Phnom Penh vs Siem Reap

[Fifteen15]

What are the differences between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap? I've absolutely fallen in love with Phnom Penh but it's got to the point where I've ran out of things to do and I find myself at the casino every night.

If you've been to both cities, which one did you prefer and why?

[rarky]

Siem Reap is very touristy, lots to see and do outside of the city. Definitely worth a visit if you haven't been before. Are you living or holidaying in Cambodia? Well worth remembering that there is much more to Cambodia than just SR and PP...get out and see the place rather than wasting your $$$ in the casino.

[phuketrichard]

funny, out of all my visits to Cambodia an living there one year, have yet to step foot in a casino.

Different as night and day, Angkor Wat is MUST see

[sunnyk]

I plan to travel to Pnomh Penh in February from Thailand. Which route is better? Border or Cheap Air Asia flight to Pnomh Penh?

If via Poipet border how much time it takes to reach Pnomh Penh? I wish to spend 5-6 days in Cambodia. Which places are must see there and how to reach? Taxi or there are local tourist packages?

Thanks!

[seasia]

I plan to travel to Pnomh Penh in February from Thailand. Which route is better? Border or Cheap Air Asia flight to Pnomh Penh?

If via Poipet border how much time it takes to reach Pnomh Penh? I wish to spend 5-6 days in Cambodia. Which places are must see there and how to reach? Taxi or there are local tourist packages?

Thanks!

Hi

Having only once been to PP last year, I can`t really help you but I chose to go with Air Asia, just seemed the quickest and most convenient.

I stayed in PP, about 5 or 6 days perhaps a little unadventurous but really enjoyed the visit, visited Wat Phnom( temple and park) twice,

http://www.watphnom.net/

Took a short river cruise, walked around the city a bit etc.

I`d go back, probably adding on somewhere else in Cambodia also.

I found it to be an interesting place, people friendly and a nice break from Thailand.

Hopefully you get some good ideas of where to visit.

Enjoy your trip !

[sunnyk]

Oh Ok, Thanks!

I'll go to Siem Reap first than towards PP.

I'll be coming to Bangkok first than after seeing places I'll go Cambodia by crossing border. How's conveyance inside city? Places easy to reach?

Any organized tours from city?

I'll check TripAdvisor and other sites for more ideas

Thanks!

[Phuketpeter52]

I loved Cambodia but the infrastructure is very poor - much of the roads are dirt tracks and it can take hours to get comparatively short distances . Siem Reap to Poi Pot border 100km - 3 hours . Night sleeper bus siem reap to phnom pehn - 300km- 10 hours and the bus is awful. If u have time and no budget travel by land , if are short on time and have budget , fly .

[hanno]

I loved Cambodia but the infrastructure is very poor - much of the roads are dirt tracks and it can take hours to get comparatively short distances . Siem Reap to Poi Pot border 100km - 3 hours . Night sleeper bus siem reap to phnom pehn - 300km- 10 hours and the bus is awful. If u have time and no budget travel by land , if are short on time and have budget , fly .

When was the last time you went? Most roads are now paved and the Chinese are building highways everywhere. The trip SR - PP is long as the highway is being expanded but that is only temporary.

Oh, and one must be crazy to take a night bus. The roads are battle fields during the day; they are lethal at night.

Edited December 27, 2013 by hanno

[phuketrichard]

having driven these routes ur times are a bit long

SR-Poi Pet 2 hour max 2 1/2

SR- PP 5-6 hours by bus 4-5 in a taxi

Great roads up north

roads north out of sr towards Osmach, Preah vihear Fantastic

but as one gets closer to PP they get worse as they seem to constantly be fixing them

PP- SHV very good but lots of traffic

Edited December 27, 2013 by phuketrichard

[Phuketpeter52]

17 dec 2013 - 24th dec 2013 and I can assure you 1000% the road from siem reap is not paved nor was there any construction and the road. Siem reap to phnom pehn is actually worse. There are patches of what could loosely be called tarmac but much of it is dirt track - nor did in see any construction. I actually bailed out of the bus 85km short of PP and 8 hours into the journey . I jumped in one of those transit taxis they seem to have. I had no choice with night bus .....I was had my stuff stolen in SR and was not able to fly as had no ID. Gotta say tho' I loved the place and will go back.

Edited December 27, 2013 by Phuketpeter52

[sunnyk]

17 dec 2013 - 24th dec 2013 and I can assure you 1000% the road from siem reap is not paved nor was there any construction and the road. Siem reap to phnom pehn is actually worse. There are patches of what could loosely be called tarmac but much of it is dirt track - nor did in see any construction. I actually bailed out of the bus 85km short of PP and 8 hours into the journey . I jumped in one of those transit taxis they seem to have. I had no choice with night bus .....I was had my stuff stolen in SR and was not able to fly as had no ID. Gotta say tho' I loved the place and will go back.

So you been to both SR and PP ? What's there to see in SR besides Angkor Wat? And what to see in PP? Did you took the local tour ?

I am planning to visit SR, PP by Road than fly back to Thailand. If i have more time might go to HCM, Vietnam by border.

Edited January 4, 2014 by sunnyk

[phuketrichard]

SR visit the muesum

visit Kampong Phluk on the tonle sap

go to the night market

have dinner at the Loft

go horseback ridding

PP, buy a Lonely planet guide book for $5 on riverside

I have never taken a tour in my life but have led a few, worked for magic bus in 1978

and ran two bicycle tours from Lhasa to Kathmandu

[doggie1955]

I would go with expenia, for my trip to Phnom Penh from BKK and back; 3,860 baht. (RT) and that was with a room for two nights. Flying Air Asia...

[Sheryl]

On a pure sight-seeing basis, no question that SR is better. Can easily spend 2 weeks and still not see it all. In terms of sight-seeing there isn't much in Phnom Penh and it can all be covered in a day and a half:

- the Silver Pagoda/palace (you can't go inseide most of it)

- the riverfront area esp. at sunset

- wat phnom

- national museum

and for those who do not find the idea of using the Pol Pot atrocities as a tourist attraction distasteful/offensive (I do, as do all the Cambodians I know, especially those whose dead relatives are being exploited for this purpose) then there is Tuol Sleng Museeum and the Cheong Ek "Killing Fields".

Aside from sight-seeing, though, there are other things in PP to enjoy. Excellent western, south asian and middle eastern restaurants with authentic and very affordable food. Places with really good bread and western desserts (hard to find either in Thailand!). Lots of coffee shops and casual eateries with lounge-type furniture and wifi to just relax in. Many interesting locals to meet and most speak English (often very well in the case of the young people). etc. -- but avoid the riverside tourist trap area for this purpose!!! Anywhere else in the city is fine, but there it will just be touts of various types.

I also suggest not staying on the riverside, there are many nice small hotels and guesthouses to be found away from there where you will not be pounced on by aggressive touts as soon as you walk outside.