Phnom Penh

Vibrant City with Deep History

Phnom Penh serves as Cambodia’s capital city, located where the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers meet. The area features wide boulevards lined with colonial buildings from French rule in the early 1900s. Local markets sell fresh fruit and handmade crafts while street food stalls serve dishes like fish amok and nom banh chok. Temples such as Wat Phnom provide quiet spaces for reflection amid busy streets. The city balances modern growth with historical sites, showing both resilience and daily life in Cambodia’s heart.

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City in Cambodia

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 4.8

General Safety:	5
Health & medical:	5
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	4

Read details

3/5

English is moderately spoken in Phnom Penh, especially in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. Most younger Cambodians and those working in tourism can communicate well in English.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Phnom Penh Summary

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Important for history and culture. Visit royal palaces and museums, learn about the country’s past, explore riverside promenades and enjoy local markets.

Place score

6.4

Best at:

Street food

Markets

Large cities

Local cuisine

Historic sites

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 5

Seniors

💻 8

Digital Nomads

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

Cambodia – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A , Type C Type A: Type C: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Cambodian Riel (KHR) £1 ≈ KHR 5,432.97
Cashless info:	Rating 3/5 Cashless payment options are available in larger cities, particularly in tourist areas. Credit cards are accepted in many establishments, but cash is still preferred. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated in Cambodia but not mandatory. In restaurants, a 5-10% tip is common. Taxi drivers and hotel staff also appreciate small tips.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally permitted, especially in designated areas. However, excessive drinking in public places may be frowned upon.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places, such as restaurants, bars, and public transport.

Khmer New Year (April)	A major festival with national celebrations and events
Pchum Ben (Sept-Oct)	A festival for honouring ancestors, with cultural events and ceremonies

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 117 (Police), 119 (Ambulance), 118 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Grab
Other:	Cambodia is famous for the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, vibrant markets, and rich cultural heritage. It is a popular destination for history and adventure enthusiasts.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Phnom Penh, Cambodia

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

🌦️

May

⛈️

Jun

⛈️

Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

🌦️

Nov

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Dec

High season:	Jan. - Feb., Nov. - Dec.
Shoulder season:	March
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Khmer New Year, April 13 to 16: many shops and restaurants close as locals leave for their home provinces

Water Festival with boat races on the river, three days in late October or November: huge crowds, hotels book out early

Rainy season May to October: short heavy downpours, with floods mainly in September and October

Don't miss

👑 Visit the Royal Palace and admire the Silver Pagoda’s glittering floor
🕯️ Reflect at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Killing Fields
🚤 Cruise along the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers at sunset
🛍️ Explore the bustling Central Market for souvenirs and spices
🏛️ Admire French colonial architecture in the riverside district
🍲 Enjoy Khmer cuisine and live music on Street 240

You've been here?

Why travel to Phnom Penh?

Phnom Penh offers a captivating mix of cultural experiences, from the regal beauty of the Royal Palace to the humbling history of the Killing Fields. The city’s vibrant markets, lively riverside and mouth-watering street food create an unforgettable atmosphere. While the history can be heavy, it is an important part of understanding Cambodia’s resilience and spirit.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Wat Phnom Pagoda
2 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
3 Independence Monument
4 National Museum of Cambodia
5 Riverside
6 Choeung Ek Genocidal Center

🎡Places for activities

1 Royal Palace
2 Central Market
3 Escape60
4 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Wat Botum Park
2 Peninsula
3 Silk Island Garden
4 Mekong River

🛍️Shopping

1 Central Market
2 Olympic Market
3 Phsar Toul Tom Poung
4 Kandal Market
5 Sorya Mall
6 Night Market
7 AEON Mall 1
8 26 - Orussey Market
9 Eden Garden Mall

🎈Events

Water Festival (Bon Om Touk)
Pchum Ben Festival
Khmer New Year
Cambodian Independence Day
Royal Ploughing Ceremony
Phnom Penh International Film Festival
Phnom Penh Fashion Week
Bonn Phum (Village Festival)
Cambodian Music Festival
King Norodom Sihamoni's Birthday

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Use Grab or PassApp for rides; avoid unmarked tuk-tuks.
Secure valuables; pickpocketing common at Central Market and riverfront areas.
Dress modestly for Royal Palace; cover shoulders and knees respectfully.
Visit Tuol Sleng early morning; join guided tour for historical context and avoid crowds.

How to travel to Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) offers connections to major Asian cities. The airport is about 10 km from the city center, accessible by taxi or tuk-tuk. Buses and boats connect Phnom Penh with other Cambodian destinations and Vietnam.

Access summary

From Phnom Penh Airport: Taxi, tuk-tuk or rideshare, around 30–60 minutes.
From Siem Reap: Direct buses 5–7 hours; frequent short domestic flights.
From Ho Chi Minh City: International buses 6–8 hours; flights about 1 hour.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh offers a range of accommodations from budget hostels to boutique hotels and luxurious riverside stays. Staying near the Riverside (Sisowath Quay) or in the BKK1 area is recommended for convenience and access to amenities.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

NagaWorld Hotel & Entertainment Complex

8.4

The Bridge Club

8.4

Ohana Phnom Penh Palace Hotel

8.6

Palace Gate Hotel & Resort by EHM

Baitong Hotel & Resort

9.2

Plantation Urban Resort & Spa

8.9

The Peninsula Phnom Penh

9.2

SUN & MOON Urban Hotel

8.8

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is best explored by tuk-tuk, which is affordable and readily available. Metered taxis, ride-hailing apps and local buses are also options. The city center is walkable, but beware of uneven sidewalks and traffic.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-64 %

Daily expenses in Phnom Penh are around 64% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to KHR) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£24	£51	£144
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£8	£23	£60
🍝 Food per day	£14	£25	£71
🚕 Transportation per day	£2	£3	£13

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£11
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£3.40
🍟 Fast food combo	£5
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£5
☕ Cappuccino	£2.10
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.15

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.30
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£8
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.80

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£3.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£33
🤧 Cold medication	£2.40
💇 Basic haircut	£4.20

Safety information overview

General safety

Phnom Penh is generally safe, but petty crimes like pickpocketing and bag snatching can occur. Avoid isolated areas at night and be cautious with your belongings in crowded places.

Health & Medical

Healthcare facilities range from basic to good. Private hospitals and clinics offer better quality care, but more serious medical needs may require evacuation to Thailand or Singapore. Malaria is not a major risk, but dengue fever is present.

Accessibility

Phnom Penh’s infrastructure is improving, but accessibility for travelers with disabilities can be limited. Many sidewalks are uneven and public transport is not fully equipped for accessibility.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe to drink. Stick to bottled water, which is widely available and affordable. Many hotels and restaurants provide purified drinking water.