The 6 Best Markets in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The Art Deco design that forms the hub of bustling Central Market
The Art Deco design that forms the hub of bustling Central Market | © Davide Calabresi / Shutterstock
Marissa

The market forms an integral part in Cambodians’ lives, with daily visits made to stock up on food for the day as well as other items. That means the capital of Phnom Penh is dotted with markets both large and small. Here are the capital’s top markets to visit.

Central Market

Market

© Davide Calabresi / Shutterstock
Established in 1937, Central Market, known locally as Phsar Thmei, is a unique Art Deco interpretation of a traditional market, with a well-designed dome forming the centrepiece. Stalls sell everything from jewellery, gems and trinkets to homeware, food, souvenirs and handicrafts. The central dome is surrounded by stalls. This market is popular with tourists, with prices reflecting that.

Russian Market

Market

© gary yim / Shutterstock
Natively known as Phsar Toul Tom Poung, this market is another popular spot with the tourist crowd, who flock there to barter a bargain on the range of handicrafts and handmade goods sold there. They include woodcarvings, silks, musical instruments and miniature Buddhas. Clothes, accessories, bootleg CDs and DVDs, fruit and veg, household items, motorbike parts and everything in between can also be found in the spiderweb of stalls.

Phsar Chas

Market

8289535015_86fb792a8e_k
© Marissa Carruthers

If you want a taste of authentic market life, then head to Old Market, or Phsar Chas, because this is where the locals shop. You’ll find no souvenirs here, instead there is an array of tropical fruit and vegetables, slabs of meat hanging from hooks, fish flapping in pots, chickens being plucked and plenty of deals being brokered. This is likely the market you will visit if you take a cooking class with a market tour.

Orussey Market

Market

shutterstock_255130369-650x430
© Elzbieta Sekowska / Shutterstock
Orussey Market is another authentic affair and can be daunting to the untrained. Spread across three floors, this is a cramped and crowded spot, with stalls selling everything from clothes, fresh food, household items, electronics and motorbike parts. Expect crowds and chaos, and come armed with heaps of patience.

Jet's Container Night Market

Market

Jets Container Night Market
© Jet's Container Night Market

The container market trend has swept over from Thailand, with Jet’s Container Night Market proving popular with the young, cool Khmer crowd who flock there each evening to snack on food, drink beer or iced coffee, hang out with friends and listen to live music. There are also stalls selling quirky T-shirts and other items designed by entrepreneurial locals.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Winter Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

X
Edit article