Exploring Sihanoukville Where to Stay How to get around How to get to Sihanoukville
What to expect when visiting Sihanoukville
With only 60 or so years of history under its current name, Sihanoukville is one of the youngest cities in all of Cambodia. Located in the southwesterly region of the country, the city benefits from a blend of past French Indochina and present-day Khmer architecture and culture, as well as an influx of visitors across the globe.
However, it’s important to remember Sihanoukville is not what it used to be. This once well-renowned beachfront paradise remembered for its trademark ‘sleepy town’ atmosphere is now a noisy and widespread construction site. The cause of this? Chinese investors and their love for building casinos in the city since 2016.
To be honest, the sudden Chinese interest is no surprise. This place is big business. The city has the only deep-water seaport in the whole of Cambodia and si full of Casinos. In fact, there were 1.8 million visitors in the first three months of 2019 — that’s a huge number of people in such a short space of time.
Unfortunately, the Chinese takeover has stripped away much of Sihanoukville’s old identity.
This has resulted in many visitors using the city as a quick gateway stopover before heading to the islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.
Sihanoukville is still fun
Despite the loss of its identity and the annoying construction work, all is not lost with Sihanoukville. It would be a shame to miss it just because of the noise and dust. Luckily, there are still some fun and enjoyable areas in and around the inner-city area.
Sihanoukville’s beach life: Grab a beer and watch the sun set before the party starts
Outside of the city and to the south are Sihanoukville’s famous beaches. It is still a largely untouched beachside paradise with a range of hostels, hotels, roadside shops, and, of course, beach bars for you to enjoy.
In fact, what draws many people to these beaches specifically is the Cambodian sun twinkling off the perfectly blue waters.
It’s a sight unrivalled by many other shorelines in the world. It’s here you can really unwind and relax. No noise or worries. Just you, the white sand, the sun lounger, and an Angkor beer in your hand.
Tip: If you’re up for a one-hour walk, you can walk north along the beautiful beachfront from Otres Beach to Serendipity Beach as the sun begins to set next to you.
Where to stay in Sihanoukville
Before choosing where to stay, it’s worth figuring out why you actually want to go to Sihanoukville — the city and its surrounding areas cater to the different needs of each individual traveller.
Location #1: The main street of Sihanoukville is where you’ll find the nightlife action
If it’s for the casinos and some inevitable partying, we recommend staying in the heart of the city for a night or two (preferably over a full weekend to get the most out of the nightlife).
The centre of Sihanoukville is basically all on and around the main street leading to the ports where you find the lively beach boulevard with plenty of seafood restaurants.
You can find a hotel reasonably close to the city centre for as low as $20 or as high as $100 per night depending on your attraction to the finer things in life. Hostels, on the other hand, are much cheaper. You can find some shared rooms for as little as $4-$8 per night, although you will be sharing with four to eight people. Private rooms cost slightly more.
Location #2: The tranquil and relaxing vibes of Otres (Village) and its beachfront
If you’re looking for a relaxing break, we suggest staying away from the inner city entirely. The construction work in the inner city continues on for hours into the night and very early morning.
Your best bet? Otres Village and Otres Beach. It’s here you discover the meaning behind the ‘beach lifestyle’.
The hotel and hostel prices are similar to the centre of Sihanoukville, although you won’t find as many dotted around. We recommend staying somewhere as close to the beach as possible — we’ve already mentioned the beautiful coastline and it’s something you don’t want to miss.
As a final thought on where to stay, we suggest booking your room in advance. This can save you the hardship of getting to your hostel or hotel and finding it fully-booked already (especially in the peak seasons of November). You may also save yourself a bit of money as well.
Location #3: Koh Ta Kiev — Sihanoukville’s secret getaway
Koh Ta Kiev is an adventurer’s dream location, with an atmosphere totally separated from the entire mainland. You’ll be surrounded by lush jungle to explore and waters clear enough to snorkel in — you’ll see a huge array of wildlife!
Tickets cost approximately $10-$13 for a round-trip and a one-way trip takes roughly 50-55 minutes from Otres Beach. Another option is to go from nearby Ream National Park — nearer, and so a shorter travel time by around 40 minutes.
If you aren’t convinced yet, check out the rooms of Crusoe Koh Takiev Island or Kactus Resort to get an impression of the laid-back island vibes of Koh Ta Kiev.
Just remember, like Koh Rong, Koh Ta Kiev doesn’t have ATMs for cash withdrawals, nor are there many shops. Bring as much cash as necessary and pack essential items like a flashlight, mosquito repellent, spare clothes, snacks (these are hard to come by on the island!) and a hammock (you can set this up on the beach!).
How to get around in Sihanoukville
If you’re worried about how to get to all these destinations, don’t fret! It’s very easy to get around the city and its surrounding areas by tuk-tuk.
Much like in the country’s capital Phnom Penh, there are a huge number of tuk-tuks and taxis to take you to any destination you need — the prices are also very affordable but, of course, vary depending on the distance.
For example, you’ll be looking to pay roughly $5-$10 for a tuk-tuk ride from the centre (Serendipity Street) of Sihanoukville to Otres Beach — the tuk-tuk drivers will sometimes say a higher price but hold firm and stick to this price point.
How to get to Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville is a coastal province southwest of Cambodia. Famous for its beaches, nightlife and casinos, tourists flock to Sihanoukville for some much-needed R&R.
Among its top spots are Serendipity Beach and Otres Beach, but there is so much more to this colourful town. Read on to find out about the top things to do and the many ways to visit Sihanoukville from various points in Cambodia.
About the author(s)
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
looks like the last Kerfuffle ever happened in April 2019
Hi Tony! Thanks for the heads up. Very sad to see they stopped with this party. Just removed it from the post, but hope there will come a new alternative soon!