Street Art in Phnom Penh Cambodia? Not the usual place to search for murals but wherever we travel, I always look for Street Art.
Admittedly to say there is a “Street Art Scene” brimming with insta-worthy Urban Art would be a stretch too far, however there is at least one street where you can find some pretty murals.
Street 93 in the Boeung Kak Area known by many as “Lakeside”, is where you will find a collection of walls painted to brighten up a once derelict area.
But for now, until more murals are painted, let me show you what we uncovered when looking for street art in Phnom Penh.
Admittedly to say there is a “Street Art Scene” brimming with insta-worthy Urban Art would be a stretch too far, however there is at least one street where you can find some pretty murals.
Street 93 in the Boeung Kak Area known by many as “Lakeside”, is where you will find a collection of walls painted to brighten up a once derelict area.
But for now, until more murals are painted, let me show you what we uncovered when looking for street art in Phnom Penh.
Where most cities around the world are wising up to the Street Art scene, Cambodia isn’t. Attractive murals are whitewashed over as quickly as they appear, but there is hope with the annual Cambodian Urban Art Festival which takes place every December.
Some restaurants, bars and hotels are recruiting artists to brighten up their drab walls, giving a touch of colour to an otherwise dull section of whitewashing. In the future, hopefully Phnom Penh will see more shifts in attitude towards Cambodia’s art scene.
Some restaurants, bars and hotels are recruiting artists to brighten up their drab walls, giving a touch of colour to an otherwise dull section of whitewashing. In the future, hopefully Phnom Penh will see more shifts in attitude towards Cambodia’s art scene.
Street Art in Phnom Penh is raw. It’s lovely to seek out and the murals around Street 93 do make buildings more colourful. However this is a residential area, just ordinary people living next to street art. Washing is hung out to dry covering pretty pieces, and tuk tuks parked obscuring others. But that is life here.
Art around Street 93 begun a few years ago when two women opened up a French café called Simone’s Bistro and Art. Their vision was to turn Boeung Kak into an art district, and they invited local and international artists to decorate the walls with colourful murals. Although the café has since closed, the street art (albeit a little faded and chipped in places) still remains.
The street isn’t very big so it won’t take you long to walk and down, seek out and admire the art that is around here. Look behind bins and down a little alleyway, you will be surprised to find art here and it can feel like a bit of a treasure hunt.
The street isn’t very big so it won’t take you long to walk and down, seek out and admire the art that is around here. Look behind bins and down a little alleyway, you will be surprised to find art here and it can feel like a bit of a treasure hunt.
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I have since heard that around 15 large wall murals were painted in December 2017 as part of the Cambodian Urban Art festival. Artists were brought in from France, Canada, Nepal and Thailand to brighten up the City.
In an alleyway off Street 240 you should find a mural of a large face on a red background. An ocean scene was on the wall at Dib Club on Koh Pich, there was more street art on the corners of Kakada Yi and Ket Monnyreak, and one at the Canadian International School.
In an alleyway off Street 240 you should find a mural of a large face on a red background. An ocean scene was on the wall at Dib Club on Koh Pich, there was more street art on the corners of Kakada Yi and Ket Monnyreak, and one at the Canadian International School.
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Cambodian Urban Art Festival works together with local businesses, and always need sponsored walls for their artists. One sponsored wall is next to FCC Mansion, a French colonial building where artist Davido recently pained his “symbol of agricultural” mural featuring two water buffaloes, he wanted “to show the strength of the Cambodian people over time”. Next to The Mansion, on a wall belonging to LBL, there was a mural of locals dressed in traditional Lakhon Khol.
The next Cambodian Urban Art is 13 – 16 December 2018. They are always looking for sponsors and walls for decorating. Email cambodianurbanart@gmail.com or check out their Facebook Page.
The next Cambodian Urban Art is 13 – 16 December 2018. They are always looking for sponsors and walls for decorating. Email cambodianurbanart@gmail.com or check out their Facebook Page.
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If you want to go looking for Street Art in Phnom Penh, I recommend downloading the Grab App, or local PassApp for cheaper tuk-tuk or rickshaw journeys. Ask your driver to take you to the Boeung Kak area for Street 93. When you see the mosque with pastel pink roof, veer left and you should start to see art.
Learn the lingo
Learning just a few words of the local Khmer language will bring a smile to locals’ faces, and make you feel part of their culture instead of just another tourist.
Hello - Susadei (soos-a-day) NB: informal
How are you/I am fine - Soksaby (soks-a-bye) NB: The same word used for both
Goodbye - Lee hi – Goodbye NB: informal
Thank you - Arkun
No - Ot The (ot-tei) – (you will need this for the persistent tuk tuk drivers!)
Travel and Visa information
Learn the lingo
Learning just a few words of the local Khmer language will bring a smile to locals’ faces, and make you feel part of their culture instead of just another tourist.
Hello - Susadei (soos-a-day) NB: informal
How are you/I am fine - Soksaby (soks-a-bye) NB: The same word used for both
Goodbye - Lee hi – Goodbye NB: informal
Thank you - Arkun
No - Ot The (ot-tei) – (you will need this for the persistent tuk tuk drivers!)
Travel and Visa information
- A 30 day tourist Visa (cost is $30) can be obtained on arrival at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports. It’s the quickest, most efficient visa application we have experienced.
Note: You may have to show an onward flight. We flew Singapore to Phnom Penh with Jetstar. At the document check counter in Singapore, we were asked to show our flight out of Cambodia. This is the first we had heard about having to provide proof of an onward journey, but thankfully we had a ticket. I am unsure if other airlines ask for this, whether the man was having a bad day, or if it’s required at border crossings by land, but I thought it’s worth a mention. - Official currency – Cambodia uses two currencies; Cambodian Riel and US Dollars. Most prices are quoted in US$ but you can pay with a mixture of both currencies. Change will often be given the same way. Eg: A $2 taxi ride can be paid with $1 and 4,000 riel.
4,000 riel = $1.
5,282 riel = £1
4,764 reil = 1 Euro - Driving – right hand side of the road.
- Tipping – Not compulsory or expected, however a few tuk-tuks drivers asked us for one or asked to keep the change. If tipping is your country’s custom, or you feel you had a nice tuk tuk driver, good tour guide or tasty meal, then by all means feel free to tip, or tell them to keep the change.
- Data – Buy a Smart sim card for $3 then buy which lasts for 1 month. At the airport, we saw a sign for 26G data for $6, in town we bought 4G for $5. Download the Smart App to monitor data allowance, or dial *087*888# from your phone.
A Khmer Tuk-Tuk
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A Rickshaw
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If you are travelling to and from Phnom Penh by train, we suggest you check schedules ahead of time at Bookaway, you can also book your tickets in advance online to save time and hassle. For other Asian destinations, check ferry/bus schedules to make planning easier.
Getting from Phnom Penh Airport & Travelling around the City
At Phnom Phen Airport there are taxi and tuk-tuk stands, they will approach you. Prices are displayed; tuk-tuks are $7-$9, taxis $10-$15.
There is no public transport system and it’s a big City. There are three different modes of transport you can use; car taxi, rickshaw or khmer tuk-tuk. Download the Grab App for cheaper transport, or the local Pass App.
Getting from Phnom Penh Airport & Travelling around the City
At Phnom Phen Airport there are taxi and tuk-tuk stands, they will approach you. Prices are displayed; tuk-tuks are $7-$9, taxis $10-$15.
There is no public transport system and it’s a big City. There are three different modes of transport you can use; car taxi, rickshaw or khmer tuk-tuk. Download the Grab App for cheaper transport, or the local Pass App.
Entrance to SLA Boutique Hostel/Hotel
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Our bedroom - small but had everything we needed
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Where to stay in Phnom Penh
We stayed in SLA Boutique Hostel which is more like a hotel than a hostel, seriously the best hostel we have ever stayed in. I honestly believe that our experience in Phnom Penh was increased because we stayed here.
We had a private room with shared bathroom, but they also have dorm beds in single sex or co-ed dormitories. Beds have a large metal frame for you to hang your clothes or for us, to padlock our pacsafe.
In our room we had a safe, TV, aircon, towels can be rented for $1. Breakfast of eggs on toast was included, free water refills, plus they run daily activities such as movie nights, cooking class and one free beer every Friday. Nearby is a mini-mart, ATM, SIM card seller, plus plenty of restaurants for local and international food.
We initially booked two nights, but this hostel is so quiet and relaxed, we extended our stay.
Cost: $18 per night for a double room
We stayed in SLA Boutique Hostel which is more like a hotel than a hostel, seriously the best hostel we have ever stayed in. I honestly believe that our experience in Phnom Penh was increased because we stayed here.
We had a private room with shared bathroom, but they also have dorm beds in single sex or co-ed dormitories. Beds have a large metal frame for you to hang your clothes or for us, to padlock our pacsafe.
In our room we had a safe, TV, aircon, towels can be rented for $1. Breakfast of eggs on toast was included, free water refills, plus they run daily activities such as movie nights, cooking class and one free beer every Friday. Nearby is a mini-mart, ATM, SIM card seller, plus plenty of restaurants for local and international food.
We initially booked two nights, but this hostel is so quiet and relaxed, we extended our stay.
Cost: $18 per night for a double room
Beware of the snatch-and-grab thieves in Phnom Penh
In advance of visiting Phnom Phenh we had heard about the high crime-rate of motorbike bag snatching. Many decent hotels/hostels will warn you of bag-snatchers and tell you to be careful, because locals are against this growing crime scene.
Determined lads on motorbikes drive by and snatch mobiles out of your hand, or bags from your body. We read that even wearing a bag across your body doesn't help as they have a lot more to lose than you, and I read that people can be knocked to the ground as they snatch and drive away. I still carried a cross-body bag which I clipped through the loop of my walking trousers, and held onto my bag wherever I walked.
We also both wore walking shorts (trousers with zipped off legs), and placed our wallet/phone in the leg zip pockets. Yes we became paranoid but in truth, we never felt threatened, maybe this was because we were sensible and protective.
Also be careful of your backpack at the airport and in an open rickshaw or tuk-tuk. Never let it out of your sight and when in a vehicle, don't keep your bag on the side of traffic and if you do, loop your legs through the arms. Alternatively, sit your bag on your lap and hold it close to you.
As long as you stay alert and make eye contact with any motorcyclist driving in your tuk-tuk's blind spot. Remember that thieves target unsuspecting tourists, staying alert will stop you being a victim.
Have you visited Phnom Penh? Did you know about the street art? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.
Anti-Theft Protection:
These products were worth their weight in gold for our piece of mind in Phnom Penh! We are so glad we had purchased them in advance, they are used regularly on our world wide travels.
Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, it won't cost you any extra but the small commission we may earn will help support the FeetDoTravel community.
Pacsafe 120
Cost: £84.85 |
Pacsafe
Cross-Body Bag Cost: £51.67 |
Pacsafe
Bra Pouch Cost: £12.33 |
Ladies walking trousers, zip-off legs
Cost: £24.99 |
Men's walking trousers with zip-off legs
Cost: From £27.91 |
Pacsafe Travel Belt
Cost: £12.90 |
Pack of 4 padlocks
Cost: £15.99 |
Travelling around Thailand, Cambodia & Malaysia? Hope these related links help
Siem Reap Pagoda Cats - Better Than Any Cat Cafe
My Chiang Mai
Temple Tour Chiang Mai
Why You Should Visit Chiang Rai
Temple-Tastic Chiang Rai
Elephant Valley Thailand - Where Elephants Come First
It's a Monk's Life (Interview with Buddhist Monks)
Ping Pong at Patpong
Penang: City of Surprises
Penang Street Art
Siem Reap Pagoda Cats - Better Than Any Cat Cafe
My Chiang Mai
Temple Tour Chiang Mai
Why You Should Visit Chiang Rai
Temple-Tastic Chiang Rai
Elephant Valley Thailand - Where Elephants Come First
It's a Monk's Life (Interview with Buddhist Monks)
Ping Pong at Patpong
Penang: City of Surprises
Penang Street Art
Need more advice? The Lonely Planet books have always been my first point of reference! Alternatively, other people prefer the style of The Rough Guide - take your pick!
Book your Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or Cambodia hotel with us! You can also book any weekend break or holiday hotel through our website. We always use Booking.com - visit our Hotel Booking Page and search as normal.
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This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity and download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this post.
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