Things to do in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with kids

Phnom Penh is usually the city one visits when heading to or from Siem Reap, but it surprisingly has lots to offer families.  The weather was horribly hot and humid when we were there, but really, is there any other type of weather?  We spent 2 days in Phnom Penh before heading to Siem Reap.  Here are just a couple of things we got to do.

Pool!  First things first!  Find a hotel with a pool.  We stayed at G Eleven.  Big rooms, comfy huge beds and best of all a pool.  Perfect for a swim after a hot morning of exploring.

The Palace is a good place to let the kids run free.  Although, I didn't feel this was the best palace we've ever been to it was still interesting to explore.  Our kids especially loved the silver pagoda.  It's a bit pricy to enter so unless you really love Palaces I would pass on this one.  If felt and looked so run down to me.

Play parks!  Next to the palace is one of the best parks in all of Cambodia!  The park has multiple play areas for kids of all ages.  The ground is made of the rubbery cushion so soften falls and there is a snack area near by with lots of bicycle vendors.  At dusk the park is filled with local kids and the perfect spot to enjoy an ice cream before bed.

River front night market is the perfect place to enjoy some great food and have a picnic.  Large mats are set out for people to sit on since there are not a lot of tables.  It seems the whole town comes out at night.  After dinner take a walk along the riverfront and you'll  get some of the best people watching of your life.

Take a boat ride down the river.   For around $5USD you can take an hour long ride along the river and see.

Lyla Center was a fun day for all of us.  They have a huge indoor play area and a pool with small water park for kids outside.  We spent a few hours playing inside then hit the pool area to cool off.  They also have a gym, yoga studio and a nice cafe with great wifi.  There was no published rates when we visited but we paid around $6 for all of us.

Sovanna and Sorya Shopping Centers both have play and game areas for kids.  We stopped to check them out but they were very unimpressive and tiny.  Our kids got bored quickly and it wasn't even worth the visit for air con.

Can anyone else suggest some fun kids things to do in Phnom Penh?

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Angkor Wat with kids

Thinking about visiting Angkor Wat with kids? We just completed our visit and it was a blast for all of us. Here are some tips for success:



 

Plan- The Angkor temple complex is amazing in beauty, size, and heat. Our must see sights were Tomb Raider and Angkor Wat. We wanted to see as many temples as possible but we knew our kids wouldn't have the stamina. So we saw the highlights in the morning. In the afternoons each of us took turns exploring on our own.

1, 3, or 7 day pass? The 3 day pass is good for a week and the 7 day pass can be used over a month. Kids under 12 are free. Your picture is printed on the pass and gets checked at every site. No sharing passes! Three days over a week gives some days of rest, which you will need. Whatever amount of time you have, plan for some resting time to cool down. It gets pretty hot pretty fast.





Hotel - Get a place with a pool. After a few hours in the heat, we couldn't wait to dive in and cool off.

Start early in the morning. We noticed that tourists really started showing up around 9am. Plus it's a lot cooler.

Time of year - we visited the first week of May which is the hottest time to visit (surprise). However, it is the best time to visit without crowds. In January, you can be shoulder to shoulder walking through the temple hallways. Our kids were freer to run around






Hire a tuk tuk. It's more fun for the kids and a much more scenic way to get around. Plus you will be supporting a local Cambodian.

Wear sunscreen, bring a handkerchief , umbrellas and water. 

Should you bring a stroller? Don't bother. The ancient Khmer engineers did not design stroller friendly temples. You'll end up leaving it outside the temples anyways and it will likely get stolen. 

There will be plenty of places to buy water and food.

Finally, think long and hard about giving money to children selling cheap junk or simply begging you to buy. If you do, you are teaching them to rely on handouts, paying them to stay out of school. Instead, talk to them. Where are they from? What subject do they like in school? How many siblings do they have? How old are they? Quiz them on the capitols of various countries.

What was your favorite temple?

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