Phnom Penh: Morning Market & Street Art Tour by Tuk Tuk

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.94 (131 reviews) 94% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/12

Duration3h 30m

GroupUp to 8

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Phnom Penh mornings come alive with food scents and hidden murals

You’ll ride through Phnom Penh’s lively morning markets by tuk tuk with a local guide who knows every shortcut and snack stall. Taste two different Khmer breakfasts (come hungry), sip iced coffee from market vendors, discover over 40 hidden murals—including some tucked near Independence Monument—and end with an unexpected foodie treat you probably can’t pronounce yet.

3h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Morning market and street art tour

Guided tour of local market
Enjoy snacks, tea, and breakfast
Visit hidden murals around city
Explore street art near Independence Monument
Second breakfast and final foodie stop

The Experience

The tuk tuk rattled a little as we zipped through Phnom Penh’s early streets—already busy, but not overwhelming yet. Our guide, Dara, waved us over at the hotel entrance and grinned like he’d been waiting for this all week. First stop was a neighborhood market that smelled like lemongrass and grilled pork before I even stepped out. Dara handed me something wrapped in banana leaf (I still don’t know the name), and I burned my fingers a bit opening it—worth it though. The vendors didn’t seem to mind our gawking; one lady laughed when I tried to say “thank you” in Khmer. She corrected me gently, then just smiled and handed me iced coffee that tasted almost chocolatey.

I thought we’d just wander around the stalls, but Dara started pointing out all these odd ingredients—tiny eggplants, piles of herbs I’d never seen—and explained how they fit into Cambodian breakfasts. We sat curbside for our first meal while scooters zipped past, and honestly? It was way better than any hotel buffet. After breakfast number one (yes, there’s more), we jumped back into the tuk tuk to hunt for street art. Some murals were wedged between laundry lines or half-hidden behind parked bikes; Dara knew every shortcut. He told us about the artists—some local kids painting after school—and how certain murals near Independence Monument had caused a stir for their political messages. It felt like peeking into someone else’s diary.

By late morning the air got heavier, but somehow we ended up in a narrow alley where paint still smelled fresh on the walls. There was this one mural—a blue elephant with gold script—that made everyone go quiet for a second. I didn’t expect to feel anything from street art but there it was. We stopped again (second breakfast!) at a tiny shop where Dara ordered for us because I couldn’t read the menu at all. The rice porridge was weirdly comforting after all that walking around in the heat.

The last stop was supposed to be a “culinary surprise”—I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say I’m still thinking about that flavor combo days later. If you’re curious about Phnom Penh beyond temples and museums, this day trip mixes food tour energy with local art stories in ways I didn’t see coming.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop off by tuk tuk, two full Khmer breakfasts plus snacks along the way (so definitely don’t eat beforehand), tastings of local iced tea and coffee at the market stalls, all guided walks through mural-filled alleys near Independence Monument, plus an extra surprise foodie stop before heading back home again.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Urban Forage Food and Art Adventures