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Phnom Penh Cambodia

Riverside capital with Royal Palace, Khmer Rouge history, markets, and French architecture.

DecemberJanuaryFebruary

Weather & Climate

Tropical wet-dry climate with hot humid weather year-round and heavy monsoon rains May-October.

Jan

32° / 22° 10 mm

Feb

34° / 24° 10 mm

Mar

35° / 26° 40 mm

Apr

36° / 27° 90 mm

May

35° / 27° 170 mm

Jun

33° / 26° 180 mm

Jul

33° / 25° 200 mm

Aug

33° / 25° 220 mm

Sep

32° / 25° 250 mm

Oct

32° / 25° 250 mm

Nov

31° / 24° 110 mm

Dec

31° / 22° 40 mm

Transportation

  • Airport

    Phnom Penh International Airport (N/A) · Typically 20-60 minutes from the city center depending on traffic.

  • Transfers

    Official airport taxi / rideshare (25-45 min, Varies by distance) · Hotel / shuttle coach (30-60 min, Check with accommodation) · Local transit (40-70 min, Local fare)

  • Transit

    Bus, Taxi / rideshare, Metro or tram (where available)

  • Tips

    Use contactless fare cards or exact change on buses when possible. · Ride-hailing apps are the safest option after dark. · Peak-hour traffic can double travel times—plan airport trips with buffer.

  • Walkability

    moderate

Culture & Etiquette

  • Language

    Cambodia official language; English is common in tourism zones.

  • Currency

    Cambodia currency

  • Customs

    Offer a friendly greeting when entering shops or meeting hosts. · Use your right hand when giving or receiving money or small gifts. · Dress modestly when visiting religious or government sites.

  • Etiquette

    Ask before photographing people or private spaces. · Tipping 5-10% is appreciated in sit-down restaurants unless service is included. · Queues are respected—wait your turn even if lines feel informal.

Practical Basics

  • Visa

    Visa on arrival or eVisa ($30 for 30 days). Easy process. Bring passport photo.

  • Power

    230V, 50Hz · A, C, G

  • Healthcare

    Improving. Royal Phnom Penh Hospital and Russian Hospital for tourists. Basic public care. Dengue fever risk. Travel insurance recommended.

  • Safety

    SAFE · Moderate safety. Bag snatching from motorbikes common. Traffic accidents frequent. Avoid political gatherings. Landmines in rural areas. Scams targeting tourists.

  • Emergency

    Police 117 · Ambulance 119

Neighborhoods

BKK1

expensive

Expat enclave with serviced apartments, cafes, and cowork hubs.

Best for remote work, long stays

Riverside (Sisowath Quay)

moderate

Tourist strip with colonial hotels, bars, and Tonle Sap views.

Best for nightlife, first timers

Daun Penh

moderate

Central business district with government offices, art galleries, and markets.

Best for business travel, culture

Tuol Tom Poung (Russian Market)

budget

Vintage shopping, craft breweries, and laid-back cafe scene.

Best for shopping, foodies

Chroy Changvar

moderate

Peninsula north of downtown with riverfront resorts and ferry access.

Best for quiet stays, drivers

Koh Pich (Diamond Island)

expensive

Modern island with condos, cowork spaces, and event halls.

Best for business travel, events

Restaurants

Malis

Modern Khmer

Chef Luu Meng s refined setting for upscale Khmer tasting menus.

Must-try: Fish amok, Char-grilled river prawn

Romdeng

Social enterprise Khmer

Training restaurant by Friends NGO serving tarantula spring rolls and classics.

Must-try: Tarantula spring rolls, Pumpkin curry

Sora Skybar

Rooftop cocktails

Raffle Hotel rooftop bar with panoramic views and small bites.

Must-try: Signature cocktails, Small plates

David s Noodles

Hand-pulled noodles

Watch noodles pulled to order in the open kitchen.

Must-try: Beef noodle soup, Pork dumplings

Farm to Table

Healthy brunch

Garden cafe with local produce, smoothies, and cowork-friendly corners.

Must-try: Kampot pepper burger, Smoothie bowls

Le Broken Plate

Contemporary Khmer

Chef Nguon Veasna s tasting menu spotlighting Cambodian terroir.

Must-try: Chef degustation

Itineraries

Royal Palaces and Rooftops

1 day

Palace, museums, markets, and sunset cruise.

  • Day 1: Phnom Penh sampler

    Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and Wat Phnom · Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

Remote Work + Mekong Islands

3 days

Cowork blocks, cooking classes, and Koh Dach cycling.

  • Day 1: Cowork + cooking

    Work session at The Desk or Impact Hub · Khmer cooking class

  • Day 2: Silk Island cycling

    Cycle Koh Dach to silk workshops and floating villages

  • Day 3: Art + nightlife

    National Museum + Factory Phnom Penh creative campus · Bassac Lane bar crawl

Mekong Base Camp

5 days

Five-day stay mixing remote work, Battambang trips, and wellness.

  • Day 1: Arrival + riverside

    Check-in, SIM setup, ABA bank visit · Riverside walk and Khmer massage

  • Day 2: Work + markets

    Cowork at The Desk or Emerald Hub · Russian Market and Central Market shopping

  • Day 3: Battambang day

    Private car to Battambang for bamboo train and art tours

  • Day 4: Wellness + Mekong sunset

    Yoga + cowork morning · Sunset boat cruise on Mekong

  • Day 5: Wrap + departure

    Souvenir run (pepper, silk, crafts) · Grab/taxi to PNH airport

Day Trips

  • Silk Island (Koh Dach)

    15 km north · Half day (5 hours)

    Cycle past silk weaving villages and fruit farms on the Mekong.

  • Kampot & Kep

    150 km south · Full day (12 hours)

    Pepper farms, crab markets, and French colonial Kampot.

  • Udong Mountain

    45 km northwest · Half day (6 hours)

    Climb hilltop stupas from former Khmer capital and visit silver villages.

  • Tonle Bati & Ta Prohm

    35 km south · Half day (6 hours)

    Visit Angkor-era temple Ta Prohm and lake pagodas near Phnom Penh.

  • Kampong Chhnang Floating Village

    95 km northwest · Full day (10 hours)

    Boat through floating villages and pottery island workshops.