), and the 1964-built Olympic Stadium is definitely showing its age, but the asphalt track and central field are both still in good use today. If you don’t feel like exercising, perch yourself on the concrete bleachers and people watch instead.

10. Pig out at a food festival. You’ve sampled Khmer food at Phnom Penh night market—now it’s time to take it to the next level. There are a growing number of food festival events filling Phnom Penh’s calendar.

If you happen to be travelling in February, head to the annual Khmer Crafts and Food Festival, organised by social enterprise Villageworks.

In March, you can join in Slaprea, the Kingdom’s biggest food festival that attracts more than 120 vendors. If the timing isn’t right, just visit The Food Palace Chroy Changvar. Phnom Penh’s biggest ‘food court’ is set in traditional Khmer buildings and serves up cuisines from all over the world, including some quality cheap eats.

11. Tour Kingdom Breweries. Beer is big business Cambodia, and Kingdom Breweries offers some of the country’s finest ales. Unscheduled guided tours of the biggest craft brewery in Southeast Asia (which is located on the riverside just north of the city) leave from the onsite Taproom bar between 1pm and 5pm, Monday to Saturday.

A spot on the tour will set you back $15, but it includes unlimited free samples of Kingdom’s many beer and cider varieties. If you’re in town on the first Friday of the month, check out Kingdom’s TGIF nights, which include all-you-can-drink drought beer and burgers and fries for just $13 per person.

Reserve your place on a Kingdom Breweries tour online via Klook.

12. Visit a temple or two. Entry to Wat Phnom will set you back $1, while the Silver Pagoda on the city’s waterfront carries a $3 fee (plus $2 extra if you intend to take photos).

However, many of Phnom Penh’s smaller Buddhist wats don’t change any entry fee, even for foreigners. Be sure to put Wat Moha Montrei, Phnom Penh’s pastel temple (pictured below), at the top of your list!

13. See the sun go down. The Foreign Correspondents Club on Sisowath Quay is a Phnom Penh institution and great place to watch the sun go down. Only problem is, prices are steep.

For a budget-friendly alternative, try Sundown Social Club in Tuol Tom Pong, which offers stunning views of the sunset over the Russian Market. The bar offers $5 main meals all day every day—an absolute bargain—as well as free music and cocktail-themed events.

If you want to discover more of Phnom Penh’s best bars, consider signing up for this tour with Lost Plate.

Upgrade your sunset experience! Try this Sunset Cocktail Cruise on the Mekong River.

14. Indulge in a movie marathon. When one free film just isn’t enough, for a measly $3.50 you can hire your own couchette and pillow at The Flicks and enjoy unlimited movies all day. The Flicks is a volunteer-run enterprise that reinvests all its profits into community projects, so it might not technically be free, but it is money well spent.

Three air-conditioned locations in different city neighbourhoods screen new releases and classics. The perfect thing to do on a steamy summer day in Phnom Penh.

15. Get lost in a local market. Whether you’re scouting for something specific or just window shopping, Phnom Penh’s wet and dry markets (called phsar in Khmer) are a must-visit. Try Tuol Tom Poung (the Russian Market), Central Market, Olympic Market and the Night Market for starters, and be sure to venture to some of the city’s lesser-known markets for a more local experience.

16. Go ‘Plogging’ and lend a hand to clean up the city. An easy way to leave a positive mark on Phnom Penh’s landscape is by participating in a pop-up city cleanup. Hundreds of volunteers usually attend these privately organised cleanups, collecting more than 1,000 litres of garbage from the riverbank at a time.

Tuol Tompoung East organises monthly ‘Plogging’ events that combine jogging with neighbourhood trash collecting (safety gear is provided). Learn more about clean up efforts in Phnom Penh here.

17. Join a group hike. The Phnom Penh Hike Group lead semi-regular day trips out of the city, taking groups of up to 30 people on hikes around Oudong Hill. Participants are generally expected to make a contribution of around $15 to cover transport and the cost of a local guide.

18. Check out Phnom Penh’s street art. Street murals have been known to mysteriously disappear before the paint is even dry in Phnom Penh, but there are ‘protected’ pockets of the city that are famous for their vibrant street art. Street 93 and the laneway off Street 240 are both good spots.

19. Do aerobics on the waterfront. Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh’s riverfront, is pumping in the evenings, and outdoor aerobics classes are often held along the promenade. Join in or watch from afar – the unabashed enthusiasm of the mainly older female participants is hugely admirable (and slightly hilarious).

20. Mix it up at Futures Factory. Newly opened in 2019, Friends Futures Factory is a multipurpose creative space with cafes, performance venues, shops and restaurants. It’s the brainchild of the folks behind Friends the Restaurant, one of the best Cambodian eateries in town.

On any given night you might find free live music, a clothes swap, a maker’s markets or a talk taking place in the Factory’s breezy courtyard. Or you can just hang out and soak up the creative vibes.

21. Get snap happy at an OPC photo walk. The Overseas Press Club of Cambodia hold regular meet ups for journalists living in Phnom Penh. Every now and then the group also advertises ‘photo walks’, free weekend get-togethers where participants can wander the city’s streets accompanied by a qualified photojournalist.

Photo walks are designed to offer a new perspective on Phnom Penh and a chance to improve your photography skills. Don’t forget your camera.

Love photography? Try a guided photography tour of Siem Reap, Cambodia’s most photogenic town.

22. Eat breakfast with an expert. OK, so you’re on holiday, but there’s nothing wrong with keeping the mind active – even when you are in relax mode. Impact Hub Phnom Penh, a think-tank and co-working space on Street 306, holds regular Breakfast with the Expert events that aim to link entrepreneurs with seasoned professionals in social enterprise, the not-for-profit sector and start-up businesses.

Come along to chew the fat or sit back and absorb the conversation.Check out Impact Hub Phnom Penh’s full program of free events—including Mindful Monday meditation sessions, Happy Hour presentations and Impact Talks—here.

More foodie inspiration: My top breakfast and brunch spots in Phnom Penh.

23. Try a conditioning class at a Khmer boxing gym. If you’ve ever wanted to try kickboxing, Phnom Penh is a great place to do it. Prokout Fitness Centre is an impressively outfitted fighter’s gym located near Aeon Mall. Conditioning classes (similar to Crossfit or circuit training) are led by Khmer trainers every weeknight; you can drop in unannounced and try your first class for free.

If team sports are more your thing, Phnom Penh Dodgeball Club organises games every Tuesday and Thursday (it only costs $2 to play).

24. Uncover a vintage treasure. Expat Amanda Bloom has an eye for vintage and hosts pop-up sales every month or so under the name The History of Things to Come. While it’s free to browse, I can’t guarantee you won’t leave without spending at least a few dollars on a new frock.

25. Catch a live gig. For better or for worse (karaoke, I’m looking at you), there is music to be heard on the streets of Phnom Penh every night of the week. Friday night acoustic performances at Farm to Table, jazz at Bouchon Wine Bar, swing music at Hanger 44 in Bassac Lane and many, many more free events are all listed on the website Leng Pleng (Khmer for ‘play music’). They also have an app.

26. Participate in one of Cambodia’s Buddhist festivals. Visaka Bochea Day, Meak Bochea Day and Bonn Pchum Ben Day are among the most revered holidays on the Buddhist calendar, while Bonn Om Touk (the water and boat race festival, November) is cause for city wide celebration.

During Khmer New Year (March/April), Phnom Penh tends to empty out (and shut down) as people return home to their villages to mark the occasion with their families.

27. Eat a picnic lunch at a public park. Sometimes the focus of protests and political demonstrations, the 1.2-hectare Freedom Park, which reaches from the train station all the way to the Night Market, is usually a peaceful spot to sit.

Smaller parks around the Royal Palace and National Museum are usually abuzz with local families on Sunday afternoons.

28. Sip a free beer and belt out a tune at Show Box. Wednesday open mic nights at Show Box on Street 330 are something of an institution among Phnom Penh expats. The bar also offers free beer every night between 6.30 and 7pm – a winning combination if ever there was one.

29. Go for a bike ride through Phnom Penh’s green space. When I lived in Phnom Penh, my favourite weekend activity was jumping on my bike and cycling the Mekong Islands. There are a string of lush islands set in the river and accessible by car ferry from the city.

Once there, you can spend an afternoon cycling through rice paddies, small villages and forested areas. Bikes are available to hire for a few dollars a day from Mad Monkey Hostel.

Guided option: Grasshopper Adventures runs cycling tours of the Mekong Islands.

30. Visit the Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center. An incredibly important cultural resource for young Cambodians, the Bophana Center acquires film, television, photography and sound archives from around the world and restores free public access to these important sources of Khmer heritage.

On Cine Saturdays the Center airs movies from its growing library, and oftentimes you’ll get to meet the director, too. The event is free, but I strongly encourage you to make a donation to support Bophana’s work.

31. Eat all of the things. Phnom Penh might not have the same street food scene as Hanoi or night markets like Taipei, but chowing down on Khmer cuisine is still an essential part of visiting the capital.

From deep-fried creepy crawlies to delicious curries and wok-fried noodles, it’s amazing what you can find for a few riel. If sit-down dining is more your thing, check out my round-up of the best Khmer restaurants in Phnom Penh for inspiration.

Not sure where to start? Sign up for a Phnom Penh street food tour with Lost Plate.

32. Practice your salsa. Doors on Street 84 is a wildly popular restaurant that serves Basque-style tapas and award-winning cocktails. Set to the tune of live Latin music, their monthly salsa dance party nights have been known to run into the wee hours of the morning.

Learn Cambodian traditional dance! This short workshop hosted by Cambodian Living Arts will show you the basics of the gorgeous Cambodian Apsara.

33. Get your nails done for a good cause. As if managing two of the best restaurants in town wasn’t enough, Friends International also runs a Nail Bar that offers vocational training to young, disadvantaged Cambodians. Nails & Cocktails events are on most Sundays at Romdeng; you can use the pool for free and get an express mani and pedi for just $8.50.

34. See a photography exhibition at Java Cafe. Both branches of this Phnom Penh coffee house host photography and painting exhibitions by French and Khmer artists. Look out for free opening night events if you want to brush shoulders with the city’s creative set.

35. Stroll along Sisowath Quay at dusk. A Mekong River cruise is a popular choice for travellers wanting to see Phnom Penh’s riverfront at dusk, but in the dry season the water is low, making it difficult to see anything over the high river banks.

It’s just as nice (and a lot cheaper) to stick to dry land and explore Sisowath Quay by foot instead. This way, you get to sample all the delicious local snacks you stumble on along the way. If you love the sound of this part of the city, choose a hotel on the waterfront to base your stay.

36. See sericulture and silk weaving on Koh Dach. A narrow island in the middle of the Mekong, Koh Dach (or ‘Silk Island’, sometimes called ‘Mekong Island’) can be easily reached by tuk-tuk, moto or bicycle from Phnom Penh.

Technically located outside the city limits in Kandal province, the island is home to a vibrant sericulture (silkworm raising) industry. Visitors are free to wander between marked stilted houses where women weave silk and cotton on handlooms.

If you’re heading to Siem Reap next, be sure to take a free tour of the Artisans D’Angkor silk farm and workshop while you’re there.

Go deeper: Hear about Cambodia’s silk trade from a local with this guided tour of the silk weaving houses and Koh Dach beach.

37. Send a postcard from the Central Post Office. Surrounded by the romantic, crumbling colonial architecture of Post Office Square, Phnom Penh’s main post office is located in the heart of the old French Quarter. The building itself was restored in 2004 and is now a fully operational mail centre.

There’s no guarantee your postcard will arrive at its final destination, but if you’re in the mood, you can purchase everything required to send a note home from the post office’s main counter, including gorgeous commemorative stamps that depict Apsara dancers.

38. Learn something new at Mini Maker Faire. The concept of the Mini Maker Faire originated in San Francisco, and the kooky event made its way to Phnom Penh in 2016. Described by organisers as “an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors,” the Faire involves demonstrations, DIY and workshops and is free for both makers and punters.

39. Foster your inner Francophile at Institut Francais du Cambodge. Events aren’t as regular as at Meta House, but if you’re after something a little different, Cambodia’s French institute on Street 184 has a predilection for classic continental and silent films. Screenings are enjoyed plein air and sometimes hosted in partnership with Khmer NGOs. Check times here.

40. Walk yourself down Street 13. Not all of Phnom Penh’s streets warrant a walking tour, but Street 13 which links the National Museum and Chinese House is a popular route if you want to take in colonial architecture and bustling markets in equal measure. This guide written by Travel Fish is a helpful resource.

41. Immerse yourself in urban art culture. Phnom Penh has some awesome murals by local and international street artists. Some of the best pieces can be seen around Street 240.

If the timing is right, check out the annual Cambodian Urban Art Festival, featuring live mural paintings, music performances and other special events around Phnom Penh and beyond.

You can even join a Tuk Tuk Tour to see the city’s best street art in style! If you miss the festival, there are loads of galleries in town that celebrate the city’s urban art scene; try KBach Gallery, for regular exhibitions and art auctions.

42. Hone your creative skills with a craft workshop. Drink and Draw offers life-drawing classes at Cloud on Street 9 for just $3 per person. Easels in the Alley workshops at ARTillery cost around $25 and are run by local artists. Nowhere on Street 312 also offer lessons in brush lettering, rubber stamping and lotus leaf oil painting and cost between $20 and $60.

43. Network at CoLAB. Set in an airy cafe on Street 163, CoLAB meet-ups are the place to connect with developers, techies, designers and other professionals working in Phnom Penh. Especially useful if you’re new to the city.

44. Get your game on. Love a bit of healthy competition? Phnom Penh has plenty of game and trivia nights where you can win vouchers and cash prizes. The Box Office holds semi-regular trivia nights, as does Long After Dark, one of the city’s coolest bars. Meanwhile at Cloud, you can join retro gaming and old-school board game nights.

45. Smash it out at The Factory. Taking over an old garment factory on the city’s outskirts, The Factory is a multipurpose creative space that opened in 2018. As well as a great program of free events, The Factory is home to a co-working space where you can hire a hot desk for as little as $9 per day and slam out that project or piece of writing you’ve been putting off.

46. Watch a performance by the Phnom Penh Players. This local amateur troupe presents regular stage shows, including a popular rendition of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (crowd participation is mandatory).

If you like what you see, the Players are constantly on the look-out for new actors, musicians and set-builders to join the team—drop in on a monthly Phnom Penh Players Party to meet the crew and ask questions.

Cambodian Living Arts often sells out. Reserve your tickets online here.

47. Get acquainted with Cambodia’s most prolific architect. It’s worth reading up on the incredible life and history of one of Cambodia’s greatest architects, Vann Molyvann, before you arrive in Phnom Penh. If you’re interested in the flamboyant style he pioneered (known as New Khmer Architecture), you can take a self-guided walking tour to see some of his greatest works up close.

The Vann Molyvann Project is an excellent information resource on the architect, who sadly passed away in 2018, and the public is even free to attend closing night celebrations for their Summer School program. Tag along to hear presentations about the students’ research and geek-out on all things Molyvann.

48. Swim in a hotel pool. One of the absolute best things to do in Phnom Penh involves not doing much at all! Cambodia is home to some rather swanky resorts and many have pools that are open to non-guests. It’s free to swim and lounge in the shade at Villa Langka when you spend $10 on food or drink.

Heading to Siem Reap next? Check out my round-up of the best Siem Reap accommodations for every budget.

49. Name that tropical fruit? There are two events currently running in Phnom Penh that are both designed to teach visitors about the area’s produce through a healthy amount of taste testing. The monthly Fruit for Thought at Farm to Table costs $5 and includes some amazing cocktails.

Discovery Farms‘ Fruitology Night Tours lead guests through a local organic farm and a local night food market, teaching you how to spot different varieties of fruit and the cultural value behind them.

50. Go dancing in the street at a Phnom Penh block party. As well as their usual program of live music events, Phnom Penh Underground throw rowdy street parties every now and then. Follow their Facebook page to stay in the loop.

51. Meet a local artist. If you’re keen to make some creative connections in Phnom Penh (or just strike up an interesting conversation), Sa Sa Art Projects hold open studios with local artists while Sa Sa Bassac offer artist-in-conversation sessions to complement their exhibition program.

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Where to stay in Phnom Penh

Budget travellers and backpackers will love the atmosphere at Mad Monkey Hostel – there’s also a pool and bikes for hire.

My favourite mid-range hotel in Phnom Penh is Patio Hotel & Urban Resort. We stayed there a few times, and so did my dad when he came to visit us. The decor, pool and on-site restaurant are all top-notch. Prices are very reasonable, especially if you book online in advance.

If you’ve saved your pennies on free activities and can afford to splurge on accommodation, The Balé Phnom Penh is my top choice for luxury digs.

Check out more recommendations for hotels in Phnom Penh that come with a pool, or browse my comprehensive Phnom Penh accommodation guide for more inspiration.

How to get to Phnom Penh

The easiest (and cheapest) way to travel around Cambodia is by bus. When I lived in Cambodia, I always used Giant Ibis.

This company has a good safety track record, has seat belts installed in all its vehicles, and mandates its drivers to adhere to speed limits. In my experience, staff are very professional and the buses always run on time.

Giant Ibis uses vans for shorter journeys (such as Kampot to Phnom Penh) and coaches for longer journeys (e.g. Siem Reap to Phnom Penh).

It’s not unusual for seats to sell out, especially during high season or around holidays (of which there are plenty in Cambodia!). If you know your Cambodia itinerary, I highly recommend booking your bus tickets in advance via 12GoAsia.

• Reserve your Siem Reap to Phnom Penh bus tickets
• Reserve your Kampot to Phnom Penh bus tickets
• Reserve your Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh bus tickets

More Cambodia travel resources

• Cambodia packing list, handy things to pack for Cambodia
• 1-3 day itinerary for Phnom Penh
• Where to stay in Phnom Penh
• 12 best day trips from Phnom Penh
• The best Khmer restaurants in Phnom Penh
• Where to eat breakfast in Phnom Penh and where to find the best coffee in Phnom Penh
• 51 free things to do in Phnom Penh
• Resort style swimming pools in Phnom Penh
• How to use PassApp to book a tuk tuk in Cambodia
• 41 things to do in Kampot
• Where to stay in Kampot
• How to buy tickets for Angkor Wat
• Best Siem Reap tours for every budget and interest
• My guide to Battambang, Cambodia’s cultural capital
• My guide to Kampong Cham, northern Cambodia’s most charming town
• My guide to Kratie, home of Cambodia’s best sunset!

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What are your favourite free things to do in Phnom Penh? Please share your ideas in the comments below!

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